
Out Music: Greyson Chance, Bryce Bowyn, ÖZLEM, Matt Palmer


ÖZLEM (pronounced “Uss-lem”), the project conceptualized by queer, non-binary singer-songwriter and producer Liam Lyons-Shields, explores themes of identity, culture, and longing through enigmatic-tinged dark pop. Inspired by everyone from Lady Gaga, to SOPHIE, to Avril Lavigne and Hannah Montana, ÖZLEM is ready to continue pushing boundaries in music with its first official release, Fagpop. A 7-track audiovisual project, Fagpop is a journey through a night out in New York City – getting ready, arriving at the function, taking in the party, having a smoke break, and coming down from the high of the night. All its glamour, all its glory, all its heartbreak. Nostalgic pop sounds reminiscent of eras past find new life through clever, tongue-in-cheek lyrics and atypical themes. Fagpop is due out June 4th, 2021 on all platforms. You can follow ÖZLEM on Instagram here. Take a listen to lead single, “Marlboro Man,” below.

Greyson Chance Has A Moment On The Dance Floor ‘Dancing Next To Me’

“In many ways, whether it’s right or wrong, I hope he hears this song and hates it,” Chance says. “I hope it brings an ill feeling to him just because I felt betrayed.” The song, co-written with producer/songwriter Teddy Geiger, was the first to come out of his collaboration with Geiger because the experience was so fresh in his mind. As he shared with MTV, “I was really tired this summer of being people’s experiments.” Back in November, I covered Chance’s grungy, synth-pop bop, “Boots.” “Dancing Next To Me” is now available on all digital download sites. Check out the music video below.
Greyson Chance Is Dropping Beats In ‘Boots’
Hey hey, Lil Nas X, there’s more than one cowboy dropping beats in boots. Out singer/songwriter Greyson Chance drops his latest single & music video, “Boots.” The 22-year-old says he wrote the track as his response to how pop culture is currently embracing Western imagery.
Chance says while writing the song he found himself “imagining what Johnny Cash would be like if he were around and making music in 2019.” The Oklahoma native says that ‘Western’ isn’t so much about style, “it’s about an attitude, an obsessive loyalty, and an unwavering wildness.”
I’ve been western before all of these punks These punks in California who think that they can punch
Chance tweeted out a dedication for the song telling his 2.7 million followers the track is for “the stars in California who can’t throw a punch.” Musically, “Boots” delivers a polished synth-pop rock vibe that’s earthy with an edge, and Chance’s vocals are smooth and confident.
Chance first found the public spotlight when a video of him performing Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi” went viral in 2010 (the video has over 66 million views on YouTube). Ellen DeGeneres invited him on her talk show, and he was soon off and running. He released his debut album in 2011 but stepped away from music at the age of 18 to focus on his college studies. His latest album, portraits, was released earlier this year to strong reviews. In 2017, he came out via an Instagram post encouraging others “navigating their sexuality to devote as much time as they need to the process of finding self-confidence, self-acceptance, and self-love.” He added that he felt it was “time to let a few more friends know that I am happy, I am here for you, and I am proud of who I am.”
YouTube Sensation Greyson Chance: “I Am Happy, I Am Here For You, And I Am Proud Of Who I Am”
You’ll recall the young Mr. Greyson Chance, whose performance at his 6th-grade talent show ended up on YouTube and garnering over 59 million views.
Of course, that’s the same Greyson Chance who Ellen DeGeneres invited onto her TV show and summarily signed him at the age of 12 as the first artist on her new recording label eleveneleven.
Fast forward to today, as a 19-year-old Chance has come out via an expressive and very well-written Facebook post:
The decision to write this came after I received a message from a brave individual. Such message inspired me to shed light on an aspect of my private life which I have kept distant from my career in music.
I came to fully recognize that I was gay when I was sixteen. I decided not to publicize my sexuality largely due to a matter of privacy, as I was still trying to find comfort and confidence within my own skin. Further, I always found conversations regarding music, politics, art, books – and the greatness of Nas’ catalog – to be far more interesting than what type of guy I was into. This is still true today.
While this message is most definitely overdue, I encourage anyone who is navigating their sexuality to devote as much time as they need to the process of finding self-confidence, self-acceptance, and self-love. Hell, for me, it took years to write this message. Nevertheless, I figured now was the time to let a few more friends know that I am happy, I am here for you, and I am proud of who I am.
Cheers
-G
Here’s the spectacular video that started it all for Greyson. The clip now has over 59 million views. What an incredible talent at such a young age.
Congrats, Greyson, on living life loud and proud!