Vancouver Island musician embracing divergences in life and in music

Rhianna Barr-Beaumont’s new song, Cold Hearted, is a product of her autism and a distinct approach to music

Rhianna Barr-Beaumont is leveraging her unique perspective on her new song Cold Hearted.

As a person with autism, Barr-Beaumont has long used music as a tool to communicate the feelings she found unable to express with just her words.

“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.”

Since she was a child, Barr-Beaumont has been honing her musical skills. Today, she works out of the Victoria home she shares with her husband, and has made herself into a singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist. Her work often explores the use of keyboards, sequencers and various digital audio workstations.

For Barr-Beaumont, her diagnosis has never been a roadblock; if anything, it has allowed her to approach her art in a more unique way. This is clear on her new single, Cold Hearted, a cover and reinvention of the 1988 Paula Abdul dance classic.

Released in August 2024, Barr-Beaumont strips back much of the track’s production while emphasizing its electronic elements, creating a more spacious, fresh, and carefree take on the track. This is a stark contrast to Abdul’s original pop-centred cautionary tale.

“I’ve known Cold Hearted since I was a teenager, and I’ve always been drawn to its powerful lyrics.

“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.” But, she’s still having fun 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.”

Barr-Beaumont’s version is available on YouTube and Spotify now.

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