Page 15 - Community Living Magazine 35-2

in conversation

When they first met, Latheron refused
to sing in front of Pemberton. Pemberton
asked him why and Latheron said:
“Because I can’t sing!” Latheron asked if
he could write songs instead: “I said, well,
I kind of keep everything inside of me –
do you know what I mean? – like my
emotions, or everything.”
He felt writing songs might help him to
express some of those emotions. And that
is exactly what happened. Pemberton
helped him record the songs and sang on
some of them, along with other
professional singers.
The result is that Latheron has joined
an illustrious line of songwriters who
write songs for others. About 10 of the
songs have been released and can be
bought as downloads or listened to on
streaming services and YouTube.
Latheron explains that he likes to have a The start of a musical odyssey with Carl
story element in his songs. His most Pemberton of Journey South; holding copies of his
well-known song is called Run. Like many book outside a store that stocks it
of his songs, it has an autobiographical
element and is based on a difficult it’s good to be kind to one another. Don’t
relationship in his past. ever judge people,” he says.
He wants his songs to help people who He has experience of being judged and
have been in bad relationships: “I want abused. For example, a few years ago he
people to know that there is a way out. was at an airport with the Autism Matters
You don’t have to stay in a relationship group. “You could hear other people
when it’s not working out.” You can run? saying ‘Look at them spakkas’. And I just
“Yeah,” he says, laughing, “that’s what the want to tell people that we are normal
song is about, yeah, like RUN!” He wants and we do have feelings. Even the people
the songs to help people “build their who can’t speak, they can hear, and they
mental health and strength do have feelings.”
in their relationships” and Latheron says he finds
in life. Writing the songs close relationships hard to
has helped him. make. “Because I am out as
Asked about inspirations, gay and I have had really bad
Latheron says he experiences in relationships,
particularly admires the it’s really hard to trust
singer Adele “because all someone. And sometimes I do with my autism. I am scared of flying. I
her songs are basically just want to give up on love. think ‘Oh my God, I could get on a plane
about her past Do you know what I mean? and it could crash and I could die’. It is a
relationships and stuff. People say: ‘Oh don’t give up very hard life.”
She inspires me to write.” – there is always someone At the same time, he feels the
He also likes Peter Andre, there for someone’.” difficulties he has experienced have
but not all of his songs. I remind him that his book helped to shape him. “If I didn’t have this
Latheron mentions also gives the same message. life now, I wouldn’t be who I am now. If I
Katie Price, who was once married to “Yeah, but it is very hard to had never had the ups and downs with
Andre and he has read my interview with believe in myself after going from being relationships, I wouldn’t be a songwriter.
her (summer, pages 14-15). bullied at school or college. When I hear “When I brought my book out, it was so
“I really like her as a person,” he says. “I my music on the radio, it’s very hard to hard. I was thinking: am I doing the right
have seen the documentary Harvey and believe that I can achieve stuff, you know. thing? Am I pushing myself out there you
Me. I think every parent fights for their Even now, it’s very hard to believe I’ve got know for people to think ‘well, he’s got
kids but, when you’ve got kids with a book out and that I have got a second autism’. Well, I might have autism but I
autism, you’ve got to fight a bit more.” book coming out very soon as well.” live a normal life. Do you know what I
He adds that, for an autistic person, life mean? Like we all do.” He laughs.
Mission for understanding can sometimes seem like a big battle and He plans to launch a podcast: “I want
Helping people in the wider world he worries a lot about life. to talk about autism and bring people in
understand about autism has become a “Like whether people may not like me to talk about their autism as well, and
mission for him. because of the way I speak, or my tone or play my songs on there about living
“I am hoping to go into schools after you know. I think about everything. I am with autism.” n
the pandemic and talk about autism, how always a worried person. I think that’s to ● www.bobbybigdreamz.com

www.cl-initiatives.co.uk Community Living Vol 35 No 2 | Winter 2022 15