“The difference shouldn’t be an obstacle, it should be a resource”
“We are no longer seen as people with disabilities but as true artists”. Stanislas is a lead singer of the Astereotypie collective, a punk rock music group that brings together people on the autistic spectrum. Through their texts they tell what they experience every day, letting off steam on stage. Their new album, No man looks like Brad Pitt in the Drôme, was released in April. This time they play at the Trans Musicales festival in Rennes on Thursday 8 December, in front of hundreds of spectators. A real pleasure for Claire, also an autistic singer. “We please each other, charismatically, more than usual and before.”
In Noisy-le-Grand, Céline created A step forward to help children with autism go to school
Christophe is a specialist educator and guitarist in Astéréotypie. The project was primarily educational for these people with disabilities. “We wanted to teach them things and then, in the end, we didn’t have much to teach them. They taught us many things. We embarked on a process of a little art brut without knowing it, in terms of lyrics, literature, in terms of poetry, composition, meaning of words, values. It’s very, very rich, what they swing. And then later, over time, dating, it became a rock band”, He explains. The daily life of Zed, autistic
Singers’ parents also travel to concert venues. This is the case with Aurélien’s mother. “I accompany him almost systematically. But hey, it’s true that he also likes some time alone. Mom, it’s fine. But it’s okay without mom too! We are really happy to see him find his identity again. He himself, in fact, is happy, and inevitably, well, we are happy. It allows him to express himself. He talks about his world of him and above all he shares it. So that’s great.
Sihem struggles to care for his severely autistic son
“I know with Astereotypie, I’m highlighted”
“I started in 2008, and everything has evolved after that. At first it was a… I don’t know what it’s called… a text thing. A thing of texts, of writing. And today great progress is being made”recalls Yohann, also a singer. “Today, as a musician, it’s my job and it’s my goal. And that’s what made the difference.”
Hugo Horiot: “difference is pathologized in our society”
For them, music has really been an escape, a way to break down prejudices about autism. “I know that with Astereotypie I stand out and that I can fit into society as much as possible”thinks Stanislaus. “The difference shouldn’t be an obstacle, it should be an asset. It would be nice to live in a world where everyone accepts each other. I think everyone in society should accept themselves.”
Born with a deformed right arm, Victoria Canal became a musician
