Sean Booth (Autechre) on neurodivergence

One of my fave bits from the last 6 hour AMA on Twitch. Sean Booth answers a question about getting through the day with neurodivergence. He mentioned in a prior AMA that he was diagnosed with Aspergers' / high-functioning autism (HFA) later in life.

[@akiravelicka8363]

now i know for sure that autechre's music being so appealing for neurodivergent people is not a coincidence lmao

[@ryounyan]

hi jolyne

[@brunoe1891]

oh yeah this is very scientific and verificable

[@ash1one]

i hear you

[@chinmeysway]

Oh god it’s just another pop psychology astrology alternative if you think like this

[@MrDiscobitch]

Yes! Like Moby!

[@allwelikeworms]

"hitting a brick wall academically" literally feeling that.

[@MrDiscobitch]

Like Moby beats dude?

[@mr.pavone9719]

It's nice to hear a take on neurodivergence that isn't so full of toxic positivity. I have a nephew who was just diagnosed with having ADHD and his mother tried to tell him "it's your superpower!" to which he replied "Mom please, that's so condescending. I have ADHD. I just need to learn how to deal with it."

[@vonzo55]

The way Sean tells stuff is as aesthetic as the language of his music

[@kisekinomahou]

Neuros and some people with autism have an extremely high mark when it comes to verbal and/or written communication. I see the same trait in Sean here.

[@kaylons]

​@@kisekinomahou oi wot r u on about huh

[@MrDiscobitch]

Yea, like Moby

[@Choo-choo-chookcha]

This just shows how important it is to have an activity that fulfils you and people that are appreciative of it. Your focus shifts from how damaged you are from medical/mental/physical/financial condition and towards what is good in your life. There is no apparent need to make that activity your job. “Finding your passion” worked for very people and destroyed thousands. And millions are content with their job that sustains them and their hobby that fulfils them being separate.

[@MrDiscobitch]

yes! Same as Moby!

[@nathanduin6093]

Our 18 year old is an abstract artist and HFA and it was like Sean was describing him. Surreal.

[@neocolors]

I'm ND too and I love Ae. Just listened to the Melbourne Live Set while taking a nap. The way those sounds and rhythms develop in their music resembles so much how my brain works: little thoughts coming up and dissolve again, no hard structure, just associations and ideas floating around. I'm a musician and struggle with structured music, because it gets boring so fast and I need to concentrate too hard. I like spontaneity and having the freedom of changing the direction the music is going on the spot. I think their way of creating and performing their music is perfect for ND brains, on the performer and the listener side.

[@elektrozil9728]

basically, being cool got him thru it.

[@MrDiscobitch]

Wow! Like the Moby

[@drill6739]

he’s so real

[@MrDiscobitch]

Like Moby

[@MrDiscobitch]

Moby real

[@thrax4939]

Sean and Rob are the closest people in the modern era to true musical geniuses on the level of Stockhausen and Xenakis

[@acornbird]

yup

[@Vingul]

I've loved their '90s output for a long time, but can you recommend a few specific live recordings to check out? I'm asking out of the blue here but you seem like you might have some concrete examples. There's so much stuff out there it's a bit boggling to the old noggin.

[@thrax4939]

@@Vingul kzbin.info/www/bejne/gITThGaKe7hmhpI this is a show they did at a school in Glasgow around the untilted era and it’s pretty mind melting.

[@Vingul]

@@thrax4939 awesome, thanks man!

[@rarelycomments]

Stockhausen was a hack, Autechre are way beyond

[@magade4206]

So I'm sitting in work, trying to disguise my personal laptop for my work one in order to work on a track that I'm having a hard time finishing. Just found out, after 27 years of being labelled all kinds of things, that I'm on the far end of neurodivergence... I opened up this video, having watched the full version numerous times and remembering Sean mentioning neurodivergence. I ended up finding a bit of reassurance in knowing that a human who inspired me so much over the years is faced with similar conditions. At the same time I forgot to stop the audio in a different tab playing this - kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6bNZWdma7eDh9k - MaxMSP Algorithmic Ambient. I'm not really sure what's happening, but listening to Sean while some ambient beauty is playing at the same time... I feel as this is the most I've been understood in years.. I feel like the universe showed some understanding through this little gesture... This helped, a lot... especially due to the fact that I've been on a rather depressing and anxious spell lately... I'm so glad...

[@riksnoek6068]

Nice to here this. This makes me identify more with your music while being diagnosed with Asperger's (probably) on a very young age.

[@MrDiscobitch]

Possibly like Moby was

[@MagnitudePerson]

I got Aspeger/autism too ,and it makes i was always fascinated by Braindance/IDM typer production, it really caters more to autistic people, than attentive, focusing music, good relaxation the nervesystem too for sure.

[@coolgamer7999]

dang no wonder why i fuck with his music sm, similar minds attract each other even if it's indirectly with art.

[@stup4501]

Wishing you well dood, I'm in a similar boat. Always loved your tunes x

[@glassboxes]

what a wholesome and thoughtful individual. what a joy

[@MrDiscobitch]

What a Moby

[@Robhalifax]

I;m also neurodivergent. Diagnosed with ADHD in my 50's. Better late than never. I totally identify with his experience at school. I went from being one of the brightest in junior school to getting no qualifications at Secondary. Love Autechre.

[@parkourboio1062]

this explains so much about him sitting down for 6 hours outside and just talking like his life depends on it

[@narot23]

Amen brother, "disorder" is not what you or I are, my condition may not be the same as yours, but neurodivergence is the appropriate language to use. I don't see a 4-leafed clover and call it a "quad-disordered clover", I just see it and move on by.

[@MrDiscobitch]

I was diagnosed as Moby

[@chinmeysway]

The things said at the end are great, or I agree wholeheartedly. Ppl get obsessed with identity through psychopathology, astrology, Tony’s of pop psychology. It’s really juvenile when you consider how much something tangible like socioeconomics shapes your identity.

[@biggiesmartypants]

Intersectionality: you are shaped by a lot of factors. Personal and societal factors and the interplay between them.

[@frankvazquez5974]

I'm quite certain I have a similar undiagnosed condition and spot on with all this.

[@MostlyLoveOfMusic]

very cool dude

[@michalkochanik6418]

brilliant mind

[@MrDiscobitch]

Brilliant Moby mind

[@SkinnyEMedia]

05:34, hope he doesn't get cancelled for saying this!

[@anone1243r]

For a second my playback speed changed to 0.75 somehow. Sean sounded so sad ;_;

[@ping.infinity]

fixated on prefabricated identities

[@herpsmaltwatta]

Like Moby?🥳

[@Little_Internet_Monster]

Friendly

[@jpfizzle1]

When your group’s first name is “lego feet” it was a safe assumption hehe But srsly tho Sean is very concise with how people can learn to grow and cope with neurodivergency

[@chroma_ky]

hes me

[@bugglebegger143]

what a great guy. so cool. like others in the comments i struggle with these things too, can be pretty tough in the workplace when you're forced to interact with others you don't really want to.

[@birdzzzondayflu2489]

“Fuckin cry laughing thinkin bout vic reeves”

[@aboutthisproduct7674]

autechre

[@occupant123]

we should have a pint

[@wildersworkshop]

Heavily identify with this.

[@MrDiscobitch]

As you would Moby

[@novapolicelee]

how come?

[@MrDiscobitch]

Moby jealousy

[@estevancarlos]

I went through a similar experience in school where I was bullied for a while and then when people heard I made electronic music I was treated dramatically different.

[@jordimedina2777]

he's just like me frfr

[@kisekinomahou]

Based

[@user-vg5rv5xf4u]

I drink

[@rseasyguidesto]

He’s just like me fr

[@MrDiscobitch]

He’s so much like my friend Moby man

[@chinmeysway]

I hate the divergent pop science movement. There is no typical, there’s no normal. Suggesting so has worse side effects in communities than any spectrum attributes, which are rarely even that problematic or intense. Systems are problematic and intense. The terms don’t bring ppl together it’s just clutter. Think more! It’s not that interesting to be abnormal bc sorry; it’s still a human trait, all of the psych disorders are. You can’t really be less human or more. And that is fine.

[@Brian-rt5bb]

Large supermajorities of people (like 60%, 70%, 80% depending on the study) diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder are unemployed, and the rates of co-morbid disorders like depression, suicidal behaviors, anxiety are off the charts, acting like this isn't a discrete group of people with distinct needs, but just another flavor of ice cream is really dumb. Normal is a statistical concept and it definitely exists.

[@georgemulford2910]

I completely agree with you! So Sean has a ‘problem’ but it’s a coincidence he disliked school and makes incredible music?…..