Tag: out musicians

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

Greyson Chance drops his new single 'Hellboy'
Greyson Chance drops his new single, ‘Hellboy’
As we jump into May – just weeks away from Pride Month – this is a good time to explore new bops from some of our favorite queer artists. Here’s my roundup of some of the best new music releases from LGBTQ artists. Out artist Greyson Chance throws down some 80s and 90s flashback flavors with his latest single,”Hellboy.” Opening with dark synths, we follow a hooded Chance to a suspicious nighttime meeting where a mystery dancer sporting a flashy, red tracksuit appears grooving to the dance inspired pop hooks of “Hellboy.” Eventually, Greyson becomes the dancer in red, riding the synth wave into the night. The dance-heavy new track is the latest tease from Chance’s long-awaited forthcoming EP, TROPHIES, set for a June 25th release. Over the past year, Chance has kept a very healthy release schedule  the well-received singles “Boots,” “Dancing Next To Me,” the revealing “Bad to Myself,” in which Chance opened up about his battle with an eating disorder, and this past January’s “Holy Feeling.” Hit play below. You can follow Chance on Instagram here.

Bryce Bowyn - Mirror Mirror by Clarissa Villondo
Bryce Bowyn (photo: Clarissa Villondo)
Queer dance-pop artist Bryce Bowyn pulls listeners into the story of a bad breakup with his infectious and anthemic new single “Ruthless.” Bryce Bowyn is a Washington, D.C.-based singer-songwriter and innovative audiovisual artist whose dynamic, story-focused songs and electric performances have captivated the attention of audiences around the nation. An empowering track with a dark edge, “Ruthless” follows the end of a relationship, where, sick of being the one to always get his heart broken, Bowyn turns the tables and becomes the one to shatter his partner’s heart first. You can watch the music video for “Ruthless” below and follow on Instagram here.

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.

Matt Palmer (courtesy pic)
Los Angeles-based pop singer, songwriter and producer Matt Palmer has released his new single “I Don’t Want It,” a sexy and confident single off of his upcoming EP, The Good Parts. The Good Parts – which drops May 28 – features sleek and modern pop/R&B production alongside singable melodies, confessional lyrics, and dynamic vocal arrangements. “When I started working on The Good Parts, I was going through a break up and planned on it being 100% a break up record but it really evolved into something else as things evolved in my personal life,” says Palmer. “I hope it’s a good soundtrack for us as we figure out what life is like post-lockdown!” “‘I’ve written so many broken-hearted boy songs up to this point that writing a song from the perspective of someone who’s afraid of commitment and, in turn, doing the heart breaking was really fun,” Palmer says about the new single. Hit play below and follow Palmer on Instagram here.

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Out Music: Wrabel ‘good’

Acclaimed singer/songwriter Wrabel

Acclaimed singer/songwriter Wrabel
Acclaimed singer/songwriter Wrabel
Out singer/songwriter Wrabel drops his latest single, ‘Good,’ which urges the listener to let go of past disappointments and be present in the here and now.

Let a good thing be good… Don’t you let a good thing go bad

The piano-driven track serves up soaring, soulful vocals by Wrabel accompanied by a rich and earthy gospel chorus. And it’s impossible to miss the artful songwriting skills at hand as he deftly crafts the storytelling through not just the lyrics but the emotional musical build and release of the song. As with his previous hits ‘The Village‘ and ‘11 Blocks,’ Wrabel journeys through an earnest exploration of those personal aspects of life that can be scary and unsure.

A tender moment from the music video for Wrabel's "Good"
A moment from Wrabel’s new music video, ‘Good’
“I feel so lucky to have worked with (video director) Carlos Asse on this video,” Wrabel says. “We wanted to build off of one of my favorite lyrics in the song – ‘I know you still see him in your apartment , let me in i’ll paint the walls’ – following a couple as they move into a new space – like a fresh start.” “Whether it’s anger, resentment or hurt, sometimes it’s the smallest disagreement that can send those feelings from the deep – down to the surface,” adds the artist. “The smallest thing can turn a good thing bad. But leaning in and trusting can keep a good thing good.” American Songwriter hailed Wrabel as “one of Hollywood’s finest songwriters for a decade” as the extensive list of his collaborations include artists like Kesha, Pink, Backstreet Boys, Louis Tomlinson and many more. ‘good’ prefaces Wrabel’s upcoming debut album scheduled for release later this year. Hit play below, and you can follow the artist on Instagram here. I really like this.

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News Round-Up: April 30, 2021

NIKO releases his latest single, "Dance Again"

NIKO releases his latest single, "Dance Again"
NIKO releases his latest single “Dance Again” (photo: Billie Black)
Some news items you might have missed: • LA Magazine: Former N’SYNC member Lance Bass is about to open “the biggest gay nightclub in the USA” in West Hollywood. The new club will land at the same location of the long-running, but now-defunct, RAGE. • NBC News: Amid a slew of anti-transgender bills working their way through state legislatures, the American Medical Association has written an open letter asking governors to veto legislation that would prohibit physicians from providing transition-related care. • BosGuy: It’s Furry Friday over at the longtime Boston-based gay blog. Click here for previous installments of furry goodness at BosGuy.
(image via BosGuy)
• Washington Post: Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) is an apparent ‘no’ vote on statehood for the District of Columbia. Manchin says there should be a constitutional amendment to move DC up to statehood, but there were no such amendments in making Alaska or Hawaii states. • Fox5 Atlanta: The family of Ashli Babbitt, the insurrectionist who was shot by Capitol Police while illegally climbing through a window in the Capitol building, is apparently planning on suing the officer and police department for $10 million.

• New Music: Dance into the weekend with the latest from Randy Report favorite, NIKO (top photo) who wants us all to “Dance Again.” Inspired by classic 90s trance tracks, the LA-based Euro Pop artist takes us on an uplifting sonic journey featuring effortless shimmering vocals, switching with equal ease between Italian and English, as that groovy bass line bops like a boss. NIKO says the track was written during the pandemic when he was “missing my loved ones who were thousands of miles away.” “The track can be interpreted very literally (wishing we could go out dancing like we used to), however, for me, the song’s message goes beyond that,” explains NIKO. “It’s about leaving your home to pursue your dreams, feeling homesick, and looking back on a time when life seemed a little more carefree. “

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New Music: Kat Cunning ‘Could Be Good’

Alt-pop artist Kat Cunning

Alt-pop artist Kat Cunning
Alt-pop artist Kat Cunning (promo photo)
Alt-pop artist Kat Cunning recently released her upbeat, downtempo single “Could Be Good” today reminding us to focus on the light around us, not the dark. “’Could Be Good’ is a portrait of the optimism that kept life rich for me this past crazy year,” Kat says of the new track. “I wrote it in a swing of hope as I was falling in love during the pandemic and the lyrics are an intimate retelling of some of those special little moments.”

The non-binary actor and singer shares they would “love for it to inspire hope and courage for others to take a risk.” “There was a lot of darkness in 2020, but this song is a snapshot of the light,” adds Cunning. “Could Be Good” comes a week and a half after Kat Cunning teamed up with The Ally Coalition for Give A Yes! (G.A.Y.), a voicemail bank where fans can leave messages of encouragement, affirmation and hope at (971) 202-0021. Later this Spring, these voice messages of love will be compiled and featured on GiveAYes.com. Hit play to check out “Could Be Good” above. You can follow Kat Cunning on Instagram here. https://www.instagram.com/p/CNffdKnjay7/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

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Out Music: Brandyn Killz “Losin’ It”

Out artist and producer Brandyn Killz
Brandyn Killz (promo photo)
Out artist and producer Brandyn Killz recently dropped an upbeat new single written for a friend struggling with addiction titled, “Losin’ It.” The track is an infectious dance anthem for anyone faced with a challenge. “Losin’ It” is a fighter’s anthem,” shared Brandyn in a recent interview with SonicSmoothie. “It’s one of those songs you can use to encourage a friend or give yourself a boost. It’s an instant invite to dance your troubles away with me. Describing his music as “electro-soulpop,” Brandyn views music as a form of release and escape; a place where he can be whoever he wants to be, and where he can invite his listeners to do the same, even if only for a moment.

A blend of pop and modern electro with echoes of 70s and 80s classics, the San Diego-based artist’s analog-meets-digital approach to music (fueled by 10 years of music production experience) results in catchy tunes that are “all electronic & dangerously pop.” Intent on inducing feelings of empowerment and independence, Brandyn’s songs are about finding a positive headspace while dealing with complex emotions. Check out “Losin’ It” below and follow him on social media here. https://www.instagram.com/p/CNGd1N8BjrU/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/CMvoZpBhiMH/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/CMaRj7FBhwP/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

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New Music: Lil Nas X ‘Montero (Call Me By Your Name)’

Lil Nas X dropped his new music video, “Montero (Call Me By Your Name),” on the same day that his blockbuster hit “Old Town Road” became the most streamed single in the U.S. As the 21-year-old recording artist released the new video, he took a second to send a message to his 14-year-old self via Twitter. Addressed to “14-year-old Montero” (his legal name is Montero Lamar Hill), the artist wrote:

“I wrote a song with our name in it. It’s about a guy I met last summer. I know we promised to never come out publicly, I know we promised to never be ‘that’ type of gay person, I know we promised to die with the secret, but this will open doors for so many other queer people to simply exist. You see, this is very scary for me, people will be angry, they will say I’m pushing an agenda. But the truth is, I am. The agenda to make people stay the fuck out of other people’s lives and stop dictating who they should be.”

In the music video, Nas appears in drag, shirtless, wearing knee-high boots and eventually giving a certain red-faced demon a lap dance. At this writing, the video has nearly 5 million views in less than a day. “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” is now available on all download/streaming sites here.

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Out Music: Parker Matthews ‘What Happened To Us?’

Out singer/songwriter Parker Matthews in 'What Happened to Us?'
Out singer/songwriter Parker Matthews in 'What Happened to Us?'
Out singer/songwriter Parker Matthews in ‘What Happened to Us?’

Out singer/songwriter Parker Matthews latest single and music video, “What Happened To Us?,” totally speaks to so many of us when we think a relationship is a true ‘love connection’ but in reality it was fading and we didn’t even know.

While that sounds like a downer, the soundscape of the track is anything but.

With the opening guitar and bass matching a chill pop-synth groove, the song and video conjure up a bit of 80s retro vibe (thinking Phil Collins here) as Matthews and his crisp vocals take us on a night time drive through the dark land of ‘what ifs.’

Matthews shares, “This record reflects on a time when I could see a seemingly infatuating relationship fade away.”

“At first, it was like the rest of the world didn’t exist when we were together, spending long nights and countless hours just the two of us,” adds the handsome artist. “However, over time, that spark faded, he eventually lost interest, and we stopped talking altogether.

“Lost interest.” Trust and believe, we’ve been there, Parker.

“This song touches on the idea that people might say one thing but mean another, or just not deliver on their promises,” says Matthews. “I feel like the song’s fun, strong beat paired with its soulful lyrics helps listeners subconsciously identify those debilitating feelings of rejection, and I hope it helps them begin to heal, too.”

“What Happened To Us” is Parker’s first single release of 2021, debuting this new sound in advance of his upcoming EP No Regular Love, about falling in love, heartbreak, and how there is nothing normal about that special connection.

You can find my previous coverage of the talented Mr. Matthews here. Follow him on Instagram here.

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New Music: John Duff’s Poised Pooch Premieres ‘100% Baby’

John Duff and Baby

Out recording artist John Duff with Baby
John Duff and Baby (photo: David Laffe)
DJ Baby Duff’s new single ‘100% Baby’ is fun, funny, and a total ear-worm. Out singer/songwriter John Duff constructed the track and music video as a tongue in cheek laugh about overly-deep lyrics. “Sometimes I feel like my lyrics are too smart and that nobody has an attention span to actually listen to them,” Duff explains. “So, with this one, I wanted to do something extremely stupid as stupid is always relatable.” There might also be some subtle shade here aimed at over-paid DJs who score beaucoup bucks without bringing all that to the table. “It’s not all DJ’s, but definitely some,” Duff clarifies.

Baby Duff steps up and steps out doing all of her own stunts (thanks to dog trainer Kirstin McMillan). Photographer Davide Laffe captured the poised pooch from all her best angles. And animator Sqott pulls the whole thing together with awesome video skills. “I didn’t want the video to be too sexy,” says Duff. “She’s so young.” Will Baby save Planet Earth? Hit the play button to find out. You can find my previous coverage of John Duff and his music here. https://www.instagram.com/p/CMlgxpVjBCi/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

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New Music: NIKO Wants To Be Your ‘Idol’

NIKO photographed by Billie Black
NIKO (photo: Billie Black)
Check out the latest from LA-based Euro-pop artist NIKO – ‘Idol’ – blending acoustic elements with textured electronic leads & thumping dance beats. “’Idol’ is a song about wanting to be seen and heard,” explains NIKO. “It is also an exploration of the concept of fame, but it mostly can be interpreted as the need for love – the desire to be somebody’s somebody.” Influenced by 90’s dance and house music, ‘Idol’ brings to mind hints of Robyn, Years & Years and Danny L Harle.

A guaranteed floor-filler, the track is pure, unapologetic pop. And NIKO’s confident, well-honed vocals drive the song like a boss. Due to the COVID pandemic lockdown, the track is a truly international collaboration. Working with his producer Joakim Buddee completely remotely, the dynamic duo confabbed via Zoom sessions and email. When ‘go time’ came, NIKO recorded the vocals in a studio on Sunset Boulevard, Joakim mixed the song in his studio in Stockholm, and then whole enchilada was sent to Germany for mastering. Born in Italy, NIKO grew up in a household where the radio was always on and his love for music was informed by icons such as Madonna, Britney Spears and George Michael. Fueled by his passion, NIKO formed a band and started performing in local venues in Milan. But it wasn’t until he experienced nightlife that he discovered a love for dance music. A new door opened, and he started working with DJs as a vocalist. After moving to the U.S., NIKO launched his career as an indie artist releasing his first EP RMNC 21 in 2019, a collection of songs inspired by love and lust. He now resides in Los Angeles where he’s working on his upcoming releases, crafting an uplifting soundscape inspired by European pop, immersed in the California sunshine. You can find my previous coverage of NIKO and his music here. Stream ‘Idol’ on Spotify here and on Apple Music here.

Singer/songwriter NIKO (via official website)