Matt Zarley & Jake
Christmas Music: Matt Zarley “Don’t Save It All For Christmas Day”
New Music: Kyle Motsinger Considers The Road Not Taken In ‘Parallel Universe’
L-R Sam Perwin, Kyle Motsinger (photo: Tyler William Milliron)
In a parallel universe I stayed / After college I moved back to town / No other plans were made / Got a job, got a dog right by my side / Settling for a slower life / Completely satisfied / Wouldn’t know any better, any worse, In that parallel universe
Then there’s the other side of the ‘what if’ coin – what if Motsinger’s hometown beau moved with him to the big city?
Opportunities I couldn’t find here / In a town not ruled by courage but by fear / In another universe you moved with me / We rented an apartment in the heart of NYC / We’d explore the city side-by-side / End our days making love completely satisfied
“I wrote ‘Parallel Universe’ after an encounter with a former lover while visiting family for the holidays in Illinois,” says the handsome artist. “I started imagining different scenarios in which we could be together. It felt like each scenario was a different parallel universe. What if there were multiple versions of us out there that were living these scenarios? I do love a good science fiction story!” 
L-R Sam Perwin, Kyle Motsinger (screen capture)
Tom Goss Explores New Musical & Emotional ‘Territories’ With New Album
Singer/songwriter Tom Goss (photo: Daren Cornell)
In addition to embracing a different soundscape (which the artist describes as ‘electro-groove-pop’), Goss says that while he’s written six albums about his relationship with his husband up to now, “To write material about intimate thoughts and feelings about someone other than my husband, it was so different.” Goss says the piano ballad “Berlin” would begin what would eventually emerge as Territories saying, “48 hours in Berlin turned my world completely upside down. Have you ever accidentally fallen in love? I have. This experience, and song, started what would eventually become Territories.” The video for “Berlin,” alternating between black & white imagery in a private, backroom cabaret setting and Goss exploring the city with his new beau, mirrors the dreamlike and ephemeral texture of the track. It’s notable that Goss, who’s extolled the attractiveness of bears and more full-figured guys many times in the past, continues that pattern versus using only gym-bound, muscle men in his videos.
The song “La Bufadora” focuses on the issue of domestic violence among LGBTQ couples. The music video, co-starring actor Daniel Franzese (Mean Girls, Looking), dramatizes a couple’s Mexican vacation gone awry as the duo’s disagreements turn violent.
Goss says the reaction from fans has been overwhelmingly positive, and that he’s “grateful by how people have put themselves in my shoes and have understood and accepted my experience.” He recently told Q Magazine that he hopes listeners will “understand that love doesn’t always look the same for everyone.” “Sometimes it looks different,” he added. “Whether you’re in a traditional relationship or a nontraditional relationship, you should be proud of the love that you share.” Earlier this year, I chatted with Goss in-depth about the genesis of Territories and the issues explored within it. Hit play below to hear him discuss its evolution in candid detail. Territories is now available on all digital download sites. For all things Tom Goss, head to tomgossmusic and follow him on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
New Music: Christopher Sorensen “Way. Way. Back”
Out singer/songwriter Christopher Sorensen’s touching new music video, “Way. Way. Back” chronicles a gay coming of age romance between two teenage boys. The video tells the story of a gay man who returns to his hometown for a funeral. He’s haunted by the memories of a former love from his youth and the events that tore them apart. “The video explores how we collect trauma throughout our lives, weighing us down as we try to move on,” says Sorensen. “Sometimes, by facing our pasts, we can find a new beginning.”
Now I’ve Got A Map Of My Youth / The Way Way Back / It Leads To You
The video, like his music, is well-crafted and offers some unexpected turns through its emotional journey.
I had a chance to chat with the talented artist about the project and how he brings his art to life. The Randy Report: What was the inspiration for “Way. Way. Back?” Christopher Sorensen: “Way. Way. Back” is about a trauma in the past that determines all future outcomes in your life. I was really hurt by a guy in my past and didn’t think I’d be able to recover from it. Writing the song was a way of transforming that pain because music is healing. I’m still learning to let go and to not hold onto things that don’t serve me now. For the sake of the music video, I wanted to give myself and my audience a resolution with a happy ending. TRR: What’s your favorite part of the creative process? CS: My favorite part of the creative process is definitely writing. Whenever I’m feeling anxious or angry or depressed, I can sit down with my guitar and write, and it’s kind of a catharsis for me. Whether I’m writing a song or creating a music video, I’m a storyteller above all else and love collaborating to bring my visions to life. TRR: Do you have a “process” in writing/recording? CS: My best songs come to me when I least expect them. Words and a melody will come to me together when I’m in the shower or the car, and I’ll record them on my phone. There are times when I hear the melody first and the lyrics come second, but for me, I never hear the lyrics first. From there, I usually lay down tracks on Pro Tools and create my arrangement. Sometimes I’ll bring my song to another producer who can help me take it to another level. It’s very exciting when I later add visual elements and create a music video. 
Christopher Sorensen
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Lil Nas X Makes History As 1st Openly Gay Man To Win CMA Award
Lil Nas X
LETS GOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! 🐎⚡️ https://t.co/QjcZTvp09h
— nope (@LilNasX) November 13, 2019
Out Music: Jakk Fynn “Fire”
Jakk Fynn, a transmasculine Latinx pop artist dedicated to redefining masculinity, dropped his latest single this week, “Fire.” Unrequited love is the subject at hand in the pop/dance track. “Oftentimes, queer individuals don’t feel wholly accepted, seen or loved for who they are,” says the artist. “When romantic feelings are so infrequently returned, this can exacerbate an already deeply internalized identity struggle.” “Attraction and love are fairly involuntary,” adds Fynn. “Our central nervous system is a massive orchestration of electrical impulses that ‘fire.’” Jakk, a descendant of Mexican immigrants, is committed to using pop music’s power to uplift audiences and challenge toxic social narratives, especially for audiences who don’t often see themselves fairly and accurately represented in mainstream culture. His previous single, “Share the Seconds,” was released in 2018. 
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.”
First Posthumous George Michael Track Released – ‘This Is How (We Want You To Get High)’
George Michael (Photo: Andrew Macpherson/Universal)
Sam Smith Covers Donna Summer Classic ‘I Feel Love’
Sam Smith (photo: Aria Shahrokhshahi)
And, of course, how could I touch the subject without referencing the oh-so-awesome original version by our diva, Miss Summer? Produced by Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte, the track (considered the first electronic dance hit) was a Top 10 smash in the US and went all the way to #1 in the UK, Australia, and other countries.
Out Music: Paul Middleton’s Chill Cover Of ‘We Found Love’
Paul Middleton releases his new cover of “We Found Love”
“We are not doing enough to tackle mental health. We need more promotion of self-love in a healthy way and stop using social media to project an unrealistic way of life.”
The music video for “We Found Love” is a celebration of exploring self-love with his new love with his partner, filmed in Sardinia, Italy.
“We Found Love” is out now on iTunes, Spotify, Apple and taken from ‘Remixes’, an EP due for release in February 2020. The track has already been added to the ‘New Look, Old Hook’ playlist on Spotify putting him alongside artists like Kygo, Whitney Houston and Jonas Blue. The singer, who’s toured the world with his music, has already had two #1 hits on the LGBTQ Music Chart in the UK with his covers of “Careless Whisper” and “Vincent.” Follow Paul on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube