Grammy-winning Louisiana musician: 'It’s OK to be different'
Quote:
Fans know Jo-El Sonnier as a Grammy winner, a Cajun music legend with 30 albums, Top 10 country hits and performances at the Grand Ole Opry. People closer to Sonnier have seen another side, when the musician seems like a 71-year-old child.
Some dismissed the odd behavior as a quirky personality. Others gossiped that Sonnier, as a touring musician, had too much alcohol and drugs, although he never did either.
For the first time, Sonnier unveils the reason for his behavior in a new children’s book, “The Little Boy Under the Wagon.” The book reveals Sonnier has Asperger's syndrome,
Sonnier said the book has an important message for children and parents.
“There’s a way of being different and still being normal,” said Sonnier. “My mother always thought I was special.
“My whole trouble was from my beginning, being taught English in a world that I was born into in French. Everybody around us spoke in French.
“Now we have something to take to new generations that might not understand. They need to know it’s OK to be different.”
Bobbye Sonnier, Jo-El’s wife and the author’s sister, said the musician has turned the disorder into a positive.
“Once he figured it out and had a diagnosis, he saw ‘This is why the way I thought the way I did,'” said Bobby Sonnier. “'This is why I didn’t fit in. This is why I focused on music 100 percent. This is why I don’t like crowds outside of music.
“He’s sees he’s different, but it’s OK to be different.”
SLUSHII GIVES US A DEEPER LOOK AT ‘OUT OF LIGHT’, OVERCOMING ASPERGER’S, & MORE!Quote:
From escaping suburbia to playing the main stage of EDC Orlando, this year may be Slushii‘s most groundbreaking one yet. Only a year after signing with Red Light Management, he has released several singles, collaborations, and even his first album, Out Of Light.
The album is stocked with thirteen tracks that Slushii not only produced the music but added his own vocals to the songs as well. In the interview below, he reveals the story behind track “Out Of Light” showing a more personal side of his production process.
Outside of music, he looks forward to his next adventure with the publishing of his first manga series which is also named Out Of Light
You’ve said in previous interviews that having Asperger’s affected the way you socialized with others and other kids weren’t very kind about it. However, you also talked about a positive aspect as having Asperger’s gave you a different view of the world and perspective of connecting with others through music. How has having Asperger’s contributed to how you interacted with others and share your story through music?
I feel like I learned very early on that people can be mean. I don’t know… It’s like the golden rule: treat people with how you want to be treated and it’s really as simple as that.
Really the whole Asperger’s thing, my social skills were horrible, awful, like high school was a nightmare. I never took the time to reach out to anybody but at the same time it’s like that time that I spent cooped up in my own hole. I learned everything I could about music so I could come out and let everyone know how I felt. I was not good with words at that time but I’ll play you a song and you’ll understand how I feel by the end of that song. So that’s always been my mentality with that.
You may not know what I mean because I speak like riddles, but I’ll play you a song and by then you’ll know how I’m feeling. It’s fun writing dubstep.
What advice would you give to other aspiring musicians with Asperger’s or those who face difficulties socializing?
In light of everything that has been happening lately, with the shooting and everything, that all could have been prevented with positive outlets. Sometimes I think, what if I didn’t have this album or what if I broke off the deep end if I wasn’t able to say what I want to say because over time if you let something bubble up and bubble up… I am glad I have the outlet to say what I needed to say when I needed to say it. Find a positive outlet. Don’t hurt anyone or yourself. It’s so easy to say that, but it takes a lot to like something that makes communicating easier. It’s not easy to communicate. Find your positive outlet and make the world better because just because you’re hurt doesn’t mean you have to hurt others.
It’s one of those things – the most normal person ever put under extreme pressure will snap. Even with us touring and running on lack of sleep for so long, we’re not even thinking rationally. So it’s like positive outlets, man.
Everyone has a talent. I firmly believe that everyone has something that they are good at and talented in. Positive without being negative.
_________________
Professionally Identified and joined WP August 26, 2013
DSM 5: Autism Spectrum Disorder, DSM IV: Aspergers Moderate Severity
It is Autism Acceptance Month
“My autism is not a superpower. It also isn’t some kind of god-forsaken, endless fountain of suffering inflicted on my family. It’s just part of who I am as a person”. - Sara Luterman
15 May 2017, 8:50 am
might be connected with autism, I found this post! The New Yorker article which took me 3 hours to read, tends to support that, on the other hand, in the Pitchfork article Gordon seems to be saying her brother is the cause. I'm not sure. I think Lydia Lunch's atonal singing, as heard on Atomic Bongos may be related to PTSD, but I'm not her therapist. Because it said I'm not allowed to post anything with a url, I'm trying with the offensive urls deleted 
