Tom Goss Rings in the Holidays with New EP “Big Fat Gay Ass Christmas”
A Rollicking Collection of Original Songs that Celebrate
Living Joyfully, Exuberantly, and Authentically Queer
Tom Goss isn’t a fan of Christmas music, but that isn’t stopping him from recording his first holiday album! His new EP, Big Fat Gay Ass Christmas, is Christmas-themed, but with songs like “Santa Slay,” “Put that Ass in Christmass,” “Sassy Santa,” and “Ho Ho Homo,” it’s not a traditional holiday album. “I want people to laugh and smile, then strip down to their undies and dance,” he says. “That’s the Christmas I’m most looking forward to this year!”
Joining Tom on the EP are some of the biggest names in gay hip hop, rock-and-roll and country music: Benjamin Koll, Big Daddy Karsten, Keith Lawrence, de ROCHE and more. “They are all a part of my queer family,” Tom explains. “We may sing in different music genres but we are the same in that we live our lives joyfully, exuberantly, and as authentically as possible!” Tom Goss’s Big Fat Gay Ass Christmas will be available on Apple Music, Spotify and all major digital platforms on November 18.
At first glance, the songs on Big Fat Gay Ass Christmas appear tongue-in-cheek, but those who look deeper will recognize a serious side to the record. “I have spent a lot of my life censoring myself,” Tom laments. “Censoring what I say, what I write, how I dress, what my music sounds like, and so much more. It’s been a constant state of second-guessing, carefully carving out a life that is unoffensive, in hopes that everyone will love me. But that’s not real. With my first holiday EP, I wanted to make something that was big, fun, unapologetic, body positive, and queer as f**k.”
Big Fat Gay Ass Christmas begins with “Santa Slay,” a dance/ballroom track that Tom wrote with Jaake Castro about a Santa who is big, confident, queer and in touch with his feminine side. “This Santa is not only delivering toys, he is throwing it down in bed,” Tom explains. Ned Douglas mixed and mastered the record. Drag queen Roxy Wood is the lead vocalist, Tom sings the chorus, Ryan Satyr provides background vocals and Drake Jensen serves the sexy deep-voiced Santa.
The second track on the EP is “Put that Ass in Christmass,” a song about celebrating Christmas with a booty shake. Big Daddy Karsten raps the first verse and Keith Lawrence raps on verse two. “I’ve been a fan of both guys for years,” Tom reflects. “I just love how aggressively big and queer Karsten is. As soon as I wrote the song, I knew I wanted him on it. As for Keith, we were casually texting and I asked “hey, do you rap?” I sent him the track and he immediately called me, excited. Like me, Keith loves a big boy, so it was wonderful to get giddy about ways we could paint men of size in a positive light.”
Tom Goss wrote “Sassy Santa,” the third track on Big Fat Gay Ass Christmas, with hopes of getting Benjamin Koll on the EP. “I have a huge crush on Benjamin,” Tom confesses. “I love the joy and positivity he brings to the bear community.”
Knowing Benjamin’s affinity for funk and dance runs, Tom worked both sounds into the song’s rough mix that he sent to Benjamin with fingers crossed. To his delight, Benjamin agreed to perform on the record! He added instrumentation, vocals, mixing, and mastering, turning “Sassy Santa” into a slamming retro dance/funk track that Tom loves.
Big Fat Gay Ass Christmas concludes with “Ho Ho Homo,” a beautiful track Tom recorded with his frequent collaborator, de ROCHE. He credits de ROCHE with bringing the song to life with vocals that sound like a group of carolers on the doorstep. “De ROCHE and I have been making music together for over a decade. I want her to be a part of everything I do until the end of time.”
The album’s cover art is by Joseph Fortuno. “Joseph created something so much edgier, cuter, gayer, and more visually stunning than I ever could have imagined,” Tom raves. “It’s the perfect wrapping for this big, fat, gay ass gift of an EP.”
Tom Goss was raised in Kenosha, Wisconsin, a small city on Lake Michigan, between Chicago and Milwaukee. Much of his youth was spent focused on his studies and on wrestling. He didn’t feel much in the way of sexual and emotional desires growing up. In fact, he didn’t go on his first date until he was 22, while in seminary, training to be a Catholic priest.
That was when Tom realized he did have an appetite for sex, only it wasn’t towards women or even the men that society deemed as handsome. His attraction was toward plus-sized men, known as "bears" in the gay community. Many of his biggest pop hits today are odes to the large, furry men he loves.
Visit http://tomgossmusic.com
MARYZE SHARES NEW SINGLE "EMO"
NEW ALBUM 8 OUT MAY 6TH ON HOT TRAMP RECORDS
Last month, Maryze announced her debut LP 8 with a stormy-sweet queer nightclub-ready banger "Experiments" along with a steamy music video via Wonderland. Today, the Montreal-based artist shares a new single, and it's equally as delectable. If "Experiments" highlighted the queer popstar's smooth R&B vocals and knack for writing powerful sex-positive anthems, then "Emo" shows off the artist's more sensitive, emotional side and indie rock roots.
Emo is the song Maryze always wanted to write to her high school boyfriend. It tells the tale of a love story turned toxic, when you realize the person you thought you knew never really cared. “Did you ever listen to the songs I sent to you?” she asks repeatedly, sounding hurt and angry that her ex never took the time for things that meant something to her. She’s at a point where she’s checked out and numb, no longer fighting for a relationship that isn’t working anymore. The vibes are emo/rock/punk with vocal inspiration from Avril Lavigne and Paramore, bass tones emulating Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz (Maryze’s longest standing crush that her ex used to make fun of her for liking, calling the band lame), and a nod to Green Day’s tremolo guitar effect from “Boulevard of Broken Dreams”.
"I made the song with producer and long-time collaborator Solomon K-I (who is featured on guitar)," Maryze shares. "We actually met playing in an indie rock band 10 years ago and our former drummer Graeme McDonald is featured on live drums."
"Emo" drops on April 8th. Take a listen here and stay tuned for her debut LP, 8, due out May 6th.
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