THEGAYUK

Tag: LGBT Music

All the latest breaking news on LGBT Music. Browse THEGAYUK’s complete collection of news, articles and commentary on LGBT Music.

  • LGBT Artist, Feryl releases a huge summer BOP

    Following the positive reception of the “RELEASE” EP Pride favourite, Feryl, has released this HOUSE remix of ‘Solemn Light’!

    The track aims to be a summer banger, bringing the Ibiza vibe to the UK, and is produced by the talented Jojo F who is celebrating HUGE success with Da BeatFreakz on Radio1 right now!

    Speaking about the track Feryl said, “Solemn Light” was written for my sister after her husband died suddenly of a blood clot in the brain… I wanted to remind her that the only strength she needed was inside her all along, and listeners have found their own strength in the lyrics”.

    Check out the official Lyric Video

  • New Music: Andrea Di Giovanni’s ‘Bang’ is the Queer anthem you need RN

    New Music: Andrea Di Giovanni’s ‘Bang’ is the Queer anthem you need RN

    LGBT+ activist and Pride’s Got Talent Finalist, Andrea Di Giovanni, is set to release the pulsing queer hit you’ve been waiting for.

    The new track mixes strong synth backing with powerhouse vocals on the topic of self-liberation. Andrea believes we should “let go of everything that holds us back, so we can thrive and do what we love”, and ‘Bang’ is a track that reminds listeners to lose their inhibitions and live in the moment.

    As a rising pop star and activist, Andrea’s music resonates not only with the LGBT+ community but with the pop music scene as a whole. With the main focus on “making a difference” and using the platform they have to inspire positive change, ‘Bang’ is a track that holds no barriers, persuades no minds, and allows the listener to simply break free and enjoy music.

    Andrea Di Giovanni is an openly gay gender-fluid pop artist, from Italy and based in London, UK. Andrea’s unigue performance style has led the singer to be scouted by many well-known pop stars, such as 80’s pop icon Sinitta who stated the performer was, “A star… original and fantastic”.

    Andrea’s music finds roots in the struggle for equality, combining memorable melodies with empowering messages of self-acceptance.

    Bang will be released on Friday 8th March, and available via music platforms Apple Music and Spotify.

  • INTERVIEW | Aaron Sibley: Being an out artist and living as an open book

    INTERVIEW | Aaron Sibley: Being an out artist and living as an open book

    Aaron Sibley is a London based singer who, at a relatively young age, has performed at Pride In London and competed to represent Moldova in the Eurovision Song Contest. Luke Marlow sits down to talk with him.

    With his new single “Falling Through” out now, THEGAYUK caught up with him to discuss life, music, and all things Eurovision.

    TGUK: Hi Aaron, Welcome to TheGayUK. How has your 2019 been so far?

    AS: Hi, thanks for having me! 2019 has been great so far. I’ve kind of hit the ground running in terms of my music. I have been busy in the studio recording and I have been out, performing, as much as I can. Busy start to the year but I’m loving it!

    TGUK: Tell us a little bit about yourself – where are you from, where do you live – who is Aaron Sibley?

    AS: I am from a small town in south England, and two years ago I decided to move to London to pursue my dream career. Growing up in a small town was great in general but it did have its negatives.

    Being able to express myself was very difficult as I didn’t know anyone else like me. Music seemingly helped me to escape and I put all my confusion and feelings into music.

    Nowadays, my life is mostly an open book, to be honest, and anyone that knows me, know I’m an honest, open, sensitive, motivated and hardworking kind of person.

    “…growing up gay in a small town was not easy and I found myself denying the possibility that I could be different. And even now I am completely comfortable with who I am, nothing can erase that feeling of thinking “I am different to everyone around me”.

    TGUK: Your latest single “Falling Through” is out now – what is it about and what inspired it?

    AS: As I mentioned before, growing up gay in a small town was not easy and I found myself denying the possibility that I could be different. And even now I am completely comfortable with who I am, nothing can erase that feeling of thinking “I am different to everyone around me”. “Falling Through” is the musical personification of the feeling I felt when I was coming out.

    TGUK: There’s an emotional intensity and an honesty to your work – is that important to you? Is exorcising these thoughts and experiences into music a cathartic process for you?

    AS: Oh yes, that’s definitely important to me. I think writing from the heart and drawing from experience whether it’s personal or instinctual is important to me, I find it inspires a truth that is meaningful and that people can relate to it, no matter what their personal experiences.

    Whenever I’m writing music or in the studio, I find it can be a very cathartic process. Sharing music that’s personal almost feels like a therapy session, as if you’re giving a piece of yourself away. My music is very honest and ‘raw’ and this is essential when creating music from the heart. Even though my songs are personal to my life I like to think that they could resonate with an audience (LBGT or otherwise) and they can take something away from it that’s unique to them.

    “Artist’s like Bowie, Elton John, Madonna have been celebrating the ideology of queerness for years and have inspired me; how they constantly broke the mould, were constantly evolving and had their unique style that put a middle finger up to what was expected of them at the time.

    TGUK: In terms of queer artists out there-there are certainly more than ever before but, as a whole, we’re still rather under-represented. Why do you think that is, and Who are your inspirations on that front?

    AS: I think the level of queer representation in the mainstream has flourished in recent years and it’s great to see, but we still have ways to go in terms of queers bands and artists expanding from predominantly ‘gay’ audiences and becoming more widespread. Artists like Years and Years, MIKA, Sam Smith, Frank Ocean have really branched out in terms of their unique sound, style, visual representation and what it means to be queer.

    The fact that the LGBT community have slowly but surely been granted the rights we are entitled to, has allowed for artists and queer music to evolve from being viewed as ‘sub-culture’, ‘niche’ or ‘underground’ to a more universalised sound that allows artists the free reign to celebrate what it means to be queer and introduce new music to wider demographics.

    Artist’s like Bowie, Elton John, Madonna have been celebrating the ideology of queerness for years and have inspired me; how they constantly broke the mould, were constantly evolving and had their unique style that put a middle finger up to what was expected of them at the time.

    “Eurovision music is vastly underrated in the UK

    TGUK: We know you’re a big fan of Eurovision – having competed in the National Finals for Moldova back in 2018. What is it about Eurovision that you think appeals to the Queer community so much?

    AS: Eurovision is a celebration of all things camp! It’s a serious competition that all the artists and countries involved don’t take lightly, however it’s all wrapped up in a nice glittery bow!

    We all love watching fierce women and leather bound men get up and strut their stuff to a cheesy pop song or ballad that gets the audience going wild.

    I, however, love the music side of things. Eurovision music is vastly underrated in the UK. Every year I fall in love with a song, and I might not even understand the language. Eurovision connects people worldwide on a musical level and it’s interesting to hear different sounds that are inspired from all parts of Europe.

    TGUK: How was it being an openly Gay Singer in Moldova for Eurovision – an Ex-soviet State.

    AS: This experience was incredible. My song qualified to the national finals of Moldova, A county with limited LGBT+ presence. I was a little worried before heading out to Moldova as I did not know what to expect in terms of the LGBT community. Unfortunately, they do not have the right to be who they are over there and it is considered still not normal.

    Whilst in the country I was receiving messages on social media from people who were not able to come out, telling me that simply my being there performing in their country gave them Pride.

    The whole experience proved how important Pride still is. And it made me aware that I have a voice to help make LGBT+ people celebrate who they are.

    TGUK: Working as an independent artist can be tricky – but in the last couple of years you’ve competed in Eurovision and sung to crowds at London Pride. What are your ambitions for the next few years?

    AS: I’m just going to carry on working hard, keep laser focused and enjoy the process. Being in London for only two years and perusing a professional music career here for less than that, I’ve achieved quite a lot. BUT I have a long way to go. I am aiming for new opportunities and adventures this year amongst other things. I’m currently in the process of writing and recording a musical inspired EP with a talent LGBT musician friend.

    And I am releasing a new EP on 16th March. I am hoping to perform at more Prides this year and of course pursuing Eurovision once again. I will be performing as much as I can and I am so excited to begin writing new solo music again.

    Thanks to Aaron Sibley for taking the time to chat with us – new single “Falling Through” is out now, and you can check Aaron out at the below links:

    www.aaronsibleymusic.com
    www.youtube.com/aaronsibleymusic
    www.facebook.com/aaronsibleymusic
    www.instagram.com/aaronsibleymusic
    www.twitter.com/asibleymusic

     

    Photos provided / (C) Aaron Sibley

  • Spotlight on: Corvyx

    Today I start my series called Spotlight On, where I talk about LGBT+ artists who haven’t quite hit the mainstream yet, but who are supremely talented at what they do.

    With nearly 20,000 subscribers on YouTube, my first spotlight is on native New York singer, Anthony Colasuonno, who goes by the performing name Corvyx.

    Corvyx has covered many different artists on his YouTube channel, from Evanesence, to Katy Perry, yet still putting a Corvyx twist on it, both musically, and visually.

    I was lucky enough to get to interview Corvyx and thought I would ask him about his influences and style, and how he came up with his unusual moniker

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BWAgyfuAm0R/?taken-by=corvyxofficial

    Where did the name Corvyx come from?

    Corvyx is a derivative of two big influential factors, Astrology and a particular well known ‘cult’ movie. I was watching The Crow one day and I was fascinated by this beautiful bird in the movie, so I started do research about black birds. Not only did I adore the mythology and the majestic current/past legends that surround Ravens. I found out that the constellation Corvus translates to Raven in Latin, so I just tweaked it a bit and felt an instant connection to it.

    Who are your musical influences/idols?

    I have so many. My musical taste and influences is a big melting pot of genres that range across the board and changes every other week. I’d say the constants have been Michael Jackson, Marilyn Manson, Florence Welch, and P!nk. They are the artists I have grown a fascination with over the years. Their work is transcendent and every single one of these artists has changed the world in some way or another. They are all provocative and seemingly fearless in the face of so much adversity. Being able to perform isn’t the only thing an artist should have in their wheelhouse. Being intelligent, taking a stance and believing in something is a must for me. All of these artists have been the catalysts for change and have raised the bar in some form or another.

    What is your favourite type of song to cover?

    My favourite types of songs to cover are the ones that are painful because a lot of people steer away from them. But in my opinion, these are the best works of art because it confronts something that is real. I love finding the truth in lyrics. If I hear a song or a melody and I have an immediate visceral reaction to it, chances are I’ll love the song. There’s also a flip side to my method of covering a song, I like to take a song that may have some major key tonalities (feel good songs) and seemingly fun melodies and shed light on how dark the lyrical content can actually be if it were sung and interpreted another way.

    Do you want to do more original material?

    I absolutely plan on doing more original material in the very near-future. I’ve been working on a few singles and have big plans for a concept EP as well. Time is all relative!

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BTFYFBPgMuT/?taken-by=corvyxofficial

    Did you have any musical training?

    I’ve done musical theatre for a good portion of my elementary, middle and high school career, but I did not actually receive formal training until college. I started working with various vocal coaches from different walks of life and musical experience starting freshman year of college through to graduation. Most of the training was built upon an operatic and theatrical foundation to discover the “legit” part of my voice. One of my vocal coaches was a countertenor with a ton of experience in opera and although we obviously sound very different when we sing, he taught me to access parts of my voice I never knew I could. I think being well-rounded in ones’ training, regardless of the genre of music he/she sings can only benefit the artist in their technique.

    I love finding the truth in lyrics

    You do a lot of different stylistic looks in your music videos. Where do your ideas come from?

    My style is ever-evolving and changing every single day. I can look back at a video I made a month ago and think “what were you doing guy?” But most of my ideas come from an amalgamation of everything I’m inspired by. I love fashion but I don’t necessarily consider myself a fashion maven. If something is last season, I’ll still wear it if it works for my aesthetic and the vibe of the song. My style is a compromise of what I think looks good and what can accentuate what I want to express in the song. I let the vibe of a song influence what I think I should look like in a music video. The feeling I get while I’m singing very much dictates everything I see around me. Songs are like the seasons and weather to me. The temperature may fluctuate and there could be a chance of rain, but I still remain true to my aesthetic and will probably bring a really kickass umbrella.

    Do you work with many other people to create your music videos/songs?

    I’m lucky enough to have a pool of super creative and talented individuals at my disposal and all the crazy sh*t that goes on in my head wouldn’t be possible without them. To be honest, the production quality for most of what we go looks like it requires hordes of people, but I work with some very headstrong and driven artists (much like myself) with a desire to create the best possible outcome even if our resources are limited (which is most of the time). We don’t have a major record label budget nor do do we have any investors backing the project (yet), so it forces us to think outside the box and push ourselves beyond what our budgets can actually afford. For most of my covers, it’s usually been me and the producer in the studio, and then one or two videographers work on set and also handle post-production.

    Who would be your ultimate performer to work with?

    This is TOUGH. I think ultimately, I’d absolutely love to write and collaborate with any artist that isn’t afraid to get to the truth of it all. I like a balance of poetry, eloquence and raw truth. Metaphors mixed with gut-wrenching melodies. I would love to write and work with Sia.

    The highs are extremely high, and probably better than anything you’ll ever feel

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BSrKs_MgzF7/?taken-by=corvyxofficial

    Would you ultimately like to become successful enough to tour with your music?

    I would love to eventually tour. I think I’d be dead broke from all of the conceptual design I would love to incorporate into my performances. But being able to reach wider audiences and touch people on a different level other than the social media platforms would be absolutely incredible and liberating for me as an artist and a human being.

    What advice would you give to anyone wanting to pursue a venture in music?

    You must be okay with losing and constantly rediscovering yourself. I know that sounds cliché, however, you have to be okay with unveiling things about yourself that you may not always like admitting. The highs are extremely high, probably better than anything you’ll ever feel. But the lows are seemingly endless sometimes. And sacrifice! Sacrifice is probably the biggest part of the entire creative process. You aren’t going to live the same life as most other people. Artists usually don’t have the same social life as others, but you must be willing to live without that and it could feel so isolating. Ultimately the rewards are much more fulfilling than you could ever imagine.

    You can check out Corvyx’s Youtube channel and his fantastic covers and original song Become The Night here

  • Boy Is A Bottom Racks Up 18 Million Hits

    Since it was released this wickedly funny parody of Alicia Keys “Girl On Fire” has racked up over 18 million hits.

    We simply cannot get enough of Willam, Detox & Vicky Vox as after all, this boy really is a Bottom.

  • Steve Grand Has Really Got Something Worth Baring All For

    Gay singer-songwriter Steve Grand who became a star overnight last year when his first video went viral, stopped by vlogger Davey Wavey’s house to do some real musical promotion for his new album.

    So far a lot of the promotion that he receives is not for his music, but for his looks, so he wanted this to be different. It was until Davey literally got his hands on him.

     

     

     

  • Courtney Act In Beheading Music Video

    Hail to the artists… but we’d like to know what you think about this video.

    It has to be said we love this song, v v catchy, but we’re not too sure on the subject matter of the video. Slick yes, Courtney Act looking hotter than ever, yes – Beheading. Not so much.

    Check out and proud gay rapper Andre Xcellence’s new video, starring Courtney Act, for the single he’s just dropped called Game Of Thrones complete with veil wearing, sword carrying dancer.

    Andre plans to conquer the world independently with a force not seen since the debuts of Eminem, and 50 Cent. Along with launching himself as an artist, he has also formed a record label by The name of “American Commission” with his executive production team “The Prodigal”. Together they have set high expectations for themselves and the new label. The plan is to break boundaries and create a new standard of “Xcellence” in the music industry

    We can’t make our minds up – is it a brilliant free speech torch, where music conquers all, or is it bad timing and bad taste? You decide.

  • First British Muslim Drag Queen Has Eurovision Hopes

    Britain’s first Muslim drag queen Asifa Lahore releases her self-penned debut single ‘You And I’.

    According to the UK’s first Muslim Drag Queen Asifa Lahore, what differentiates this project from her other songs is that for the first time, she releases original material with a strong focus on thoughtful contemporary lyrics and stunning vocals.

    ‘You may have seen me trying to discuss the topic of faith and sexual identity on the BBC Three show ‘Free Speech’ earlier this year, and subsequently in the press. Since then I have appearing on BBC World News with leading Bollywood actress Celina Jaitly and an array of British Asian community channels talking openly about LGBT issues.

    ‘I have also spent the summer recording an EP in the UK, America and Sweden.’ says Ms. Lahore

    The first single from the EP is ‘You And I’ has been submitted as a potential Eurovision entry for the United Kingdom after the success of Conchita Wurst at the Eurovision in May 2014.

  • Adam Lambert And Queen To Tour UK and Europe

    QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT today announced they are to play an extensive tour of the UK and Europe early in the New Year.

    (more…)

  • Kris Searle: Pay What You Like

    When LA Music Award Winner Kris Searle contacted us to say we could pay what we liked to ‘have him’ our minds of course started getting steamed up!

    However what Kris meant was you can pay what you like for his new Album release Dawn of Momentum.

     

    Now this will inevitably have the students rushing to get the new album for £0.01, however, I believe that it will also draw the respect and trust of many who will give a fair price for the album. We may live in a World where music is readily available for free, and by free I mean nicked, but I think we should spend a bit of time thinking about the time and money that goes into making these new tracks for our enjoyment. Kris has taken quite a bold step in passing the pricing reins over to us so lets not run off with them…

     

    Dawn of Momentum is available from www.noisetrade.com/krissearleofficial

     

    You can watch the music video for Starfire – the single from Dawn of Momentum here: YouTube

     

    If you’re a fan of Kris’ then you can also follow him here:

     

    Facebook: www.facebook.com/krissearleofficial

     

    Twitter: www.twitter.com/krissearle

  • Marcus Reeves To Release Debut Single Black Tears

    Mercurial new talent Marcus Reeves presents his debut single ‘Black Tears’, available as a download through iTunes from 5 November 2012.

    (more…)