A Preston father-and-son rap duo are tackling bullying with a new song.
AdvertisementMatthew Bennett and his son Callum Bennett – aka FMA + 12 Gage – are known for using music to combat their mental health issues. Matthew was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome four years ago, while Callum grew up with dyslexia.
The pair were commissioned to write the song earlier this year by Anna Kennedy OBE, who created Autism’s Got Talent to help prevent youngsters with autism being bullied.
The resulting song, Spectrum: Give Us A Break, has been released to coincide with anti-bullying week, and it is now attracting national attention.
Watch the video for the song below or on YouTube.
So far Matthew and Callum have appeared on Channel 5 News and Capital Radio, and they have also been interviewed for That’s Lancashire. You can watch their interview below or on YouTube.
Speaking on Channel 5 News about writing the song, Callum said: “It’s the toughest thing we’ve written to date. It’s drawing on a lot of personal experiences for both of us. Also we tried to make a really good song out of all the negative experiences from our past, so it was definitely difficult.”
Asked about his experience of growing up with dyslexia, Callum said: “I think it was a struggle, feeling very confused in education. It was very isolated in my own mind and felt I was really stupid in comparison to everyone else.”
Talking about being diagnosed with Asperger syndrome at the age of 36, Matthew said: “It’s made a massive difference. Before that point I was considered the troublemaker and the weird one.
“I don’t process the world like everybody else processes the world, but up until the diagnosis I was trying to be like everyone else and not understanding why I couldn’t be like them.
“The diagnosis was a huge thing to come to terms with, but what it has done positively is allow me to give up on things I struggled with and just focus on the things I’m good with.”
“I’m hoping this song can give people strength and give somebody who is struggling the knowledge that other people have been through stuff and they can get through it.
“Music is so powerful. I used to listen to songs when I was little and words would stay in my head. We’re hoping by creating this that we’re creating something that will have that effect – that it will speak to people who are struggling, who are lonely and who need to speak out.”
Read more: Arts news from Blog Preston
What do you think of the song and what Matthew and Callum are doing? Let us know in the comment below.