Bright Light Bright Light (aka Rod Thomas)
Bright Light Bright Light Takes You To ‘Fun City’
Robby Hart Scores With Euphoric Debut Single ‘The Song Of The Summer’
Singer/songwriter Robby Hart
The Randy Report: “The Song of the Summer” totally captures that ebullient sense of fun and freedom during summer. Did you have a specific sound in mind going into writing and producing the song? Robby Hart: The writing of it was quick. Like 15 minutes. I had an original beat I cut the vocal on a while back. But it didn’t seem like the right “home” for the song. I wanted something familiar yet fresh at the same time. So I worked with this amazing producer remotely out of London. To give some subtle tones of unity, I wanted it to sound a bit global as well. So I think collaborating across continents hopefully helped contribute to that. 
TRR: What do you do outside of music that contributes to your creativity? RH: Great question! Hmmm…prior to the pandemic I loved to travel. On tour when possible I would add an extra day onto my travel to actually experience the city I’m in. I love listening to stories about people that are unlike myself. Sans travel I’ve really been into podcasts lately…Maybe it’s subconsciously replacing that feeling of social connection in some way? Heh. TRR: What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given? RH: Show people how you want to be treated in life, and you live your life for you. Not anyone else. TRR: What’s next on the horizon? RH: More music! Lots and lots of new music is coming out soon, stay tuned! 🙂
“The Song of the Summer” is now available on all streaming/digital download sites. You can follow Robby on Instagram here. In addition to his new single, Hart has curated a most excellent Spotify playlist titled – what else? – “The Songs of the Summer.”
Cameron Hawthorn’s Pensive, Personal New Single “To Break Hers”
Rising country music star Cameron Hawthorn (photo credit: Lindsey Patkos)
News Round-Up: September 2, 2020
Paleontologist and Crossfit athlete Francesc Gascó (photo: Lee Faircloth)
ARIZONA – Joe Biden 49% Donald Trump 40%
NORTH CAROLINA – Joe Biden 50% Donald Trump 46%
WISCONSIN – Joe Biden 50% Donald Trump 42%
• Washington Blade: Openly gay Mayor Alex Morse of Holyoke fell short in his attempt to unseat longtime Congressman Richard Neal. In the weeks leading up to the primary, Morse became the target of an ugly, homophobic smear campaign. • New York Times: Joe Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, will travel Thursday to Kenosha, Wisconsin, to visit a city still reeling from the Aug. 23 police shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake. The Bidens will be meeting with Mr. Blake’s father and other family members during the trip. During Donald Trump’s recent visit, the president did not mention Mr. Blake, who was paralyzed in the shooting, or speak with his family. • New Music: Out artist Michael Fairman’s music video for “Other Side” depicts some of the biggest social issues of 2020 including the Covid-19 pandemic, the call to stomp out systemic racism, domestic violence, LGBTQ equality, and the rights of the disabled. A new artist to me, Fairman’s packing some serious vocals (and biceps) here.
Bright Light Bright Light Celebrates Gender Expression “It’s Alright, It’s OK”
Bright Light Bright Light (aka Rod Thomas)
Did you come as a boy or a girl? Or did you come as yourself, even better If you want to be part of a world where your heart doesn’t hurt Say the word and we’ll make it there together
The video stars gender-fluid drag performer and activist Glow Job coping with life in lockdown by getting all dolled up to stay home and live her best life complete with an apartment stripper pole and rooftop stage all to herself.
On Instagram, Glow shares the astounding news that she was hit by a motorcycle while riding her bike to a protest in July resulting in a broken leg and clavicle just weeks before the video shoot. “Pole community, don’t judge too harshly,” jokes the queen decked out in regal red. “But the song isn’t about what I am physically able to do, but how I am simply able to be,” added Glow Job. “Able to be me in whatever way that looks. What you are seeing is my life. That is my home. This is my expression.”
News Round-Up: August 28, 2020
Singer/songwriter NIKO (via official website)
• Vice: Former classmates of Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old who is charged with killing two protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin, say he was known as a “ride or die” Trump supporter. “If you said anything bad about Trump, he’d threaten you. Kyle was the type of kid to wear a MAGA hat or other apparel just for attention, or to ‘trigger’ people.” • New York Post: Reviewing Donald Trump’s “longest in convention history” speech – “There was no flow, no argument, no central core. He praised himself and he attacked Joe Biden, just as you’d expect. But he didn’t build a case for himself or a case against Biden — and it’s the construction of such cases that provide the dramatic structure a major speech needs to engage both the head and the heart. For someone who relishes drama, Trump provided none.” • Politico: A former Liberty University student says Becki Falwell, the wife of the school’s then-President Jerry Falwell Jr., jumped into bed with him and performed oral sex on him while he stayed over at the Falwell home after a band practice with her eldest son in 2008. The student, who was 22 at the time of the encounter, said she initiated the act. She then pursued the young man in text messages, and yes, there are screen captures. • Yahoo Sports: The Mets and Marlins took the field last night for only a 42-second moment of silence – most probably in honor of Jackie Robinson – before leaving in solidarity. The only thing left on the field – a Black Lives Matter shirt.
The Mets and Marlins took the field, had a 42-second moment of silence, and then walked off.
The only thing left on the field: a Black Lives Matter shirt.pic.twitter.com/JyckWkGQai — Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) August 27, 2020
New Music: ANTIBOY ‘Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)’
Check out the second music video released posthumously for the late Harry Hains (most noted for American Horror Story and The OA), an eerie, pop-synth re-imagining of the classic Nancy Sinatra song, “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down).” Created by Harry’s brother, 3D artist and designer Sam Hains, the video is set against the backdrop of glitchy computer game-style production and dubstep skittering drums. Viewers are transported into a video game utopia where art, music, and gaming converge. Harry, who was gender fluid, tragically lost his battle with drug addiction earlier this year. Through the prism of his artistic alter-ego, ANTIBOY, the genderless transhuman, Hains imagined a digital utopia where there is no inequality, prejudice, or toxicity. This is Hains’s second track from the forthcoming concept album A Glitch in Paradise out next month. I previously covered the first single, “Good Enough,” here. An amalgamation of rock, electronica and gothic pop, A Glitch In Paradise explores the virtual world of ANTIBOY as he re-lives his mistakes in order to try to correct them and find happiness. But ANTIBOY experiences glitches and gets stuck in an endless loop of heartache, inspired by Harry’s relationship with then-partner Mike.
Out Music: David Hernandez ‘Boomerang’
American Idol alum David Hernandez drops his latest music video, “Boomerang,” shot on location in Palm Springs during the pandemic.
Don’t worry – the whole shebang was done on the up and up according to COVID-19 protocols with social distancing, and only actual couples that have been quarantined together were doing the kissing, like Hernandez and his boo, Derek Caldera. Continue reading “Out Music: David Hernandez ‘Boomerang’”
News Round-Up: August 11, 2020
Garrett Magee and his big…rooster on Bravo’s ‘Backyard Envy’
This Furry Ginger Drops The Beat And The (Body) Shame
L-R Melody Betts, Kyle Motsinger (screen capture from ‘No Shame’)
My body is beautiful (Tell myself every day) My body is beautiful (No matter what critics say) My body is beautiful (No one can take that away) My body is beautiful (Can’t tell me that I don’t slay)
Motsinger teams up with singer/actor Melody Betts for the upbeat, disco-tastic track. Audiences will recognize Betts from the acclaimed Jesus Christ Superstar Live! on NBC, and the Broadway production of Sara Bareilles’s Waitress. The video also co-stars Mark Oleszko/Lyra Vega, & Larry Darnell Penn Whitfield. On top of being a banging pop bop, the message of the song takes stares down negative feelings of self-image in high style.
I recently chatted with the furry ginger about the new track and why messaging about body positivity seems to be improving in the LGBTQ community.
The Randy Report: What was the inspiration behind writing the song? Kyle Motsinger: “No Shame” was a response to some criticism I was getting from my conservative family about performances I was doing in NYC that were either more burlesque in nature or featured outfits that were revealing. I’ve gotten to a point where I sometimes feel pretty confident about my body. I say sometimes because there are always days where I maybe don’t feel as fearless as I’d like to be. I wrote this song because I think bodies are beautiful and I don’t think it’s indecent to tastefully show them off. Of course, I probably have a different definition of “tasteful” than some. TRR: You really embrace a groovy disco vibe (which I love). Is that just your innate musical style or is it about meshing a certain message to music? KM: I’m glad you love it! I love dipping my toe into different musical styles for different songs. For me, the story of the song dictates the feel of it. Disco felt right for an anthem about loving your body. My second album is full of an eclectic mix of musical styles. I sum that up in the title song. My music sounds “Any Way I Want It To.” It’s a little sassy and I love that. 
L-R Larry Darnell Penn Whitfield, Melody Betts, Mark Oleszko/Lyra Vega (screen capture)
Kyle Motsinger dropped his debut album, “Far Away,” in 2017 and hasn’t looked back releasing several stand-alone singles including “Dark Shadows.” The indie artist has performed all over NYC in venues like the Bitter End, Rockwood Music Hall, the Duplex, Don’t Tell Mama, and the Folsom Street East Festival. You can find “No Shame” and all of Motsinger’s previous releases on iTunes here. 
Follow the proud, furry ginger on social media: facebook.com/officialkylemotsinger twitter.com/KyleMotsinger instagram.com/kylemotsinger www.kylemotsinger.com