MOZË on learning about dyslexia at an early age
Yorta Yorta/Wangaratta-based artist and producer MOZË has revealed her new single, Would You Be Mine. Here, she explains to that “learning about dyslexia at such an early age gave me a chance to believe in myself”:
A lot of people commend me on pursuing my musical journey, like I had to give something else up for it. I never know how to reply, because music was always so obvious for me – I just happened to be good at it, so it made sense that I did it. I think because the creative industry is so financially unattainable, many people don’t look at it as an option for a career and see it as a pipe dream, or something from a movie.
Music is a way of life and a language to better understand one another. Just as some people are good at running, telling stories, or solving an equation – I was good at singing and performing. I’ve got a big imagination, and creativity allowed me to venture into it.
I struggled in school, and teachers didn’t understand my learning style, I was kept down and thrown into ‘different’ classrooms. I wasn’t understood and couldn’t comprehend why. While I was extremely social, athletic, and musical there was something ‘wrong’ with the way I learnt academically, with my writing style, and how I understood basic information – and it classed me as different.
I realise now, that in defence from the stress at that age, I designed my own world – which my family called ‘Zoë Land’ and others just said I was ditzy. Although it was often patronizing, I love the concept of Zoë land because it was a safe space I created, and no one could take that from me.
It wasn’t until I found music, that I finally felt like I understood something clearly. I fell in love with writing songs at a young age because I could control the narrative and there is no right, or wrong answer in creativity. I owe it to Coldplay, because I spent hours in Zoë Land daydreaming about performing with them, I would listen to their Rush of Blood to The Head album on repeat, imagining if it were me singing on stage with the band. Chris Martin’s writing is so positive, and it celebrates everyone no matter what – and I really connected with that. I ended up seeing them live with my sisters in 2012 and again in 2016.
During primary school my parents drove me from Wangaratta to Melbourne to take part in a dyslexia treatment institute, where I was trained to learn and strengthen my abilities. It was the most wonderful and rewarding clinic because they empowered me to understand how I thought and ensured me that it was a gift to interpret things differently to others. They celebrated me. Honestly thinking back about it now, it makes me feel a little emotional at how incredible the doctors were, because so much of what was holding my learning back was confidence. I was so worried about saying the wrong answer, that I would tune out of class, avoid learning and go to Zoë Land. Learning about dyslexia at such an early age gave me a chance to believe in myself. This experience, along with my Coldplay obsession, empowered me to pursue my musical journey.
There are many forms of Dyslexia, it isn’t always words jumbling around on a page. My visual processing doesn’t imprint in my memory, so there are gaps in my learning. For example, I could learn an equation, or a piece of information, understand it and then completely forget how to get to the answer again. Sometimes information becomes jumbled, and I mix things up. My intelligence is a massive insecurity, but it has also given me this insane drive to prove everyone else (or myself) wrong. I completed school, went to university and am now about to finish a master’s degree with a commonwealth supported place – I don’t want to say that it was all just to prove that I could do it, but I would be lying if it didn’t contribute.
What I have learnt throughout this whole experience though, is that it shouldn’t be about smartness, or academia, or being right. We shouldn’t be ashamed for thinking creatively, or interpreting questions and answers in another light, it should be admired.
Every 3 years, since I was 12, I have written a love letter to Coldplay telling them about how they changed my world. My last one was in 2020, so I’m due to write another this year. I am a true fan girl of Coldplay, and perhaps much of the reason I do music today is all a ruse to one day meet Chris Martin… My 10-year-old dream has manifested itself into a career in music, and honestly – I couldn’t be more grateful.
MOZË TOUR DATES
FRI 1 SEPT | THE VINE HOTEL, YORTA YORTA/WANGARATTA VIC
SAT 2 SEPT | TANSWELLS, TANSWELLS/BEECHWORTH VIC
Keep up to date with MOZË on Insta.
