14 DAY TRIAL // An autistic man, who was believed to be totally mute as a symptom of his condition, has stunned his family and the music industry by recording and releasing a sensational charity album.
Kyle Coleman from Gwithian, Cornwall, was diagnosed with autism when he was three years old and has only ever uttered a few words in his life. But despite being unable to talk and living in a world of silence for most of the time, Kyle proved to be quite talented.
The 27-year-old man was almost totally non-verbal until his mid-20s, when his mother Caroline decided to take him to music therapy. At Cornwall Music Therapy Trust in Redruth, his innate talent was brought to light, and he soon discovered he had a pitch-perfect singing voice.
Kyle later started to spend long hours in a local recording studio, after his therapist encouraged him and his mother to pursue music as a pathway for his future.
In April 2012, Kyle released his first album, titled “Therefore I Am,” which included nine covers of his favorite Indie songs, plus one original track – “Just Listen.” Now, he is releasing a new album with original material, called “Beyond the Syntax.” The title of this new collection of songs is referring to the difficulty autistic people can have with ordering words.
Although Kyle rarely speaks, when he sings, he unlocks this innate gift that he has and manages to communicate his feelings through music, as he tends to choose songs that reflect his mood.
“Kyle is so much calmer and more at peace. About three years ago, on a scale of ten, his anxiety level was around nine; I would say it’s about three now,” Caroline explains, as reported by Daily Mail.
“He pays attention when he is singing. He sleeps well, his tolerance levels are much better, and he's been able to make friends for the first time,” she adds.
“Beyond the Syntax” was released on April 2, to coincide with World Autism Awareness Day, and includes 12 original songs whose lyrics were mostly written by Kyle's mother.
Caroline is very proud of her son and says that music therapy has helped them both build a stronger relationship.
“I’m in my late 40’s now and Kyle is in his mid-twenties I kind of feel now, it’s almost like I know why I’m here for now. So it has a therapeutic effect on us and that’s what I’m hoping too that other parents get that too, I’d love to think that they can also feel that,” she said in a recent interview.
Kyle is the first non-verbal autism sufferer in the UK to release his own record, and he has also starred in his own music video.
