Just a friendly reminder that I recently launched a companion online radio show for The Randy Report where I cover many of the same issues (pop culture, politics and entertainment) as I do here daily on the blog.
The shows are archived immediately after I end an episode, so you don’t have to listen live – although it’s fun to interact with callers during the show 🙂
I really enjoyed talking with internet music sensation Brandon Skeie last night on my online radio show, The Randy Report.
Brandon Skeie (SHAY-AH) is an LA based singer-songwriter/artist with a strong presence among the industry’s creative community.
At the age of 22, Brandon Skeie has been featured in Billboard, Ryan Seacrest and MTV, over 3M SoundCloud plays, an active online fan base of 350K+ followers, a 15 week synch on E! and more.
After developing a huge following on his YouTube channel (almost 9 million views) including his spectacular cover versions of songs like Adele’s “Hello,” Brandon is poised for a strong 2016 with the release of original music, beginning with his new single “So Bad”.
I spoke with Brandon about his creative process in the recording studio, his amazing vocal range, and how he views being an out musician in today’s musical landscape.
I’m a fan of the new song, so I asked about where the inspiration for the song came from. Brandon’s response:
Basically, “So Bad” is based on a previous relationship of mine. I had met a person. It was actually my first love, which made it a little bit more interesting. I was deeply, deeply in love with this person, but around six, seven months into the relationship, it just became evident that love wasn’t enough.
We had many, many differences. We didn’t get along a lot of the time. It just created this feeling like, “Man, I just want you so bad all the time, but I can’t.” It’s just you falling so in love with somebody or the idea of somebody, and then you really get to know them, your personalities clash, and there’s nothing you can do, except for that feeling that lingers. Wanting somebody so bad, but knowing it’s not the right time or the right place.
That’s basically the full inspiration behind it. The same situation actually was going on with my co-writer Hillary Bernstein at the same time. Both of us were going through this really rough relationship period and just came up with this concept. It just flew out of us really quickly.
Check out my latest radio show where I recap the past week’s important news stories regarding entertainment, pop culture and politics of interest to the LGBT community.
From the constantly shifting GOP clown car to the most recent polls watching the upcoming Iowa and New Hampshire contests.
I talk on the current Donald Trump/Ted Cruz rivalry, and Jeb Bush attacking his former protege Marco Rubio.
Plus, thoughts on the recently announced Oscar nominations, the passing of rock music legend David Bowie, and my “Favorite Thing Today.”
After months of thinking and postponing and more postponing, I finally launched the companion podcast to The Randy Report this week.
Many readers here know that for years I co-hosted an online radio show, The Candi & Randy Show, with my fab friend Candi Fox.
It was a fun, enriching experience where Candi and I laughed together, and also explored a lot of topics I’d never thought about. Along the way we racked up over 500,000 targeted listeners.
But after two and a half years, I found my calendar was booking up with lots of theater projects that I was really looking forward to working on, and plus, I found I was a bit out of ideas. I stepped away thinking that at sometime in the future I might see myself sitting down at a microphone again.
So, Monday night I debuted the first episode of The Randy Report (the radio show) on BlogTalkRadio. I hope many of you will click over to the show page there and click “Follow” so you can be notified of upcoming episodes.
The first show featured two interviews – one with Lee Roy Reams, who is currently starring in Hello, Dolly! in Boca Raton, Florida (the first American male actor to play the title role); and the second with award-winning singer/songwriter Matt Zarley discussing his acclaimed musical short film “hopefulROMANTIC.”
I refer to the radio show as a “companion” piece to the blog here as I hope to explore via talk radio many of the stories and issues I bring up here on a a daily basis.
I’m still working on some details – one of which being exactly when I’ll air shows live. But the great thing about BlogTalkRadio is every show is available for free on-demand listening within a few minutes of a show airing. So, whether you join me and my guests live or catch up later on your own schedule, you can be a part of the ever-expanding Randy Report experience 🙂
Really hoping you hit play and listen below. And I’d love if you would call in live some time. I’d love to hear from readers 🙂
As I head to today’s sunset Chardonnay, just a quick request to ask you shiny, happy people to please follow The Randy Report on Facebook and Twitter 🙂
And, please remember it’s always fab that if you like something on The Randy Report, please hit the SHARE links below and spread the Randy goodness.
Randy Slovacek – writer/editor of The Randy ReportThe Randy Report is my new avenue to get my point of view out to the world about politics, music, theater and anything that tickles me. I’m inviting everyone to tune in, shout out and don’t be afraid to have an opinion. Growing up in Texas, I was a pretty afraid of a lot of the world. Afraid to express myself, afraid I wouldn’t be liked, afraid I wouldn’t get where I wanted to go. I went to Syracuse University for college – blinding change of temperature, tone and scenery. Opened up my world a bit as a got through four freezing cold years, spent over $40K and walked away with a piece of paper saying that I had done something. I moved to NYC with my best friend Carlye to pursue dreams of being on Broadway, and eventually got there after serving time in many National touring companies of those Broadway shows I dreamed of being a part of. In those years I came to deal with the fact that I was gay, fell out of the closet, fell in love with my husband Michael, moved out west, got married and began a new chapter. You’ll be hearing much more about Carlye and Michael in future posts on The Randy Report. Somewhere along the way I realized life had taught me a lot about fear and it’s uselessness. I once heard the phrase “I’m not afraid of anything” and I really liked how that sounded. I really try to honor that. Even if a little fear creeps into a life moment, I chalk it up to reminding me I’m alive. But most of the time, I try to keep heading forward. I’m not so worried about what people think of me anymore, or what people will think of how I express my thoughts. I think it’s the American Way to live and let live, to honor our differences and realize that all our flavors create the best country in the world. I have no time for people who have issues with anyone they see as “other.” Different is good. And if you believe that, you have to take it to the bank. Live it. So skin color, hair color, religion or lack thereof, sexual orientation, age, blah blah blah…. it all makes life interesting. At least to me. Short story: My father loved to travel and loved adventure. Before he died at the age of 91, he had traveled everywhere in the world several times over. Sometimes by himself, meeting new friends along the way. My mother had passed away when I was five, so my father was THE grown up figure in my life. He was very confident, and throughout childhood I always knew I wanted his approval. I wanted him to be proud of me. To not only love me, but see me attempt something and hear him say “good job.” When I was very young my father took my brother and me to Mexico for a vacation. For me as a 7 year old, Mexico was a very different world. Other than a swimming pool at a hotel, I was scared of a lot. At one point we were on a beach and my father signed my 9 year old brother Gary up to go para-sailing. They strapped Gary into the harness, and up and away he went. It didn’t seem like adventure to me so much as just plain frightening. When the time came for the ride to end, my brother was so small and light in weight and the wind was so strong, it was difficult to get him down to the ground. It took ten minutes for the “technicians” to get him down. My father turned to me and said “you’re next” and I went running away, crying. Scared to death. That was Mexico to me for a long, long time. Fast forward to two years ago. I was on vacation with friends of mine and we all decided to go zip lining through the jungle near Puerto Vallarta. I couldn’t wait. Loved it. Taking a zip line hundreds of feet above the jungle floor was beyond exhilarating. The guides asked my name at the start of the day and I gave myself a nickname “Bruno” just to be funny and make my friends laugh. All day long the guides cheered “Bruno” on. It was a great day. No fear in sight and it didn’t even occur to me fear should even be in the equation. The next morning, while still in Mexico, I got the call my 91 year old father had passed away in his sleep of natural causes. I flew from PV to Texas to handle the funeral and burial details. In getting ready to speak at my father’s funeral – a daunting and important “one shot moment” at expressing something that needed to be profound – I searched to find the best and most “right” thing to say about this world & life traveler who never showed fear. And suddenly it came to me the memory of that 7 year old boy who was so afraid of everything in life, and now – having just been in Mexico for the first time since the frightening age of 7, and without thinking twice – I was the one zooming through the canopy of the jungle thrilled at the adventure of it all. I suddenly sensed an amazing closing of a circle and passing of a torch. I think one of our parent’s greatest responsibilities is to prepare us, consciously and subconsciously, to face life. To not be afraid. Standing next to my father’s casket, I took a second, turned and said to my father and his memory – “good job.” That story probably says something about me and my life. Tons of friends got me here along the way. I hope people find The Randy Report, and read and react. Feel free. No fear.
