Patrick Dexter became a social media sensation during the lockdown, and he has promised to continue playing the instrument that made him famous “no matter what happens” on Twitter under Elon Musk.
A cellist from Ireland whose online performances went viral during lockdown has expressed concern about the future of social media.
People, according to Patrick Dexter, should consider how much will be lost if negativity leads to the demise of platforms like Twitter.
He stated, “There is so much hostility there, but let’s be mindful that if we lose this, and Twitter in particular since I believe it plays a unique function in that space, we would be losing something truly tragic.
As things may be going, I believe it would be a big loss to see it disappear.
Patrick, who began playing the cello at age seven, did not join social media until March 2020, when Ireland went into lockdown.
His posts went viral when they were filmed outside his cottage in County Mayo, on the edge of Ireland’s breathtaking west coast.
“When I was a primary school teacher, I played for my students, and today I play for millions of people online,” he explained.
It affects your soul.
I inquired as to what he believed had connected with his new global audience: the music, the location, or a combination of both.
He stated, “The west of Ireland has a certain visceral effect on you. This can be felt in the current weather conditions.
“That, along with the sound of the cello and instrumental music in general, the way it affects your soul, reaches inside you and begs you to contribute something to it.
“It does not teach you what to think in words; rather, it suggests a sensation, to which you add your views and life story.”
Patrick’s newfound online celebrity has enabled him to pursue a career in music, which he describes as “a dream come true.”
Patrick shares the credit with his gorgeous rescue dog Naoise, who has become nearly as renowned as Patrick himself.
His debut album, appropriately titled Solace, was the genre’s best-seller, and he has even performed for Vice President Joe Biden.
A letter from a Canadian fan was written simply to the cellist who performs outside his cottage in Mayo.
“Regardless of what happens, if Twitter’s ship sinks to the bottom of the Atlantic, I’ll still be playing my cello outside my cottage,” he says.
