Playlist: Brooklyn-Based Queer Musicians With A Lot Of (Upbeat) Feelings
Brooklyn! Brooklyn is a pretty rad place, I hear. They’ve got that bridge situation going on, Coney Island is in Brooklyn, a bunch of Autostraddle staff members live there, but MOST RELEVANT TO THIS ARTICLE, Brooklyn is becoming a hotspot for queer women who make music, including newly out musician Jenny Owen Youngs and a bunch of her pals! Yeah! So in honor of Jenny Owen Youngs Day, here is a playlist of upbeat songs by queer women who are based out of Brooklyn. Onward, gaywads!
image via pepperpressny
Brooklyn-Based Queer Musicians With A Lot Of (Upbeat) Feelings
Pirates
Brooklyn
Didn’t I Tell You
Making It Up
Scarface
Give Me What You’ve Got
All That I’ve Got
You’ve Changed (feat. Sia)
Do You Remember The Morning – Kid in the Attic
Yesterday
Lose Myself (Acoustic)
Feelin’ Good
Get Ready
Anglerfish
Voice On Tape (feat. Regina Spektor)
Want to suggest a playlist theme? Hit up Crystal on Formspring and someone from the team might make it for you.
Crush Of The Week: Meshell Ndegeocello
Meshell Ndegeocello. Photo credit: Charlie Gross. Via dukeperformances.duke.edu.
It’s Pride Month, and I want to kick it off by feting a queer Black woman who’s a truly underappreciated musical genius: Meshell Ndegeocello.
Where can I even start? I’ve loved Ndegeocello, who self-identifies as bisexual, since her Grammy-nominated debut album Plantation Lullabyes back in 1993, when Madonna signed the multi-instrumentalist and singer to her Maverick record label. Between her bass playing (she tried out for the band Living Colour back in 1992 but didn’t get the gig, though she was a part of the Black Rock Coalition co-founded by the band’s guitarist, Vernon Reid), her come-to-me smoky voice, her gender-bending outfits, and (at the time) bald head, I swoonily followed her through her musical universe as she had some shooting-star hits, like her cut “Wild Night” with John Cougar Mellencamp and “If That Was Your Boyfriend (He Wasn’t Last Night),”
but more interestingly, the constellation of collaborations and genres she traversed as she tries to navigate the nexus of love and spirituality and sexuality, like this gorgeous same-gender loving song, “Mary Magdalene,” from her second album Peace Beyond Passion,
and “Aquarium” (featuring The Brazilian Girls’ Sabina Sciubba and Didi Gutman and jazz musician Ron Blake from The Spirit Music Jamia: The Dance Of The Infidel)
as love, sexuality, and spirituality collide with systemic oppression, as in “Leviticus: F****t” from Peace Beyond Passion (TRIGGER WARNING: Homophobic violence):
Her own beyond-definition music — people have called her the female version of Prince and she herself has stated that he’s one of her greatest influences — has led her to appearing on albums as diverse as the Rolling Stones, Alanis Morrissette, Chaka Khan (for which she and Khan received a Grammy nod in 1997), Zap Mama, and The Blind Boys of Alabama. She has also played at the all-women musical tour Lillith Fair and the H.O.R.D.E. tour. She’s also contributed music to the Red Hot series, the albums to help raise funds and awareness to help end HIV/AIDS (specifically Red Hot + Riot and Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool), and to Downtown Records’ now-unavailable Raise Hope For Congo, a compilation record to help raise funds for “protecting and empowering Congolese women in light of the war-related mass sexual violence in the nation. And her genre-mixing is cited as creating the afro-boho universe called the neo-soul movement.
And, whatever else I feel about sex columnist Dan Savage (which involves a lot of direct laser side-eye about his racial and gender politics), this musical goddess lent her writing to his anthology It Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, And Creating A Life Worth Living.
I can wax on about the Berlin, Germany-born, Howard University-educated artist and mother. But I’m going to end with my all-time favorite cut: Lalah Hathaway’s and her can’t-touch-it perfect rendition of “When Did You Leave Heaven?
Andrea Plaid is the associate editor of the award-winning race-and-pop-culture blog Racialicious. She is also part of The Feminist Wire’s editorial collective and an associate producer of renowned web series Black Folk Don’t. Her work on race, gender, sex, and sexuality has appeared at On The Issues, Bitch, AlterNet, and RH Reality Check. Her work has been reprinted at, among other online sites, Penthouse, and New American Media. Her writing also appears in the anthology Feminism for Real: Deconstructing the Academic Industrial Complex of Feminism, edited by Jessica (Yee) Danforth and Corset Magazine.
This post originally appeared on Racialicious.com! Republished WITH PERMISSION, MOTHERF*CKERS!
Jenny Owen Youngs Is Super Gay: The Autostraddle Interview
Photo: Najva Sol
In a letter published today on EveryoneIsGay.com, Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Jenny Owen Youngs confirmed that she is, in fact, “super gay.” Not only that, she’ll be marrying her girlfriend, Everyone Is Gay co-founder Kristin Russo, in New York over the summer.
In the letter, which can be read in full here, Owen Youngs opens up about why she’s avoided discussing her sexuality publicly until now.
“I’m writing to tell you, among other things, that I am super gay. This may or may not come as a surprise to you. If it does: Surprise! If it does not: You were right all along! Either way: Hooray!
I didn’t want to come out. I don’t want coming out to be a thing that anyone has to do.
A short list of things I’d rather be doing than “thinking about being gay” includes (but is not limited to) writing a song, reading a book, climbing a tree, dancing a jig, and watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer for the zillionth time. Don’t get me wrong – I think it is in the best interest of everyone to strive for a greater understanding of the self. I just wish that being gay (or transgender, or asexual, or fill-in-the-blank here) was as unremarkable to the masses as being left-handed or blonde.”
If you’re unfamiliar with Jenny Owen Youngs’ music career, here’s the ten second summary: In 2005 she won our hearts with the stellar debut album, Batten The Hatches. One of its stand out tracks, “Fuck Was I,” a stirring anthem for the regretful, was included on the Weeds Vol. 2 soundtrack. In 2007 came the Take All Your Clothes Off EP which featured a brillant cover of Nelly’s “Hot In Herre“. In the years following came two more full-length albums, Transmitter Failure and last year’s An Unwavering Band of Light, and tours around the United States and beyond with musicians such as Aimee Mann, Regina Spektor, Motion City Soundtrack, Allison Weiss and Bess Rogers. She’s been followed by an ever-growing LGBT fan base since the debut release, which is perhaps in part due to her talent for writing gender-neutral lyrics that can so so easily be applied to various highs and lows of a lady-lovin’ life.
In the letter, Owen Youngs, who has been attracted to girls since junior high, cites her religious upbringing and church’s anti-gay teachings as an influencing factor regarding her reluctance to come out.
“I’ve come to realize in recent months that a big part of my desire to hide this aspect of myself was rooted in those dusty old feelings: that there is something wrong, something bad, something less-than about being gay. It brings me no pleasure to admit to you that I have felt these feelings…”
“Having a firsthand view of the work that [fiancé, Kristin Russo] and Dannielle [Owens-Reid] do has been inspiring, and has also made me think more critically about my decision. What kind of a message does it send to a teenager when I avoid a question about my sexuality? Whatever the answer, I’m confident that it is no longer a message I am comfortable sending.”
It wasn’t just that deep-rooted shame that drove her decision to stay in the closet. There was also a concern that has been echoed by many, many gay musicians before her – that her personal life and sexuality would become the primary focus of her music career.
“I [was] worried that the first word people would associate with me was going to be “gay” instead of “musician.” I didn’t want a non-musical part of myself overshadowing the musical part.”
Chatting with me earlier this week, Owen Youngs spoke candidly about feeling relieved, but also nervous, about her public coming out moment. (“Hopefully it won’t be a day that everyone will think I’m a horrible monster — not for being gay, but for not being comfortable.”) I’d been curious about the measures she’d taken throughout her career to keep her sexuality on the down-low, and whether it meant distancing herself from the LGBT community.
“One of the most disturbing realizations that I had while coming to this decision to write the letter is that I wasn’t supporting the things that I believed in – things that you don’t even have to be gay to support – just because I had this subconscious fear that if I talked about marriage equality then people would assume that it was because I was gay. That’s fucked. That’s no way to live and it’s super gross and one of the aspects of this that I’m most ashamed of. But I’m also psyched to be able to approach those topics now. In the past year or so I’ve become a lot more comfortable with discussing issues such as gay rights, which is cool because the alternative is super not cool.”
Our conversation turned to that concern of being pigeonholed as a gay artist, and how, when starting out as a musician last decade, she feared she may not receive the same opportunities as heterosexual artists.
“When I started playing music – I’ve been a full-time-ish musician since about 2006 – I could think of maybe 3 or 4 out musicians that were out. That kind of made me uncomfortable. I felt that if I was fortunate enough to actually start to make a career as a musician then I would get grouped in with that handful of people, in a way that in my mind I was already grouping them together, sort of like self-perpetuating ick.
So much of this information is super unflattering to me, but I was concerned [about the impact on my music career]. I was really afraid. So much of that was rooted in a pre-existing feeling that was embedded very deep in me that I, as a human being, am not good at anything, and having this anti-gay born again Christian rhetoric working alongside that… I felt that if people knew I was gay then it would give them a reason to think that I was even more of a piece of garbage than they already think.”
Religion is no longer a large part of Owen Youngs’ parents’ lives; she’s out to them and they’re super amped for her and Kristin’s wedding. Following those frank admissions about feeling a lack of self-worth, she wanted to stress that she really is fine.
“Like many people, I’ve had a lot of feelings over the course of my life. Everybody has their focal points when it comes to the things that they are obsessed with about themselves, the things that get in the way of you developing as a person and mine have been feelings of inferiority and that goes hand in hand with the church upbringing, the gay thing.”
I asked Owen Youngs whether she believed that attitudes towards gay artists have changed over the course of her music career, and whether she still feels that people place “gay” before “musician”.
“The social climate feels different now. People seem a lot more relaxed. I mean, I live in New York City and so there’s the bubble effect of being like, “yeah everyone is so accepting and everything is fine” when there are plenty of areas of America that are still very conservative. Yet same sex marriage laws are passing, it feels like there is one every month. It seems like we’re almost at this tipping point where people are starting to be chill about it.
Now tons of artists are out, casually out, and it’s totally fine. However I don’t think that we’re living in a beautiful utopia or anything – obviously some areas are more liberal than other areas of the planet but as far as the arts community is concerned, at least for musicians, there seems to be less of a stigma. I know of young musicians who are starting their careers now and they’re not in the closet, they don’t even discuss it, it’s just the way that it is. In an ideal world I’d love for nobody to ever make any sort of announcement. I feel weird having even written a thing because, who fucking cares?”
Over the summer Owen Youngs will be holed up writing songs for her next record, as well as working on a few side projects that are in development. I wondered out loud whether, now that she’s come out, we’ll start hearing gendered pronouns in her lyrics.
“That is not something that’s going to change. For me it’s not really so much about keeping out some sort of biographical details, it’s just the way that I write. I leave gendered pronouns out of the equation because I feel like there’s more room for anybody listening to the song to get inside of themselves. I have songs that are about boys that also don’t have gendered pronouns. That’s something that people often notice.”
Naturally, I wasn’t going to let her hang up without naming her favorite Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes.
“I’ve got a handful. Anything that Joss [Whedon] wrote is one of my favorites. There are the classics, like “Hush” and “The Body” and “Once More With Feeling” are way up there.”
So there you have it. I’m sure I’m not alone in saying that I’m stoked she’s chosen to add her voice to our chorus.
Almost Famous: Andy Bowen
Welcome to Almost Famous, a weekly segment where we ask up-and-coming queer musicians some not so hard-hitting questions about music and life and maybe even convince them to share photos of their pets. Get to know intimate details about your new favorite artist or band before they hit the Big Time and become too famous for us to interview for real.
Header by Rory Midhani
Andy Bowen
Washington DC
Photo by Tyler Grisgby
Andy is an activist and “glitch dub” artist from Washington, DC who lives out a professional existence as either Andy Bowen, Master’s of Social Work Candidate (at Catholic University of America), or Andy Bowen, Social Policy Organizer at DC Trans Coalition, which is an all-volunteer, grassroots organization dedicated to the rights and liberation of transgender, genderqueer, and gender non-conforming people.
Just this week Andy has released The 26th Anniversary Edition, a debut solo album inspired by an intense year featuring loss, romance, trans policy, D’Angelo and Joe Biden. It was also the year Andy started living full-time as a woman. Sounds pretty interesting, right? You can download it via BandCamp.
How do you describe your music?
I once joked at a show that I am a pioneer of the “Glitch Dub” genre–which made one of my heroes, Trophy Wife’s Katy Otto, laugh–but I think that’s probably appropriate. I like weird, slow drums. I like baselines that rely heavily on the low-end. I like songs that are led by the bass. Glitchy, dubby. Yes: I am indeed a pioneering Glitch Dub artist.
For what’s hopefully a less ridiculous answer, punk rock is where I came from, but soul music is where I feel most comfortable these days. And I love artists with crazy-vivid lyrics, like Joni Mitchell and Bruce Springsteen. I am nowhere as good as the stuff I enjoy, but I think my music reflects my pretensions and aspirations.
What instrument/s do you play?
I’ve played guitar since I was nine or so, but I’ve never been particularly good at it. I’m a competent rhythm player, but I can’t solo to save my life. Bass is my true love; we’ve been together since I was 17. I play a synth throughout the album; I’m been fiddling with various and sundry Roland Juno synths since I was 17. I played drums on this record, too; this record marks the first time I ever earnestly sat down and played drums. Hopefully it doesn’t sound that way.
Can you tell me a little about your new album?
I turned 27 on May 12, but 26 was the most intense year of my life. I started living as a woman full-time (I’m trans), started grad school (Master’s of Social Work), did a respectable amount of community organizing and trans policy work, lost my beloved grandmother to old age, had some really intense romance, hung out with a bunch of queers in Joe Biden’s backyard (long story), and released an album with my band, Southern Problems.
I had to write about all the shit on my mind; this album was the result. I also listened to D’Angelo’s Voodoo a scary number of times, which I think you hear on the first three tracks. I needed a record of all the things I was feeling; this album is the outcome.
Which song would you most everyone to hear?
“How We Lose This Thing,” which is most of my thoughts about DC in four minutes.
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/91199341″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
What were the first and last records you bought?
I think the first album I ever bought was Black Sabbath’s Paranoid. I want to high-five my eight year-old self whenever I remember that. I think the last record I bought was Bilal’s A Love Surreal, which is another solid choice.
What inspires you to write?
I usually hear songs in my head, and then have to run to an instrument and my laptop to lay a demo down. Sometimes–sometimes–I crank a song out just by fiddling with an instrument, but that’s more rare. Lyrically, I try to focus on a concept, and then write around it. With “Learned Behavior,” I was like, “I think I’m fucked up about sex because I’ve inherited the mores of both repressed WASP America *and* the Sexual Revolution, with a little bit of queerness and internalized homo/transnegativity thrown in for kicks.” Somehow I contorted that idea into a song.
This sounds really worrying, but I get most inspired these days by stuff that’s emotionally devastating. Usually, if something really upset me, afterward, I’m like, “I have to write a song about this.” “August Drive With Grandma,” the last song on my album (which has made a handful of folks cry), came out that way, written immediately after said August drive with my grandmother.
If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life?
Prince‘s Sign O the Times does everything that music should do. It’s even pretty queer. He hits every genre, so I’d have plenty of variety. And the lyrics are atypically good for him.
If you could share a line-up with any two other artists?
I want to open for Erykah Badu and Beauty Pill. Same bill. On Black Cat’s main stage.
Where do you write?
I usually write in my bedroom, wherever that is at the time. My room always has my goofy linoleum prints (like the cover of the album) on the walls, alongside political memorabilia (e.g., a Henry Kissinger business card), and some stuff that my best friend Kaitlyn gave me (including that Kissinger card). Then it’s just me, my laptop, and usually a bass, cause I write most everything on the bass first. Guitars are for shading. Shit’s gotten real if my synthesizer comes out.
What was the last book you read?
And the Band Played On by Randy Shilts. AIDS remains a genocide.
Describe a perfect day.
I have some social justice victory in the afternoon, a bunch of really great conversations with my family and best friends throughout the day, play a really good show in the evening, and get to fall asleep (not necessarily in a sexual way) next to somebody I love.
Do you have any pets?
I don’t have any of my own, but my mom has a cat–which I grew up with–named Phoebe, who’s actually the Devil. Phoebe once killed a squirrel, dragged it into the toilet, and closed the lid. I found the stiff remains. I didn’t sleep too well that night.
You can download Andy’s new solo album, The 26th Anniversary Edition, via BandCamp. Andy is also the bassist and sometimes-singer of the DC punk band Southern Problems, whose album Space was released last year. You can check that one out here.
If you are, or know of, a queer artist or band that should be featured in Almost Famous, drop me the details via crystal [at] autostraddle [dot] com. Please write ‘Almost Famous’ in the subject line!
Playlist: Bonnaroo Days And Nights 2013
Note from Laneia: In a couple of days we’ll be on the farm in Manchester, covered in sunscreen and wristbands and probably standing in line for beer/samosas. This will be my fourth trip to Bonnaroo for Autostraddle and if you’re going too, I’ll have meetup info for you in another post! Here’s Morgan with another perfect set of playlists to get you ready for Roo, or maybe just ready for daydreaming.
In Tennessee, you wake with the sun because you don’t really have a choice. The day starts at daybreak whether you like it or not, so drink a little coffee and a lot of water and take a hard look at your schedule. Don’t miss anything.
Dawn to Dusk
Welcome to the day!
When You Wake Up Feeling Old – Wilco
Nights Become Days – Frank Turner
Mousso – Fatoumata Diawara
Quiet Hours – Wild Nothing
Sun – Cat Power
High in the Morning – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
I Will be Back One Day – Lord Huron
Desert Song – Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
Constant Conversations – Passion Pit
The Sun – Portugal. The Man
Go Outside – Cults
It’s Alright – Matt & Kim
I’m Writing a Novel – Father John Misty
The Forest Awakes – David Byrne & St Vincent
The Socialites – Dirty Projectors
Balloons – Foals
Country Roads – Pretty Lights
Accent – Conspirator
Sun In Your Eyes – Grizzly Bear
Sun Hands – Local Natives
Dusk to Dawn
The sun’s going down and it’s time to wipe off your dustache and prepare to be lost all night. You are never too tired. Take a breather on a hay bale and get your second, third, and maybe fourth wind. You can do this.
Welcome to the night!
Music to Walk Home By – Tame Impala
Walk At Night – Cults
Continuous Thunder – Japandroids
Block After Block – Matt & Kim
Cherry Wine – Nas (feat. Amy Winehouse)
Nuclear Seasons – Charli XCX
Paradise – Wild Nothing
Miracle – Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors
Cowboy Boots – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Mary Jane’s Last Dance – Tom Petty
The Violet Hour – Sea Wolf
We Went Wild – Lord Huron
Crystalline – Bjork
Cartographist – Purity Ring
Witch – Maps & Atlases
Sleep Forever – Portugal. The Man
Kids on the Run – The Tallest Man on Earth
No Te Vayas – Calexico
Talking with the Wolves – Glen Hansard
After Glow – Foals
Add your favorite tracks from this year’s Bonnaroo lineup in the comments!
Playlist: 2013 Autostraddle Hot 100
In this year’s Autostraddle Hot 100, 900 or so of you voted for some mighty rad musicians. Holly Miranda! Sia! Laura Jane Grace! There were 37 amazing artists on the list in total, which is a number that cannot reasonably fit on a single playlist. Sad, I know. So what we have here is a less extensive compilation that’d fit on a 90-minute cassette if this was the mid-90s and I was making you a mix-tape on my portable boom box after school. Note: the following artists and songs were chosen for inclusion using the highly sophisticated selection method of ‘whatever I could find on my computer or bum from Riese and Intern Grace’.
Enjoy!
2013 Autostraddle Hot 100 Mix
I Was an Island
Do It Like A Dude
Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)
I Was A Teenage Anarchist
Trailer Trash (Modest Mouse cover)
Breathe Me
You Had Time
Slow Burn Treason
Crystalised
212
Get A Job
MKE Maximum Energy – Haviland Stillwell
Temporary Love
Tandem Ride ft. Ali Kol – Brittani Nichols
Romance
Overexposure
Animals (feat. Holly Miranda)
It Beats
Damn Liar
Hard Way Home
Breathe
What’s Up?
Someday
Want to suggest a playlist theme? Hit me up on Formspring and someone from the team might make it for you.
Almost Famous: Shira E
Welcome to Almost Famous, a weekly segment where we ask up-and-coming queer musicians some not so hard-hitting questions about music and life and maybe even convince them to share photos of their pets. Get to know intimate details about your new favorite artist or band before they hit the Big Time and become too famous for us to interview for real.
Header by Rory Midhani
Shira E
Brooklyn, NY
photo by Syreeta McFadden
A force on the independent music scene, Brooklyn-based Shira E has been performing her genre-defying tunes across the US, sharing stages with Coco Rosie, TuNe-YaRdS, Mirah, and Andrea Gibson. Last month she launched an Indiegogo to fund the production of her new album and send her across the US this summer on her first solo tour and there are exactly 10 days left to donate, just FYI. Her most recent album, the sincere and sweaty electro-soul Shouts & Sparks, redefines how we deep sea dive into our own hearts. Like her preceding five albums, it’s marked by an experimental, sincere delving into the unknown – and finding comfort there. This is necessary music, carved from the bones of a truly visionary voice in the independent music scene.
How would you describe your music?
The ocean tearing away at a cliff. A small gun, but when the trigger is pulled it shoots seaweed, stars, and honey. A murder of crows whose flight is controlled by a woman’s anger/hunger/light.
What instruments do you play, and how long have you been playing them?
Guitar since 11. Ukulele since 22. A teensy bit of banjo. Enough to get by on the keys. The sampler for less than a year. Singing since forever.
Which song would you most like our readers to hear?
“Dream of Hearts.” The song’s inspiration is a vibrant, daring bolt of a woman. When I sing this live, no matter where I am in the country, I think of her. I close my eyes and feel my heart inflate. I get big as a storm. I am entirely possible. I want everyone in the universe to feel that power and grace.
[soundcloud url=”api.soundcloud.com/shiraeeee/dream-of-hearts” params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Do you have any pets, and if so can we see a photo?
I don’t have any intentional pets. What I do have is urban wildlife. Oh, New York. I’d show you a photo of what just ran through my kitchen, but the wild is fast!
What were the first and last records you bought?
My early days were a feast of TLC, MC Hammer, and cough cough, Sting. But I’m going to have to go with Boyz II Men Cooleyhighharmony. I was nine or so. “Motownphilly” was essentially a religion to me. It blew my baby mind. That acappella!? What!? The “Bohemian Rhapsody”-esque crazy structure that seemed to dart and leap in a million directions?! I danced along to it on my tape-player, imagined the skinny dude was singing to me, the baritone with the cane, also singing to me. I didn’t realize it until this moment, but I think it was the spark that led to my full on love affair with Motown come high school. My first crush – who come to think of it looked a little bit like the skinny dude, hmmm – and I did a dance to it in front of our whole after school program. We started back to back with our arms crossed and everything.
The last album I bought was the EP Fire Places by my good friends, electronic-pop duo – and couple! – Home Body. They’ve released a full-length since then, but I wore that little homemade EP out! I’m so inspired by their earnest, gutsy pop. Most of the albums I buy these days happen to be by independent artists. We’re the freakiest comets out there.
What inspires you to write?
What my conscious mind can’t understand or doesn’t know how to say. When I sit down to write a song, I know anything goes. I allow my mouth to wander and wonder without censorship. I see what shows up, investigate it, let it lead me. I start by singing simple nonsensical sounds that eventually lead to actual words. I am inspired by surprise, not knowing. There is a need, a bubble that wants to rise to the surface of me and pop. Inspiration, in and of itself, is enough. It doesn’t need to be “because of” something. That burning delight, that feeling, is gold. The texture of sound, a beat that is thick and sharp like an onion, can be enough to get me going for hours.
Women who wail, who allow the animal out of the cage, inspire me: Kate Bush, Nina Simone, Diane Cluck. I can get high off of a siren rolling past my window at 4 AM. I hear it and I have to get up and make a song. Its animal-ness calls to my animal-ness. There’s a way we need each others’ sounds, that we hunger to know what is inside of one another. I want to dig, dig, dig and share what I find, palms sweaty and blackened, with the listener. I want to flash this at the crowd in hopes that someone’s most-innerness will perk up at a particular tone. They will somehow feel seen. How strange! I am almost desperate to see my insides.
Songwriting that seems to float out of its creator inspires and pushes me. Michael Jackson, Elliot Smith, are examples. It’s as if their songs floated whole out of them. Bone body blood, real and whole as a child, the song feels. There is a naturalness that defies explanation. This inspires me like nothing else. It’s magic.
Dancers, painters. People that immerse themselves in what they love. That become animals with a paintbrush, stalking the prey of whatever is most gorgeous/necessary to them.
Would you ever date someone whose favorite artist/band was your least favorite?
Hell yes! We can love people for what they love. We don’t have to love what they love. Ya hear? My sweetheart is deep into Third Eye Blind – and sure, it’s a nostalgia thing, and sure, it’s not her favorite band. But like, she loves them, ya know? They turn her knobs and give her the good juice. They do something real for her. First time they came on in the car on a mix she made in high school I nearly pressed the brakes on a bridge. Thing is, I watch her singing along to the lyrics and I flat out don’t understand what is making her light up like a jellyfish. But, when it comes to love, as it does with all creative acts, not understanding is a type of understanding. When you move from there, you are breathing discovery. What’s better? My sweetie and I can both groove ourselves to jail to a good Nina Simone song – and what isn’t a good Nina Simone song? But when I watch her solo-grooving to Third Eye Blind, I’m opened like an umbrella. I’m forced to be insect-like, antennae groping for what is there to love? what is there to love? what is there to love? This, perhaps, is the most important question.
What do you do outside of making music?
I write poems. I call my mom. I spend time with my girl. I make to-do lists. I cross about half off. I make a mean mushroom burger. The rest is music.
CDs, MP3s or vinyl?
Vinyl while cooking, hanging out with good folk, or daydreaming on the couch. MP3s while bursting through Manhattan foot traffic shredding along to a crazy solo. CDs while driving across the country. As far as I’m concerned, the mix CD in all its delicate, romantic power will never die. Speaking of romance, where’s the tape on this list? Tape whenever blasting “Motownphilly” on the boombox, duh!
What are you hoping to accomplish with your current Indiegogo project?
The Indiegogo is funding the production of my new album, as well as sending me on tour across the country for 2 months. This will be my first real solo tour. Its incredible to ask for help and to receive it with so much love behind it. I feel the ground rising to meet me, the house being built around me. I get letters of encouragement every week. Such kind letters. I’ve been an independent artist for about a decade. I think people are excited to see me take this leap. They want to be a part of the journey, the catapult. I love the word encouragement, because that’s exactly how I feel: filled with courage.
If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Right now, I’m going to say Sade: Lovers Rock. It reminds me of everyone I love. How does Sade do that, in one song, with one note? What a gift.
If I only had one album to listen to, it would need to be a salve, a very real medicine. Listen to this woman: “The DJ’s playing the same song. I have so much to do. I have to carry on.” “I’m crying everyone’s tears.” And lets not even talk about: “Girl you are rich even with nothing, and you know tenderness comes from pain.” She’s a gratitude warrior, a preacher on behalf of every soft and valuable thing.
Buy Shira E.’s music on Bandcamp, help her produce her new album and go on tour by donating to her Indiegogo, or learn more about her through her website, Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter!
If you are, or know of, a queer artist or band that should be featured in Almost Famous, drop Crystal the details via crystal [at] autostraddle [dot] com. Please write ‘Almost Famous’ in the subject line!
Charice Is Gay: Filipina Actress and Singer Comes Out, It’s A Big Deal
If you thought you sensed sexual tension in this video — good eye!
Yup, Charmaine Clarice Relucio Pempengco, better known as Charice, came out yesterday on “The Buzz,” a Filipino television show hosted by Boy Abunda, by asserting “Opo, tomboy po ako.” Charice added that answering that question has enabled her to “feel free.”
She had other feelings, too, sadder ones, because, as Boy pointed out (according to a translation of the interview) “in our culture this is not the normal and usual way and most of the time remains hidden so that the public and fans stay happy.” So Charice also took time to apologize to her mother and brother and ask forgiveness of fans who feel “disappointed” by her coming out:
I chose to do it here because I owe it to the Filipino people. I felt that they should be the ones to know what I am and who I am. Yes, I’m a tomboy. I don’t know why that’s a problem? Because for me, it’s not a problem. Now I want to ask forgiveness to those who don’t understand, to those who can’t accept me. I’m sorry. I can understand. For those who will accept and can accept me, thank you very much. And for what I have done I just want to say that I feel that a heavy weight has been lifted from me now (tears up voice slightly breaks). That I can leave the house without hiding anything, nor putting anyone down because I’m not hiding anything. Sorry Mommy, Carl…but this is me. I’m proud of myself, I love myself. That is why I’ve done this. To my fans, I know a lot of you are disappointed, some of you will probably leave me. Sorry. You know I’m a sincere person. From the bottom of my heart, sorry. I understand.
Boy commended her, saying, “you chose to tell the truth because it was the right thing to do” and asking, “do you hope one day that you could work overseas in a world, in an industry, that won’t look at gender but talent?” Charice answered:
I believe that someday, it will come. It’s just difficult at the moment. I believe that someday, we will come out and work as equals. That’s why sometimes they say: Are you gay? (And I answer) what, are you straight? It’s all the same.
According to our Special Chaster Correspondents on Facebook, the majority of the singer’s young fanbase is supportive of Charice. Also, this is a big deal.
cheesa tweeted her support of charice today
Charice said that her mother, Racquel, was still struggling to understand the situation. Racquel raised Charice on her own (Charice’s father left the family when Charice was young, and was murdered in 2011), and as a kid Charice started entering television singing competitions to help support her family, eventually participating in nearly 100 contests. In 2005, she made it to the final rounds of Little Big Star, a talent show in the Philippines similar to American Idol, but her big debut actually came via YouTube about two years later when Dave Dueñas‘ posting of Charice’s performance videos racked up over 15 million hits, making her an official Internet Sensation.
From there things basically took off — she made a demo with Ten Songs/Productions in Sweden, appeared on South Korean talent show Star King and eventually made her first trip to the United States in December 2007 to appear on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
Her debut album, Charice, was released in May 2008 and would eventually go platinum in The Philippines. Oprah Winfrey featured Charice in her “World’s Most Talented Kids” episode which led to Charice working with music producer David Foster, which led to her appearing on Hitman: David Foster and Friends, which became a thing on PBS, apparently, and also at some point Oprah called Charice “the most talented girl in the world.”
Charice performed at Andrea Bocelli‘s birthday concert and performed with Celene Dion and by 2009 was performing at US presidential pre-inaugural events and pre-Oscar award events and at major league baseball opening games. (In 2010, she’d sing the Philippine National Anthem at the inauguration of Philippine President Benigno Aquino III.)
She released her second, 22-track album, My Inspiration, in May 2009, which included a duet with her Mom, which is adorable. The album went platinum in The Philippines and her first single debuted high on U.S. and Canadian Billboard charts. Her international debut album Charice, released May 2010, reached #8 on the Billboard charts and she popped up all over the U.S., like that time she was on Oprah with Justin Bieber and that time she played Sunshine Corazon in Season Two of Glee.
Meanwhile her star considered ascending in The Philippines and Asia, with extended tours and television appearances throughout 2011 and 2012.
In March 2012, when Charice got a new haircut and started dressing in a more boyish style, moderate press backlash ensued, but the press’s relationship with Charice has always been complicated due to her international success. Also, despite a gay-friendly reputation, The Catholic Church’s presence is strongly felt in The Philippines, which obvs influences how a lot of people feel about alternative lifestyle haircuts.
Charice insisted, “I know some people think that this is very rebellious but it’s not. It’s just me evolving,” likening her “edgy” and “rock” style to just being more Avril Lavigne or Rihanna than Selena Gomez. So there. Rumors swirled and according to our Chaster Fandom Correspondent, the Chaster fandom divided somewhat, often along generational lines, between those who were supportive of Charice regardless and those who dismissed the rumors.
do you want a ticket, the show is called “i’m really cute”
Which brings us to this week, when after a reclusive period, Charice sat down with The Buzz and told all. She also said that she’s dated lots of girls, duh, but that she can’t say who, and also hinted strongly that she’s in a relationship with Alyssa Quijano of X-Factor Philippines. This would make them The Cutest Couple Of All Time.
There’s been heaps of support for Charice on twitter. Cheesa, the singer with whom Claire recorded “I’m Not Perfect,” tweeted her support today:
Yooooo I’m so proud of my girl @officialcharice for inspiring others to never be ashamed of themselves! #noh8 #antibullying #imnotperfect
— Cheesa (@CheesyFbaby) June 2, 2013
Lea Salonga tweeted her support as well:
Dear @officialcharice have you any idea how many young people you inspired today? More power, blessings and love to you!!!
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) June 2, 2013
There have been a lot of monumental comings out lately, but this one seems particularly huge. Our Special Chaster Fandom Correspondent pointed out that “the exact words [Charice] chose when she admitted that she’s gay are “Tomboy ako.” Here, “tomboy” is non-derogatory. Often, gay women who are in a way accepted are butch lesbians. Us femme lesbians, they see as bi or in a phase.” She added that out lesbian celebrities are few and far between — there’s Monique Wilson, who now lives in the US, and Aiza Seguerra, a child star who came out in 2007 and is now a singer-songwriter and actress. And now there’s Charice!
Aiza Seguerra
At the end of the interview, Boy asked Charice for the “most important lesson [she’s] learned.”:
Charice: To Mommy and Carl… I wish I were more open, more honest because the most important (thing) in the relationship between parents and their kids is to be open to one another, whatever the reaction of the other will be. To all young people my age, people undergoing the same thing – be true to yourself. We know in ourselves who we are. Life is too short to play games. Just be free.
Boy: Again, for your fans.
Charice: Chasters, this is it! New chapter. Welcome, welcome to my crazy life. Enjoy the ride.
Almost Famous: Emily Roth, Em & Them
Welcome to Almost Famous, a weekly segment where we ask up-and-coming queer musicians some not so hard-hitting questions about music and life and maybe even convince them to share photos of their pets. Get to know intimate details about your new favorite artist or band before they hit the Big Time and become too famous for us to interview for real.
Header by Rory Midhani
Emily “Brushes” Roth
Em & Them
Chicago, IL
Emily “Brushes” Roth is the ‘Em’ of Em & Them, a funky four-piece from Chicago that’s about to become your new favorite thing. She’s an amazing vocalist, talented guitarist and all-round impressive human being. Emily’s voice has been described as being “as smooth and soulful as the fro she rocks on-stage” and as you’re about to hear, that’s no exaggeration. I could listen to Emily’s voice for days. Thankfully, that’s entirely possible due to the release of the Milk & Honey EP, which features six incredible tracks that are guaranteed to make you groove.
How would you describe your music?
The boys that make up the “Them” in Em & Them come from jazz, blues, and indie rock backgrounds, so we like to bring a myriad of genres to the table. Vocal harmonies are a tasteful constant, bringing an almost choir-like emotion to our live show. While our last EP dances across soul, R&B, and even folk, be on the lookout for some grooves that will ignite your inner funky very soon.
What instrument/s do you play?
An important rule growing up in the Roth home was that if you wanted three meals a day, you had to play an instrument. So to avoid starvation I played the piano and cello before falling in love with the guitar. I have been playing since 2005. I took a few lessons in high school in between sports seasons, and have been trying to teach myself as much as I can since then.
Which song would you most like our readers to hear?
Front Yard – based on a beautiful poem by the powerful and brave Gwendolyn Elizabeth Brooks. She once said, “Poetry is life distilled.” For me, music is life distilled.
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/83814761″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
What are you doing when you’re not making music?
I am a Site Director at a non-profit that specializes in working with at-risk youth and their families. A lot of my youth and families have experienced all sorts of trauma and are trying to cope with situations many adults wouldn’t be able to confront. They are a talented group of kids and I am continually blown away by each and every one of them.
I spend the rest of my time playing soccer, hanging with all of the beautiful folks in my life, and dancing as much as possible.
What was the last song you wrote about?
Well, I walked into my last practice and the boys were playing an upbeat soul progression that turned my hump day into something that felt closer to the feeling you get when you realize it’s Friday. My bassist, Mike, and I threw together a chorus, a few verses, and a mean old bridge. I knew exactly where this one was going. The song quickly became, what would’ve been, the track playing in the background after an amazing first date a little over 4 months ago. It captures what happens when you find yourself delighted to have had someone so brilliant walk into your life.
What’s your ‘guilty pleasure’ music?
Someone must have put that One Direction station on my Pandora without me knowing. Weird.
If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life?
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. This was her incredible debut solo album where Ms. Hill turned life into music. I plan on listening to it for the rest of my life.
If you could share a line-up with any two other artists?
I would give my left arm to perform with Rachael Price from Lake Street Dive. I would ask Sharon Jones and Dap-Kings to join us as well because everything sounds better with horns.
When you’re super famous what will be the name of your autobiography?
Ballet in Khakis. Let me paint the picture for you. My brother Kev and I took an epic ballet class in 1992 that my mom recorded. The class consisted of three girls in tutus, myself, and my brother. I was wearing high red socks, khaki shorts, a bright red shirt, and was sporting a perfectly picked afro. My brother was wearing something as equally offensive to the instructor.
I was a horrible ballerina. I was built like a baby giraffe and had no business in a ballet class. I continually try to stay true to myself, and if that means attempting to do ballet in khakis, then so be it!
What is your favorite thing about Chicago?
My favorite thing about Chicago is a little something called Summertime Chi! There is nothing like it. During the winter months, it feels like 3/4 of the city population hibernates. On the first hot day of summer, I find myself thinking, “Where the hell did all of these people come from?” Summertime Chi offers street festivals every weekend, patio seating, and much less clothing.
Do you have any pets?
I myself don’t have a pet, but I am Auntie Em to a young pup named Dutch. Don’t tell her owners, but she likes me better.
You can listen to Em & Them’s Milk & Honey EP on Soundcloud and purchase it via iTunes. Other things worth checking out include:
Video: Cover of Sam Cooke’s “Bring It On Home To Me”
Em & Them official website
Em & Them on MySpace
Em & Them on Twitter
Emily Roth on Instagram
If you are, or know of, a queer artist or band that should be featured in Almost Famous, drop me the details via crystal [at] autostraddle [dot] com. Please write ‘Almost Famous’ in the subject line!
Playlist: Crystal and Somer’s Music Hangout
At A-Camp I’ll be co-hosting a Music Hangout with evil cylon Somer Bingham, who you may know from a rad band called Clinical Trials or a show called The Real L Word or even this Autostraddle interview.
An A-Camp Music Hangout is exactly what you imagine, if what you’re imagining is an hour of scheduled socialising with a stellar soundtrack and a couple dozen queers in a cabin in the woods. Somer and I will be attempting a DJ battle! I say ‘attempting’ because I think our decks are actually just Marni’s iPod dock, so who knows how that’s gonna work out. Naturally we’re unable to create an online version of this battle before it actually happens, and so instead what we’ve got here are some tracks that we’ll most likely play on the mountain top. Enjoy!
Crystal & Somer’s Music Hang
Q.U.E.E.N. – Janelle Monae ft Erykah Badu
Under The Earth – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Paper Planes (Diplo mix) – M.I.A.
Girl On Fire (Inferno) – Alicia Keys feat. Nicki Minaj
I Love Rock ‘n Roll – Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
I’m Not Your Hero – Tegan and Sara
Recover – CHVRCHES
Karmageddon – Abbe May
Loner Phase – Cold War Kids
The Hardest Button To Button – The White Stripes
There You Go – P!nk
Deceptacon – Le Tigre
Don’t Play No Game That I Can’t Win – Beastie Boys feat. Santigold
Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) – Eurythmics
See You In My Nightmares – Kanye West feat. Lil Wayne
In My Mind Part 2 – Flo Rida feat. Georgi Kay
Want to suggest a playlist theme? Hit Crystal up on Formspring and someone from the team will make it for you, if you’re lucky.
Almost Famous: Kelsey Montanez
Welcome to Almost Famous, a weekly segment where we ask up-and-coming queer musicians some not so hard-hitting questions about music and life and maybe even convince them to share photos of their pets. Get to know intimate details about your new favorite artist or band before they hit the Big Time and become too famous for us to interview for real.
Header by Rory Midhani
Kelsey Montanez
Chicago, IL
Kelsey is a Chicago native who writes and performs a pleasant blend of indie, pop and soul. Kelsey’s been around, she’s done some impressive things. Maybe you’ve already heard her on KISS FM and POWER 92 or seen her on The Voice or American Idol or watched her on stage at Chicago’s Metro or House of Blues. And if you haven’t, boy are you in for a TREAT.
Late last year Kelsey released a 4-track EP called A Delightful Sadness that’s ridiculously good. It’s my new walking to work music because it’s uplifting in a way that guarantees my day gets started right. “Out of Sight” (below) has one of the best pop hooks I’ve heard this year while “10,000 Bombs” reminds me of Adele, I’m mean that’s the kind of talent we’re talking here. I encourage you to go and download her EP (for free!) right this minute. Don’t forget to come back and read the interview though.
What instrument(s) do you play?
I started playing guitar when I was about 14. I play piano as well but I typically don’t play it live. I usually use it as a writing tool more than anything else.
Which song would you most like everyone to hear?
Probably “Out of Sight” ft. Chance the Rapper. Spring is finally breaking in Chicago and it’s been putting me in a really laid back mood. And the making of the music video was just as fun as it looks!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCcbPY96Efk
What was the first and last record you bought?
I don’t know if it was the first record I ever bought, but Fiona Apple’s Tidal is the first record I remember devouring and obsessing over. I was about ten years old when my aunt gave me the record. I listened to it on repeat all day and fell asleep to it at night. I think the last record I bought might have been Typical Cats‘ self-titled album. I love me some bad-ass Chicago hip-hop!
What’s your guilty pleasure music?
Spice Girls. I’m not kidding. I stayed in a few Saturday nights ago to watch Spice World and I loved every second of it. They will always be my jam. Girl Power baby!
What inspires you to write?
Anything that makes me feel something out of the ordinary. Love, relationships, music, dreams, sex, drugs, heartbreak, family, friends, beautiful memories, horrible memories. I like my emotions to get riled up a bit. It makes for the best writing!
Would you date a person whose favorite artist/band was your least favorite?
Hm. If it was just one band/artist that we disagreed on I may let it slide after a few heated debates and arguments, maybe. But if it was a constant thing, well, we would probably have to re-evaluate the relationship at some point.
Have you worked any terrible jobs to pursue your career?
I am always working terrible jobs to pursue my damn music career! I still have terrible jobs! But the worst was probably a couple years ago. I was working at a bingo hall in Oklahoma for a short period of time when I was travelling through there. It was a huge cafeteria room, with horrible cafeteria lighting. And all the senior citizens in Oklahoma would pile in, play bingo and chain smoke for HOURS. It smelled like one giant ashtray. And all the seniors were really angry for some reason and took their bingo very, very, very seriously. It was a very bizarre place… But anyways, I love what I do. And I’ve had a lot of amazing experiences that have come from it. I actually feel lucky to have something I love so much that I will pursue it blindly and passionately. It makes all the sacrifices and crappy jobs seem worth it.
If you could share a line-up with any other two artists who would it be?
I just recently discovered singer-songwriter Lianne La Havas. I think she is very authentic and creative as an artist. I can’t stop listening to her song “Forget”. I would love to share a bill with her. And then I would probably say Lana Del Rey. I know she has a reputation for being bad live but I think she is so talented as a writer. And she does the whole retro femme fatale thing really well. I would do a show with her just so I could talk to the girl!
What was the last book you read?
The last book I read, or almost read was Glamorama by Bret Easton Ellis. But for some reason it couldn’t really hold me. I got more than half way through and then just forgot about it. I hate not finishing books! But then I was at my mom’s house and she gave me The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley and I can’t put it down now! It is so interesting! But the last book that I fell completely in love with would have to be Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides. Read it. It is so strange and beautiful.
What environment do you write in?
I tend to write in my messy, cramped little room in my apartment. I’m really weird. When I write and I don’t like anyone to hear what I’m doing. But my apartment is really small, so if I get inspired to write when my roommate is home I usually will be in my room playing guitar or keys and whispering the lyrics so no one can hear me. Which probably makes me seem insane, now that I think about it. And lately, once I get the basic melody down I have been finishing the lyrics in my head on the train to and from work.
Do you have any pets?
Though I want a furry friend so badly, I don’t even know how to take care of myself half the time, let alone a pet! At this point in my life, I pull way too many late nights and travel unexpectedly to have a pet. But one day when my life settles down a bit I think having a pet would be amazing.
Download the EP! If you’d like to know more about Kelsey then hit up her website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
If you are, or know of, a queer artist or band that should be featured in Almost Famous, drop me the details via crystal [at] autostraddle [dot] com. Please write ‘Almost Famous’ in the subject line!
Sparrowhawks’ New EP, ‘Wanderlust’ Is Rad (And Free)
Sparrowhawks, amirite? We love Sparrowhawks. We first introduced you via Almost Famous back in January and they’ve since held fast as our favorite flannel loving alt-folk-pop band in the north of Wales, and probably in lots of other places as well. I’m speaking on behalf of our entire website because I can’t imagine that anyone who works here would disagree.
Sparrowhawks have just released some brand-new music in the form of the Wanderlust EP and they want you to have it for free! As per Sparrowhawks tradition, the EP contains three tracks that are downright delightful; for a few days my favorite was “Hummingbird” but now I think it’s “Pearl” because I love the lyrics and the harmonising and I just feel that if Pearl were real then she’d be a really lucky girl. Check it out below and then download it via Bandcamp.
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/playlists/5527641″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]
Sparrowhawks have been on the up and up in recent months; their previous EP has been widely praised and it received lots of love from various national stations including BBC Radio. It’s also available as a free download. I recommend you get it because “Living Man’s Disease” is a perfect song. Wanna hear it right now? Okay.
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/75215514″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Be sure to keep up with Sparrowhawks on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Album Review: Mal Blum “Tempest In A Teacup”
feature image via Mal Blum
Brooklyn’s most adorable songwriter, Mal Blum, has a new album, Tempest In A Teacup. It’s so good, you guys. Have you been listening to it? Listen to it right now.
Mal Blum has supported lesbian icon and folk legend Melissa Ferrick on two tours, and has played shows with Jeffrey Lewis, Amanda Palmer and Kimya Dawson. Tempest In A Teacup is her fifth album. I have had it on constant repeat for weeks now.
via {Mal Blum}
Tempest In A Teacup opens with “Overseas Now” (recorded with Melissa Ferrick), my favorite on the album. Blum has a way of writing songs that will get stuck in your head for days (I sing “Baltimore” an unnatural amount purely due to its earworm status). This song is the perfect tune to listen to while breaking up with someone. Did everyone in Brooklyn get their heart broken immediately prior to recording their newest albums? “Overseas Now” features clever lines like “You’re a getaway vacation that I hoped would bring salvation. It did not.”
There’s a song about zombies. Zombies, everyone. Despite the general heartbreak of the first song, the entire album is optimistic and endearing, which seems to be Mal Blum’s signature style. Another standout on the album is “With Samson in Washington State”. While casually listening to this album in the background, this song had me pausing to check its title and I ended up replaying it about twelve times in a row. “With Samson in Washington State” is hauntingly beautiful, a real departure from her usually light style. Here’s an acoustic version of the track:
The one thing Blum has done particularly well on Tempest In A Teacup is the incorporation of surprising sounds in the tracks, such as the xylophoneglockenspiel (Mal Blum says so) in “Overseas Now,” the strings in “With Samson in Washington State,” or the waltzing keyboard melody in “The Difference.” Other tracks feature full rock ensembles, such as “Brooklyn,” but they don’t sound out of place on this heavily acoustic album. “Valentine’s Day” actually had me laughing out loud, mostly from the repeating line “Let’s stop cheating on each other.” It’s so sad, but so hilarious at the same time, a balance that Blum has perfected through her career.
Tempest In A Teacup just came out on May 6th. Have you listened to it? What are your favorite tracks? Buy Tempest In A Teacup on Bandcamp, Amazon and iTunes.
Almost Famous: *~~
Welcome to Almost Famous, a weekly segment where we ask up-and-coming queer musicians some not so hard-hitting questions about music and life and maybe even convince them to share photos of their pets. Get to know intimate details about your new favorite artist or band before they hit the Big Time and become too famous for us to interview for real.
Header by Rory Midhani
*~~
Denton, TX
Hello, welcome to an episode of Almost Famous in which we hear from a Texas based artist who I find fascinating. Note: I have chosen to cut-paste the following artist biography because I don’t feel confident that I can summarise *~~ as well as the artist can.
*~~ is the name under which Jen Hill chooses to make music. She works in a variety of genres from “folk” to “shoe gaze” to “electronic noise” to “experimental intermedia”. She is based in Denton, TX, where she is working towards her Bachelor of Music in Composition. She likes to play house shows where her friends live. You can download her first and most recent album Desolation Wilderness for free via Bandcamp and hear her recent compositions via Soundcloud.
How would you describe your music?
“Talking about music is like dancing about architecture”
-Martin Mull (maybe, this quote has been attributed to many people)
I usually bring that one out when I’m avoiding answering that question, but that being said, my songwriting is an expression of frustration, boredom, and misery. I draw from noise, punk, drone, funk, shoegaze, and music that people dance to at beach parties. I’m also studying classical composition at the University of North Texas and I put equal focus into that side of my music as well, which draws from similar influences in a slightly different context. Both sides of my musical language fall comfortably into more experimental realms.
What instrument/s do you play?
I’ve been playing classical cello since I was 10, and I’m still in orchestra at my university. I started fiddling around with guitar when I was 14, but I still don’t really consider myself a guitarist. I really like playing toy instruments in either super conservative or super radical contexts. I used a lot of electronics in both my songs and my compositions, namely a software program called Max/MSP, which is my favorite thing ever and is almost limitless in what it can do.
How do you pronounce *~~?
I usually say either ‘asterisk tilde tilde’ or ‘star squiggle squiggle’.
Which song would you most like everyone to hear?
I feel the need to include both “~grass~” (song) and “//still here//” (composition), because both are mutually exclusive and mutually vital to understanding my musical language.
I wrote ~grass~ when I was 15 and have been playing/re-recording it ever since and it’s radically different every time.
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/60599378″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
I composed //still here// for cello and fixed electronics in fall of 2012 and it was premiered on Feb 5 2013 in Denton, TX.
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/70296837″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
What was the last book you read?
Eeeee Eee Eeee, by Tao Lin and I loved it.
How did you come up with your the name *~~?
I perform solo most of the time, and I didn’t want to use my human name because (a) I think it’s boring and I wanted a way to draw listeners attention to myself, and (b) I wanted to piss people off a little bit by having a name that no one would know what to do with. I’m also interested in performing under always changing variations of *~~ including, but not limited to, *~ swinton and asstrick~~. It keeps audiences on their toes and keeps them asking questions, which is good.
Describe the environment that you write your songs in.
I’m the only person awake in my house. I’ve had a couple drinks and I can begin to feel my ears filling with blood and tension. Then I play spider solitaire on my laptop for at least an hour while I let myself imagine scenarios in which I am happy and surrounded by people who like me, and then I try to write poems and then I give up and write a song. Maybe it’s a bleak outlook on the creative process, but it seems to work!
Composing is easier because I approach it like I have a book that’s already been written and I’m just transcribing the text. The ideas all already exist somewhere in my head and it’s my job to find them and write them down so that audiences can hear them. In other words, the environment always involves copious amounts of caffeine and staring at my computer screen for hours at a time!
Would you ever date someone whose favorite artist/band was your least favorite?
The only case in which I wouldn’t is the case in which her favorite composer is Eric Whitacre, because his music is the most insulting and uninteresting music I’ve ever listened to. I have very strong feelings about this.
What were the first and last records you bought?
The first CD I ever bought with my own money on my own accord was a Good Charlotte CD. I listened to the shit out of that CD and it made me feel like a such a cool kid. The most recent music I bought I think was either Ariel Pink‘s Haunted Graffiti’s Mature Themes or Laurel Halo’s Quarentine. Of course, there’s been a lot of music that I haven’t bought, but rather borrowed from friends and stuff. Not stolen.
What inspires you to write?
The constant reminder that I can’t do anything else very well.
Describe a perfect day.
1. PAYDAY
2. Eat breakfast tacos
3. Watch Clueless on Netflix
4. Eat some mac n cheese
5. Play with someone’s adorable dogs
6. 80 degrees outside with only a few clouds hanging around
7. Have a good hair day
Do you have any pets?
No, but I wish I had this cat.
If you are, or know of, a queer artist or band that should be featured in Almost Famous, drop me the details via crystal [at] autostraddle [dot] com. Please write ‘Almost Famous’ in the subject line.
Girl Power In Eurovision: 10 Songs Charting The Evolution
Each year in Spring, citizens of Europe take a break from sabotaging the global economy and gather round their TV sets to enjoy the greatest cultural event known to human civilization: The Eurovision Song Contest.
For over five decades, members of the European Broadcasting Union have sent their finest musical talents to compete against each other in a battle to the death of their self-respect. It’s a bit like an international X-Factor, but with fewer egos and more lederhosen. Performances have ranged from the fantastical to the downright ghoulish, including ice-skaters, robots, pirates, creatures from the underworld and Céline Dion.
This year’s competition culminates in Saturday’s final, with semi-finals on Tuesday and Thursday. There are even some rumours of potential lady-kissing. That wouldn’t be the first instance of girl power in the competition’s 57-year history, so what better way to celebrate this cavalcade of all things ridiculous than by taking a look back at the fabulous evolution of the women of Eurovision!
1. The Kessler Twins – “Heute Abend Wollen Wir Tanzen Geh’n“ (Germany 1959)
At the dawn of Eurovision, almost all acts were solo crooners. Then these German sisters burst onto the stage in 1959 like an angst-free, boy-crazy Tegan & Sara. Ok, so maybe they are the polar opposite of T & S, but they did kickstart Eurovision’s weird obsession with twins.
2. Muriel Day – “The Wages of Love” (Ireland 1969)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh8oVKo2xVw
Did you know that during the 50s and 60s Eurovision banned dancing? By the end of the 60s, most artists, like poor Muriel here, had so much pent up dance energy they resorted to increasingly vigorous wiggling on the spot. If this anti-dance totalitarianism had lasted much longer, I think acts would’ve started self-combusting on stage, a la Buffy.
Sadly this era lacked any paeons to female empowerment, so I’m just going to pretend that “The Wages of Love” is a secret protest song about the right to pay for stay-at-home mothers.
3. Doce – “Bem Bom” (Portugal 1982)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_y_5gNwl7o
After all the turgid love songs of the 60s and ABBA clones of the 70s, the ladies of Eurovision really started getting their act together in the 80s.
I first thought this quartet were some kind of permed space musketeers that fell to Earth on an endless quest for sequins. However, a quick google translate revealed these intriguing opening lyrics:
“One in the morning, a touch, a twinkle in her eye
Two in the morning, two fingers of magic
At two for three who knows where it will stop?”
That’s a question I’m sure many of us have asked before.
4. Cocktail Chic – “Européennes” (France 1986)
It’s a common Eurovision tactic to sing about as many different European countries as you can fit into 3 minutes, in a cynical attempt to suck up to judges.
While these ladies may be bigging-up their lavish city-hopping lifestyle, you get the feeling they’re really rejects from an aborted French remake of Dynasty.
5. ENI – “Probudi Me“ (Croatia 1997)
Eurovision usually catches up on pop trends about half a decade after they happen, so it was mildly surprising to see a Spice Girls clone pop up so quickly. Sadly, the cloning technique was not successful at producing sporty backflips.
6. Dana International – “Diva” (Israel 1998)
The ultimate Eurovision ode to female power.
Dana’s appearance was packed with controversy, right from the moment she landed in Britain to her late arrival for the winning encore in this video. Evidence suggests she’d been chugging magic potions backstage and was halfway through transforming into a bird like that witch in Sinbad.
7. Ruslana – “Wild Dances“ (Ukraine 2004)
It’s all gone very ritualistic-fertility-dance. The only thing that could boost this Ukrainian Xena-clone’s estrogen levels any more would be her very own Gabrielle.
8. Sinéad Mulvey & Black Daisy – “Et Cetera” (Ireland 2009)
Remember how I said Eurovision was a few years late catching onto pop trends? Female rock angst finally makes its debut here with a very Alanis/Avril Lavigne tune. Also some serious Pink-ish alternative lifestyle haircut there.
9. Stella Mwangi – “Haba Haba” (Norway 2011)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bl-NywwY4mg
While Eurovision seems to revel in camp oddness, it often has a problem realising there’s anyone in the entire continent that isn’t white.
Nigerian-Norwegian Stella Mwangi attempts to remedy this while imparting her Grandma’s wisdom in this upbeat number. And everyone knows you don’t mess with Grandmas.
10. Buranovskiye Babushki – “Party For Everybody“ (Russia 2012)
Speaking of Grandmas…
This is the kind of stuff that makes Eurovision great. Where else can half a dozen Russian grannies attract a worldwide audience of half a billion people by singing an ethno-folksong about baking and dancing?
Let us consider though: does the on-stage baking undermine their anti-ageist feminist triumph by subtly reinforcing patriarchal notions of domestic gender roles? Problematic.
Team Pick: Enough Punk To Last You At Least 3 Days
(feature image: Poly Styrene & X Ray Spex, via Collapse Board)
You know those things you could do any time of the day or night? Like how there’s no bad time to call your best friend, or how you could always eat mac’n’cheese, even if you’re not hungry? I’m almost always in the mood to watch women change the world by jumping around onstage and playing fast-paced guitar-based music. So stumbling upon this Women in Punk video collection from Network Awesome felt like winning a lifetime’s supply of endorphins.
JOAN JETT & CHERIE CURRIE, OF THE RUNAWAYS AND ALSO ALL MY WILDEST DREAMS
There are 30 shows in here, made up of over 400 video clips, divided into five sets because this was released over the course of a week. Each of the “days” starts with a compilation of live performances by pillars, from The Runaways playing “Cherry Bomb” on Japanese TV in 1977 to Yeah Yeah Yeahs ripping through “Date With The Night” three decades later. Watch them all in a row and it’s like a multisensory time-lapse of a movement taking shape. The sunshiney three-chord pop-punk of The B Girls (1977-81) moves down the alphabet and morphs into the minor key squalls of the Vivian Girls (2008-now), who kept the harmonies but ditched the matching sweaters. Carrie Brownstein probably had posters of Poison Ivy from The Cramps on her bedroom wall growing up.
SHONEN KNIFE {VIA GIANT ROBOT}
As if that weren’t enough, there are real documentaries, fake documentaries, interviews, professional wrestling matches, fashion advice from Vivienne Westwood, and seventy-seven full minutes of Kate Bush. By the time I got to The Siouxie and the Banshees Story I had contracted a rebellion infection and almost didn’t write this article. But then I saw a Poly Styrene interview and remembered the community aspect of punk, and I was like “fine.”
PEACHES {VIA LA WEEKLY}
Network Awesome is an online TV repository, sourced from Youtube and curated by people who have cool ideas and know where to look to flesh them out. New shows go up every day, and they’re often accompanied by original magazine articles that offer context or criticism to help wash down what you just watched (a few days ago they had this sweet double-order of riot grrrl). No decade is too remote, no subject too arcane, no footage too fuzzy. It’s like a great mixtape from someone you just met, only with more explosions and weird infomercials.
KAREN O {VIA FANPOP}
Another great thing about Network Awesome — you can’t go three clicks without bumping into something Relevant To Our Interests. If your head needs a break from ‘banging, but your eyes aren’t tired, you may want to go back in time to yesterday, which brought us Sandra Bernhard, a lingerie show, and a replacement late-night dance troupe called Legs & Co. Then there’s a collagelike Diane Arbus documentary and an extensive audiovisual Tribute to Cats. Have at it.
Almost Famous: She King
Welcome to Almost Famous, a weekly segment where we ask up-and-coming queer musicians some not so hard-hitting questions about music and life and maybe even convince them to share photos of their pets. Get to know intimate details about your new favorite artist or band before they hit the Big Time and become too famous for us to interview for real.
Header by Rory Midhani
She King
Toronto, Canada
If you were ever a fan of Michelle Branch circa The Spirit Room then you’re really going to love Shawnee She King, an Aboriginal artist from Toronto who writes stellar pop songs with big hooks, polished production and plenty of vocal power. It came as no surprise to learn that She King’s recent accomplishments include being invited to tour with Roxette and Glass Tiger and asked to record a song for a show that’ll soon air on the The Disney Channel.
She King’s latest single, “Mirror Me”, recently hit #1 on Canada’s National Aboriginal Countdown Top 40 chart and #1 on my iPod. Check out the music video below. Later this year she’ll be releasing a new single and embarking on a tour across Canada and the United States, which will include several Pride events.
How do you describe your music?
My music is all over the place, it depends on the mood I’m in when I’m writing it. It can be serious or quirky but it’s always full of life and passion.
What instruments do you play?
I play a bit of guitar and piano. I forced myself to learn when I realized that writing music required it. I mostly only play to write though, it’s not very often you’ll see me perform with either instrument. One of these days I am going to learn how to play to drums.
Which song would you most like everyone to hear?
It’s hard to pick! My songs “This Is Me” and “Mirror Me” are from the most vulnerable times of my life and I often get emotional when performing them. They are very close to me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSOq5wUgLIQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Z34CMXtPK4
What do you get up to when you’re not making music?
I’m almost always working on my career, learning new things that will help make me better. I spend time at the gym. I’ve also been learning how to shuffle- it’s a type of dance that I’m addicted to. I spend a large amount of my time on the business side of my music career. For me it has been just as important as making music.
What are the best and worst things about touring?
The best part about touring is getting to meet all of the amazing people that listen to my music. The worst part? I do not enjoy sleeping on a tour bus.
Five words to describe yourself. Go.
Passionate. Emotional. Trustworthy. Stubborn. Determined.
Do you have any pre-show rituals?
I prepare my voice by warming up my vocals and I prepare my body with a warm up. I try to keep busy before a show because the worst thing I can do is sit around and wait.
If you could share a line-up with any two other artists?
Elvis is the bomb! If only… and probably P!nk.
When you’re super famous what will be the name of your autobiography?
Good question. Lighting This Life.
Describe a perfect day.
Hanging out with the people I love most is special.
If you like what you’ve heard, be sure to catch She King live on her 2013 This is Me tour. Also check out She King on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
If you are, or know of, a queer artist or band that should be featured in Almost Famous, drop me the details via crystal [at] autostraddle [dot] com. Please write ‘Almost Famous’ in the subject line!
This Letter Crystal Sent Me About Meeting Tegan and Sara
Ed. note: This is a letter Crystal wrote to me telling the story of the time she met Tegan and Sara in Sydney. After reading it, I did what any sane editor would do and asked if we could publish it on the internet. Enjoy! Love, Laneia
Dear Laneia,
“What would you say to Tegan and Sara?”
I used to get asked that same question at church, except it was about what I’d say to Jesus when I met him at the pearly gates, or wherever it is that you encounter Jesus in the afterlife. Back then, my answers were along the lines of, “I love you” and “please forgive me” and “thank you for dying”… all which earned me gold stars at Sunday School, but would surely get me ejected from the Tegan and Sara Meet & Greet at the Sydney Opera House.
Despite workshopping the answer with friends during the week, I felt terribly unprepared. My opening lines still needed a LOT of fine-tuning.
“Hi…”
“… it’s my job to obsess over you”.
“… I’ve spent the past four years documenting your every move.”
“… I talked some smack about “Love They Say” in my Heartthrob album review and, while I still wouldn’t cite it as one of your strongest songs from a lyrical standpoint, I realize now that I had been projecting some of my own personal issues regarding love onto that track and it wasn’t fair, I’m sorry.”
“… want to see a photo of my cats?”
My VIP ticket entitled me to a few minutes of face-time with Tegan and Sara before one of their Sydney concerts. I was nervous. Not because I’m shit at small talk; I’d done enough phone interviews to know that Tegan and Sara are skilled conversationalists who can pick up my slack.
I was nervous because I’m shit at looking excited.
You’ve met me. I’m a soft talker and a silent laugher. I’m very aware that my “wow, I’m having a great time!” face looks very similar to my “oh my god kill me now” face. I didn’t want Tegan and Sara to mistake me for that guy — the one who’d show up to a fan event and act above it, a little Too Cool For School, if you will. No one likes that guy.
Thankfully curiosity beat out my weirdo insecurities, and I forged ahead to the pre-determined fan meeting spot, the Sydney Opera House Box Office.
“Hi. I’m here for the Tegan and Sara VIP Fan Experience.”
The event wasn’t actually called that, to my knowledge, but I felt that the fancy venue choice gave me license to be a little melodramatic. The box office lady felt similarly. She triple-verified my identify and slid a nondescript envelope through a slot in the perspex window.
“Your instructions are in this packet,” she whispered.
Literally whispered.
Very clandestine, Tegan and Sara.
Inside was a bright pink VIP lanyard with a tiny typed note, directing me to meet someone named Jeremy by the Stage Door. Or maybe his name was Jerome? The note self-destructed as soon as I read it.
I arrived at the fan meeting point the same time as a few small groups of lanyard-wearing asymmetrical-haired denim-clad ladies and a handful of dudes. One paced up and down the crowd, telling cool stories into his mobile about his close personal relationship with the band. I considered striking up conversation with the only other person standing alone but decided to remove and redon my jacket half a dozen times instead.
Elusive Jeremy/Jerome finally appeared. He’s a ridiculously handsome man who speaks with the confident tone of someone who has no time for stragglers. So, when he said “follow me!” and charged off through the loading dock, we all but ran. He led us into the belly of the Opera House, past a large staff cafeteria filled with crew, down a dark, dank corridor and then into the saddest conference room in Sydney. Everything was beige and circa 1973.
Jeremy asked us to form an orderly queue, execution-style against the boardroom wall. Up front was a tripod with a small point-and-shoot camera. Jeremy explained that, one by one, we were to approach Tegan and Sara and, after a quick chat, our photo would be snapped and shared with the band’s 805,703 Facebook fans, sans any filter to lift my skin’s natural washed-out hue.
I liked Jeremy. He wasn’t like other artist reps I’ve encountered, the ones who treat fans like hysterical teens before they even have a chance to propose or pass out. He didn’t read any rules, or remind us to be chill. Maybe he knew that we were too anxious to do anything but hug our designated section of beige.
10 minutes later, Jeremy announced that Tegan and Sara were en route to the conference room. I had a silent panic. I still had no idea what to say. I wasn’t there to promote Autostraddle, or ask them to be my Twitter friend. I wasn’t there to talk about music, either. Talking to musicians about their music always feels awkward when I spend my life talking about it behind their backs, on this website.
When I think about Tegan and Sara, those thoughts aren’t often about the music. It’s not always my jam. But I do think about their impact on their fans, like how their music makes young queers feel better about the feelings they feel and about taking up space in the world. I don’t know if that was intentional but it’s indisputable, and so important, and if I had to communicate my respect for that in under 90 seconds, I guess maybe all I wanted to do was shake Tegan and Sara’s hands.
Unfortunately, that would still leave me with 85 seconds to kill.
My panic attack was interrupted the whirlwind arrival of Tegan and Sara, who simultaneously sucked the air from the room while charging it with a million volts of charisma. They seemed so genuinely thrilled to be there!
When the first fan approached Tegan and Sara, the room fell dead silent. Everyone was eavesdropping on a nervous attempt at conversation. It was awkward as hell. I tried to contribute some white noise.
“It’s a million degrees in here.”
The girl beside me smirked. She said, “I know what you mean, they’re gorgeous.”
Except she didn’t know what I meant, because I didn’t mean that. It was seriously warm inside. I removed my jacket for the seventh time that evening and my blood was still at a slow simmer.
People eventually started chatting again. A group of queer individuals started devising a game plan: who would walk up first, who would pose first, who would say what. They had their shit together. I was jealous. The one with the most alternative of hairstyles joked, “don’t hit on Sara in front of her girlfriend, you guys.” I had no idea which girl in the room was Sara’s girlfriend but good on her for not carrying a big stick.
Suddenly, it was my turn.
Sara and I shook hands. Firm grip. Friendly eyes. She said “Sara”. I said “Crystal.” She said “nice to meet you” and I repeated it back to her, maybe 2 or 3 times. She was wearing a leather jacket and olive green hi-tops with metal studs. She looked very cool.
I turned. “Tegan.” “Crystal.” Firm grip. Friendly eyes. Mission to shake hands: complete. I said “nice to meet you” only once to Tegan, but that didn’t make it any less true. I can’t tell you what Tegan was wearing because I had been glamoured (Twilight reference) by the impressive waves in her side fringe.
Tegan quickly established that I’d put minimal effort into attending.
“Do you live in Sydney?”
“Yeah.”
Turns out, the fans before me had flew in from New Zealand. I walked to the Opera House after work.
Sara said, “I really love your tattoo”.
Sara said other things as well, about shading and colors, but I was too distracted by some fairly serious eye contact to recall it verbatim. But I do recall my smooth reply.
“I am SO GLAD that you like it! THANK YOU for saying so!”
My out-of-character enthusiasm was, in retrospect, perhaps a subconscious attempt to compensate for my geographic privilege.
Tegan laughed at my intense gratitude for Sara’s tattoo compliment. I tried to reclaim my chill by panning, “I didn’t do it, though.”
Sara said, “Well… yeah…”
The “duh” was delivered tonally.
The rest of her sentence was drowned out by the sound of my dumb comment crashing and burning. Tegan began miming someone trying to tattoo their own shoulder. We lol’d. I gave her silent thanks.
Sara, who was not at all ready to move on, observed that my tattoo created a nice contrast to my all-black outfit. She couldn’t have know that my predominately black wardrobe was, in fact, my primary motivation for choosing an insanely bright floral tattoo. In that moment I’d never felt so seen.
Tegan asked whether I’d seen them in concert before.
“I saw you perform last night.”
In retrospect, many true statements could have followed. Like “I had a nice time!” or “I Couldn’t Be Your Friend” is pretty great live!”. Literally anything would’ve been better than what happened, which was me leaving the confirmation of my attendance awkwardly hanging in the space between us.
Tegan, my social savior at this point, jumped in with an explanation of how this concert would be different to the previous night’s. I listened attentively. Sara countered that, actually, it won’t be different at all. I panned another joke, something about how no-one ever stands up at the Opera House. They laughed. Nailed it.
“Let’s take a photo!”, Tegan said.
My farewell was neither proper nor dignified. As soon as I heard the camera shutter click and felt Tegan and Sara’s arms start to relax along my back, I threw a quick wave in their general direction and bolted for the door.
One of them called out after me. “Have fun!”
In the corridor outside, two long-haired lady ushers were hypothesizing about the maintenance requirements of Tegan and Sara’s haircuts. Soon enough, they escorted me back to the concert hall, to join the non-VIPs. As I took my seat, I noticed that the lanyard around my neck had two fresh autographs. I have no idea when that happened.
The concert started. I did have fun.
xoxo
May Is Masturbation Month: Here’s a Self-Serve Playlist
feature image via Shutterstock
Lots of good things happen in May. 25 years ago, I was born in May. This year, A-Camp is in May. And May also happens to be that most special time of the year, International Masturbation Month. It started out as National Masturbation Month in 1995 when US Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders spake a sentiment that rained conservative wrath down upon her: that discussion of masturbation has a place in sexual education curricula (hint: it does). She was fired for speaking the truth too loudly. Good Vibrations, that paragon of sex toy retail and sex education, basically was like no fucking way, let’s make a month out of this to talk about masturbation because clearly this large group of puritans needs it, and here we are today.
If you hadn’t guessed already, masturbation is one of my favorite things to talk about. And it’s something we need to talk about – the guilt complex around prioritizing pleasure gets deconstructed when we talk about (and practice) self-love and self-pleasure.
I’m choosing to kick off Masturbation Month with something pretty tame, something to warm us up, something that so many people seem to have so many feelings about one way or another.
Your Masturbation Playlist.
There are elements of this playlist that are totally from my own mindbrain/playlist/sexy time (P!nk, Massive Attack) and there are elements that are crowdsourced from the team (how the fuck have I not touched myself to Erykah Badu?!). I also aimed to vary the tempo as much as I could without being so jarring that I throw you out of your zone. So go forth and do two things: 1. talk about the songs you touch yourself to and 2. touch yourself. You are helping to bust down the patriarchy.
Autostraddle’s Official Masturbation Month Playlist
Teardrop – Massive Attack
Emerald Eyes – Von Iva
Both Hands – Ani Difranco
Layla (Unplugged) – Eric Clapton
Oops (Oh My) – Tweet, featuring Missy Elliot
On & On – Erykah Badu
Touch of My Hand – Britney Spears
Fingers – P!nk
Glory Box – Portishead
All Is Full Of Love – Björk
White – Frank Ocean, John Mayer
Woman – Rhye
Breathe Me – Sia
Explode – Uh Huh Her
Want to suggest a playlist theme? Hit Crystal up on Formspring and someone from the team will make it for you, if you’re lucky.
Almost Famous: Jess Walker
Welcome to Almost Famous, a weekly segment where we ask up-and-coming queer musicians some not so hard-hitting questions about music and life and maybe even convince them to share photos of their pets. Get to know intimate details about your new favorite artist or band before they hit the Big Time and become too famous for us to interview for real.
Header by Rory Midhani
Jess Walker
Houston, TX
Photo: Taha Amiji
Houston-based pop/R&B artist Jess Walker is impressive. At just 22 years of age she’s releasing catchy, radio-quality pop tracks and sharing stages with artists like Charlie Lucas Band, German pop star Nina Hagen and God-Des & She, to name a few. Her future is as bright as her voice is silky smooth. Just a few weeks ago Jess released “First & Last,” a hooky dance floor anthem featuring many cute queers including YouTube duo Bria and Chrissy. Check it out below and expect to hear more soon; she’s currently finishing up her self-titled EP, which’s set to drop in June.
How would you describe your music?
I would definitely consider my music to fall under the Pop genre, but I try to set my songs apart my incorporating characteristics from other genres. My song “Bones,” for example, has hints of Latin music and R&B. So, I guess, Pop + ______.
What instrument/s do you play?
I play guitar, bass, and I sing. I’ve been singing since I can remember and I picked up the guitar and bass when I was 13. Occasionally I like to mess around on the piano or play my cajon, but I’m far from experienced when it comes to those.
Which song would you most like Autostraddle readers to hear?
“First & Last”
What inspires you to write?
As cliché as it sounds, life inspires me to write. I’m the kind of person who is constantly feeling something – either I’m super empathetic or really sensitive? I’ll let you guys decide. Most of my songs are about some sort of hardship that I’ve faced or have seen others face. Writing becomes a way in which I can express myself and I truly believe that music is the best form of communication. In the end, I guess, it comes down to wanting to build a connection between myself and the rest of the world and the fact that singing and writing music makes me incredibly happy.
What was the last song you wrote about?
I’m currently a senior in college and, being so close to graduation, I’ve been filled with a couple of conflicting emotions. So I decided to write a song about having feelings that are bittersweet, being unsure of the future, but trying to embrace that, and what it takes to create a home no matter where you go. The song is called “Moving On.”
What do you get up to when you’re not making music?
When I’m not making music, I’m almost always hanging out with my friends, going out to eat and watching the Amazing Race every Sunday with them (our little tradition). You can sometimes find me out at the bars, surfing Youtube, watching soccer (GO USWNT – Ali Krieger and Megan Rapinoe are my favorite soccer players). I’m also a total movie junkie. Some of my favorites are The Holiday, Eat. Pray. Love., The Green Lantern, and School of Rock.
Have you ever had to work a terrible job to pursue your music career?
All I do is work terrible jobs so that I can pursue music. The first job I had was in high school at a movie theater where I worked crazy hours – 12 hour shifts of the weekends – and served concessions to impatient movie-goers. My boss, on purpose, even tried to humiliate me on my fourth day of work by tricking me into doing something wrong and then, throwing popcorn in my face. In college, I took up 3 jobs at one point to get extra money on the side to record my EP. One temporary job, I literally took out staples from over 70 trashcans filled with stapled papers.
Do you have any pre-show rituals?
I go to a quiet place in the venue and envision how I want the show to go. Then, I take a deep breath and head to the stage.
If you could share a line-up with any two other artists?
I would choose Jessie J because she’s an incredible songwriter and artist – her voice is impeccable and I love the fact that she’s not afraid to be herself. The other would have to be Paramore. I have been the biggest fan since I can remember and I really want to play an amazing rock show. I can’t get enough of their new song “Ain’t It Fun” and the fact that Hayley Williams is gorgeous is a plus.
Who is your idol?
My mom. She is the best person that I know and has always fought for every dream that I’ve ever had. No matter what, I know she’s in my corner and I can only hope that one day I can be as amazing as she is!
Do you have any pets?
Currently, I don’t. Sadly, colleges don’t allow you to have pets and my apartment doesn’t either. I used to have a dog named Buddy though. He passed away a few years ago, but he’s still my main squeeze.
To hear more tunes and learn more about Jess Walker, head to these places:
www.youtube.com/
www.twitter.com/
www.facebook.com/
www.reverbnation.com/
If you are, or know of, a queer artist or band that should be featured in Almost Famous, drop me the details via crystal [at] autostraddle [dot] com. Please write ‘Almost Famous’ in the subject line!