Tag: out musicians

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Out Music: Paul Usher “Jesus Is A Preston Boy (Push Remix)”

Out singer/songwriter Paul Usher drops the new remix of his critically-acclaimed debut single, ‘Jesus Is A Preston Boy.’

Out singer/songwriter Paul Usher drops the new remix of his critically-acclaimed debut single, ‘Jesus Is A Preston Boy.’

Faith and sexuality meet on the dance floor as Sam Welch does remix duty melding the soulful, Frank Ocean-esque original into an infectious electro-pop anthem.

Attitude Magazine gushed over Usher’s “profound debut,” and added that the track makes “a striking first impression.”

The self-taught pianist says he definitely plans to lean into LGBT visibility as an artist.

“The mainstream doesn’t have to be a monopoly for the status quo,” Usher told Attitude. “I want to be honest, funny and romantic without censoring myself. Love and queer lives deserve to be celebrated and portrayed in a positive light as much as any other.”

‘Jesus Is A Preston Boy (Push Remix)’ is available on all digital download sites. Hit the play button below.

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Adam Lambert Shares Personal Struggles & New Music “Feel Something”

Adam Lambert (photo: Flickr/MarkKent – CC license)

Queen frontman Adam Lambert shared a lengthy and emotional message with his fans via social media on Thursday prior to releasing his new single, “Feel Something.”

In the note, Lambert opened up about personal challenges he’s faced in recent years in terms of having to compromising artistic vision in clashes with record executives and the effects it had on his mental health.

“I’m coming out of a dark period of second guessing my own artistry and having my mental health suffer because of it,” wrote Lambert. “I started asking myself, ‘Is all this hustle really worth it?’ I put all my focus on work and started to feel detached in my personal life. My self worth was suffering. I was lonely and becoming depressed.”

The American Idol alum credited his time and work with Queen rockers Brian May and Roger Taylor for recharging him “with tons of positive energy.”

“Together we have collaborated creatively on our tours and this helped me to reaffirm my confidence in my artistry,” wrote the 37-year-old. “Working with Queen helped keep my head above water, and I am so grateful to the spirit of Freddie Mercury, who has always inspired me to push ahead boldly.”

(image via Adam Lambert)

Citing the support of friends and family, as well as some professional help, Lambert told his fans he’s “pulled himself “out of the darkness.”

He also shares that he’s switched up not only his own management team, but changed record labels.

Turning to the new single, Lambert describes the song as “climbing out of the low period, defying my disillusionment, owning my needs, and opening my heart.”

In the song, Lambert sings:

I don’t need to feel love, I just want to feel something
If it’s never enough, at least it’s better than nothing
After everyone I’ve lost and ever kiss I wasted
I don’t, I don’t need to feel love, just want to feel something

“Since writing this song, I’ve found the joy I was missing and I’m back in my power,” he added. “I can’t wait for you to hear more!”

Check out “Feel Something” below, and don’t miss Lambert and Queen performing this Sunday night on the 90th Academy Awards on ABC at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST.

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News Round-Up: February 20, 2019

(image via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed:

• I might be a little obsessed with this handsome face. InstaHunk Steve_In_LA is pretty easy on the eyes as well 😉

• New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson has called for feds to ‘break the patent’ on Truvada, which is commonly prescribed as PrEP. Since the federal government helped fund the research for the drug, it has the right to break the patent and allow other companies to produce a generic version. PrEP has been shown to be 99% effective in protecting against HIV infection when used on a daily basis.

• The Republican-controlled Indiana Senate has voted to scrap all protected characteristics, including gender identity, race and sexual orientation, from a proposed hate crime bill. Indiana is one of only five states with no hate crime law in place.

• A lesbian couple in Indiana were refused service by their tax preparer, Nancy Fivecoate, because they were married. Fivecoate says she has gay clients, but she can’t work for gay married clients. What do taxes have to do with religious beliefs?

• 18-time Grand Slam winner Martina Navratilova has been removed from the advisory board of pro-LGBTQ sports organization Athlete Ally for her recent anti-transgender remarks. The tennis champ says its ‘cheating’ to let trans women compete in women’s sports.

• As he was recovering from a life-shaking breakup, out singer/songwriter Kisos penned (in real time) his upcoming EP, sweet nothings, featuring one track for each of the 5 stages of grief.

The lead single, “Happily Ever After,” is a bouncy electro-pop bop with the handsome artist deep in denial, using delusion as poisoned motivation to better himself and survive the pain of seeing his ex with someone new.

Hit the play button below and enjoy! “Happily Ever After” is available now – click here.

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Taron Egerton Shows He Can SANG In Elton John Biopic ‘Rocketman’

Taron Egerton sings in ‘Rocketman’

Taron Egerton (Kingsman: The Secret Service) and the creative team behind the upcoming Elton John biopic, Rocketman, share this behind-the-scenes peek into bringing the music of Elton John to the big screen.

Egerton does his own (very) impressive singing in the movie, and according to music producer Giles Martin, Elton himself said, “I don’t think I’ve heard anyone sing my songs better than Taron.”

Paramount has described the film as an “epic musical fantasy about the uncensored human story of Sir Elton John’s breakthrough years.”

In this new featurette, Egerton gushes, “This has been the greatest joy of my professional life making this film.”

In addition to Egerton, the flick stars Jamie Bell (Fantastic Four) as Elton’s longtime writing partner Bernie Taupin, Richard Madden (Game of Thrones) as the singer’s first manager John Reid, and Bryce Dallas Howard (Jurassic World) portrays Elton’s mum.

Dexter Fletcher, who was the uncredited director who took over on Bohemian Rhapsody in the wake of Bryan Singer being sacked, handles the directing duties here as well.

Rocketman lands in theaters May 31. Watch the behind-the-scenes featurette below.

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Out Music: Matracia Likes To Take It “Slow”

While February continues with frigid temperatures, alternative singer/songwriter Dylan Matracia conjures up lazy summer days of new romance by the beach with his new music video, “Slow.”
Dylan Matracia & Benwa Kramer in “Slow”

While February continues with frigid temperatures, alternative singer/songwriter Dylan Matracia conjures up relaxed summer days of flirty, new romance by the beach with his new music video, “Slow.”

Shot in Provincetown, the video (directed by Tyler Jensen) is an homage to the uber-gay beach town’s laid back lifestyle as Matracia and his co-star, woofy Benwa Kramer, enjoy those early moments of sexual chemistry.

Kramer initiates the flirtation by tossing a bottle of poppers in Matracia’s tip jar and pretty soon the duo are enjoying kisses on the beach, sunny bike rides, outdoor showers and sexy time under a boardwalk.

Served up on a laid-back, languid guitar landscape, Matracia is in no hurry to move the listener along. The track could easily be a distant cousin to Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” with it’s drowsy, hypnotic melody.

And how much more Provincetown can you get than a song that begins, “You are searching for your jock / in my bedroom where we got lost / pay attention to my face / when we go to our secret place?”

Matracia tells WussyMag (who called the video ‘sweet and smutty’), “Slow was written as a tender look at sex between two men in the early stages of falling in love; becoming aware of those moments where you’re really starting to feel ‘stuff’ haha.”

The Brooklyn-based musician is at work on a six-track album, titled Summer Cruel, set for release in the near future.

Check out Matracia’s ode to summer love, “Slow,” below. You can follow him on Instagram here.

And you can check out his sexy co-star, Benwa Kramer, on Instagram here.

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Adam Rippon Teams With Superfruit For “The Promise”

Mitch Grassi, Scott Hoying, Adam Rippon

Mitch Grassi and Scott Hoying, of the Grammy Award-winning a cappella group Pentatonix, teamed up with Olympic medalist Adam Rippon, for their new music video, a cover of the 1988 When In Rome hit, “The Promise.”

Recorded under Grassi and Hoying’s side gig as Superfruit, the boys deliver an updated version of the song as Rippon returns to the ice for visuals.

Rippon recently announced that he’s retired from competitive skating, but great to see he’ll still indulge his fans with a skate here and there 🙂

Beautifully shot and edited as Rippon glides and spins effortlessly around Hoying and Grassi.

Nice for a Saturday 🙂

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Podcast: Steve Sims Of QLRadio – 24/7 Radio Dedicated To LGBTQ Music Artists

In this episode of The Randy Report, I chat with Steve Sims of Quest of Life Radio, a 24/7 radio station dedicated to LGBTQ musicians.

In this episode of The Randy Report, I chat with Steve Sims of Quest of Life Radio, a 24/7 radio station dedicated to LGBTQ musicians.

As of December, listeners from 40 countries have visited QLRadio, including Russia, which is regularly in the top five countries of listeners.

I think the fact that LGBTQ folks in Russia can find and listen to out artists is amazing, especially when you consider the country has hideous laws that ban any so-called ‘gay propaganda.’ So QLRadio is a huge gift to people all around the world.

Direct link to listen to QLRadio.

Now, to be clear, this isn’t simply Broadway or cabaret music (which I love).

QLRadio plays current pop, dance, hip-hop, classical, country and more. Don’t dismiss this as some banal collection of sleepy music.

If you listen to Sirius XM stations like Utopia or Chill, you’ll find a lot to enjoy on QLRadio.

The message of QLRadio is that music by LGBTQ artists chronicles the stories of our lives.

As the QLRadio website states, “It inspires, communicates positive messages, gives courage, and hope.”

I listen to QLRadio all the time. Fun dance remixes, chill music, great vocals… it’s all in there.

QLRadio is one component of Quest of Life Media & Broadcasting, a nonprofit organization which supports the creative process of LGBTQ artists. Founded in October 2016, the organization assists independent singer/songwriters/musicians with marketing, fundraising, tour planning and more.

In addition to the majority-music programming, the  radio station also features 3 in-house produced programs:

• Classical Sunday Nights – Music from the LGBT classical community
• New Music Minutes – Daily segments with totally fresh, new LGBT tracks
• Saturday Alive – Foot tapping, head bobbing music to keep your Saturday nights alive

And five syndicated programs:

• HomoRadio – LGBT variety show from New York’s capital region
• This Way Out – International LGBT New Radio Magazine heard on over 200 stations worldwide
• Inside Out LGBT Radio – Washington D.C.’s only LGBT talk radio show
• Democracy Now! – daily global independent news
• The Randy Report – LGBT politics, pop culture and entertainment news

You may have noticed that last entry there. Yep, that’s me in that list of well-respected/syndicated radio shows. I know, I know… they must have made a mistake 🙂

Some months ago, Steve approached me about airing my podcast as part of the regular schedule for QLRadio. I was flattered, and said yes.

No fees or sponsorship were involved in this interview. I wanted to chat with Steve because, as regular readers of The Randy Report know, I have a passion for sharing and promoting out musicians as well 🙂

p.s. You can hear The Randy Report podcast on QLRadio Wednesdays and Fridays at 3:30 p.m.

I recently got to chat with Steve about reaching the one year anniversary of QLRadio, some of the challenges and surprises along the way, and what’s coming in the next 12 months for his organization.

Please kick back and listen as I talk with Steve Sims of Quest of Life Radio.

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News Round-Up: February 6, 2019

(image via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed:

• How cute are InstaCouple Justin & Nick? Follow them on the gram of Insta here.

• Two men from Washington D.C. were arrested for drug trafficking as they tried to board a gay cruise leaving from the port of Miami. They were caught thanks to intercepted planning emails sent from one of the men’s government-issued laptop.

• The ABC hit sitcom Modern Family has been renewed for its 11th and final season.

• Donald Trump loves to refer to it as the ‘failing’ New York Times, but facts are facts, and the Times‘ stock price just hit a 13-year high.

• Damon Wayans Jr. is just the latest celeb apologizing for past homophobic statements and ‘jokes.’ At least he has the decency to actually straight-up apologize.

• Out pop singer/songwriter Gia Woods drops her new music video, “Jump The Fence,” which offers a groovy respite with shades of female empowerment and sexual freedom.

Billboard gushed about the new song calling it “a breathy pop ear-worm packed with tribal-like pulsations and distant howls that matches the musical climate while maintaining an undeniable edge.”

Gia’s breakout music video, “Only A Girl,” has garnered over 10 million viesw and counting. The talented 22-year-old is prepping to release her debut EP later this year.

Check out the new bop from Ms. Woods below.

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New Music: Pet Shop Boys Poke Fun At Online Habits “On Social Media’

The Pet Shop Boys

UK pop legends the Pet Shop Boys are giving this frigid February a blast of musical sunshine by releasing a digital four-track ‘in-the-moment’ EP called Agenda this week.

“It contains three satirical songs and one rather sad song,” says band member Neil Tennant of the EP. “I think it’s because of the times we’re living through.”

The first song,“Give Stupidity A Chance,” I featured yesterday in my News Round-Up.

The second, “On Social Media,” dropped today.

The third, “What Are We Going To Do About The Rich?” is set for Thursday, and then on Friday, “The Forgotten Child,” (figure that for the sad song) will drop as the complete EP will be available to purchase.

Over an infectious house beat, “On Social Media” skewers our everyday habits as we post, scroll, tweet, selfie, hashtag and pontificate via our smart phones.

From “On Social Media:”

Likes are in the thousands / My tweets are being retweeted
My family pics or holiday snaps / With total love are greeted
It’s so nice when people like you / You’re feeling hashtag blessed
You pop out of the conversation / It’s like you passed the test

This isn’t the duo’s first entre in political satire. You may recall PSB’s 2006 track, “I’m With Stupid,” which offered comedic slaps at then-President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Agenda, the first new music from the iconic duo since 2016’s Super, drops this Friday, February 8.

(images via PSP official website)

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Sam Smith Is ‘Dancing With A Stranger’ After Breakup

Out singer/songwriter Sam Smith drops his latest, “Dancing With a Stranger,” an R&B mid tempo pop duet with former Fifth Harmony member, Normani.
(image via Facebook/SamSmith)

Out singer/songwriter Sam Smith drops his latest, “Dancing With a Stranger,” an R&B mid tempo  pop duet with former Fifth Harmony member, Normani.

Speaking to Billboard, Smith says the new song, “Bottles everything I was feeling whilst juggling my personal life and touring.”

”It is also such a beautiful moment for me as I’m a huge, huge fan of Normani and everything she is,” said the 4-time Grammy Award winner. “I’m so excited to watch her light shine.”

Normani returned the mutual love telling Billboard, “I never thought in a trillion years that I would be able to state that I have a record with this extremely gifted being.”

You have to imagine there are echoes from his breakup last summer with 13 Reasons Why star Brandon Flynn mixed into the recording as he sings: “I don’t want to be alone tonight, It’s pretty clear that I’m not over you, I’m still thinking ‘bout the things you do, So I don’t want to be alone tonight.”

In September, Smith shared with The Times, “I’m still trying to figure out what I took from that relationship and what it meant to me.”

He added, “It’s still quite raw.”

Listen to Sam Smith & Normani’s “Dancing With a Stranger” below.