Blind singer Jamie’s music tells painful story

Jamie Garlett, a blind singer and songwriter from Balladong Country, is set to release his debut single, ‘Four Years Old’.

Based in Northam, Western Australia, Jamie’s music draws from his powerful personal history and a story of resilience.

This moving track reflects the painful experience of Jamie’s Uncle, who was taken from his family at a young age and raised at the New Norcia Mission for six years.

Titled ‘Four Years Old’, the song encapsulates the heartbreak of being stolen from loved ones and poignantly echoes the sorrow and tears shed from this traumatic separation.

A raw and powerful tribute to his Uncle’s story, Jamie’s debut single offers a glimpse into the emotional and cultural heritage that shapes his artistry.

Garlett inherited Retinitis Pigmentosa, a genetic disorder causing blindness, shared by his father and affecting his children. At 10, his father gave him a guitar, but it wasn’t until age 23, as his vision began to fade, that Jamie picked it up and began writing his own music.

By the time he was 27, most of his sight had been lost, and it was during this challenging time that his guitar became a guiding light, helping him navigate through the darkness.

It was through music that Jamie found healing, and it sparked a deep passion for writing his own songs and falling in love with music.

Not only is Jamie a talented singer/songwriter, he is also inspiring younger generations as he is an emerging elder on Ballardong country, teaching the Noongar language through songs.

Catch Jamie launching “Four Yours Old” on Sunday, June 8 at Lyric’s Underground in the Perth suburb of Maylands, with guests Rob Viney, Jenna Hardie and Kym Redmond.