TITLE
Grounding
CLIENT
BBC Radio 6 Music
SERVICES
Creative Direction
Radio Production
Grounding is a series which celebrates the unique perspectives and creativity of neurodivergent artists. Across the series they explore how neurodiversity shapes their relationship with music and highlight the songs that hold personal significance.
Four artists share their neurodivergent experiences in this 12-part series: Mercury Prize nominated musician Emma-Jean Thackray, legendary musician Gary Numan, composer AFRODEUTSCHE, author and podcaster Blindboyboatclub.
Emma-Jean Thackray says: “I feel like I’ve been really brave making these shows about my neurodivergences. I’ve opened up more on these shows than I do with my loved ones, particularly about my OCD, in the hope that sharing my experiences will help others feel less alone or illuminate them. Telling my story with music is the only way I know how to express myself and my story is inextricably woven with my neurodivergence. It’s how I make the art that I do.”
For Gary Numan: “I live with Autism and I know I interact with the world differently, awkwardly. It’s often difficult, challenging, even frightening at times, but I see my neurodivergence as a gift, not a disorder. It gives me so much more than it takes. I hope people take away from the shows this one simple truth; we are not damaged, not broken, we are just different.”
Blindboyboatclub says: “I’ve worked in TV for years and have gone through great lengths to come across as “normal”. I’ve always wanted to share my love and passion for music on the radio, but have never been given the opportunity because of a fear that I’d be perceived as being too strange or eccentric for such a mainstream platform. It was a pleasure to make these Grounding episodes, because I got to be my authentic autistic self.”
AFRODEUTSCHE says: “This is my journey - from before my diagnosis to now - with songs I’ve written and music that’s touched my heart. Some of it no one’s ever heard before. Stories of love, understanding love, relationships to music/art/light/colour, and parts of my private life I’ve often kept hidden… It’s not easy sharing the deeper parts of myself, I tend not to, but I’m taking a brave stand and opening up! I'm taking some of my own advice “If it scares you Henrietta and a voice says that you can't do this, you're no good…. DO IT”. So here I am.”
Producing shows like Grounding requires attention, care and openness. As experienced operators, we couldn’t have done this without the generosity of the artists themselves and close collaboration with the BBC’s Diversity & Inclusion team, BBC Editorial Standards and the Donaldson Trust, the National Body for Neurodiversity, which delivers services and improves access and opportunity for neurodivergent people.
Louise Storie, Head of Connect at The Donaldson Trust, supported the team in creating a neuro-affirming context for their work, including helping them to prepare for interviews with neurodivergent artists, advising on neuro-inclusive terminology, language, and approach.
Coming Soon - we’ll be posting one of producer’s Louise Mason’s personal journey in bringing these programmes to air.
