Billboard recording artist, Broadway veteran and People Magazine’s first-ever openly gay“Hottest Bachelor,” Matt Zarley has received critical acclaim as an out LGBTQ artist for years.
It’s worth noting Zarley was never closeted as an artist. Long before it was considered ‘brave’ decided to come out, Zarley proudly took center stage – no mask, no hiding.
In a recent Instagram post in honor of Pride Month, he wrote: “When I released my very first recording in 2002, I was out. I have always been out. I was out when some called it brave and a risk to be. I was just me.”
With his uplifting music video, “Change Begins With Me”, Zarley scored the 2012 OUTmusic Single of the Year.
Oh, he also picked up Album of the Year that year.
Billy Porter (Golden Globe nod – FX’s Pose, Tony Award winner Kinky Boots) has teamed up with two-time Out Music Award winner Matt Zarley to record their take on the empowering 1995 Des’ree hit, “You Gotta Be.”
Close friends for more than 30 years, the two artists had been looking to collaborate on a music project and found the message that “love will save the day” particularly resonant in these challenging times.
Matt Zarley and Billy Porter
You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold You gotta be wiser, you gotta be hard You gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm You gotta stay together All I know, all I know, love will save the day
Matt Zarley
“Billy and I are both passionate about all LGBT causes, particularly ones that involve our next generations,” said Zarley, who also produced the track as well as directed and edited the video.
“We wanted to help raise awareness for this invaluable organization and the work they do,” It’s incredibly important and is helping save the lives of the youngest and most vulnerable members of our community.”
A postscript to the music video shares the sobering fact that there are roughly 1.7 million homeless youth on the streets of the United States, and a disproportionate 40% identify as LGBT. In Los Angeles alone, there are roughly 3,500 LGBT youth living on the streets.
And speaking of ‘community,’ that’s exactly what’s front and center in the music video for “You Gotta Be.”
Zarley and Porter are joined by dozens of friends grooving, twirling, lip-syncing for their lives in solo and same-sex couplings.
After ruling the red carpet during this past awards season, Porter is currently shooting Season 2 of the acclaimed FX series Poseset to return to the airwaves June 11.
Zarley’s latest project is an album titled The Estrogen Sessions,which pays tribute to some of pop music’s most prolific female artists (Dolly Parton, Celine Dion, Sara Bareilles, Whitney Houston) featuring the songs they made famous. “I Will Always Love You,” “That’s The Way It Is,” “Gravity,” and “I Look To You” are just a few of the tunes featured on the set.
Check out “You Gotta Be”with Billy Porter and Matt Zarley below.
Out singer/songwriter Matt Zarley’s new music video takes on Sara Bareilles’ masterwork, “She Used To Be Mine.”
As we all know, life is not neat, life is not a straight line.
The road may stretch out in front of us, but every now and then, we do glance at the rearview mirror:
He’s imperfect, but he tries He is good, but he lies He is hard on himself He is broken and won’t ask for help He is messy, but he’s kind He is lonely most of the time He is all of this mixed up and baked in a beautiful pie He is gone, but he used to be mine
Matt Zarley
Coming from this introspective viewpoint, Zarley finds himself weighing some past decisions.
Zarley writes:
Before I started recording, I spent several really wonderful years doing theatre in New York. When I first heard this song, it reminded me of those experiences and how close I hold them to my heart.
I miss them.
I think any of us can relate to this song and it’s message. I think most of us have regrets to an extent. I know there are times when I reflect on my life and think to myself that this is not where I envisioned myself. Not to say that I am not grateful for my life… cuz I am.
But, if I could go back and have a do-over, there are definitely some things I would change.
There are days when I really miss the guy I used to be…he used to be mine.
The guitar-driven approach to the track, with a lovely yet pensive viola at just the right time, makes a perfect frame for Zarley’s muscular vocals.
What? You thought I wasn’t going to count down and recap the year that was 2018?
Fat chance.
Here’s my take on the best that the year had to offer in terms of LGBTQ music, movies, television and pop culture moments, as well as the stories that resonated most with my readers.
Please kick back, pour a cocktail, and take a little journey on the way back machine as I review 2018 in terms of the LGBTQ community.
And, as always, I would muchly appreciate it if you would share The Randy Report podcast with your friends.
So, here we go. Let me know in the comments what you thought I might have missed.
See you all in 2019! Thanks to all of you for visiting The Randy Report. It totally wouldn’t be any fun without you here.
Woofy singer/songwriter Matt Zarley recently dropped his latest music video, “Your Song.”
Zarley says he was drawn to cover the Rita Ora tune the first time he heard it. “It’s one of those songs that doesn’t leave your brain – a true worm,” says the award-winning recording artist. “I just loved the way it made me feel and I love the lyrics.”
He decided to record the song as he was putting together a new two-man show with frequent partner in crime, Jeb Havens, called Works of Heart.
“I knew it would fit perfectly in the thematic structure of the show,” he shares. “This song will also be on our album that’s coming out in a few months.”
The hunky singer (People Magazine‘s first out ‘sexiest bachelor’) takes a stripped-down, acoustic approach for the upbeat track which pairs well with his buoyant power pop vocals.
Being a do-it-yourself kinda guy, Zarley not only produced and recorded the song, but he came up with the concept for the video and edited it as well.
And speaking of editing, it doesn’t take long to figure out Zarley’s ‘band members’ in the music video all look a bit … familiar.
“I have always loved the “cloning” effect on film, and I didn’t want to make this particular video narrative heavy and overly sentimental,” says Zarley. “So I opted for this idea instead.”
But it turns out capturing the ‘all-Matt’ band proved a bit challenging.
“It was really tricky, to be honest,” shares Zarley. “All of the shots of each character in the band had to be done with similar sunlight. Since we shot it outside, that made things it a little temperamental and unpredictable.”
“By the time we got all of the band shots, our plan was to get solo shots of each band member,” he explains. “But, the sun was starting to move, so I could only do one take of each band member. It was a little tricky, and a bit hectic, but we got it done.”
This isn’t Zarley’s first experience behind the camera.
In 2015, he wrote, produced and starred in a long-form music video titled Hopeful Romantic, which co-starred everyone’s favorite gay uncle, George Takei. The short was featured at dozens of film festivals winning several awards along the way.
Looking ahead, Zarley shares he’d like to tackle another short film. “I just have to write it first,” he says with a smile.
Instinct previously covered Zarley’s stunning cover of the Sara Bareilles hit, “Gravity,” here.
Check out the music video for “Your Song” below. Find more of Zarley’s music on YouTube here, and you can follow him on Instagram here.
Out singer/songwriter Matt Zarley drops his new music video for “Gravity” and we have the exclusive premiere.
The track comes from Zarley’s latest album titled, The Estrogen Sessions, which honors of the female pop divas most influential in his career.
About recording “Gravity:”
This is one of my all-time favorite songs and it was the first song I actually recorded for the album.
Fast forward eight or so months later, I go back to revisit the song, listen to it, make any little changes that I needed to, but I wasn’t able to access the files. The hard drive was corrupted. So I had to re-sing the song. I was not that upset because I love this song so much, so I was game for it.
At the end of the session I went to save the files and my computer froze. Well, I felt pretty confident that the session was going to be saved. I was wrong the entire session was gone.
I was so livid that I decided to re-record the song then and there. It was 2 AM.
In the end it actually turned out better than before, so all ends well.
About the music video:
“Originally we had planned out a whole narrative to drive the music video but after shooting the loft footage, I decided for a more minimal approach and let the song itself tell the story. The song has always had an ethereal quality to it…very haunting. I wanted that to take the focus.”
Stripped down and primarily acoustic, Zarley’s production work on the project showcases the strength of the songwriting and his own effortless vocals.
“As I began to arrange these tunes, I made a conscience decision to strip the songs down and reinterpret them with all live music, nothing programmed – real piano, organ, guitar, drums, bass and strings,” says Zarley.
The entire album is imminently listenable. The emotional landscape is soulful and wide, with each track showcasing Zarley’s rich, fluid voice. He shifts from plaintive, affecting intimacy to expansive vocal brawn with equal ease.
Check out more from the album here and you can get the first look at “Gravity” below.
Check out the sassy new music video from out singers Matt Zarley & Jeb Havens (both favorites here on The Randy Report) as they share their take on Meghan Trainor’s “Dear Future Husband.” Dig the awesome arrangement and tight harmonies. Totally fun. The duo recently debuted their new show “Works of Heart” in Puerto Vallarta and Los Angeles and plan to tour later this year. p.s. Jeb will be singing “now and forever husband” as he married his longtime bf, Steven, yesterday in Los Angeles. Congratulations to happy couple!
