Remarkable Milton Keynes musician on the autistic spectrum hits the high note with Christmas gift idea

Alex Dennis, 24, has an Autistic Spectrum Disorder and has shown huge musical talent from a very young age.

He is normally snapped up to perform as a piano-vocalist to audiences on cruise ships and at holiday resorts, but lockdown meant his work ground to a halt.

Now Alex has come up with a new initiative - offering people a personalised song for Christmas.

"The idea is that Alex will record a cover in various parts that people can send to a loved one as a gift," his mum Isla told The MK Citizen.

"It's especially suitable if there is someone you probably won't be able to see this year."

You can listen to an example in Alex's cover of a Pet Shop Boys Track here and you can see more performances on his website hereA second initiative Alex is launching is special 15-min live gigs for ZOOM parties, where he can be booked to play four of five songs.

"The feedback from a recent try-out was excellent and everyone sang along - and clapped. It's a new way for people enjoy themselves," said Isla.

She said the ASD has meant Alex faced a number of challenges understanding the world as he grew up, and he still continues to do so.

"Thankfully, he has been able to turn his talent into a way of making a living and, for the last couple of years, he has been working mainly on cruise contracts and at holiday resorts. He was working as a piano-vocalist on a cruise ship in the South China Sea in February when Covid broke out, but managed to get back.

"Like all performers, his work has been devastated by the impact of covid. Alex had cruise contracts signed for the whole summer and good prospects for further contracts later in the year, all of which were subsequently cancelled. As we all know, the situation has not improved for performers with venues either shut or economically unviable, and future prospects still uncertain."

Alex spent much of the initial lockdown writing and recording new material for an EP release next year and live streaming weekly gigs on Instagram. However, now that we are in the second wave, he is not sure how long this will continue and has had to thinking of ways to survive over the next 6-12 months.

His mum said: "Having an ASD makes job hunting in an already difficult market extra challenging and, normally, this is something where I would offer Alex support. However, we now have an additional complication in our household because I was diagnosed with a very serious illness in August for which I am now undergoing treatment. Not only is my ability to support Alex through job hunting severely reduced by my illness but we are having to shield to protect me, so his options are even more limited."

He is hoping his two new musical services will keep him busy, keep him creative and bring in a little extra money until performers can start working again, she said.

Alex graduated from the London College of Creative Media (formerly the London Centre of Contemporary Music, LCCM) in 2017, with a BMus in Music Performance and Production on the piano/keys course.

He released his first EP, Dangerous Game, in 201 and two further singles in 2017. He has been playing live gigs since he was 12 before audiences of up to 3000 at venues including Twickenham Stadium and the O2 Forum in Kentish Town.

Alex has played with a string of well-known session and theatre musicians who have supported artists including George Michael, Jethro Tull, The Divine Comedy and Sir Cliff Richard.