Sapphire Hart (courtesy photo) Five new songs to discover this week from 5 distinctly different artists. Inspired by the intoxicating highs and plummeting lows of love, out artist Hailee Kaleem Wright aka Sapphire Hart releases her emotional music video for her single “Toxic Love Story.” “Toxic Love Story” discusses the unfortunate difficulties that many face when dealing with matters of the heart. Love is a double-edged sword and through a soulful melody and lyrics, Hart proves to her listeners that the emotion we hold dear can hurt just as much as it heals. Directed By Paul Gratland and Sidney Dupont, the black and white video depicts Hart, reflecting on a relationship fraught with infidelity issues and holding accountability for the decisions made. Follow Hart on Instagram here.
The late Harry Hains aka ANTIBOY The family of the late Harry Hains celebrates the release of the full-length debut album, A Glitch In Paradise, under Hains’s artistic alter-ego, ANTIBOY, with the new music video for “Dream.” “Dream” explores the idea of how a partner not being able to accept pure love can foster pain and rejection within the relationship – the next glitch in “paradise.” The “Dream” video opens up a fantastical utopia of fragmented moments that blend the everyday with the surreal, just like dreams, as a cast of characters explore unattainable love, touch, closeness, relationships, and euphoria, led by transgender model and activist Andreja Pejić, who progresses from unsettlingly perfect and robotic to completely unhinged.
Lani Renaldo (courtesy photo) Los Angeles based queer artist Lani Renaldo drops her latest – “Woman” – exploring the poignant idea of being judged for how you present yourself. “When I wrote the track, I was reflecting on this idea that if I dressed differently or wore makeup, tried to pass in a more feminine way that maybe it would shape my relationships differently,” says Renaldo. “Maybe I would be liked and though I think there have been several times I’ve been made to feel ashamed for how I look or who I love, I forgive those people that made me feel that way.” Lani Renaldo has seen success performing with the likes of Alessia Cara at the AMA’s and opening for Halsey at The Shrine. Her collaboration on “Malibuu” with Matt Dimona topped Spotify’s Global 50 chart and currently has over six million streams.
LGBTQ indie rock musician Kristen Ford drops this acoustic gem: “I Want You In My Corner.” “The song was recorded very minimally, just acoustic guitar and vocals,” shares Ford. “We were trying to be as venerable as possible.” “The video plays on the strings that connect all of us: strangers, lovers, musical collaborators. It was a very queer video to make. We had a lesbian director, bisexual co-star, and me! Kayce actually played on the track as well so it was fun to do multiple dimensions of creation together in this way.” Ford has performed at Pride festivals nationwide alongside Betty Who, Billy Gilman, Troye Sivan, and Melissa Ferrick.
And how about we dance our way into the weekend with new remixes of Lady Gaga’s “911”, the latest single taken from the new album Chromatica. You can check out the bouncy take from WEISS below. Sofi Tukker and Bruno Martini also took a turn with the tune.
In this week’s podcast: • The Biden/Harris transition team has named LGBTQ White House veterans to prominent roles in the incoming administration • The murderer of a transgender teen has been sentenced to life in prison • Homophobic high school teachers in New Jersey were caught dissing a queer colleague during a Zoom class • Award-winning singer/songwriter Justin Utley released his first holiday single, “All is Bright” • First Lady Melania Trump planned to light the White House in rainbow colors during Pride Month but the idea was shut down • A new poll shows LGBTQ voters did NOT turn out in record numbers for Donald Trump after all All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report podcast
Lesbian and Gay Big Apple Corps at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (image via Instagram) The Lesbian & Gay Big Apple Corps is one of the first queer marching bands in the United States, founded in 1979 in New York City. This year, the Big Apple Corps became the first openly LGBTQ group to perform in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. From The Atlantic:
The band had to get creative in order to rehearse safely and legally this fall. Practicing indoors was out of the question, so its usual space in a Manhattan parish center would have to be traded for something without walls.
The band needed daylight, so rehearsals would be limited to weekends. New York did not allow gatherings of more than 50 people, but more than 80 musicians and color-guard members and confetti-cannon shooters needed to practice, so organizers began to investigate their options in New Jersey. They soon settled on a parking lot in the Newark suburbs, between a soccer stadium and a PATH station.
For six sunny Saturdays in October and November, the members of the Big Apple Corps spaced themselves eight feet apart along the yellow lines of the parking spaces, covered the ends of their instruments with plastic, and played.
Many on the Twitterverse noted the inclusion of an LGBTQ marching band wishing they’d seen such representation when they were in their marching band days. Congrats to everyone on the achievement! You can watch a bit of the Big Apple Corps’ Thanksgiving Day performance of the ABBA hit ‘Dancing Queen’ below.
Out singer/songwriter NIKO recently released his latest – a dance floor filler titled, ‘Thinking About You.’ After his romantic single, “Try,” NIKO ups the heat and the tempo with this dance track that explores the darker side of love and seduction. “The song tells the story of someone who is constantly chasing after the next thrill, but in doing that, loses the person who really cares for them,” says NIKO. “It’s about the emotional dynamics of not being able to resist your physical instincts, and then having to face the consequences.” Singer/songwriter NIKO (via official website) Born and raised in Milan, NIKO’s first musical endeavors began as creative collaborations with DJs as a songwriter and vocalist in the Italian city. After spending time in the UK, working with music producers in Manchester and London, NIKO decided to launch his career as a solo artist with his first EP RMNC 21 in 2019. Listen to the new single below and you can check out my previous coverage of NIKO and his music here.
Blake English just wants to be ‘Cool’ (photo: Rowan Daly) Out recording artist Blake English recently released his latest single, “Cool.” With top-shelf pop production and clever lyrics, English remembers what it was like keeping up with his glamorous, Hollywood friends on his rise to fame. Written after a party in the glamorous Hollywood Hills, “Cool” tells the story of many up-and-coming artists and those trying to fake it until they make it. English was inspired by the fact that he was surrounded by successful figures in the entertainment industry while still trying to catch his big break. “It basically goes through my journey of maintaining my authenticity while also doing things to pander to the fame life,” explains English. The lyrics contrast witty cynicism and sarcasm with honesty and vulnerability in lines such as, “One’n up with my last pay stub; it’s fine, I’m really fine, I’m really fine; done some things I regret, but for some fame, I’ll forget.” While “Cool” is, on the surface, an incredibly catchy pop song, English is also singing a vital reminder to hold on to your authenticity in a modern, flashy world. Hit the play button below. “Cool” is available now on all streaming platforms.
Milahroy in ‘Cool’ (all images via artist) Woofy out singer/songwriter Milahroy premieres his latest music video, “Cool,” complete with danger, drama, and sexy, furry goodness. Milahroy describes the introspective pop/rock track (featuring theLMNOP & rapper KTLYN) as “a West Coast-inspired ode to our best intentions and the facade of perfection because no one lies better than we do to ourselves.” The indie artist thoughtfully explains the song exists “somewhere between hubris and doubt.” The track is a pop music earworm that lands right at the sonic corner of ‘current’ and ‘now’ with pensive lyrics in search of our hero’s questioning psyche.
Tangled up in my excuses, Trippin on my shadowGettin used to feeling useless, Shadows grow when light’s low
In advance of the new release, I chatted with the talented artist about the new single, confronting doubts and inner demons, and remembering to let life happen. https://youtu.be/88LqHm46kiU?si=CUODdoCcSL1hXjE6
The Randy Report: Congratulations on the new single and music video, “Cool.” Dark, edgy, and mysterious – you had me at go. What was the inspiration behind the song?
Milahroy: Thank you! I used to beat myself up a lot, mentally. It wasn’t a healthy coping mechanism and I’ve been trying to be more gentle with myself. This song captures the backlash of working on and with yourself. Sometimes, you betray yourself and it hurts. It’s a trip & will probably last a lifetime but I take pride in coming this far.
“COOL” embodies one confronting their doubts and inner demons.
TRR: In translating the track to video, where did the concept come from? What do you want folks to take away from the musical journey?
Milahroy: A new friend of mine, Patrick McPheron (Interior State), who directed the video, really helped capture the vibe of this tune and where I wanted it to go visually. The concept reflects the inspiration of this track: being held hostage by one’s own insecurities and doubts.
I want folks to understand we all fall victim to lying to ourselves and for what? The facade of perfection? With today’s standards of how we “should be”, we start to lose focus on who we want to be or even simply who we truly are.
TRR: In August, you released “D.F.O” which rocks a very different vibe. It’s totally catchy and sounds like the Monkees made a hit record with the B-52s in the year 2020. In other words, it’s awesome. Tell me about it.
Milahroy: Thank you so much for the compliment. I’m a huge fan of those artists. “Love Shack” is one of my favorite tunes off my summer playlist. so I love that reference!
“D.F.O.,” short for Don’t Freak Out (it’s been wild to hear what people think it stands for), is a song I wrote with Jessie Shapiro & Rob Shore (theLMNOP). Creating problems is a common theme I’ve seen in myself and friends, this song is a good wave of joy taking you out and reminding you sometimes you just need to let life happen and trust the universe.
https://youtu.be/AqZe9oqlYIA?si=_dlHZq-njaoxBA6h TRR: In 2018, you released an EP titled ‘Thoughts in Sound’ under the artist name RØY – what does the shift to Milahroy mean for you? Change in sound? Change in perspective?
Milahroy: Ah! Yes! 2020 has really warped my sense of time so two years ago feels like a lifetime away.
I was thinking of a new name to represent this new image and new shift in my life and while a friend and I were walking down Hollywood Blvd., I had a spark of inspiration.. and Milahroy came to fruition.
Milahroy is my birth name flipped on its head. The first half is my Muslim surname spelled in reverse which butts up against my first name. This all represents my internal reflection on my family’s spiritual history, my own personal truth and the internal changes I’ve had to make in order to accept them both into my heart with love and honesty.
The shift feels massive – it created this identity for me. It’s almost as if I was able to take the reins of this alter ego that’s still myself, leaving a small town to pursue my dreams. It was like a new part of my self was born. I sometimes want to be a diva and introduce myself as Myla! Ha!
TRR: What do you do outside of music that contributes to your creativity?
Milahroy: I don’t think there’s an easy way to answer this question, everything contributes to my creativity including all of my travels across the country, the people and friends I interact with on a daily basis, the beautiful imagery I see around me every day to the dark corners of my inner and outer world but on a personal level I’m a very introspective person so I’ve been practicing having gratitude for the little things in life. A lot of my practice has to do with sitting in stillness, journaling, and doing my best to live in the present moment. Allowing for me to really channel my thoughts & emotions into my music.
TRR: What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
Milahroy: Great question.. when moving to LA the best advice I’ve received was to stay persistent and to get comfortable hearing “no.” It’s so easy to get distracted in this big city, so reminding myself to stay focused and to remember where I came from has really helped me. If you were to tell me 10 years ago I would be moving to LA to pursue music, I would’ve laughed and whipped my Bieber Fever locks in your face. Lol.
TRR: What’s next?
Milahroy: A similar-sounding EP, then another completely different sounding EP, and followed by a studio album. I’m sitting on a lot of beautiful music with different characters and plots, different emotions, ideas, and themes. I’m just trying to hear and feel what works and I’m beginning to realize I’m the kind of artist who wants to connect with people and have the people take the time to process and reflect on themselves with these sounds.
CNN White House correspondent Boris Sanchez (screen capture) Some news items you might have missed: • Mainstream Media Crush: I can’t believe I’ve never noted how enjoyable CNN’s Boris Sanchez (above) makes watching the news. That is all. #EyeCandy • Pink News: Last week, I reported how openly gay Mayor Dean Trantalis of Fort Lauderdale was verbally accosted at his polling station by a group of Trump supporters calling him homophobic slurs. Just thought I’d report he sailed to reelection with 58 percent of the vote. • Out Music: Check out the latest music video from out recording artist mxmtoon, “ok on your own,” featuring pop star Carly Rae Jepsen. The mid-tempo track explores the fallout of a breakup with the realization that sometimes it’s better to be “on your own” when a romance comes to an end. “I need some time to myself so I can comprehend/ I’m not so scared to admit I could use a friend.”
• USA Today: Nine legal experts say Trump’s lawsuit challenging election results in Pennsylvania is dead on arrival for a number of reasons: Courts are wary of invalidating legally cast ballots, and voting by mail, used in many states, is both common and constitutional. • Statista: Following Pfizer’s announcement that its vaccine candidate was found to be 90 percent effective against COVID-19 in phase 3 trials, shares of travel industry stocks like hotels and airlines went soaring across the globe. Interestingly, the news also sent some shares tumbling for such “pandemic winners” as Zoom Video Communications, Peloton, and Netflix. (graphic via Statista) • Gothamist: Governor Phil Murphy is requiring indoor bars and restaurants in New Jersey to close by 10 p.m., one of several restrictions that he announced today to address a spike in COVID-19 cases. “There is more than anecdotal evidence that as the night wears on, probably for reasons that are obvious, people let their hair down,” Murphy said, while also sharing that the state’s positivity rate is at 7.52%. • MSNBC: President-elect Joe Biden threw some 12th level shade Donald Trump’s way when asked about Trump refusing to concede the presidential race. “At the end of the day, you know, it’s all going to come to fruition on January 20.”
President-elect Biden on President Trump not conceding:
“I just think it’s an embarrassment, quite frankly … At the end of the day, you know, it’s all going to come to fruition on Jan. 20.” pic.twitter.com/65wro0neIf — MSNBC (@MSNBC) November 10, 2020
(image via Andrew Christian) Some news items you might have missed: • The Advocate: Underwear company Andrew Christian recently has apologized for marketing a harness (above) emblazoned with the word “slave” using a POC to model them. “As you accurately noted in your article our ‘Master’ and ‘Slave’ harnesses and underwear only reference the ‘Master’ and ‘Slave’ terminology of the BDSM culture and has nothing to do with anything else. We sincerely apologize if anyone finds the image of the model offensive and we will replace it immediately.” • Out Music: Colton Ford releases his first new music in years with the single, “Stronger.” The inspirational ballad features upbeat lyrics that share Ford’s own positive self speak: “We have to stay conscious of what we are telling ourselves, as that impacts and influences everything we experience in this life.” You can stream the full track here.
• NBC News: Georgia plans a recount of votes in its presidential race, but in the past 50 years, few recounts have led to changes in the winners. And in the handful of still-uncalled battleground states, there hasn’t been a flip following a recount in at least the last two decades. • Statista: As the presidential election results unfolded before the American people last week, the stock market saw the writing on the wall. The S&P 500 closed the week up 7.3 percent on Friday marking the best election week rally since 1928. The Nasdaq and Dow Jones saw similar gains. (graphic via Statista) • The Independent: Donald Trump’s Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Ben Carson, has become the latest Trump administration official to test positive for Covid-19. Carson attended the election night party at the White House on Tuesday where few in attendance wore masks to prevent the spread of the virus. • Mediaite: Fox News cut away from the White House press secretary this afternoon after she alleged that the Democratic party was “welcoming fraud and you are welcoming illegal voting.” Fox News anchor Neil Cavuto cut in saying, “Unless she has more details to back that up, I can’t in good countenance continue showing this.”
Apollo Flowerchild in ‘Bloody Hands’ (screen capture) Black trans singer/songwriter Apollo Flowerchild releases their haunting new single, “Bloody Hands,” on the trailblazing new label Trans Trenderz which focuses exclusively on supporting Black Trans music makers, a subsection of creatives who have been tragically underserved within the music industry. The track, produced by Blxck Cxsper, is the first by a Trans Trenderz artist to have been recorded at Studio G Brooklyn by seven-time Grammy-nominated producer, Joel Hamilton, who mixed the track. Flowerchild’s earthy baritone is set amid a hypnotic sonic soundscape. And the song’s brooding, pensive lyrics offer a window into the artist’s personal eloquence and grace.
I’m regretting every choiceDestroying all the things that I hold dearAnd a dark cloud hovers near
More than a record label, Trans Trenderz is a Black Trans-owned organization aiming to help Trans artists achieve mainstream success while feeling empowered and respected for who they are. On top of releasing music that is entirely produced by Trans people, they are leading several initiatives to help strengthen the transgender musical community: • The Ghostly Beats Project where they mobilize allies to provide Black Trans musicians the resources they need to produce and monetize their music • The Trans Trenderz Music Awards to highlight and bring recognition to the hard-working Trans creatives in all corners of the music industry • Workshops & Public Speaking, to educate and empower
Check out the new single from out pop duo Tegan and Sara, “Make You Mine This Season,” featured on the upcoming soundtrack for the Hulu Original romantic comedy, Happiest Season. According to the film’s official synopsis, “A young woman plans to propose marriage to her girlfriend while attending her family’s annual holiday party. At the party, she realizes her girlfriend hasn’t come out to her conservative parents yet.” The TV movie, which stars Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Victor Garber, and Mary Steenburgen, debuts exclusively in the U.S. on Hulu on November 25th. Tegan and Sara’s euphoric, upbeat synthpop track sounds like a perfect fit for a queer holiday rom-com.
You’re the only girl I’ve got on my listI’ll write your name, I know it’s foolishBut I chase the feeling ‘cus you keep me dreamingThat I could make you mine this season
“For all types of families, music matters more during the holidays than any other time of year,” says soundtrack producer Justin Tranter. “To be given the honor to help create a holiday soundtrack that everyone can enjoy but celebrates LGBTQ talent is an actual dream come true for me! There are LGBTQ artists and/or songwriters on every original song.”
LGBTQ indie rock musician Kristen Ford drops this acoustic gem: “I Want You In My Corner.” “The song was recorded very minimally, just acoustic guitar and vocals,” shares Ford. “We were trying to be as venerable as possible.” “The video plays on the strings that connect all of us: strangers, lovers, musical collaborators. It was a very queer video to make. We had a lesbian director, bisexual co-star, and me! Kayce actually played on the track as well so it was fun to do multiple dimensions of creation together in this way.” Ford has performed at Pride festivals nationwide alongside Betty Who, Billy Gilman, Troye Sivan, and Melissa Ferrick. 
And how about we dance our way into the weekend with new remixes of Lady Gaga’s “911”, the latest single taken from the new album Chromatica. You can check out the bouncy take from WEISS below. Sofi Tukker and Bruno Martini also took a turn with the tune. 
Out singer/songwriter NIKO recently released his latest – a dance floor filler titled, ‘
