When it comes to inspirational creatives, one could very well find the perfect candidate in Birmingham resident Dyskinetic. As a Disabled artist, he’s been spending the last few years performing with the notorious MiMu Gloves (interactive gloves made possible by Imogen Heap) and conducting inclusive workshops aimed at enhancing and widening inclusive musical practices.
Shifting the focus from his electronic/full arrangement aesthetic, and leaving his magical gloves behind, Dyskinetic seeks artistic reward in the simple setting of a ukulele. Borrowed from his son, the British talent made good use of it, writing an acoustic gem called ‘McCartney IV’. A poignant ballad, the track focuses on staying true to yourself and owning past mistakes.
Intrigued by the project, we caught up with Dyskinetic to find out more about his current goals, past experiences and what can we expect from the future… Interview below!
MESMERIZED: Hey Dyskinetic, how is it going? some of our readers might not be familiar with your project, how would you describe yourself, in a few words?
DSK: Yeah… a few words… I’m a singer/songwriter of sorts, although not usually making the quieter acoustic things like the new single. I’m a 90s guitar kid really, but most people know me for playing the MiMu Gloves. I have Cerebral Palsy, which has affected my guitar and piano playing more as I’ve got older, the MiMu Gloves were a way to overcome that.
MESMERIZED: Your current work is the result of a long journey; What first drew you to making music?
DSK: Yeah so I started out in high school wanting to be in guitar bands. I was a Metal kid and then the whole Britpop thing happened when I was at school. I didn’t get the whole Oasis thing but when Radiohead happened I was like, ahhh yeah, these are my people.
MESMERIZED: You are a prime example of overcoming adversities and championing one’s passions. How does your disability inform your artistry?
DSK: The biggest challenge as a Disabled artist is understanding the systemic barriers: no amount of positivity is gonna build ramps in venues. I’ve overcome my own physical challenges with the gloves to a large extent, but Disabled people aren’t really taken seriously in the music industry yet, and I turn down lots of gigs because of access issues. Artistically I suppose the most exciting thing about using the gloves is that they can be any instrument – I use them as drums, guitars, entire orchestras… any movement can be any sound. I sound like a big band, but it’s just me. That’s a lot of fun.
MESMERIZED: ‘Mc Cartney IV’ is your latest effort; How was it switching from the MIMU gloves to organic, simple instruments such as the ukulele?
DSK: Writing a song for the ukulele was strange – I don’t even know what chord I’m playing. I had this idea that this song was “smaller” than the big wall of noise I make with the gloves. The ukulele is also a cheap and cheerful instrument in workshops – I work a lot with young Disabled children to make music more accessible; most people know me for high-tech stuff like the gloves, but there’s something instant and fun about the uke. I thought the least I could do is try and write a good song for it.
MESMERIZED: What does the track mean to you?
DSK: It’s a love song of sorts. I’ve been with my partner for a long time, and I’ve not always been the easiest to live with. I’ve been through some complex stuff, and I’ve been a bit closed off to other people, even my partner. I wanted to say “look, I know I’m a weirdo, but I am YOURS.” That line about “I would live a thousand lives for you” was like a Buddhist thing; I’ll keep coming back to be with you. It’s a little song, but it’s. big thing. Like, true love really feels like it will last, forever, you know?
MESMERIZED: Do you usually write music alone, or in a team?
DSK: I write alone, but I’d like to change that. DM for collabs, as they say.
MESMERIZED: Artistically speaking, what challenges have the last two years presented you with?
DSK: My studio closed down due to COVID, which sucked, but I was lucky to get funding from Help Musicians UK to support a modest studio in my house. The biggest change for me was that I was travelling and playing music so much before COVID that I never really recorded much – I was just living for playing live. I went to Japan in 2019, the US the year before, all over Europe, and then suddenly I was just at home. With nothing else to do, I started recording again.
MESMERIZED: What are the next steps for your project? Anything exciting on the horizon?
DSK: There’s an album in the pipeline, it’s not done but it’s in okay shape… early 2023 I hope. A UK tour in January, and moving forward I guess I’m trying to expand beyond the gloves. I’ve had an amazing career thanks to them, but I have been playing them for 5 years solidly. I thought McCartney IV would put people off – there’s no gloves on it – but people really enjoy it. Hopefully this is the start of me expanding beyond the gloves.
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