Tag: out musicians

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Out Music: The Hound “Can’t Let You Go”

Check out “Can’t Let You Go”, the new music video from LA-based out musician John Constantine (aka The Hound).

The intimate video features Constantine and model Aram Giragos working their way through a bad breakup.

Speaking to HuffPost, Constantine had this to say about being an out artist in today’s music landscape:

“I think it’s still very difficult to be a gay musician. A lot of times in the mainstream market you are told to keep your queerness as an afterthought and market yourself in a heteronormative way, or risk being labeled as a parody or not taken seriously. Meanwhile your straight contemporaries can be as honest, intimate and sexual as they want to be without any hesitation of it hurting their career. So, I want to keep writing and performing without compromise, stay true to myself, and be queer AF without fear.”

Constantine goes on to admit the inspiration for “Can’t Let You Go” came from a personal heartbreak which he says “all led me to where I’m at now.”

Watch the video below:

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Out Music: Sam Smith “Too Good At Goodbyes”

Sam Smith drops his first new song in two years - "Too Good At Goodbyes"
Sam Smith (image via Instagram)

“Too Good At Goodbyes” is out singer/songwriter Sam Smith’s newest release since his Academy Award winning James Bond theme, “Writing’s On The Wall.”

“The song is about a relationship I was in and it’s basically about getting good at getting dumped,” Smith said in a press release. “It’s been a long while since I’ve put any music out and I feel that this first single sets the tone of what is to come.”

Variety reviews the track:

For the first minute of the song, Smith’s voice is joined only by the sparsest and most basic piano chords, along with some finger-snapping. Eventually a light beat kicks in, then a gospel choir, as if to almost mock Smith’s romantic lamentation by raising it to the level of spiritual battle. Those extra production elements drop out as easily as they drop in, though, until it’s finally just piano and fingers again, then a sobby, a cappella closing line.

Maybe you’d also like a majestic bridge that never arrives; that may be the missing element that leaves “Goodbyes” shy of being a pop classic. But Smith’s magical, tragical voice is its own kind of classicism, melting you with its vulnerability even as he tries some swagger on for size as part of his exit strategy.

4.5 million views in one day.

Listen below. Let me know in the comments what you think 🙂

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Podcast: White House Preps Trans Military Phase Out; Will & Grace Already Renewed For 2nd Season; Gay Short Film Charms Millions

In this week’s podcast:

• The White House has approved guidance for booting transgender service members out of the U.S. military

• NBC not only adds four more episodes to the Will & Grace reboot, but has already renewed the iconic sitcom for a second season

• Animated queer short film In A Heartbeat charms millions in only four minutes

• The acclaimed film Call Me By Your Name gets first official trailer

• Matt Joyce of the Oakland A’s suspended for shouting anti-gay slur at fan

All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report.

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Out Music: Superfruit “Vacation”

Mitch Grassi and Scott Hoying, 3-time Grammy Award-winners with Pentatonix, continue to add color and flavor to this summer’s queer musical landscape as Superfruit.

The pop pair keeps dropping music videos for their new EP, Future Friends, Superfruit’s new two-part debut studio album. And we couldn’t be happier.

Future Friends—Part One is available now; Future Friends—Part Two will debut on September 15.

Formed in 2013 as a side-gig when not performing with Pentatonix, the colorful duo’s videos have racked up over 350 million views.

Describing the different musical approaches, Grassi told OUT, “With Superfruit, it’s a little more gay-friendly and a lot more open, more sexual, more liberated.”

In “Vacation,” the boys are clearly putting style above surroundings. And why not when you can bop on a budget with a gay groove like these two?

Watch the guys “vacay in their own way” below.

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Music Video: Eli Lieb Is Awash In Intoxicating Kisses In “Shangri La”

Perfect for Hump Day!

Out singer/songwriter Eli Lieb has just dropped his new music video, “Shangri La.”

Having recently relocated from Los Angeles to Iowa, the talented Mr. Lieb appears to be awash in the memory of intoxicating kisses, and a cocktail or two.

Romantic longing becomes naked, exposed emotion.

I’m definitely a fan, having previously featured Eli on The Randy Report here and here and here and here.

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News Roundup: July 25, 2017

Some news items you may have missed:

• Let’s hear it for the bears! Furball in focus (above).

• According to a new USA Today poll, Americans are split 42% yes/42% no on whether President Trump should be impeached.

• The Queer Insurrection and Liberation Army, or TQILA, is a newly-formed LGBT-centric unit of volunteers who have joined the fight against ISIS in Syria.

• Trump says Attorney General Jeff Sessions only endorsed him for president because of his “massive numbers” at campaign rallies. #brutal

• Always on the lookout for new out music? Check out this list of summer tunes by LGBT artists.

• Mark Ruffalo shared this pic of Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston cuddling with Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi on a recent flight. #Grrrr

A post shared by Mark Ruffalo (@markruffalo) on Jul 22, 2017 at 1:57pm PDT

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Out Music: Superfruit “Worth It (Perfect)”

Mitch Grassi and Scott Hoying – Superfruit

More colorful, pop-y goodness from Superfruit, the side gig for out Pentatonix members, Mitch Grassi and Scott Hoying.

Following the release of “Imaginary Parties” and “Bad 4 Us,” the duo drops a third music video – “Worth It (Perfect)” – from their new EP, Future Friends (Part One).

The new single is a bright, synth-pop confection that matches the fun, feel-good video featuring teen dancers Kaycee Rice and Sage Rosen, who flip the switch on binary roles, dancing in gender-nonconforming costumes.

Grassi and Hoying, founding and current gay members of the 3-time Grammy Award-winning a cappella quintet Pentatonix, describe Superfruit’s musical approach as, “a little more gay-friendly and a lot more open, more sexual, more liberated.”

Watch the fun video below.

Sage Rosen and Kaycee Rice
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Out Music: Leon Else Covers Whitney Classic “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”

Leon Else

Out singer/songwriter Leon Else took a break in the studio to record a stripped down cover of Whitney Houston’s classic hit, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.”

Leon dropped the earnest and open-hearted Whitney cover following the release of his new single, “What I Won’t Do,” which I wrote about here back in May.

The synth-driven “What I Won’t Do” is the latest single to be released from his upcoming EP due this summer.

“What I Won’t Do” follows on the heels of Else’s previous single “The City Don’t Care” feat. Oliver, which was released in March.

Dubbed “the new Sam Smith” by People magazine, Else’s soulful and richly emotive voice have acted like a magnet to fans and critics alike. Immediately generating buzz, Else has garnered the attention of Elton John while also having been named “Best Dressed Man” by British GQ and, most recently, Else was tapped by VH1 to pay tribute to George Michael and praised as “mesmerizing” (Idolator) and “captivating” (Paper).

Watch Else’s unplugged version of Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” below.

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Out Music: Superfruit Serves Up A Dance Party That’s Totally NOT “Bad 4 Us”

Superfruit drops a SECOND music video in one week! We’re going to get spoiled!

Scott Hoying and Mitch Grassi, band members of Pentatonix and YouTube sensations, surprised fans today with a new music video for their disco-tastic track, “Bad 4 Us.”

Totally danceable, totally fun for a Friday afternoon.

Earlier this week I featured their video for “Imaginary Parties” here.

Check out “Bad 4 Us” from the duo’s new album, Future Friends Part 1, available now.

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Out Music: Bright Light Bright Light “New York Pretty”

Singer/songwriter Rod Thomas, recording under the moniker Bright Light Bright Light, explores and celebrates the streets of New York in the new bright and bouncy music video for “New York Pretty.” The track is from the upcoming EP Tales of the City to be released July 7. Thomas sets the tone from the get-go, opening the track thusly: I hope that everyone can see me now Now that I feel so much better about myself Now that I feel better about myself With Pride Month in full swing, Thomas whirls and swirls throughout gay NYC including visits to three iconic gay bars: Stonewall, Julius, and Williamsburg’s Metropolitan. Thomas describes the feel of “New York Pretty” on his official website thusly:

‘New York Pretty’ came out of the blue one sunny say in New York winter. It’s inspired by the Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin movie ‘Big Business’ and the idea of spending a long time in a place that’s not quite right, eventually moving to the city and feeling like you finally belong. It’s no secret that New York is my place for that, and also inspired by RuPaul and the incredible RuPaul’s Drag Race, I wanted to write a song about self-empowerment and self-belief, and this is what emerged. Musically, it’s a mix of inspiration from Broadway, Queer As Folk’s UK gay scene and Kylie’s ‘Light Years’ which all had a large influence on my music taste growing up.

Watch the upbeat, Pride-worthy music video below.