The LGBT world is rich with artists that use many different mediums to inspire. Some of the easiest to share with you the readers are the amazing music videos that LGBT artists and allies create.
When we attended LOVELOUD 2018 – When In Utah, Let The Rainbow Flag Fly High, we had a chance to interview the main organizers and performers at the music festival. We had the opportunity to ask the last question of the Q&A. Our question basically was, "What can we as media do to help." The resounding answer was, "show us, show the LGBT performers, show that we/they exist."
Here are 5 great musicians that we wanted to highlight.
Ria Mae
Ria Mae debuts the video for her single “Hold Me” feat. Frank Kadillac. “Hold Me” is the second single from Ria’s forthcoming EP, set for release early 2019.
The dreamy visual depicts a yearning for a simpler time. It follows Ria as she wanders the colorful city in hopes of finding her way from the busy, social landscape of adulthood back to the pure, authentic ease of childhood.
The video also features co-writer, collaborator, and friend, Frank Kadillac.
The song started as a conversation between Frank, myself and Lowell,” says Ria. “We were sharing how lately we felt unsure of how to engage online and remain positive in the current social climate. We were talking about how easy life used to feel when we were young and how anxious a lot of our peers seem to be right now. I wanted the visuals to represent a deep long for peace from this deafening social landscape.
Ria’s forthcoming EP is a follow-up to her critically acclaimed My Love. The EP’s first single, “Bend,” became an instant hit, skyrocketing to Top 5 at Hot AC, Top 10 at AC and Top 15 at CHR radio, reaching platinum certification status. Ria was nominated for “Pop Album of the Year” at the 2018 JUNO awards for My Love. Two years earlier, Ria also earned a JUNO nomination for “Single of the Year” for her platinum-selling hit “Clothes Off” that has over 13-million streams worldwide.
On November 7th, Ria began the second leg of her cross-Canada Never Coming Down Tour and tomorrow she will play the Mod Club in Toronto. Click here to purchase tickets and click HERE to stream and download the above track.
Ty Herndon
Country star Ty Herndon has released a new music video for his rendition of the Marc Cohn classic “Walking in Memphis.” This is the third video in a four-part series of dance mixes which also contain Herndon’s smash hit “Living in a Moment” and a cover of Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody.”
“Walking in Memphis has always been one of my top five favorite songs to sing,” states Herndon. “We actually cut it for the cover album that’s coming in January. I thought it would be a cool dance mix. And I was right. We had a great time in the studio with this one. We cut the video in at a place called the Rain Studio in Los Angeles.”
In November of 2014, Ty Herndon became the first major male country artist to publicly come out as gay. Shortly after, he made history when he hosted the first-of- its-kind country music event, titled The Concert for Love and Acceptance. The event, designed to bring attention and support to at-risk youth and acceptance, received national attention from Boston Globe, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Tonight, People Magazine and more. Herndon received an outpouring of support that only strengthened his relationship with fans. He was the recipient of the HRC Visibility Award in 2018.
Keep up with the latest on Ty Herndon and his music at www.tyherndon.com or follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Christopher Sorensen
Singer/songwriter Christopher Sorensen has just released the music video for his newest single, “Afterglow,” which explores an LGBT relationship. He wrote “Afterglow” back in 2016. He met Australian producer Arizon through Soundcloud, and together they created the song you hear today. The music video depicts a relationship between a naive, closeted 18-year-old and an older man he meets on Grindr, exploring the culture of casual sex in the gay community and its emotional impact. The story is very personal to Christopher, and his goal is to create a safe space for young gay men to talk about any experience where they have felt taken advantage of.
Christopher is a gay singer/songwriter, screenwriter, and part-time SAT tutor based in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. He graduated from California State University, Los Angeles at 19 with a B.A. in Theater Arts. He also spent a year living in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where he learned to speak and sing in Vietnamese. Christopher’s previous works include his music video “Balloon” in which he speaks out against bullying. He takes a more personal approach with “Afterglow,” opening up for the first time about his own LGBT identity.
Instagram Facebook Soundcloud, Website, and the single is available for purchase here.
Alex van der Hoek
"Dead Without Dancing" is Alex van der Hoek's first single and official music video. It was inspired by a quote from Britney Spear's 2008 documentary "For the Record." This video officially premiered at the Abbey in West Hollywood November 8th, 2018.
I’m a huge Britney fan and this song was inspired by her 2008 documentary “For the Record” where she talks about how dancing saved her life and how she would be “dead without dancing.” I’ve always felt the same way in that dancing was what helped me get through growing up gay (and closeted) in Georgia.
Danny Calvert
An out, independent artist based in New York City, Danny Calvert released a new, extremely uplifting song and music video. We gave it a listen, and then another, and another. Each time the song grew on us as a great and uplifting piece.
This is the title track from my upcoming debut EP. My heart is so full. I hope this song and video bring you joy. Please share. I want the entire world to hear this song and see these beautiful dancers. I’m eternally grateful to everyone involved.
Do you have an artist that you feel needs recognition?
Are you an artist looking to be noticed?
We do receive many at customerservice@instinctmagazine.com so send your video, work, etc over and we will consider it to be highlighted.
There’s also new music from
There's also new music from this gay cutie :
hornet.com/stories/school-of-rock-brian-falduto/