Wellbeing is an incredibly important part of our music industry education at ACM and with both Stress Awareness Month and Autism Awareness Week being marked in April, this month is the perfect time for us to raise awareness and highlight our award-winning Student Services Team.
Any student in need of assistance regarding their wellbeing should use our ‘Help’ button on MyACM so that they can access the support they need.
Alongside Stress Awareness Month, April also features Autism Awareness Week. With many talented students on the Autistic Spectrum at ACM, we thought it would be a great opportunity to share our recent interview with ACM Creative Artist student, BRUCH, who released her debut EP Autis last month. The EP is inspired by Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of high functioning Autism…
Tell us about your EP Autis and where the inspiration came from?
Autis, my debut EP, is a big step into the world, and I want to make it the right one. The inspiration for the name came from the daily trials and difficulties I encounter living with Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of high functioning Autism. The EP doesn’t revolve around the subject, but while I’ve been making it, it has become very clear to me, the impact that having Autism has on my work. It is often both a blessing and a curse, allowing me to be endlessly creative, but at the same time, it can frequently hamper progress due to Anxiety. I can get very flustered about seemingly small things, including minute changes in the environment around me. You wouldn’t think that being a self-produced artist fares very well with such a disability, but I find it calming to work on my own, to disappear into my work, not only because I have such a clear vision, but also because I find it hard to communicate my ideas to others. My music helps me do this.
Autis is named as such because each song is manifested from my autistic brain – it’s a whirling and jittery landscape that contains a different perspective on the world – it has little to no outside influence from other writers – it’s inherently autistic. Over the past year of work, the EP has grown, matured and morphed, and has seen me through many bad days and good days alike – I feel it’s hard to let go of something so special, when we have been through so much together. This is why the name ‘Autis’ is so close and personal to me.”
How can people better support those on the Autistic Spectrum in everyday life?
Keep an open mind. Perhaps become better acquainted with the spectrum in general. I often find, after understanding the ways in which Autism and neurological disorders can affect a person, people are generally more considerate and supportive of the ‘autistic experience’ when they are aware of what Autism means. Understanding can work wonders for any community.
Personal space is a big thing in anyone’s life – we all need a little time to ourselves sometimes, and more often than not this is especially the case with autistic people anywhere on the spectrum. Simply understanding the needs of others means a lot to the individuals involved, more than you might think.
Lastly, don’t take ‘looking okay’ for granted. You don’t have to ‘look autistic’ to have Autism. I am often very good at covering up my Anxiety and so are so many others in my position. Most of my days are spent attempting to appear calm just in order to get through the list of challenges the day has ahead. We never know what others are facing, and understanding this fact is a massive step towards acceptance and releasing the stigmas surrounding mental disability.”
Bruch’s track, Ley Lines, was chosen from over 200 tracks by BBC Radio 6 Music, and named Record of the Week by BBC Introducing Solent. Ley Lines will feature again on BBC Radio Solent this Saturday so make sure to tune in! You can also watch Bruch’s live session for BBC Introducing and listen to her EP on YouTube or Spotify.
ACM is proud to be big enough to make a difference but small enough to care. If you’d like to learn more about our commitment to support each and every one of our students, academically, professionally and personally, come along to one of our Open Days.
Please call our Admissions Team on 01483 500 841 or visit www.acm.ac.uk/open-days to book a place on an ACM Open Day today.
