Autism (or autism spectrum disorder/ASD), and neurodivergence as a whole, are seldom talked about in most media. However, there is a minority in the art space that make works that explore these topics, but usually do so subtly and in a way that can’t be easily decoded. This can be especially difficult for neurotypical analysts, so this article will seek to bridge the gap. The subject for analysis is the song “Birdbrain,” (BIRDBRAIN (w/ OK Glass) feat. Kasane Teto) made by Jamie Paige and OK Glass using the VSynth Kasane Teto. VSynths are digital voice banks that can translate words into sung lyrics by stringing voice clips together. Kasane Teto is not only a program, but also the de-facto singer, this article will refer to her as such, and as her singing in first person. “Birdbrain” was released to YouTube on June 27, 2025, and has garnered about 25.5 million views as of March 2026. The lyrics explore the struggles and mindset of autistic people, particularly when socializing with neurotypicals (people who do not have conditions such as autism, ADHD and many others; most people).

The largest theme related to autism in the lyrics is shown through the frequent use of symbolism, namely birds. The term “birdbrain” is used frequently by Teto to refer to herself. It is an allusion to how her brain works differently than most; at the same time, “birdbrain” is often used as an insult to call people stupid. In this context, it takes both roles. Autistic people can become socially isolated due to their psychological differences, and thus can feel broken or out of place among others. So, the usage of the term “birdbrain” is both self-deprecating humor and a way of expressing the thought of being out of place or being perceived as dumber than others. The term “bird” is specifically used by Teto to refer to herself and nobody else, further expressing her differences to other “normal” people. This idea of malfunction appears outside of the “birdbrain” analogy as well, such as the lyric; “tell me what about me is built so wrong,” which depicts Teto trying to understand her deprecated look of herself. The “birdbrain” analogy as a whole could also reference the frequent behavior to use pre-established terminology to explain complex topics, in this case autism. For the sake of simplification, the analogy is likely used to give a baseline idea of what having autism is like, which itself is also filtered through the lens that Teto sees herself in.

Many lyrics throughout the song are references to various ASD symptoms, such as “this bird, expert in the absurd,” referring to the tendency for autistic people to form hyperfixations over topics they enjoy. The line “I don’t think my head is coming off,” alludes to the incurable nature of autism, and how it can’t be taken out of a person. Autism is part of who they are, and while it can be managed, there is nothing that can be done to “cure” autism. However, this does not make autism completely untreatable, or a permanent problem that is supposedly unfortunate to not be solved. On the contrary, it’s not much different than a personality trait that can cause the same type of struggles everyone has. This negative outlook is then referenced later in the song, in the lines “is it really true? / That a bird like me could never think like you?”, which questions this idea that autistic people can’t or shouldn’t interact with neurotypicals. Autism is not to be treated as a solvable problem, or as a reason to distance or ostracize, as many people unfortunately experience. According to Mayo Clinic, many people on the autism spectrum can become socially distant throughout their lives. This not only occurs due to real differences in brain functioning, but also the perception of not being able to effectively communicate, and thus avoiding it. 

“Birdbrain” is a very complex song. Metaphors are used constantly, lyrics can be vague, and it can be hard to understand if you don’t personally relate to the message itself. This song has gradually gained popularity over time, having recently breached the top 200 most-watched VSynth songs on all of YouTube, bringing more awareness to the topic of neurodivergence as a whole and making people question what autism actually is and means. 

Sources:

The relationship between autistic traits and the stress of social isolation: Development of an explanatory model – PMC 

Autism spectrum disorder – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic 

VocaStats – YouTube