Jerrah Patston and His Ability to Write a Song on the Spot - Hope 103.2

Jerrah Patston and His Ability to Write a Song on the Spot

Meet a young musician from the Blue Mountains whose autism helps fuel a gift for songwriting and performing.

Listen: Singer-songwriter Jerrah Patston chats with Ben McEachen about what music means

By Ben McEachenFriday 3 Dec 2021Hope AfternoonsMusicReading Time: 2 minutes

One of the best conversations I have had this year was with Jerrah Patston, a young musician from the Blue Mountains.

Today, for International Day of People With Disability, singer-songwriter Jerrah performed at the Abilities Alive concert at Sydney Olympic Park.

I spoke with Jerrah the day before his latest gig.

We chatted over video call. Apart from his immaculate taste in cool hats, Jerrah grabbed me with his passion for performing. Oh, and his ability to write a song right in front of my eyes.

Seriously. Listen to the full interview in the player above and check out the grand finale – Jerrah’s new Christmas Carol: Come Ring Those Bells!

I’m still humming it. And, again, go back to the bit where he composed it AS HE WAS singing it.

I know, right.

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Among other things to know about Jerrah, including a love for cricket and food courts, is that he is on the autism spectrum.

Jerrah shared how this impacted his speech and the amount he talked.

While he let me know he had not always been into music, Jerrah finds the lyrical, melodic artform to be the best language for communication.

“It makes me feel pretty happy, pretty excited,” Jerrah said about getting into the creation of music for the world.

He also loves performing, “It makes me feel joyful. It can be a really interesting thing; just being in the moment. Being yourself”.

“I really like the atmosphere. People saying, ‘More, more, more,” Jerrah said with dry humility.

Jerrah’s next album is out December 7. Sing Exactly Like That was recorded in Newtown during the pandemic and you can get it here (as well as his previous releases).

He also has a gig coming up at Penrith Regional Gallery, Emu Plains, on January 8.

“Come ring those bells.”

Awesome.

Listen to the full interview with Jerrah in the player above and try to stop yourself from singing Come Ring Those Bells for the rest of the day.

Main image: Lyndal Irons Photography