Wes Smoot 11/3/22 Wes Smoot 11/3/22

URGE Miami Festival Returns This Thanksgiving Weekend

With Three Massive Night Spectaculars and the Steamiest Beach Party on the Sands of South Beach

URGE Miami Festival returns this Thanksgiving weekend with three massive nighttime events and three sizzling daytime fetes including the Royal Palm Pool Party and the legendary Beach Party on the sands of South Beach. Produced by Luis Morera, Billy Kemp and Hilton Wolman, the LGBTQ+ festival weekend will take place November 25-28 and will feature a list of the world’s most famous circuit DJs including Alex Lo, Dan Slater, Edu Quintas, Enrico Meloni, Jerac, Joe Gauthreaux, Marvin Ayy, Mauro Mozart, Paulo Fragoso, Suri and Tom Stephan, with more to be announced.
“After the massive success of last year’s Thanksgiving festival, we are excited to do it all over again, bigger and better than ever before,” says Hilton Wolman.
URGE Miami Festival kicks off Friday, November 25 at 10pm when Barcelona’s Matinee Group makes its triumphant return to Miami with Matinee Pervert XXL. DJ’s Tom Stephan and Alex Lo will take over the decks at Miami's newest nightclub, M2 Nightclub, for their raunchiest production ever. The historic nightclub (formerly known as Paragon/Glam Slam/Level/Mansion and Icon) has been transformed with $10 million in upgrades to structure, sound and lighting. At 35,000 square feet, it will be the largest party ever thrown by URGE. Matinee Group is promising a level of production seldom seen before and they are flying in some of the hottest dancers from Spain and Europe to keep the dancefloor shaking into the wee morning hours.
At 2pm on Saturday is the Royal Palm South Beach pool party, presented by Eliad Cohen as part of the Papa World Tour. DJs Dan Slater and Paulo Fragoso will raise the temps with their high energy beats, making extensive use of the incredible facilities offered by Royal Palm. Expect plenty of wet and wild, splish and splashy fun and gorgeous men in skimpy bikinis.
The weekend’s Saturday night Main Event, URGE Warrior, will take place at one of Miami's premier film studios, home to some of the biggest blockbusters on HBO Max and Netflix, on their largest sound stage. DJs Suri and Mauro Mozart will battle it out with incredible beats in a spectacular production, sure to amaze.
It leads to the signature event of the weekend: the long-established Sunday Beach Party on the sands of South Beach. The sandblast begins at 2pm with DJ’s Enrico Meloni from Italy and Joe Gauthreaux from the USA dropping the beats on the largest stage and dancefloor and most colossal VIP deck this event has seen before. Kidd Madonny and his company, 3DX, are building the decor for the party and like last year, it will incorporate URGE Miami Festival’s yellow and white retro resort and cabana influenced theme.
“Circuit fans come from all over the world to experience one of America’s biggest LGBTQ beach parties,” Wolman explains. “We will not disappoint.”
This year’s host hotel is the Royal Palm South Beach. With 400 rooms, more than a quarter of which are suites, the Royal Palm is one of South Beach’s largest hotels, superbly located directly on the beach on Collins at the end of Ocean Drive. It offers a superior experience and will serve as the location of URGE Miami Festival’s Welcome Center and Saturday Pool Party. It is also a short walk to a majority of the parties. Special $249 room rates are available while supplies last.
A portion of the proceeds from URGE Miami Festival will once again benefit Miami Beach Pride, a not-for-profit organization that works to unite members of the LGBTQ community by celebrating the unique spirit and culture of its people.
Tickets for URGE Miami Festival are available now on the website. GA and VIP tickets are available, as is the popular 24-hour pass that includes the Sunday Beach Party, Sunday night event and Monday morning Afterhours event.

Wes Smoot 10/19/22 Wes Smoot 10/19/22

Jake Wesley Rogers Interview | Austin City Limits

Interview by: Wesley Smoot

Jake Wesley Rogers. If you don’t know the name already, you will. He’s an absolute powerhouse— singer, songwriter, showman, and a master on the keys. At 25 years old, he’s done Madison Square Garden (opening for Panic at the Disco), has been a musical guest on The Ellen Show, and currently has a track featured on the major Universal Pictures rom-com, Bros. His lyrics transcend generations with a kind of depth you’d find hard to believe is coming from someone his age.

I got the chance to chat with Jake Wesley Rogers at Austin City Limits.

Pinkies up, now sip!

Jake Wesley Rogers by Chad Wadsworth for ACL Fest 2022

Weslo: Howdy ya’ll, this is Wesley Smoot (Weslo) with Unleashed LGBTQ, in Austin, Texas at ACL– today I get the chance to sit down with Jake Wesley Rogers. How’s your ACL?

JWR: Hey! It’s very hot. Literally. But it has been so much fun.

Weslo: So freakin’ hot. Texas heat!

Well the crowd obviously loved your performance. What are your thoughts on Texas, besides the heat?

JWR: Well, I'm from Missouri, so I understand what it means to come from a complicated place, but I’m always astounded by how much love there is, even in a state where there is a lot of bullshit going on.

Weslo: It’s a big state with lots of fabulous folks, I’m glad you get to see there are all kinds, plenty of like minded people.

JWR: Of course. You sometimes have to remind yourself, we’re everywhere and we’re not going anywhere. So, I’ll always keep coming back.

Weslo: Please do.

I have to talk to you about the movie Bros with Billy Eichner. One of my favorites of the year, not just because it’s a gay film, but it’s just so well done. You have a song featured in the movie— your single Hindsight. What’s it like having your music on such a groundbreaking film?

JWR: It was mind-blowing to hear my song in a movie theater and be part of such a historical film. I would actually call it a surreal moment for me.

Jake Wesley Rogers & Wesley Smoot in Media Tent at Austin City Limits 2022

Weslo: So you’re on the cover of The Advocate this month, it seems like you’re well on your way to becoming a LGBTQ+ icon. How does that feel?

JWR: I don’t want to speak for anyone. I can only tell my story, I do that on purpose. Tony Morrison says “The function of freedom is to free someone else” so I think if I show up, even if I’m not feeling confident, tell my story, the hope is to allow anyone to feel free to be themselves, because that makes everything better.

Weslo: I agree 100%.

I know some LGBTQ+ artists might not care to be labeled or pigeon-holed as a gay artist, I’m sure with you, there’s a lot of crossover with other demographics.. I mean, you have been opening for Panic at the Disco. Have you seen your fanbase grow with the non-LGBTQ+ audiences?

JWR: I'm always surprised how many straight people are at my shows. I think my favorite thing about being queer is that it shows very explicit on the outside. But we all feel different, excluded, even if only to some degree. I think we’re the superheroes that have no choice but to show it.

Weslo: Well you really go into that with your song Pluto. Which I love by the way.

JWR: Yes! Exactly, and thank you. That is very much what the song is about, using Pluto as a metaphor, as the outsider. And just giving everyone permission to embrace it because I think that’s how things change, when everybody realizes we have this tendency to hide something. It’s the queer life. We’re accustom to it and learn it at such an early age. But not only us, everyone feels that on some level, we’re just the lucky, fabulous, beautiful ones that get to show others that it's ok. It’s ok to be free.

Austin City Limits 2022 | Jake Wesley Rogers | Photo Credit: Jakob Wandel

Weslo: Inclusion is incredibly important. I think ACL, it’s organizers, and bookers do an amazing job bringing in queer artists. I have been able to see so many over the last few years. Did you get to see anyone here? Lil Nas X? Boy George, Izzy Heltai?...

JWR: Sadly, because of the tour, no. We have been doing red-eyes to come in and make these events. Usually I come in, play, and go to bed (laughing). So I’m sad I missed Lil Nas X but hoping to catch Kacey Musgraves tonight.

Weslo: That will be a great show.

You covered I’ll Stand by You by The Pretenders. You did it magnificently. It has millions of streams… Do you plan on covering any other artists' songs in the future?

JWR: That’s a great question.

We have been covering Welcome to the Black Parade (My Chemical Romance) on the tour. But we’ll have to see. I enjoy singing so many… I’ll keep you posted.

Weslo: Your outfits for live shows are Everything! What inspires you in picking your wardrobe? Are you inspired by other artists?

JWR: This outfit I’m wearing now is like a red dandy number inspired by the movie The Velvet Goldmine, it’s like an unofficial David Bowie bio pic and there’s this one scene where a character is wearing this dandy outfit — I did a photo shoot for Vogue, they had me wear something similar, and when i wore it, I felt I had been there before. So I wanted to make something, something to recreate that feeling.

But you know before every tour, I think about what I want to wear, feel like, and present to my fabulous audience. But yes, I’m proud to say all the costumes from my tours are made by queer designers— which is always very exciting to me. I love a great collaboration between creative minds.

Weslo: I love that.

Many queer artists I see perform to tracks in the background. You not only have a full band but you are also slaying it on the piano. Has that always been the vision?

JWR: When it comes to music, for me personally, it’s always been me and the piano. I don’t think that will ever change. As far as having a band to perform with, it just feels right to me.

Weslo: Well, I really appreciate you taking the time to talk with us. You’re an amazing talent and we wish you all the success. You have our full support.

JWR: Thank you for that, I appreciate you as well.

Make sure to check out Jake Wesley Roger’s new EP LOVE

The EP includes two brand new songs “My Mistake” and “Call It Love” along with previous releases, “Modern Love,” “Lavender Forever,” which he performed on ELLEN, “Dark Bird” and the most recent “Hindsight” from the Billy Eichner film Bros.

Wes Smoot 2/22/22 Wes Smoot 2/22/22

Drag DJ-production Duo JAWBREAKERS Release Debut Music Video - "Boyfriend"

Kali Forni-Kate and Sabrina Babyslut are drag producer/DJs! Together, they are known as the Jawbreakers. In their first EP, Just A Taste - being released through Vicious Recordings, the label that discovered Avicii when he was a teenager, and released his first ten records - the duo dish out delicious dance, pop and tech house songs that reflect on their live DJ shows. "Boyfriend," the EP’s first single, is out now. It’s video emphasizes how Kali and Sabrina not only DJ their parties, they are their parties.

Just A Taste, the debut EP from the drag-duo DJ-production team known as Jawbreakers, dishes out dance, pop and tech house songs suitable for clubs and partygoers at home enjoying a late-night kiki. “The EP is a sampling platter of beats with something for everyone,” says Kali Forni-Kate of Jawbreakers. “It’s Just A Taste, because there is 100% more to come,” adds her collaborator, Sabrina Babyslut. With songs like “This Is Dirty” and “Ciao Bella,” the EP reflects the group’s live DJ shows that emphasize how Jawbreakers are not only playing the party, they are the party. "Boyfriend," the EP’s first release, is a modern-day remake of Ashlee Simpson’s 2005 hit that chronicled her stealing Wilmer Valderrama from Lindsay Lohan. The Jawbreaker version features vocals from Amunda (formerly from Operator Please). Its accompanying music video, directed by Nyssa Mitchell, conceptualized by Jawbreakers with editing and FX by Zachary McSweeney, is a technicolor dream, with Kali and Sabrina dressed in eye-catching lewks. The Just A Taste EP is being distributed through Extrovert Music, a division of Vicious Recordings, and will be available on Apple Music, Spotify and all digital platforms on April 1. Jawbreaker’s “Boyfriend” music video is available on YouTube.

Kali and Sabrina first met in 2016, performing in a Britney Spears tribute show in Melbourne. They immediately clicked as both came from similar middle-class, nuclear family backgrounds, discovered drag via their passions for musical theatre, and began their individual adventures into the art form after high school. When they learned of their shared interest in music production, they decided to join forces as a DJ duo. They bought a mixer and six months later they were in business.

“The biggest hurdle was deciding who stands where in the booth,” Kali explains. “Sabrina is left-handed and I’m right. We had to fight over who uses the left and right DJ decks. Swapping throws off our groove!”

Their Jawbreakers name harkens back to the iconic candy from their childhoods and the 1998 teen film that starred Rose McGowan, Rebecca Gayheart and Julie Benz as the “it” girl clique who reign supreme in their high school. “It’s a reflection on how the drag that we do is heavily inspired by pop culture,” Kali continues. “Like the girls in the movie, we dress to have fun and through the music we play and the energy that we exude, it makes everyone want to party with us!”

The duo has already headlined several international festivals including Sydney Mardi Gras and Milkshake Festival in Netherlands. Their next big gig will be Summer Camp Festival where they will perform alongside Years and Years, Big Freedia and The Veronicas. They are also slated to perform the next Goodlife U18 event, as well as Adelaide Festival, St Kilda Festival and Melbourne Pride.

“We have been keeping an eye on Jawbreakers for several years,” says Damien Platt of Extrovert Music, a division of Vicious Recordings, the label that discovered Avicii when he was a teenager, and released his first ten records. “When Kali and Sabrina presented us with demos of the EP, we were instantly fans of the music. It's fun, its camp and its quality music.”

Jawbreakers is not Extrovert Music’s first foray into gay dance floor music. Label co-founder Andy Van, of the band Madison Avenue, had a #1 dance anthem with “Don’t Call Me Baby”. More recently, Sgt Slick’s recut of “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” went gold and has become a major queer anthem. “Extrovert Music is focusing on dance pop/disco/commercial/cross over releases,” Platt continues. “A majority of our new signings and existing roster who identify as LGBTQIA+ are producing this sound.”

While Jawbreakers’ unique look has helped attract attention to their work, Sabrina admits that performing as hyper feminine drag artists has made it harder for fans and the music industry to take the duo seriously. “We’ve had straight DJs hit on us and others wonder who the random chicks were in the booth,” she explains. “But way more people have shown their support and their desire to see us succeed.”

“We’re lucky to live in an era when queer culture is proving that we can be a force in any and every industry,” Kali adds. “Never underestimate what a queen can achieve. It only makes us work harder.”

Jawbreakers’ “Just A Taste” is being distributed through Extrovert Music and will be available on Apple Music, Spotify and all digital platforms. The “Boyfriend” video is available now on YouTube. Follow on Instagram @ JawbreakersDJ

Wes Smoot 2/15/22 Wes Smoot 2/15/22

Unleashed LGBTQ to Cover QUEER Experience at SXSW 2022

Live events are back and I have to say, few events have me pumped like the return of SXSW.

Every year industry professionals from around the globe meet in Austin Texas to learn about the latest in a variety of industries. While focus for this groundbreaking event was initially centered around music and film, we have seen SXSW expand, every year, into more and more fields and industries— covering topics that include everything from finance to transportation and even oil and gas. If it’s new and innovative, South by is where you’ll find it. This 9-day conference and festival offers insight on the latest in film, music, tech and more through screenings, panels and showcases. There’s endless branded activations and art installations. It’s experiential marketing at its finest.

However, that hasn’t been the case, at least for the last two years.

Actresses Abbi Jacobson (L) and Ilana Glazer attend the premiere of the "Broad City" series finale at ZACH Theatre on March 10, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for SXSW)

The only shutdown I like is after I read a bitch— but with the rollout of vaccines, new guidelines, and recent drops in Covid-19 cases, group gatherings of this scale are once again possible. People are doing their part and it shows. To that I say, Yasssssss!!!

This light at the end of the tunnel is making it possible for one of the largest and most prestigious gatherings of talent and industry professionals to reconnect once again. (Missed y'all!)

Film subject Kathy Griffin attends the premiere for "Kathy Griffin: A Hell of A Story" during the 2019 SXSW Conference and Festivals at ZACH Theatre on March 11, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for SXSW)

When attending SXSW, it's not uncommon to rub shoulders with movers and shakers, even high-profile celebs… But what or who’s gonna be the next big thing is what I find most fascinating. Ambition and opportunity sets the scene.

You can be drinking a beer with the next tech millionaire or attending the show of the next rock band who will one day grace covers of magazines. We all love a good success story. Seems anything’s possible and I’m here for it!

So what’s to be said about LGBTQ inclusion at SXSW?

Lizzo performs onstage during the 2019 SXSW Conference and Festivals. (Photo by Stephen Olker)

In the past we have seen queer artists, performers, speakers, and panelists offer insight into our unique culture. as well as LGBTQ icons and allies showing support with important, thought provoking messages through powerful performances, screenings, keynotes and panels.

Film critic and contributing writer Arnold Jones called SXSW “An intoxicating crossroads of bohemianism and commerce, SXSW embraced alternative and queer in its many definitions– quirky, cool, campy.”

Stacey Abrams speaks onstage at Featured Session: Lead from the Outside: How to Make Real Change during the 2019 SXSW Conference and Festivals at Hilton Austin on March 11, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Danny Matson/Getty Images for SXSW)

Since its inception, SXSW, has been a pioneer of inclusion, reaching across cultural divides. These opportunities have provided platforms for under-represented individuals (like LGBTQ and POC) to connect with decision makers that can elevate careers to new heights.

Walt Disco showcase presented by British Music Embassy. Photo by Thomas Jackson

Some of these dynamic queer persons of interest photographed from SXSW 2019 can be seen below. (Zachary Quinto, Lance Bass, and Beanie Feldstein)

Ashleigh Cummings (L) and Zachary Quinto attend "NOS4A2" Premiere during the 2019 SXSW Conference and Festivals at Alamo Lamar D on March 11, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Hutton Supancic/Getty Images for SXSW)Bud

Lance Bass speaks onstage at Featured Session: Lance Bass during the 2019 SXSW Conference and Festivals at Austin Convention Center on March 13, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Travis P Ball/Getty Images for SXSW)

Kaitlyn Dever, Olivia Wilde, Beanie Feldstein attends the "Booksmart" Premiere - 2019 SXSW Conference and Festivals at Paramount Theatre on March 10, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for SXSW)

While not all events are currently listed for SXSW 2022 (schedule will continue to be updated leading up to event), here’s some LGBTQ events to include in your SXSW GO App’s calendar:

LGBTQ+ Sex Education for Brands 11:30 AM-12:30 AM | March 16
Speakers: Arielle Egozi, Kayla Gore, Graham Nolan, Alicia Sinclair
A Clarion Call for More LGBTQ Inclusion in Sports 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM | March 13
Speakers: Katie Barnes, Chris Mosier, Amit Paley, Adam Rippon
LGBTQ+ Rights & Politics 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM | March 12
Speakers: Rebecca Marques, Ricardo Martinez, Emmett Schelling, Jessica Shortall
Social Media Platform Accountability: LGBTQ+ Edition 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM | March 12
Speakers: Jenni Olson, Brennan Suen, Alok Vai-Menon
Marginalized Voices in Film & TV Journalism 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM | March 13
Speaker: Dino-Ray Ramos
Tech-Driven Trends in Adult Entertainment 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM | March 13
Speaker: Buck Angel, Shirley Lara, Sinnamon Love, Courtney Trouble
No Label, No Problem: Indie Artist Steps to Success 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Speakers: Andreea Gleeson, Vickie Nauman, Lie Ning, Hessel von Oorschot
Speak for Yourself 11:30 PM - 12:30 PM | March 14
Speakers: Gina Chua, Cheryl Phillips, Aron Pilhofer
The Black Agenda 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM | March 14
Speaker: Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman
How Do I Un-Remember This? 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM | March 14
Speaker: Danny Pellegrino
Inclusion Revolution: How Hybrid Work Boosts DEI 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM March 15
Speakers: Antoine Andrews, Aman Bhutani, Sam Bright, Sheela Subramanian
Meet the Women of Evolving the Gaming Industry 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM | March 15
Speakers: Jill Kenney, Shannon Liao, Makeda Loney, Alanah Pearce
Helping Queer Youth Find Joy 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM | March 15
Speaker: Brian Wenke

Unleashed LGBTQ will keep you updated on what’s to come as well as what’s happening at the events through the lens of these dramatic rainbow shades. Follow us on social media for live coverage of events. We are proud and honored to cover all things fabulous at this year’s SXSW. Thank you to the organizers for including us. Muah!

For more information on attending, line-up, and marketing opportunities visit: www.sxsw.com

Attending SXSW?… do download the SXSW GO App and link your badge for optimal experience. Trust. No, seriously. Trust. Also, if you’re not vegan, try the brisket!

Elizabeth Warren speaks onstage at Conversations About America's Future: Senator Elizabeth Warren during the 2019 SXSW Conference and Festivals at Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theater on March 8, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Amy E. Price/Getty Images for SXSW)

Wes Smoot 2/11/22 Wes Smoot 2/11/22

Gender-Bending Queer Artist ALONE Releases “Everything”, An Ode to His Trans Siblings

Debut Single Declares “Opulence is a State of Mind”

“Everything”, the debut single from the gender-bending Queer artist ALONE, pays homage to the shiny, brassy days of Motown while also serving as an affirming ode to the Transgender Community who continue to enrich our world while battling tremendous negativity. “I want my siblings to know that they are blessed, loved and perfect just the way they are,” says ALONE, who’s own lewk blends disco-rock camp fierceness with svelte Hollywood glamour silhouettes. He wrote, composed, and arranged the soulful RnB Pop track, and topped it off with soaring falsetto vocals brimming with joy fitting for a true anthem. The song was recorded in New York City with a full live band on all-analog equipment. “It is meant to be a bright and feel-good reminder that you already have everything you need to be happy and thrive,” he explains. ALONE’s “Everything” is available now on Apple Music, Spotify and all digital platforms. Its music video is available on YouTube.

“Everything” started as a love song to a guy I was dating who had a fabulous life but couldn't stop complaining about everything,” ALONE recalls from his NYC home. “I wrote the song to try to convince him to see how good he had it and help him cultivate a spirit of gratitude.”

During the production of the song, the message grew larger than a simple love song. It became a proclamation for all to appreciate life regardless of unfavorable circumstances. "Your joy is not dependent on external factors," ALONE urges. "Right now, just as you are, you are already as good, as well and as complete as anyone can ever hope to be — and therefore you are already, in fact, everything."

“I wrote the lyric, ‘Opulence is a state of mind,’ while sunbathing on the crumbling roof of an old house I was living in,” he continues. “At the time, I was barely making rent and struggling to find work and ways to bring my music to life. I laid down a patch of Astro turf on that hot tar, covered it with a piece of leopard fabric, treated myself to a box of strawberries and felt like royalty.”

In the song’s music video, ALONE spotlights an all Trans and Gender Non-Conforming cast. “I wanted to assure the Trans and Queer youth out there that there is a family here for them and that they are beautiful, powerful and worthy,” he says. He enlisted some of the leading activists in the Black Trans Lives Matter Movement including Tahtianna Fermin, founder of Bridges 4 Life, an organization that serves Trans youth in the foster care system; Danni Gucci, founder of the #Wontberased campaign for Trans visibility; and Suburbia, a drag queen who has been featured on HBO Max’s And Just Like That, and is the founder of the POC Collective.

ALONE was born Alon and raised in Israel, in a small coastal town called Herzliya. His father died in military action when he was three and a half years old. He grew up in a household of women, with only his mom and sister. His musical influences were Prince, Grace Jones, George Michael and Sylvester. “Growing up as a Queer kid who never fully fit in anywhere, seeing a Queer artist like Sylvester was a beacon of hope,” ALONE reflects. “It made me feel like I wasn't alone, like there was a future for me and that there were others out there like me.”

Upon moving to New York City, Alon changed his name to ALONE to reclaim the word; empowering its meaning from something sad and scary to independent and in control. “Being alone is one thing everyone experiences from time to time. There is beauty and strength-building in it. The binary concept that being alone is bad and being together is good is false. Both are equally important to our growth and well-being.”

ALONE’s next single, "Fine", is currently in production and scheduled to be released on April 8th with an accompanying music video. A sultry tribute to homo- and pansexual attraction, it pays homage to 80s rock strip songs while challenging the prevalent notions of sexuality and gender.

ALONE’s “Everything” is available now on Apple Music, Spotify and all digital platforms. Its music video is available on YouTube. Visit his website and follow ALONE on Instagram @ TogethALONE.

Wes Smoot 11/17/21 Wes Smoot 11/17/21

In Todrick We Trust- Exclusive Interview with Texas' Own Todrick Hall

Interview by Wesley Smoot

Todrick Hall, is an actor, singer, dancer, producer, choreographer, broadway star and internet sensation… you may have heard of him. With all of those credits under his belt, he’s hard to miss. This trailblazing talent has given audiences countless YouTube videos, from hilarious parodies to top-notch original tracks with some of the best beats, lyrics, and choreography on the web. We got the chance to sit down with Todrick before his performance at the 40th Annual Black Tie Dinner to spill the tea and even snap some photos of this LGBTQ living legend. Pinkies up, now sip!

Weslo: Todrick, how are you today?

Todrick Hall: I’m fantastic. There’s no place like home. I’m so happy to be back in Texas. I don’t get to spend enough time here, so this is always a treat for me.

Weslo: Fabulous, tonight you’ll be performing in Dallas, Texas at the 40th annual Black Tie Dinner. You’re no stranger to North Texas. Can you tell us about growing up in the area? Did it have any affect on your music or style?

Todrick Hall: I think that every single day I realize just how much I’ve been affected by growing up in Texas, especially growing up in the middle of the bible belt. I claim the Dallas/Fort Worth area to be my hometown but I’m actually from the panhandle of Texas in Plainview which is a tiny town sandwiched between Lubbock and Amarillo. Growing up there, it was very conservative, people were very closed minded.. but I didn’t mind it. I was an only child that had a mom who embraced every part of me, even the quirky odd parts. Growing up I did ballet, theatre and was obsessed with all things Disney or anything musical based, so it was an interesting journey. As I grow older and look back on those experiences I appreciate every moment. Much like the butterfly effect, it has worked to make me the person I am today as an artist and a human being.

Weslo: I love that. Many artists like yourself who achieve this level of success end up in Los Angeles. Why do you think it’s so important to return to your old stomping grounds for events like Black Tie Dinner?

Todrick Hall: For me specifically, for events like Black Tie Dinner and for my tours, I always make sure I make stops in Dallas and do a few other Texas dates around my Dallas date because there are so many kids who should have access to these shows. When you live in a huge metropolitan city like New York, LA, Chicago, Vegas.. you can sometimes forget there are people still living in a bubble of sorts. While that bubble is more progressive than it was when I was growing up here, it is still insane to hear the stories of young queer kids growing up in this area. So everytime I come home it really hits me how much work we’ve done- but also how much more we need to do. There are so many homeless LGBTQ youth. There are kids who want to be performers and entertainers on Broadway. They want to be on television and don’t have parents supporting them, so I’m happy Black Tie is doing what they’re doing in Texas. It’s always bigger and better. It’s one of the biggest and best LGBTQ events in the world and it's right here in my hometown… so when I get asked to come to perform it’s really a no brainer.

Weslo: You started as a YouTube star, became a breakout performer on American Idol, you made a name for yourself on Broadway, and you even had a show on MTV… you seem to be very much a self-made man. Can you speak on your drive and commitment in your early years that got you where you are today?

Todrick Hall: I have to give credit where credit is due. My dance teacher Yvonne Racz was the artistic director at Ballet Lubbock. She was so strict, or what I thought was “so strict”. She prepared me for what to expect in the business. She brought this energy you would find in New York to a small town in Lubbock and raised me with all of the work ethic that I needed to get to the point I’m at now. I think a lot of people go out to the big cities to make a name for themselves but I think it’s really important to remember where you come from and use that foundation to find your voice. Dallas also seems to be a place where theatre, film and television are continuing to expand, giving new artists the opportunity to grow here before they venture out. With all that said, I think talent is important, but it’s nothing without hard work.

Weslo: I completely agree. So, I'm obsessed with your latest video It’s Raining Fellas… Looking back, you started with videos at McDonald’s Drive thrus and Target flash mobs, which while lacking in production value, were all still amazing videos... You now have so many resources to make quality content… What do you miss about those old days? Do you have a favorite of your older youtube videos?

Todrick Hall: Definitely the McDonalds video, my video Beauty and the Beat was so funny, I’m such a huge Disney fan and the energy in the room when me and my fellow friends, all POC’s created it, it was the funniest day ever. The Target flash mob was fun but scary. We didn’t have permits or even permission. I think that’s when things were the most fun, when we were stealing shots everywhere. Also being a social media influencer at that time was such an unknown, uncharted territory for so many people. There really weren’t any ground rules for when someone comes into a place to shoot a viral video. Luckily, it ended up working in my favor and a lot of those opportunities have come back. With Target, we’ve got to work with them and shoot in the store but this time without the adrenaline rush and trying to steal shots. Hahahaha… But those are the first three that come to mind. I will say my video for It gets Better definitely changed my life. I wrote that song because of the Trevor Project and all of the lives lost to suicide from bullying at school or at home. I put that song on iTunes. It was the first song I ever sold. That song resonated with so many people that in the first year I was living in LA, my rent was paid from the downloads and streams of that song specifically. So that song saved a lot of people’s lives, changed a lot of people’s lives, and helped me establish myself to where I could work on my passion full-time.

Weslo: Wow, incredible work. So, I was at a Dallas Cowboys game at AT&T Stadium and boom… Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels,... comes on. I see thousands of people moving, just feeling your music. For queer artists like yourself, like Lil Nas X, there seems to be huge waves being made in places that would seem almost unexpected to some. Do you see real progress in how queer music is being accepted in the mainstream. Or in places you wouldn’t expect like football games in Texas?

Todrick Hall: I would be lying if I said that we haven’t made a lot of progress, but in 2021 I haven’t heard a man sing a pronoun related to someone of the same sex. I think there’s been a lot of advancements. I’m so grateful Lil Nas X exists but I want there to be representation on the radio of simple, unapologetic love songs from one man to another using the pronouns, him/his. I think that would shed a lot of light on where we are, what cities would play it, which wouldn’t, where a song like that would chart… I think it would be groundbreaking. As queer people, we’ve got used to being underrepresented and don’t expect that from the radio or mainstream music. I want to start hearing our love songs. I would like when I get married, I don’t have to weed through every song that specifically mentions the pronoun of the person I’m in love with… that I will have a few options of songs that I can play at my wedding that feel created and catered to me.

Weslo: You’ve toured the world with shows like Straight Outta Oz sharing your message of fierce, unapologetic queer realness.... What was it like in cities that come across as less accepting of the LGBTQ community? Did you ever experience any issues with homophobia while touring?

Todrick Hall: Absolutely, even sometimes in Texas. In San Antonio we were in a restaurant and a lady started screaming slurs. I always try to go by the Michelle Obama book of rules, when they go low we go high. I was very proud of how my team, my dancers, my crew, and how everyone handled it. Still, it was very eye opening. We don’t really experience that kind of negativity or discrimination in LA as we might when we’re on tour. Sometimes it can be an unfortunate wake-up call. But really it’s not just in America, we tour all over the world. We’re in Australia, New Zealand, all over Europe and even Asia... We still experience that type of discrimination sometimes differing from city to city. I have so many kids sending me messages and emails, direct messages and tweets saying that their parents won’t let them come support a gay black man. They won’t buy them a ticket or allow them to leave the house. We have had people picket and even riot outside our shows before. It’s been an insane experience but it’s something that reminds me and the team why we're doing what we’re doing. It’s become much bigger than making a fun video for people to dance to. Myself and other queer artists are showing people who really need it that you can be a gay, successful, proud artist who is celebrated is not only important but necessary.

Weslo: In the song FAG, you throw shade on haters who had issues with you being your authentic gay self growing up. Only by being true to yourself have you been able to reach this level of success. Can you speak on why being yourself is so important? Especially for the youngsters out there…

Todrick Hall: I had the privilege of playing the role my mentor Billy Porter played, which was Lola for Kinky Boots on Broadway. It was a life-changing chapter in my life. There’s a line in that show that says, Be yourself, everyone else is already taken. When I was learning the lines, I was basically trying to put them in my memory like a computer chip and then one day I said the line and it clicked. That one line had so much power to me. I think we as humans are taught to conform but I think that embracing the things that make you different was hard for me, but everytime I did it, it’s what helped me stand out.

Weslo: You have worked with so much celebrity talent including Ru Paul and a myriad of fabulous queens… Spill the tea..., if you could collaborate with any musical artist, who would it be?

Todrick Hall: I’ve worked with Beyonce already but she’ll always be at the top of my list. I love Cardi B, I think she’s hilarious. I've loved Nicky Minaj since Super Bass and Starship days so I’d love to work with her. I just think she’s iconic and no one can do what she does. I would love to do a song with Taylor Swift even though we’re really great friends. I hope one day it makes sense for us to do a song together that only she and I can do. That would be really fun. I’m a huge Nicole Richie fan, I know she doesn’t do music, I’ve never met her. She’s probably the one person on the planet I would fangirl over if I met her.

Weslo: Any new music coming out we Should be looking out for? I’m already excited about The Femuline Tour.

Todrick Hall: I have been in the studio non-stop making bops for my fans. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that next year, 2022 will be the most music and visuals people have ever gotten from me as far as personal music as an artist. I’m really excited about the next chapter and era of Todrick and I think next year is going to be a huge game changer for me and my team.

For more information on The Femuline Tour visit: www.todrickhall.com

Wes Smoot 10/15/21 Wes Smoot 10/15/21

ACL FEST 2021- BEING HEARD AT MUSIC FESTIVALS

By Wesley Smoot

When you think of music festivals, you might think: headliners, huge crowds, fun costumes, overpriced drinks, perhaps creating unforgettable memories with your closest friends… This is often the case for most of us. So, while organizers work tirelessly to make their events stand out, what else could be missing?

HBO Max’s 2021 documentary showed us the tragic events of Woodstock ‘99 in a chilling story (Woodstock 1999: Peace, Love, & Rage) that ended in arrests, bloodshed, and eventually a bunch of angry white men setting the whole damn thing on fire. With multiple cases of sexual assault and even preventable deaths, this was the perfect example of toxic masculinity at its finest.

Was it the perfect recipe for the events that took place? Could it have been avoided? Again, what was missing?

An obvious solution, Diversity.

Music festivals, including ACL have been booking talent with large LGBTQ fanbases for some time. In previous years, ACL has brought us LGBTQ icons like Robyn, Lizzo, Megan Thee Stallion, The Cure, and more. While I personally love these performers, I’m eager to see more talent that actually identifies as LGBTQ.

Could ACL do a better job of booking more diverse, or specifically more queer artists to their line-up? I’m happy to say, they have and they did… an absolutely, fabulous job!

Austin City Limits 2021 was a milestone of inclusivity, From having their first ever drag performer, Trixie Mattel on the Tito’s Vodka Stage, to hosting Spanish speaking acts like Gina Chavez and Karol G. Representation seemed an obvious goal for this year’s organizers.. and bravo to you! Please don’t think this goes unnoticed.

Trixxie Mattel ACL Fest 2021 Weeked 2- Photo Credit: Alison Narro

Norway native, singer/songwriter, and proud lesbian, Girl in Red brought a considerable audience to her stage. (Look her up!) As a fan, I was a pleasantly surprised to see the crowd her performance attracted. Lead singer, Marie Ulven Ringheim told audience how she almost cancelled her ACL performance due to Texas’ Governor Greg Abbott’s horrific abortion law that passed earlier this year. She stated, “It wouldn’t be fair to skip this opportunity, I know many of you don’t agree with what’s happening… by performing here, I want to show support to those who don’t follow the Governor’s outdated views on something that most of the civilized world has moved past.”

Girl in Red ACL Fest 2021 Weeked 2- Photo Credit: Alison Narro

It’s worth mentioning country music star, LeAnn Rimes opened her song, Love is Love is Love by talking about her early, personal experience with LGBTQ acceptance. Non-binary, North Carolina based, Future Islands gave an unforgettable performance that will leave me a diehard fan. Erika Badu… well, she’s Erika Badu. Who always delivers gold. But what about the attendees?

A considerable number of rainbow flags and queer statements proudly worn by LGBTQ attendees, including myself and our very sexy group, was peppered throughout the vast audience. We experienced moments where straight-allies asked for photos with us and our rainbow flag. This meant a lot, or least to me. Hearing words of love and encouragement never goes unappreciated. We see you allies!

Future Islands ACL 2021 Weekend 2- Photo Credit: Charles Reagan

To wrap it up in a real cute bow… I can honestly say, what I witnessed is real progression. While I’d love to see acts like Toddrick Hall, Kameron Ross, and even Ricky Martin take stage, I can’t help but wonder what’s in store for next year and if other music festivals will follow suit.

I say, keep marketing to us, with us. Keep it diverse & inclusive and we’ll keep coming back. As someone who lived in Austin, Keep Austin Weird is something the LGBTQ community has always contributed to. Thank you for seeing us, and you can count on seeing me next year.

-Wesley Smoot

Unleashed LGBTQ

Wes Smoot 5/26/21 Wes Smoot 5/26/21

STEWART TAYLOR IS TAILOR-MADE IN “COVER BOY”

HIS NEW SINGLE AND MUSIC VIDEO

Stewart Taylor’s “Cover Boy” is a modern pop track with a seventies’ throwback vibe about falling in love, knowing your self-worth in a relationship, and not playing mind games along the way. Produced by DWhit and co-written by Taylor with his longtime collaborator Benjamin Samama, the song also draws inspiration from bold men who take chances with their style and aren't afraid to be both masculine and feminine, glamorous and rough around the edges. “James Dean, Marlon Brando, Harry Styles, and Timothée Chalamet are by far my favorite cover boys,” says Stewart Taylor. “I've always had a soft spot for the old school, brooding, classic Hollywood types.” Stewart Taylor’s “Cover Boy” is being distributed independently and is available on Apple Music, Spotify, and all digital platforms. Its video is available on YouTube.

“I was inspired to write ‘Cover Boy’ after landing my first magazine cover for my last single, ‘Mess Your Hair Up’,” Stewart Taylor continues from his Los Angeles home. “I had just started dating someone new and the idea came to me when I felt like he wasn’t making enough of an effort to take things to the next level. I wanted to be his cover boy. I wanted to be front and center; the starring role in his life. The relationship didn't end up working out but it was a great premise for a song!”

“Cover Boy” expands both sonically and vocally from Taylor’s previous release, “Mess Your Hair Up”. “I've evolved a lot as an artist over the years. I’ve tried on different sounds and outfits, stripped those things away, started over, and have rebuilt and rebranded myself into what I feel is the most authentic me in the moment. I've come into my own with my music, dance, and fashion and everything I do now is a lot more influenced by funk and R&B while still staying very pop.”

Stewart Taylor sings in a sexier, lower tone on “Cover Boy,” reminiscent of early Robin Thicke.

The music video reflects his evolution as an artist. Directed by Brad Hammer and styled by Kiki Xtravaganza and Kályd Odeh, the video is vintage, stylish, flirty and joyful. Taylor turns out many different looks from Guess, Versace, and Chanel; surrounding himself with old vintage magazines, Polaroids, and a stereo from 1982. He even dons a triangle jacket that pays homage to Madonna and the movie Desperately Seeking Susan.

“I love bringing little moments from the past and carrying them into the future like that in videos. Hopefully some of the hardcore Madonna fans will get the reference!”

Stewart Taylor is an LA-based singer, songwriter, dancer, and MMG model. He grew up in a small town outside of New York City, where he began writing songs and performing in local talent shows and Lower East Side clubs. Since graduating from Berklee College of Music in Boston, he's collaborated with Grammy-nominated songwriters and producers Charlie Puth, (Wiz Khalifa) Kara DioGuardi, (P!nk, Katy Perry) Jayson DeZuzio, (Imagine Dragons) and David Pramik (Selena Gomez).

In addition to writing for himself, Stewart Taylor has penned songs for Romanian pop star Antonia and American Idol's David Hernandez. He is an active voice in the LGBTQ+ community and his coming out story was featured in the New York Times bestselling book, It Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating A Life Worth Living.

“I struggled through this last year of pandemic,” he reveals, “but I'm coming out of it wiser and more driven to succeed than ever before. I’m not waiting in the wing for the industry to shine its stage light on me. Nor am I going to wait on the side while some guy decides whether or not he wants a real relationship. My time is valuable and I’m not wasting another second.”

Stewart Taylor’s “Cover Boy ” is available on Apple Music, Spotify and all digital platforms. Its video is on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=numGLNO6B7c. Visit www.stewarttaylorofficial.com. Follow on Instagram @ imstewarttaylor.

Wes Smoot 5/25/21 Wes Smoot 5/25/21

Tom Goss and Actor-Turned-Rapper Daniel Franzese Celebrate Plus-Sized Gay Geeks with Fuzzy Cheeks in Nerdy Bear: The Remix

Last summer, Tom Goss paid homage to the subset of plus-sized gay men that enjoy superheroes and video games with his smash anthem, “Nerdy Bear.” Now he returns with “Nerdy Bear: The Markaholic Remix,” a reinterpretation of the song from the bear’s perspective, featuring brand-new rhymes by the gay community’s ultimate nerdy bear, Mean Girls and Looking actor Daniel Franzese. “The remix was my idea,” says Franzese. “When Tom’s original came out last summer, I was like ‘OMG, it's about time we got an anthem of guys pursuing us in song. We should do a remix of this track where the bear responds that he’s down to party—and I should rap on it!’” Tom Goss’s “Nerdy Bear: The Markaholic Remix (featuring Daniel Franzese)” is available on iTunes, Spotify and all major digital platforms. Its music video is on YouTube at https://youtu.be/ymiXYYHrM1k.

The friends have worked on several projects together over the past few years. Most notably, Franzese played Tom’s husband in a series of videos from the singer’s Territories album. “It’s always fun to work with Danny and at this point it seems like we’re just making up opportunities to work together,” Goss laughs.

The original “Nerdy Bear” is a pop track, with a big, snappy sound, an infectious melody, and a sultry R&B vibe. The remix—by LA-based producer Markaholic
(RuPaul, Trixie Mattel, Willam Belli)—raises the BPMs and adds slick and seductive rhymes written by Franzese. He wittily weaves explicit sexual connotations into many of the popular arcade games from the 80s, as in: “If you like whips and chains, we can do the Double Dragon,” referencing the martial arts game. He continues with “I’ll follow you down your Oregon trail and hitch on to your wagon.”

He makes similar playful associations with the shapes from Tetris, the cherries in Pac-Man and the mushrooms in Mario Brothers. The idea is not just about getting laughs; it is meant to convey the confidence Franzese and others in the gay bear community have built by not only accepting their girth, but embracing it. “It’s fun to find unique ways to amplify body positivity and happiness,” says Franzese.

Michael Serrato (Big Gay Sketch Show, Neil's Puppet Dreams), Goss’s long-time collaborator, who directed the original “Nerdy Bear,” returns to direct the remix version. “I always love the movement and cheekiness Michael brings to a project,” Goss reflects. “He can always make me smile.”

Goss brings a few smiles of his own in the video, debuting his stripper moves. He’s not quite sure where he learned them. “I guess years of taking off my clothes to try to get people to listen to my music,” he jokes.

Tom Goss was 22 and in seminary, training to be a Catholic priest, when he realized his strong attraction for plus-sized men, known as "bears" in the gay community, and nerdy ones to boot. “‘Nerdy Bear’ is authentic to my experience and relays my unique perspective that beauty doesn’t fit a standard mold,” he says.

Tom Goss’s “Nerdy Bear: The Markaholic Remix (featuring Daniel Franzese)” is available on iTunes, Spotify and all major digital platforms. Its music video is on YouTube.

Visit http://tomgossmusic.com

Follow Tom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @ tomgossmusic

Wes Smoot 5/24/21 Wes Smoot 5/24/21

John Duff Releases “I Hate L.A.” Single and Music Video

Singer Rebrands ‘City of Dreams’ as ‘City of Living Beyond Your Means’

John Duff’s sings about his disdain for consumer culture in “I Hate L.A.,” his new mid-tempo pop anthem. “L.A. is a city that profits off of people not feeling good about themselves,” he laments. “It isn’t about Los Angeles, though - it’s about what Los Angeles represents ideologically. It’s about the product being sold - all in all, it’s about lack mentality.” He says it’s easy to feel less than when comparing yourself to others; and not just for regular people like him. When he looks up into the hills and sees the thirty-million-dollar mansions, he knows that the people living there aren’t content either. “They want to be Oprah!” Co-written with Aaron Pfeifer and produced by Koil PreAmple and Daniel Schaub, John Duff’s “I Hate L.A.” is being distributed independently and is available on Apple Music, Spotify, and all digital platforms. Its video is available on iTunes, Vimeo and on YouTube.

“I wanted to create something out of my negativity that sounded anthemic and proud,” John Duff continues about “I Hate L.A.”. “We all have negative thoughts; that isn’t unhealthy or unusual. So long as you don’t judge yourself for your feelings, there’s no inherent problem.”

Duff directed the “I Hate L.A.” music video with Brad Hammer, who has a far less hatred of the city than Duff. It was important to John that the video depict the city as he sees it. “I didn’t want the video to be about people doing coke, or the Kardashian’s; we’ve seen that, and it’s tired. I wanted the video to catch the reflection of the glaring hypocrisy. L.A. is a paradox. It’s this liberal paradise with the grossest wealth inequality. It’s morally corrupt.”

Duff set out to glamorize his perceived ugliness of Los Angeles. Every image in the video is layered with symbolism; such as when John is laying on Astroturf, dressed as a rhinestone cowboy, puffing on cigarettes while surrounded by healing crystals. In another scene, he is sticking out of a $130,000 G-wagon filled to the gills with plastic bottles from fancy juice places, wearing an “I Voted” sticker.

The painted face scene is a nod to the city’s beauty influencers, an industry that ranks low in Duff’s estimation. “I think marketing ‘facial improvement’ to children is kind of gross. To each their own, I’m sure people disagree with me. They should make their own music video about that.”

John Duff grew up in a suburb outside of Baltimore, Maryland. He studied musical theater at Syracuse University and after graduating college, he made his way to the bright lights of New York City. After six years in the Big Apple, he moved west to Hollywood to pursue his artistic dreams. He has been in Los Angeles for four years and has released several outrageously gay smash singles including “Hokie Pokie” and “Girly.”

“I encourage listeners to extract from “I Hate L.A.” what they want. If they simply want to hear it as a fun pop song with a colorful video, great. If they want to listen to the lyrics and read into the symbolism in the video, that’s cool, too. Either way, my job is done, so take whatever you want; just remember to tag me!”

John Duff’s “I Hate L.A.” is being distributed independently and is available on Apple Music, Spotify and all digital platforms. Its video is available on YouTube.

Follow John Duff on Facebook and Instagram @ iamjohnduff

Wes Smoot 3/4/21 Wes Smoot 3/4/21

Queer bear singer J.R. Price celebrates body positivity with perky summer single "Daydream"

Queer bear singer J.R. Price celebrates body positivity with perky summer single "Daydream"

Much of the country — and that especially includes here in Texas — has been gripped in a polar vortex (note to self: Polar Whoretex is a good drag name for Dallas) that has us all thinking more about winter than summer. But that changes with the release today of bear artist J.R. Price's title single off his new EP: "Daydream." The upbeat pop number is all about acceptance and celebrating "love is love." And it does so by emphasizing a body positivity too often overlooked in the gay world. (Not here at Unleashed LGBTQ, though — we're all about diversity, in all its forms). Check out the video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo58eMgTSy0

— Arnold Wayne Jones