Slowly but surely, our society is finally starting to understand neurodivergence. As more and more of those on the spectrum come forward with their experiences, we’re gaining invaluable insight into their unique ways of seeing and hearing—the special process by which they navigate the world.
For that, we can thank artists like Victoria, BC’s Rhianna Barr-Beaumont, whose diagnosed autism hasn’t been a roadblock in her path to musical achievement. Instead, it’s merely another aspect of her story. From Day One, she’s used music as an expression of love, joy, heartbreak and gratitude, letting songs convey her feelings when she couldn’t find the words for what she was trying to say.
“I believe music is a source of holistic healing for the mind, body and spirit,” she says. “From my earliest memory, music has been a constant source of joy in my life.”
And when she says “earliest,” she means it: She’s been singing since before she could talk. Now, as a full-grown woman, she isn’t just a highly developed vocalist with a beautifully ethereal coloratura mezzo-soprano voice; she’s an all-in-one production machine who variously wears the hats of singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist.
Whether she’s laying down one of her original compositions or a cover of one of her favorite songs, Barr-Beaumont is constantly creating fresh arrangements with her arsenal of keyboards and digital music equipment. Working from the home she shares with her husband in beautiful Victoria, she’s become adept at leveraging tools like piano sequencers, GarageBand and the workstation Reaper to capture the sounds she hears in her head. It’s a solitary process to be sure, but one that paradoxically allows her to connect with the world at large on a level not everyone gets to experience.
The latest result of that process is her version of “Cold Hearted,” the 1988 Paula Abdul dance-pop classic she’s given her own singular twist. Stripped down and with a greater emphasis on electronic accents, the rendition she’s come up with is an almost breezy take on Abdul’s cautionary tale.
“I’ve known ‘Cold Hearted’ since I was a teenager, and I’ve always been drawn to its powerful lyrics,” Barr-Beaumont says. “The song’s message of warning someone about a person who doesn’t have their best interests at heart stuck with me. It’s a strong, relatable theme that I felt needed to be reinterpreted with my own style.”
Not that she’s gotten too heavy with it:
“I absolutely love this song because it’s pure pop,” she says. “It’s one of those guilty pleasures that just never gets old. There’s something timeless about its upbeat energy and catchy melody. It’s a song that instantly gets stuck in your head.”
The way she sees it, reliability and routine are the key to building trust with an audience. Plus, they’re simply good for everybody’s mental health: She’s a firm believer that music is Vitamin H—Vitamin Harmony—and we all need a dose every day. Sounds like just what the doctor ordered.