Tag: out musicians

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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.

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Out Music: NIKO Drops Modern, Sexy “Light My Fire”

Out singer/songwriter NIKO shares his latest single, an intriguing take on the iconic “Light My Fire.”
NIKO drops new take on the classic hit, “Light My Fire)

Out singer/songwriter NIKO shares his latest single, an intriguing take on the iconic hit, “Light My Fire.” Originally released by The Doors in 1967, José Feliciano found his own groove with the tune in 1968. “‘Light My Fire‘ is one of my all-time favorite songs,” says NIKO about the classic song. “I wanted to reinterpret it in a modern way, but still be true to the romantic essence of the song, that talks about a deep connection between two people.” Melding a synth-pop sensibility with rich acoustic elements, NIKO brings his muscular vocal powers to bear as the track builds to climax. Billboard Pride contributor Jon ALi raves about the track comparing NIKO’s vocals (“a romantic and sensual vocal delivery”) to a young George Michael. I last featured the Milan-born artist back in October when he released “The One,” which also explored the intensity and exhilaration of sexual attraction. Fusing a European sensibility with a contemporary sound, the handsome Italian brings a sensual touch to pop music as he delves into both universal and personal themes. Based in New York City, NIKO is prepping for the release of his debut EP in 2019. Hit play below or check him out on Spotify here.

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Out Music: Kim Petras & Cheat Codes “Feeling Of Falling”

Kim Petras and Cheat Codes (image via Instagram)

Out singer/songwriter Kim Petras teams with electronic DJ trio Cheat Codes on her latest single, “Feeling of Falling.”

Totally danceable, the bop’s lyrics explore the fear of falling in love after a difficult breakup.

“‘Feeling of Falling’ is a song about ending up brokenhearted and trying to stay away from love to protect yourself,” Petras shared with PAPER. “I’m the biggest emo, so I really connected to this song. Cheat Codes are amazing, and I’ve had the best time collaborating on this one.”

And Cheat Codes recently told Billboard, “The feeling of falling in love is great but it’s hard not to think about or compare it to past experiences of heartbreak. It puts you in a really vulnerable place. It can be the best thing but also the worst.”

I like.

Take a listen below.

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News Round-Up: November 28, 2018

• Cher showed up at her own Broadway show – The Cher Show – last night, and the crowd lost its mind. • Openly gay super-producer Ryan Murphy (American Horror Story, Pose, GLEE, Assassination of Gianna Versace) is getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. • This far-right pundit says women become lesbians because they’re too ugly to love. By that logic, he must be a screaming queen. • Judy Sheindlin, more famous as TV’s Judge Judy, made an astounding $147 million last year before taxes making Sheindlin the world’s highest-paid television host. The lion share of that was for selling the rights to her 5,200-episode library, as well as future episodes of the show, to CBS for an estimated $100 million. • A man was brutally beaten, robbed & humiliated during an Instagram hook-up. • A gay Virginia firefighter got married in 2014 and suddenly became the ridicule of not only fellow firefighters but his superiors. He was eventually filed for early retirement after being told he would be fired if he didn’t resign. He’s now suing for lost wages and benefits. • Check out Upsahl’s new music video, “The Other Team,” about unrequited feelings and crushing on people that don’t like you back. The lyrics focus on those folks who are swinging for somebody else’s ‘other team,’ so there’s lots of missed connections between characters throughout the video. Definitely has some ‘Breakfast Club’ vibes, so it really takes you back to high school and the whirlwind of emotions that go with it

 

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Music Video: Christopher Sorensen “Afterglow”

The new music video from Christopher Sorensen, “Afterglow,” explores the dynamic between an 18-year-old teen and an older man who connect through a gay dating app. The video chronicles the first meeting of the pair at the older man’s home, complete with cocktails and a swim in his pool. Things do go the way of romance and there are follow-up encounters.

But when one night goes late, there are fireworks at home after what looks like a missed curfew. As his parents argue, the young man erupts in anger and goes looking for his older paramour, only to find a surprise. Sorensen’s reps told Towleroad that the storyline is “very personal to Christopher.” “His goal is to create a safe space for young gay men to talk about any experience where they have felt taken advantage of,” the statement continued. “Afterglow” is the first time Sorensen has included his own LGBT identity in his music. His 2015 music video, “Balloon,” addressed bullying. Any readers have a similar experience with dating apps? Let us know in the comments. Watch the video below.

(h/t Towleroad)

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Out Music: Ria Mae Feat. Frank Kadillac “Hold Me”

Queer artist Ria Mae recently released the video for her single, “Hold Me,” featuring Frank Kadillac.
Ria Mae debuts new music video “Hold Me”

Queer artist Ria Mae recently released the video for her single, “Hold Me,” featuring Frank Kadillac.

The music video follows Mae and Kadillac as they wander the evening streets of a colorful city.

The lyrics underscore the irony that while social media has fooled us into thinking we are more connected, the truth is we are becoming quite the opposite.

“People [will say things online] they’d never say in person,” Mae recently told OUT. “If you’re in the same room as someone, those words are not even gonna come out.”

Navigating their way through the complicated, often-deafening social landscape of adulthood, they wistfully remember back the pure, simpler ease of childhood.

I’ve been blinded by headlights
Wanna move, wanna move but I’m paralyzed
Heaven help us I’m helpless
I’m just tryna keep my head up high
I remember in the 10th grade
We used to hit snooze and lie and we weren’t even trying
These days the sirens they cut through the silence
Can we turn down the violence?

“The song started as a conversation between Frank, myself and Lowell,” says Mae of the evolution of the song. “We were sharing how lately we felt unsure of how to engage online and remain positive in the current social climate.”

“We were talking about how easy life used to feel when we were young and how anxious a lot of our peers seem to be right now,” she added. “I wanted the visuals to represent a deep long for peace from this deafening social landscape.”

Ria was nominated for “Pop Album of the Year” at the 2018 JUNO awards for her last EP.

In 2016, Ria also earned a JUNO nomination for “Single of the Year” for her platinum-selling hit “Clothes Off” that has over 13-million streams worldwide.

Check out “Hold Me” below.