In this Stories from the Spectrum, we take a closer look at autistic singer-songwriter Chris, who hopes to make a difference to the wellbeing of others and inspire them through his music. Chris tells us about his new single Anxious Boy and the significance of releasing it on World Mental Health Day.
 

When did you first know or start to think you were autistic? 

From a young age, I noticed a few things that made me feel a little different from the other kids; the way they spoke to me or reacted to my words (I didn't understand them and they didn't understand me). Their behaviour towards me in a social context was often confused or worried or they even mocked my responses. 

There were some people that were able to accept me for who I was, and we got on rather well, but they too had their own challenges, which probably gave us a 'common ground' to be friends.  

I think there were three factors to my communication difficulties. Being autistic affected my communication, language and social interactions. It made it very challenging to use words and choose the right words to form sentences. There were times where I’d almost created my own language. It felt like I was the only person in the world to speak German, when everyone else spoke French or Chinese, when what I was actually speaking was English. It was antagonising and definitely a struggle. 

My mum says I didn’t learn to talk in a way that people could understand until I was about five or six. My first language was signing, and I continued to use Makaton until I was about eight years old, when I could have conversations that were more easily understood. 
 

When you were diagnosed, what was the process like for you?  

Unfortunately, I was too young to remember when I was diagnosed. However, I know I am very lucky to have been assessed at such a young age and I’m very grateful that my mum – who worked in education – questioned my cognitive processing and it helped spur on the chain of events to get me into the right place for assessment. 

It’s been a steep learning curve. I feel that I’ve got to where I am now because I was blessed with the people who were able to help support and nurture me. I needed to be in a position where I then understood myself; you're only going to get as much development as you yourself put into it.
 

What does being autistic mean to you? 

It means that I'm neurodivergent and a superhero. I know people have their strengths and weaknesses, but I know I am exceptionally strong in my skillsets, and this allows me to do things that some people can't do. 
 

When did you first start songwriting and getting involved with music and why? 

When I was younger, I have memories of making, singing and creating what I could, even if I couldn't play the instrument (some of them I still can't play!) At primary school, I distinctly remember getting into trouble for repetitively tapping rhythms and patterns on the school desk during class. As a result, I started to learn to play the drums, which aided my syncopation and understanding of music timing. Even my brother got involved and we ended up doing jams in the garage and annoying our neighbours!  

Amongst all the activities, experiences and skills that I've picked up, music and sounds have definitely stuck with me. When I'm at certain gigs, writing or arranging music or sometimes when I’m just listening to a really good piece of music, I can hear sounds in colour. I also start seeing shades and my vision turns towards particular colours, depending on the song. At festivals this summer, for example, I started seeing lots of reds and blues.
 

What messages do you hope people will learn from your music? 

To know that anyone can overcome restrictions or difficulties. We can achieve and create even more if we all work together and don’t hold back from our dreams. 

I try to put certain messages in my songs for people at different times, and I'm always intrigued by their reactions to them, both physically and mentally. For example, Funk in the Trunk is about being part of your own party without any limitations or social rules that you're required to follow in order to fit in.   

Being autistic, I know this has affected me and it’s something I get anxious over. To alleviate anxiety, I wanted to create a party with none of these limitations or rules and I even created a character for the single and video called 'The Oscillator' to help demonstrate this.
 

Tell us more about your new single Anxious Boy and why you’ve chosen to release it on World Mental Health Day? 

World Mental Health Day speaks about looking after our minds so that they can be free from constraints and illness. Mental health is a universal human right that we are allowed to have, and we must do what we can to drive for positive changes for people's wellbeing.   

Anxiety has a double-edged sword in life. From my own experiences, I've had anxiety hold me back in some circumstances from growing up to everyday choices, but anxiety can push us to being alive, to feel the realism of what we are doing.  

With this single, I input some of my own personal experiences that put me into the 'anxious' corner, but the aim is to make people understand that we can be sensitive to anything that makes us anxious. Anxiety can help us unlock our potential; and then we can all be superheroes.  

If the world was a place where we all give understanding and patience to each other, especially people who have or suffer with anxiety, we could all achieve a whole lot more. I've released this on World Mental Health Day to raise awareness that anxiety is part of your mental health and deserves to be talked about without stigmatism.