All posts filed under: Music

Interview: Jack Colwell Talks About “No Mercy” & Raising Funds For QLife

The rights of LGBTIQ+ people in Australia have been thrust into the spotlight over the past 12 months. From the debate on marriage equality and the plebiscite, to the vicious attacks on young people and their right to learn about diversity through Safe Schools, nowhere feels safe. However, dark periods like this tend to ignite a flame within LGBTIQ+ people to fighter harder for our rights than ever before. One of these people is Sydney musician Jack Colwell. He’s passionate about the rights and mental health of LGBTIQ+ people in Australia and has just released his single “No Mercy” to raise funds for Australia’s LGBTI  telephone and web chat counselling and referral service QLife. Firstly, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your music? I grew up listening to Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata and a Peter Paul and Mary live-in-concert album, singing harmonies with my mother – which was very reminiscent of that painful scene from Nick Hornby’s ‘About a Boy’. Now I listen to Hole and perform most of my material on the piano, …

Interview: All Trans Band Ryan Cassata & The Rhythm

Ryan Cassata & The Rhythm formed in July of this year, the by-product of connections formed through college, social media and the Long Island music scene. With a rock sound, a passion for music and some studio singles in the works, I’m not surprised if you think this band sounds a lot like the many others out there. This however, is not the case.   The thing that sets this band apart are its members, Ryan (singer, acoustic guitarist, harmonica player) , Jordi (electric guitarist), Destroy (drummer) and Acadia (bass player). They are all amazing musicians, and they ALL identify on the trans spectrum. Trans visibility is continually increasing but still low, so to have an all trans band making some noise in the music scene is amazing, and up until this point more or less unheard of! Lead member Ryan Cassata is well known as many things; a singer-song writer, actor, YouTuber and LGBTQ activist. We had a chance to ask Ryan a few questions about the newly formed band, trans visibility and projects …

10 Talented Queer Musicians You’ll Be Singing Along to in No Time

I’m always excited about listening to music, especially from talented queer artists! And so, I’ve compiled a list of queer musicians who I listen to on the regular, and who I think everyone should be listening to right now. 1. Abbe May – This Western Australian musician’s genre is described as “electronica dance doom pop goth n ‘be sexrockita dirty hip hop beats and vitriol” which, if you listen to any of her songs, you’ll totally understand why! You may have heard her cover of “Pony” on Triple J’s Like A Version Nine a few years ago. The cover is amazing though doesn’t even begin to show just how talented she really is. Check out her song “Are We Flirting” below, from her upcoming 5th LP Bitchcraft. Also be sure to check out the photos we took of Abbe May at the Queers on the Lawn event she performed at last year! To hear May talk about her sexuality, read Out In Perth’s article Abbe May Has Something to Say.   2. Ryan Cassata – He’s …

Queers on the Lawn [PHOTOS]

Last weekend the Curtin Student Guild Queer Department hosted Queers on the Lawn at Curtin University, in celebration of diversity. The event was open to everyone, queer or not, and had market stalls, face painting, Park’d food trucks, a bar area,  a magician, EMAS DJ’s and an amazing performance from Abbe May to top the night off! Take a look at the photos below from what was a very well organised, and fun event!

Top Queer Picks – Fringe World Festival Perth 2015

Perth Fringe is Finally here and in all my excitement I’ve compiled a list of of Top Queer Picks for 2015! I haven’t seen any of these shows before so this list is based purely off what I think looks and sounds a) entertaining b) super queer. Get excited! HEX – “Award-winning young choreographer James Welsby presents HEX, an hour-long, three person dance work reflecting on AIDS, activism, sex, and disco through the eyes and bodies of Generation Y. HEX depicts the arc of the AIDS epidemic and its impact on the queer community through allegorical vignettes using popular club dance vocabularies.” Le Gateau Chocolat – I Heart Chocolat – “This is an exclusive party featuring a delectable hand-picked selection of musical arrangements, as random as a box of chocolates…you never know what you’re going to get! But you can guarantee Le Gateau’s infectious energy and gargantuan voice will satisfy your festival taste-buds. From Glyndebourne Opera to singing for the Queen as part of the Jubilee Flotilla and touring the globe with La Soiree; to performing at the …

The XX in Perth City

As the whispered chatter died down, everyone suddenly became still in anticipation for The XX to infect the stage at Metro City, April 2. Images of the arm flailing bass player from the previous band will never be forgotten but were well in the back of everyone’s mind by this point (What was the name of the band anyway. I know I sound old but I couldn’t here a word of what they were saying). The veiling of the equipment and instruments had already taken place showing two giant clear X’s displayed at centre stage. As the iconic sound of The XX hit the crowd in the form of the song ‘Try’ everyone went into excitement overload only to realise it was but a mere sound check. And to this the girl standing behind me responded, “Oh…haha, I didn’t think I recognised the song.” …….*ULTIMATE FACE PALM. This aside (and the hope that hopefully the whole crowd weren’t try hard hipsters like the girl standing behind me) I went on to enjoy the show, and …

The Vengaboys Hit Freo with a "Boom"

Last night I saw the Vengaboys. You remember them, don’t you? The late 90’s Eurodance, few-hit wonders. Of course you remember such classics as “Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!” and “We Like To Party”, spawned from their 1998 debut “The Party Album!” I, for one, remember that my suburban, Australian childhood was filled with these cheesy, Euro, club songs for some reason. The songs were silly and catchy and I suspect that the primary motivation for people seeing them in 2012 is for a dose of pure, sing-along, nostalgia. Apparently the Vengaboys enjoy partying, and party they did at their show at Metropolis Fremantle, in 2012, over ten years since their last release. The sold out crowd was packed into Metro’s, waiting in keen anticipation for their slice of the 90’s. This was only heightened by the support DJs who played an impressive mix of 90’s dance-pop classics. Despite the sweltering heat and the crowd being covered in sweat before the headliners even made the stage, the atmosphere was of fun and anticipation, enhanced by the …

‘True Colors’ Romney Attack Ad leaves Cyndi Lauper Unhappy

Cyndi Lauper, has expressed her disapproval after her ever popular hit “True Colors” was used in a negative political campaign ad against Mitt Romney. Not only was she unhappy about the unauthorised use of the song, associated most commonly and positively with the LGBTQ community,  but also that it had been used in a negative rather than positive context. “While I am in no way a fan of Mitt Romney, my music is meant to lift people up, especially ‘True Colors.’ The song has been a tremendous source of healing and acceptance for so many people and for it to be used in such a negative way dishonors its history and intention” said Lauper. “I am a huge supporter of President Obama and his re-election, but I have let the responsible party know how disappointed I am the song was used and asked that it be removed from the ad.”