about
In 2019, FMA + 12 Gage were approaced by Anna Kennedy OBE with an idea to create a song for the ‘Give Us A Break’ anti bullying campaign. Matthew and Callum both jumped at the chance of being able to help other people through using their music.
After two months of hard work, trial and error, frustration and many scrapped ideas, Spectrum was finally born. Callum drew upon his experiences of dealing with an abusive, bullying step parent when he was younger and Matthew looked to his early life and struggles with addiction and isolation as sources of inspiration. Both vocalists stepped out of their comfort zone to deliver a softer more emotional song than the ones that they normally create.
The song is built around a message of hope, and in turn, FMA + 12 Gage hope that it connects with those who are struggling like they once were. No matter the difficulties the pair went through to create the song, two months of hard work pales in comparison to letting someone know that they are not alone.
FMA + 12 Gage would like to thank both Anna Kennedy and the ‘Give Us A Break’ campaign for giving them this opportunity.
The Give Us A Break campaign with founder and Autism Ambassador Anna Kennedy OBE calls on all schools, colleges, work places and social events to join the #GUAB campaign and help to make a real change to the lives of all people effected, including people with Autism and other neurological and physical disabilities, by helping people to have the courage to speak up and understand that it is NOT OK to bully in any form.
UK Autism Charity Anna Kennedy Online is dedicated to raising Autism awareness, acceptance, training and understanding to both schools, colleges and within the community to help create a better environment so that all our children and adults can thrive and make their
mark.in the world just like everyone else.
FMA + 12 Gage are a father and son rap duo who use their music to combat their mental health issues. The pair are made up of Matthew Bennett who is now 40 years old and Callum Gage Bennett who is 21. Matthew was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome at the age of 36 and Callum was diagnosed with Dyslexia at 16. They have been performing together for the past six years and began working together as a way of helping Callum’s confidence which in turn, helped Callum to overcome a stutter that he used to suffer from.
They released their debut album, Parental Advisory, in October 2018 to much acclaim.
"The father and son of unholy flows spit with a unique, roughly-hewn, Prestonian intensity" Tom O'Boyle - Metal Hammer
In 2017 they were invited to perform at the charity showcase event, Autism’s Got Talent, where they met Anna Kennedy. It was here that Matthew first experienced a truly welcoming and accepting environment. He had this to say about his time there -
"Being autistic is a very lonely experience - you see, hear and feel things differently to others, which makes it hard to connect with people. Autism's Got Talent is a place where that loneliness did not exist. It was such a comfortable, understanding and welcoming environment. We met so many amazing and talented people and had far more fun than we ever expected to. Anna has managed to create something that both shows the talents of those on the spectrum as well as showing those same people that they're not alone in this world."
Follow FMA + 12 Gage on all social media @FMA12Gage
To read more about Matthew and Callum’s journey -
www.annakennedyonline.com/matthew-bennett-on-sky-tv-the-chrissy-b-show/ lyrics
I remember, I was reduced to nothin’, the words never softened,
I remember bein’ secluded, sat in my room, a confused kid,
I remember lookin’ down at my clenched fists, bruises form upon my skin,
I seem vacant, but it’s frustration, it’s so hard to ignore,
I remember hearin’ all the rumours, the half-truths,
I remember feelin’ like an alien trapped in a cramped class room,
I remember the way, they’d laugh at all the things that I’d say, and,
I remember the way, I’d mistake a grin, to mean, a new friend,
I’d hide away in my own world,
To escape every one of their words,
I never knew, that I deserved worth,
It’s never long before the dream bursts,
Then I hear that stomping up the hall way, to the door way,
And I see that hand creep up on the door frame,
There’s a silhouette armed with endless threats, and I can't look away,
I'm big you’re small, is what you said to me,
My eye line falls, I couldn’t breathe,
What you saw was flawed, and you made me believe,
I couldn’t stand tall, on my own two feet,
And I’d scream and scream until my throat would bleed,
It’s hard to speak through these gritted teeth,
I’d do anything to numb the pain,
I can’t hear the music through the pourin’ rain,
I pretend that I'm far away,
I pretend I’ve escaped this place,
I pretend when I lay awake,
I pretend that the dream never fades,
When everybody sings, I try and sing along,
But I’m always singing the words to the wrong song,
Dancing to a different tune,
I used to wish that I was just like you,
Charismatic,
Conversation comin’ automatic,
Simple to fit in, no need to practise, at,
Holdin’ eye contact, hidin’ scars, fightin’ panic,
Smilin’ through sadness, tryin’ hard not to fall apart,
I was afraid they’d hear the beatin’ of my heart,
But now they hear the beat that’s beatin’ through my heart,
I found a melody that’s helpin’ me,
That’s flowin’ differently inside of me,
And I’m singin’ all the way home,
And now I stumble along, mumblin’ songs,
With a stutterin’, mutterin’, fumblin’ tongue,
On and on I go, I know that I won’t fall,
I use the music to improve ‘n’ to prove you wrong,
I spoke up n let the words out,
I spoke out ‘n’ let the sounds from deep down out now,
I’ve gone from coverin’ up, to recoverin’ now,
Once I couldn’t pronounce, but now,
I’m in command of those sounds,
I’m big your small is what you said to me,
I’m afraid, I’m not afraid, that I don’t believe,
What you saw was your own flaws in me, you don’t see,
You no longer matter to me,
Your words ain’t what they used to be,
I remember…
It meant nothing to you but every night I cried,
I remember trying to dry my eyes
In the dark, I saw a light,
Enough to blind my sight,
In my mind I’d died,
Now the sounds are alive,
Hummin’ a melody tellin’ me that I can survive,
I’m still standin’ in the aftermath, after you so it’s hard to deny,
That I can, I believe, that I am
Not alone, on my own,
I can let the world know,
That I can ‘n’ I will, rebuild,
Scars never disappear but they heal,
You can, you will, you are,
Important, even if you don’t feel it,
Or believe it,
You can get through this,
I believe it,
‘Cos I was stood right where you are,
credits
from
The Takeover EP,
track released November 11, 2019
Written and Performed by FMA + 12 Gage,
Produced by Brandon 'Dreadnought' Donohue,
Co-produced and mixed by Stephen 'Polypores' Buckley
Intro Written & Performed by Kyan Moore
Backing Vocals by Helen Gowling & Logan Smith
Sound Effects by Berry Moore
license
all rights reserved
