About Torina Gedler

Born and raised in Iowa, lifelong musician Torina Gedler (aka Dea ex Machina, previously Torinasaurus) began taking piano and music theory lessons as soon as she could read and showed much promise as a musician in public school until a naturally occurring brain injury (AVM) almost took her life at age 14, altering her prospects of playing trombone and singing professionally. As soon as she recovered from a month-long coma, she now grappled with newfound chronic disabilities and struggled to express herself through music as she once did. Eventually, she started composing music and found great success with performances of her work at her high school, college, and beyond; she owes much of this success to the teachers, mentors, and peers who believed in her abilities.

Still living with multiple disabilities years later, she is now journeying into the realm of recording artistry, releasing her first single on October 31, 2023. She aims to empower people, especially those with marginalized identities, through her music, as well as express her authentic self. Dea ex Machina, her musical persona, celebrates Disability, Queerness, and the Divine Feminine. Artist statement: "As a Queer, Nonbinary, Disabled woman artist and RAMPD Pro member, I stand for the diversification of the music industry and radical acceptance of all ways of being; Dea ex Machina, my artist persona, is a curation of transcendental, classically-informed, kaleidoscopic, and magickal music experiences celebrating the inner deity of those who have marginalized identities or face adversity in life." --Dea ex Machina

Gedler also teaches keyboard, songwriting, and about disability through her work with Girls Rock Des Moines for whom she helps with many projects as well, including the Girls Rock activity book, live gigs, and music transcription.

See Torina at 17 in her TEDx talk "Fred's Blue Dress:" https://youtu.be/fIol-T8O9ZM?si=QWVBQFTVKBxov12P).