Discover “In the Key of Q”: A Celebration of Queer Music and Stories.

Join host Dan Hall on “In the Key of Q,” a podcast celebrating LGBTQ+ artists and stories from around the globe. Tune in for queer music, charts, and diverse voices, and join the conversation using the hashtag #queermusic.

This week, welcomes singer-songwriter and pianist Tophy Dye. A self-taught musician from Leeds, Tophy released his debut album “Skeletons” in 2021, exploring themes of love, identity, and self-acceptance. With plans for a second album, Tophy continues to champion visibility and representation for the LGBTQ+ community.

The episode delves into Tophy’s unique story, from his complicated relationship with his alcoholic late father to his musical evolution. Learn how Tophy’s experiences have shaped his sound, and how his advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community demonstrates his commitment to inclusivity and representation.

Don’t miss this opportunity to discover Tophy’s captivating world and the transformative power of his music. This is a journey you won’t want to miss.

“In the Key of Q” is more than a podcast – it’s a platform for artists to be seen, heard, and celebrated. Support the podcast by subscribing to our Patreon page or simply spread the word to fellow music lovers. Together, we can create a more inclusive and vibrant musical landscape.

SUPPORT:

National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACoA) - http://www.nacoa.org.uk/

NACoA is a UK-based charity that provides information, support, and resources for children of alcoholics and others affected by a parent's alcoholism.

Al-Anon Family Groups UK & Eire - https://www.al-anonuk.org.uk/

Al-Anon offers support to family members and friends of alcoholics, including those who grew up with alcoholic parents. They provide meetings, literature, and a supportive community in the UK and Eire to help members find strength and hope.

Anti-Bullying Alliance - https://www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/

The Anti-Bullying Alliance is a UK-based organization that aims to create a world without bullying through education, support, and resources. They provide guidance on how to deal with bullying at school and online.

Childline - https://www.childline.org.uk/

Childline is a free, confidential helpline for children and young people in the UK, offering support and advice on various issues, including bullying and coping with an alcoholic parent. They provide phone, chat, and email support.

Stonewall - https://www.stonewall.org.uk/

Stonewall is a UK-based LGBTQ+ organization that offers resources and support for those dealing with bullying related to their sexual orientation or gender identity. They provide guidance on how to report bullying incidents and access local support services.

In the Key of Q is a weekly 30-40 minute podcast publishing every Tuesday. I’m your host Dan Hall, and in each episode, I chat candidly with a gay/bi musician about their life and music. 

Access exclusive interview content and support the production of this podcast by heading over to Petreon and making a small donation.

Enjoy the music of previous guests by listening to

London, UK. In the Key of Q is a music podcast, gaining popularity with its diverse content and engaging discussions. Hosted by Dan Hall, this week’s show features Lorrakon, a queer, non-binary, self-described “oversexed atheist” who discusses their experience growing up in Los Angeles and the stereotypes and misconceptions associated with the city and its people.

During the conversation, Lorrakon shared their views on identifying as “straight-acting” and reflects on their journey as a Queer child finding solace in the arts. The discussion also delves into the significance and politicisation of sex within a heteronormative world.

In the Key of Q provides a platform for Queer voices to be heard and celebrated. Listeners can support the show on Patreon and access exclusive content. The podcast is on Twitter (@inthekeyofq), Insta (@inthekeyofq) and Facebook (search: In the Key of Q).

The next episode drops on 2 May 2023 and features Jxckson.

This week, presenter Dan Hall meets with Melbourne-born Australian non-binary singer-songwriter, Max Lawrence. 

Lawrence talks about their musical background and how they began writing songs at 16. The episode explores Lawrence’s creative journey as well as their personal journey of gender expression, rejection and acceptance in the suburbs of Melbourne.

They discuss in adulthood the freedom of expressing themselves through clothing and the challenges faced by gender non-conforming people due to Australia’s societal prejudices and stereotypes. 

Welcome to the latest episode of In the Key of Q, a podcast that shines a light on the LGBTQ+ community and their stories.

In this episode, Conleth Kane talks to Dan Hall about his journey growing up gay in working-class Northern Ireland during the Troubles. He shares his personal struggles with violence and bombings in his hometown and the challenges he faced when seeking acceptance within the anti-gay right-wing Democratic Unionist Party.

Conleth also discusses a mysterious cancellation on a BBC programme that was to feature an MP from the Democratic Unionist Party, shedding light on the ongoing segregation between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland.

Conleth opens up about the trauma of his mother’s illness clashing with an important album launch and tells us about his famous London night spot at the Above the Stag Theatre in Vauxhall.

Make sure to follow the podcast on Twitter (@inthekeyofq), Instagram (@inthekeyofq), and Facebook (search: In the Key of Q) to keep up with the latest news and updates.

Don't miss the next episode, set to drop on April 18, 2023, featuring Max Lawrence. Thank you for listening.

This week, presenter Dan Hall meets with artist, producer, composer and DJ Bright Light Bright Light.

Although living now in New York, he was brought up in Neath in Wales. And since rising to fame has toured and recorded with some of the best names in Pop history, including Cher, Sir Elton John, Erasure and Scissor Sisters.

In the episode he talks about the isolation and suffocation growing up in picturesque Wales, despite its beauty. How the Conservative government had abandoned the coal-mining valley in which he was raised. He defends snobbish attacks against Pop music and the pretensions of ‘earnest’ tunes that present themselves as unpackaged. And finally makes a plea for the LGBTQ community to better support each other.

The podcast is on Twitter (@inthekeyofq), Insta (@inthekeyofq) and Facebook (search: In the Key of Q).

The next episode drops on 11 April 2023 and features Conleth Kane.

Dan Hall hosts “In the Key of Q,” a show that features queer music, chat, and stories from around the world. The show’s guest, Jxckson, is a pop artist from Austin, Texas.

Jxckson, a Black and LGBTQ+ musician, talks about his experience of growing up and realising that race and sexuality have an impact, and now he proudly identifies as a Black artist. In his music, he aims to provide a sense of belonging to his listeners and promote confidence and self-love whilst also dealing with themes of loss, longing and depression.

Jxckson’s experience shows the importance of representation and self-acceptance in identity formation. He struggled with societal expectations but ultimately found the courage to embrace his true self and share his experiences through his music. 

The podcast is on Twitter (@inthekeyofq), Insta (@inthekeyofq) and Facebook (search: In the Key of Q).

The next episode drops on 4 April 2023 and features Bright Light Bright Light. 

This week, presenter Dan Hall catches-up with four previous guests and hears their latest tunes. Returning to the microphone are Paul Andrews, Nick Vaan, Vincent DiGeronimo and TIN.

Paul talks about the challenges of developing Bell’s Palsy and his movement towards a more beat-driven sound. Nick discusses his upcoming new album, ‘Magnificent Obsession’ and how post-pandemic he is reconnecting with his lost creative self.

Vincent drops a special voicemail revealing he was voted Number 1 in the Bear World Magazine Top 21 of 2021 and how inspired he has been by Netflix’s ‘Heartstopper’ series . And finally TIN chats with Dan about his three bottles of poppers, life in sleazy Vauxhall and his permanent settlement in London from Australia.

The podcast is on Twitter (@inthekeyofq), Insta (@inthekeyofq) and Facebook (search: In the Key of Q).

Support the show over at Patreon. Many thanks! - https://www.patreon.com/inthekeyofq

This week, presenter Dan Hall catches-up with four previous guests and hears their latest tunes. Returning to the microphone are Billy Mick, Venn Smyth, Cory Stewart and Carrington Kelso.

Billy talks about his imminent new album, and his development of a one-man cabaret show for the international cruise ship market. Cory discusses his brilliant community-focused Queerantine initiative as well as his cross-Atlantic collaboration with producer Edward Russell from the ‘Inside the Groove’ podcast.

Venn drops a special voicemail to listeners to introduce his new record ‘Sober’ which in February 2023 raced to the top of the LGBTQ Music Charts. And finally Carrington chats with Dan about his new album and the joys of musically freeing himself from expectations.

The podcast is on Twitter (@inthekeyofq), Insta (@inthekeyofq) and Facebook (search: In the Key of Q).

Support the show over at Patreon. Many thanks! - https://www.patreon.com/inthekeyofq

Welcome to In the Key of Q the weekly podcast where I chat with inspiring Queer musicians from around the world as they share stories, inspirations and of course their music.

Don+ is an independent artist and writer who has been writing and making music since 2013. He gained recognition with his first EP Raw Rhythm and Words (Apple / Spotify), which debuted in the top 40 on the iTunes RnB charts.

He grew up in a house surrounded by music, from Luther Vandross to gospel and learned to make peace with the homophobia in some of Hip Hop. With loved artists such as R Kelly it was tough to separate the music from the man.

Christianity and Islam were highly influential, not an easy combo for a Black kid growing up in America's South. Despite attacks from many religious sides, he went on to find peace in his own sense of spirituality.

After testing HIV+ in what he thought was a monogamous relationship, Don+ took this news and ran with it. He became an advocate for people with HIV, giving lessons in schools to fight ignorance and stigma.

Additional Material

• Don+ on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube
• Don+ on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram
• Advice for newly diagnosed HIV-positive people from THT.
• Managing being LGBTQ and Muslim.

If you enjoyed this episode why not take a listen to Blake Mundell.

In the Key of Q is a weekly 30-40 minute podcast publishing every Tuesday. I’m your host Dan Hall, and in each episode, I chat candidly with a gay/bi musician about their life and music. 

Access exclusive interview content and support the production of this podcast by heading over to Petreon and making a small donation.

Enjoy the music of previous guests by listening to these playlists with tracks selected by the artists...

Taylor Gray is this week’s guest. He is an R&B artist based in Los Angeles and curator of the popular playlist "Flavor Waves" on Apple Music and Spotify, which has garnered the attention of artists such as Victoria Monét and Ro James. 

• (1:22) Highlight - Gray talks about his childhood musical influences, growing up in a house playing neverending Prince, Chaka Kahn, Michael Jackson, Toni Braxton, Anita Baker and Luther Vandross. And of course the wonderful Miss Whitney Houston.
• (15:23) Highlight - But childhood wasn’t all perfect as Gray reveals the frequent bullying he experienced at school and how this affected his self-esteem even outside of the school gates. 
• (7:14) Highlight - We chat about how mainstream music still wants “The Gays” to be either sex-crazed EDM dance-heads, or castrated shame-muffins. And how at the point of Black and Queer intersectionality there is often an outside fetishisation of race. Reference is made here to The IZM whose episode can be heard here.
• (16:42) Highlight - Anxiety and addiction are disproportionately represented within the LGBTQ community, and Gray discusses his relationship with both explaining how a recent journey into sobriety has already paid dividends in self-worth and musical creation.
• (23:42) Highlight - In his platform piece, Gray talks about the importance of feeling like we belong in a family. And that family can be biological or logical. 
• (26.23) Highlight - Hand-picked recommendations from within the Queer community for other artists for us to enjoy. Many of them can be found on Gray’s playlist “Black & Queer AF” volumes 1 (Spotify) and 2 (Spotify). Of course alumni FURILLOSTAR gets a mention, and you can hear his episode here.

Here are some useful resources around bullying at school. Stonewall’s toolkit for secondary schools (high schools) and STOMP Out Bullying.

Support resources for anxiety can be found at the

Welcome to In the Key of Q the weekly podcast where I chat with inspiring Queer musicians from around the world as they share stories, inspirations and of course their music.

Billy Mick released his first single in 2019. He's performed at Pride and Gay Days events. And in America's pandemic lockdown continued to release songs and music videos. The autobiographical studio album Just Be came out in 2020, followed up by the long-player Levelling Up.

Billy speaks openly in this episode about the challenges of growing up in a household with a father who was both a drug dealer and a bullying influence on the family home. Eventually, Billy escapes into adulthood and performing dinner theatre and on the stages of Universal's theme park in Florida.

A surprise HIV diagnosis eventually leads to hospitalisation and a near-death coma. But emerging from this crisis point Billy's life begins all over again and he goes on to produce some amazing tunes.

He is passionate about the queer community, embracing the ethos of Manchester Pride in the UK. Here he witnessed what he describes as a true community where sub-groups did not disappear into their own silos, and instead mixed and enjoyed each other's strength and power. It’s how he feels out community should be.

Additional Material

• Billy on Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp, YouTube, Soundcloud
• Billyon Twitter, Facebook, Instagram
• Billy's homepage

If you enjoyed this episode why not take a listen to Daddy Dawg.

In the Key of Q is a weekly 30-40 minute podcast publishing every Tuesday. I’m your host Dan Hall, and in each episode, I chat candidly with a gay/bi musician about their life and music. 

Access exclusive interview content and support the production of this podcast by heading over to Petreon and making a small donation.

Enjoy the music of previous guests by listening to these playlists with tracks selected by the artists themselves.

Credits

• The podcast can be reached on email and on social media at Twitter, Instagram and...

Welcome to In the Key of Q the weekly podcast where I chat with inspiring Queer musicians from around the world as they share stories, inspirations and of course their music.

Levi Kreis is a multi-award winner. Having gathered himself awards from Critic's Circle, Out Music, and most excitingly, the Tony's. Born in Oliver Springs, Tennessee his music features a fusion of styles influenced by gospel, country, bluegrass, and even rockabilly.

He says of his career, "I've always believed that our mess is our ministry. I may be more candid than the next guy about my obstacles and struggles. I am not interested in painting a perfect picture for the world to see not when people all around me need to know how to turn their pain into personal power. The driving force behind all that I do is narrow and define. I want to heal."

Even as a kid Levi had an eye for business. When offered a dollar to sing in the church for God, he suggests off the bat that given two he'd sing for Jesus as well! His deep relationship with the church and his amazing voice he was offered a lucrative gospel record contract. The contract vanished when he was outed by a betrayal within the church. Maybe it wasn't a bad thing as from the age of eight it taught him that his queerness was "detestable in the eye of god".

Falling into a domestically abusive relationship, Levi's mother works out that his violent "flatmate" is actually his lover. Whilst she appears to rescue him from harm's way, she resolves the 'rescue' with a promise that his devilish homosexual ways will lead to an AIDS diagnosis and death.

In search of community Kreis falls into the artificial comfort of crystal meth, and as his addiction grows he somehow manages to win a Tony Award in 2010.

Eventually breaking free from addiction he makes beautiful peace with his mistakes, his demons and wrong turns. "The truth is every pain brings you to power. Every mess is your voice to the world, and we need your voice." He is a true believer in the nature of things; the pattern of life.

His career has since continued to grow including a duet with alumni QBoy and a lead role in the US touring production of Hadestown.

Additional Material

• Levi on Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Bandcamp, YouTube
• Levi on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram
• Levi

Welcome to In the Key of Q the weekly podcast where I chat with inspiring Queer musicians from around the world as they share stories, inspirations and of course their music.

Sonicfluxx was born and raised in Florida in the United States. And in January 2020, his first single Nothing Will Ever Be the Same debuted at number two in the UK's LGBTQ charts. Quickly following this success was the release of his debut EP, Nostalgia.

His premier performance on stage was at only one-month-old playing Jesus - a tough opening act to follow!

Growing up in Melbourne, Florida just a stone's throw from Cocoa Beach and NASA's HQ he grew up seeing launch after launch into space. This was a town where people didn't dream of becoming doctors or lawyers, they aspired to the stars.

The 1980s sound is hugely appealing to Sonicfluxx, even through he was only a nipper during its reign. The simpler synth sounds appeal to him more than today's complex, multi-layered some might say over-produced tracks.

He speaks candidly in the episode about his music helps him manage depression and mental illness, and how very important it is for queer people to see themselves reflected back in art forms. As with many of us, he cites Russell T Davies' Queer As Folk as a fixed point in time of seared identity.

Sonicfluxx's stylish merch store has also launched, and lucky listeners of this podcast get a 20% discount when entering the discount code INTHEKEYOFQ. This deal does not expire and can be used again and again! Shipping is free worldwide.

Additional Material

• SonicFluxx on Spotify, Bandsintown, Apple Music, YouTube, TIDAL
• SonicFluxx on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram
• SonicFluxx homepage
• SonicFluxx merch (remember to use discount code INTHEKEYOFQ).

If you enjoyed this episode why not take a listen to

Welcome to In the Key of Q the weekly podcast where I chat with inspiring Queer musicians from around the world as they share stories, inspirations and of course their music.

Xantheartist counts an impressive hundred thousand streams on Spotify. He's only three years into his music career, but has already secured a number one record with his cover Hapsburg Lippp. Before transitioning to a man, he served in the US military and went on to make a considerable name for himself on the drag king circuit.

He grew up in a household with Nirvana, Phil Collins, New Edition and Luther Vandross pumping from the family hifi. The home was of military stock, and during his childhood his father was deployed in the first Iraq war. The strict household and challenges around gender identity dropped PTSD on Xan, which is being worked through today with counseling.

Accidental encounters showed Xan that he was an excellent performer, both as a rapper and drag king. He increasingly felt the drag king persona was closer to his genuine identity and went onto transition, female-to-male. He speaks eloquently about the importance to avoid mis-gendering, and the hurt this can cause.

He speaks passionately about the importance of self-denfence for the LGBTQ community and especially within the QPOC community. 'You can walk with your head high and confidently knowing that you can defend yourself against anything. '

Additional Material

• Xantheartist on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube
• Xantheartist on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok
• Xantheartist merch
• Xantheartist homepage

If you enjoyed this episode why not take a listen to

Welcome to In the Key of Q the weekly podcast where I chat with inspiring Queer musicians from around the world as they share stories, inspirations and of course their music.

This week's guest is from Edmonton, Alberta in Canada. His music combines personal experiences, passion, and is inspired by artists as varied as Vanessa Carlton, John Mayer and Metric. He is an educator, a model, and an actor. He's sung since the age of two and has written songs since he was 12.

Despite being a shy kid, Matthew couldn't stop his love of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from escaping out. And he'd tell anyone who'd listen about Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo - those heroes in a half shell. And of course, he'd run around the house singing the theme.

His home was beautifully musical with Soul, Hip Hop, Rap and R&B blending with the tunes of Abba's Waterloo, Fernando and SOS.

As an adult, he is frustrated how the gay community can be bad at looking after its own. And how we can often be blind to the silencing of BIPOC of LGBTQ voices. He out and proud music most definitely moves towards that, even more so with the release of his new album Victory (Produced by Brett Reed).

Additional Material

• Matthew on Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp, YouTube
• Matthew on Twitter, Instagram
• Matthew's homepage

If you enjoyed this episode why not take a listen to Andy Pisanu ("Memory Flowers").

Welcome to In the Key of Q the weekly podcast where I chat with inspiring Queer musicians from around the world as they share stories, inspirations and of course their music.

Lloyd Best performing as Dead Method is an alternative pop artist based in Cardiff, Wales. They started a solo career in 2018 and they've gone on to support 65 Days of Static and Public Service Broadcasting. In 2020, their debut album Queer Genesis was released, an exploration of queer culture and identity.

The sceptre of Section 28 hung over his upbringing as merciless homophobic bullying went unchecked in his Welsh Catholic school. Despite the comfort and support of a loving home the experience and failure of teachers to act in loco parentis still scar him today.

Despite growing up in the country's capital city of Cardiff he faced narrow-minded attitudes towards his sexuality. Perhaps surprisingly these were present in the city's music industry too which left him feeling small and silenced.

Thankfully he found his tribe as so many of us do, which allowed him not only to blossom as a musician but also as a queer man. This is shown no better than in his empowering and catchy new album release, Femme.

Additional Material

• Dealing with homophobic bullying at school from Stonewall.
• Dead Method on Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp, YouTube
• Dead Method on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok
• Dead Method homepage

If you enjoyed this episode why not take a listen to Daniel Versus the World.

In the Key of Q is a weekly 30-40 minute podcast publishing every Tuesday. I’m your host Dan Hall, and in each episode, I chat candidly with a gay/bi musician about their life and music. 

Access exclusive...

Welcome to In the Key of Q the weekly podcast where I chat with inspiring Queer musicians from around the world as they share stories, inspirations and of course their music.

Gentleman Reg hails from Toronto in Canada. He's a singer songwriter, drag artist, DJ and makeup artist. He has released seven full-length albums with various bands, including Light Fires, and Regina Gently. A former member of the group Hidden Cameras, Reg has also sung is also sung with Broken Social Scene and Owen Pallett.

Intriguingly he also had a cameo in the film Shortbus, which this year sees a rerelease.

Reg had a nomadic upbringing. With a military pilot father, he grew up in both Germany and Canada. Eventually settling in the small town of Guelph he found himself surrounded by music, not least because of the indie-celebrating festival, Hillside.

Eventually releasing his own music, he worked with many different bands and guises including the highly popular Hidden Cameras.

He has a striking look with white hair and pale skin, and eventually learned to embrace people's wrong assumption that he was albino. And as the effeminate kid in school, from an early age he learned to roll with is Otherness.

Gentleman Reg embraced online living during the pandemic and found himself not only entertaining his old audience but swathes of new people who never usually visited bars. He is an advocate of the alternative side of the queer scene, and this was a natural extension of that, reaching audiences for whom mainstream queer living mostly ignored.

Additional Material

• Gentleman Reg on Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp
• Gentleman Reg on Twitter, Instagram
• Gentleman Reg homepage

If you enjoyed this episode why not take a listen to Nick Vaan.

In the Key of Q is a weekly 30-40 minute podcast publishing every Tuesday. I’m your host Dan Hall, and in each episode, I chat candidly with a...

Welcome to In the Key of Q the weekly podcast where I chat with inspiring Queer musicians from around the world as they share stories, inspirations and of course their music.

A-Natural founded Natural City Music recording label and has himself won two international independent music awards. He's opened for T-Pain and has written and produced for multiple major artists. In 2020 he released the album, 'Kwame', a seminal autobiographical piece in 12 tracks.

Gospel church music has been hugely influential on A-Natural with the church being very present throughout his upbringing. B Slade (formerly Tonex) is mentioned as a particular inspiration - a "gospel Prince"!

Coming into college A-Natural discovered new kinds of music and went into writing and performing his own material. But the task is not easy, and as a friend of his said, musicians sacrificed their lives so that everyone can have a soundtrack to theirs.

He faces the challenges of being Black, American, Queer and Christian helped particularly by the book Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsch. He tells us, Faith doesn't just have to be about God. Faith is about understanding that the things that you want for your life can come to pass. If you just believe.

After a period of homelessness he gets onto his feet, but is raped on the night he loses his virginity. It's a traumatic memory that has laid dormant until viewing the BBC show 'I May Destroy You' by Michaela Coel in which the character Kwame experiences a similar experience.

He goes on to plea for musicians to give themselves time and space to be creative; to allow themselves to make their art and not just 'content'. He says with sadness, We're demanded to be these caricatures of ourselves. And we get exhausted and burnt out trying to please an algorithm that really doesn't know who we are.

Additional Material

• A-Natural's homepage.
• A-Natural on Twitter and Instagram.
• A-Natural on Spotify and Apple Music.
• Leaflet providing assistance to those affected by sexual violence.
• Help after rape and sexual assault from the NHS.

If you enjoyed this episode why not...

Welcome to In the Key of Q the weekly podcast where I chat with inspiring Queer musicians from around the world as they share stories, inspirations and of course their music.

Benjamin Stewart has been making music for over 10 years and has written and recorded since the age of 12. They define as non-binary. Living an authentic life in America's Mississippi state.

In November 2021 they released the album 'Spaces', a dystopian electronic eight-track instrumental work.

Benjamin is constantly inspired by the everyday, accidental rhythms around them such as the weekly fire alarm test in their complex. These lead to the creation of their long, complex instrumental pieces that are both edgy and relaxing. Listen with headphones! The music will take you into another world.

Further inspiration is taken from within as Benjamin talks about lucid dreaming and the remarkable way that they have managed to teach themselves the skill to regularly achieve it. It's all about habit, hands and a candle! And tied in with this is Benjamin's celebration of rest, and a plea to the world to allow itself time-out.

Narrow definitions of gender are very much not their bag. Benjamin talks about their own journey, delighting in the freedom granted by being freed from gender expectations.

Additional Material

• Benjamin on Instagram and Facebook.
• Benjamin on YouTube, Spotify, Apple and Bandcamp.
• A great article celebrating non-binary living and great ways to be a tip-top ally.
• The Guardian newspaper asks Can Lucid Dreaming Help Us Understand Consciousness?
• Fans of Benjamin's work might like to hear music from the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, one of the pioneers of the genre.
• This week's cross-promotion comes from the wonderful Song Surfing Podcast.

If you enjoyed this episode why not take a listen to Dhorin Fireheart.

In the Key of Q is a weekly 30-40 minute podcast publishing every...

Welcome to In the Key of Q the weekly podcast where I chat with inspiring Queer musicians from around the world as they share stories, inspirations and of course their music.

This week's guest is Brandon James Gwinn, a Live Nation touring artist and Billboard number one indie music producer. He won the Richard Rogers award for musical theater writing. Previous winners include such illustrious alumni as Rent's Jonathan Larson. His most recent album Bullit is a rock delight with glorious splashes of Hedwick, Scissor Sisters, and musical theatre.

Lock two gay men on a call and it is inevitable that within a minute they mention Bernadette Peters. But not to be outdone we also get Better Midler, Katherine Hepburn and Moss Hart in there too!

Brandon talks about the creatively restrictive living of smalltown Murfreesboro, TN. But despite this, his parents and grandfolks managed to fill the family home with REO Speedwagon, the Eagles, Eighties Pop, Glenn Miller and Billie Holiday. With such a gorgeous mix of inspiring music is it any surprise that their boy headed to the bright lights of New York and the dreams of Broadway!

Despite a modest schooling, talented Brandon beat all the odds and made it into NYU training to write for musical theatre. He's a real-life Gabe! Of course, by this point, we've discovered a shared love for the movie Trick and hope that the COVID-delayed sequel will still materialize.

He talks about connecting with Trixie Mattel, and how touring together inspired his Bullit album. And how he's...

Welcome to In the Key of Q the weekly podcast where I chat with inspiring Queer musicians from around the world as they share stories, inspirations and of course their music.

This week's guest is QBoy. Born Marcos Brito he is a DJ, music artist, producer, rapper, and dancer. He was raised in Basildon, Essex and La Gomera, Canary Islands, being of half-British, half-Gomeran descent. 

He has five independent releases under his belt, he has helped lead the way for diversity and inclusion within the LGBTQ community and hip-hop. At present, he is co-promoter and DJ at popular club night 'R & She: The Queens Of Hip-Hop' which now in its 8th year has featured sets by DJ Spinderella of Salt-N-Pepa and Mel Blatt of All Saints.

QBoy also has a weekly residency at London's megaclub Heaven and also plays regularly for The Ned and Ace Hotel London.

In the episode, QBoy chats about his love of rapping, how he loves that it carries the visceral energy of youth. We touch on Section 28 and the negative impact it had on his schooling as he experienced the dark cloud of classroom homophobic bullying.

Passions for music and dancing carried him through those tough times, as did indeed a love of Five Star and the wonderful Victoria Wood.

Launching himself into the hip hop scene of the early 2000s, QBoy chats about joining gayhiphop.com and finding himself at the centre of a Queer hip hop collective with the likes of DJ Mister Maker. He was part of that first generation of MySpace musicians, able to use the then-new technology of the internet to connect to audiences. QBoy was self-producing and self-releasing content at a time when it was an unusual thing to do.

Because he's a sexy-looking pup, QBoy managed to get hip hop onto the world's pride stages. They were happy to hire a cute white boy, but not his Queer black counterparts. QBoy talks about his frustration on this and his attempts to redress the balance pushing artists like the Deep Dick Collective and Tori Fixx.

As with so many of the Queer...

Welcome to In the Key of Q the weekly podcast where I chat with inspiring Queer musicians from around the world as they share stories, inspirations and of course their music.

This week we're taken over by the Song Surfing podcast! It's a music discovery podcast showcasing the best indie music from around the world!  Hear an eclectic mix of music spanning many genres and discover your next favorite artist.

In the Key of Q is a weekly 30-40 minute podcast publishing every Tuesday. I’m your host Dan Hall, and in each episode, I chat candidly with a gay/bi musician about their life and music. 

Access exclusive interview content and support the production of this podcast by heading over to Petreon and making a small donation.

Enjoy the music of previous guests by listening to these playlists with tracks selected by the artists themselves.

Credits

• The podcast can be reached on email and on social media at Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. The podcast’s forever home can be found here.
• Theme tune is by Paul Leonidou.
• Press & PR by Paul Smith.
• Many thanks to Kaj and Moray for their continued support.
• In the Key of Q is presented and produced by Dan Hall and made at Pup Media. Dan has recently produced the landmark BBC film, "Freddie Mercury: The Final Act" (dir. James Rogan) and is the producer of the podcast series Been There Done That. For audio or video production inquiries Dan can be reached here or at Talent Manager.

Would you like to appear on the show? Or have an artist you'd like to recommend, please tell them to get in touch via email.

Welcome to In the Key of Q the weekly podcast where I chat with inspiring Queer musicians from around the world as they share stories, inspirations and of course their music.

Featuring new material made public for the first time, LGBTQ singer Paul Andrews discusses his five favourite songs plus the one track that he'd chosen as a gateway song into his catalogue.

Series 2 of In the Key of Q is scheduled to appear on 15 March 2022. Please click here for more information regarding the delay.

Additional Material

• Paul on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram
• Paul's homepage

In the Key of Q is a weekly 30-40 minute podcast publishing every Tuesday. I’m your host Dan Hall, and in each episode, I chat candidly with a gay/bi musician about their life and music. 

Access exclusive interview content and support the production of this podcast by heading over to Petreon and making a small donation.

Enjoy the music of previous guests by listening to these playlists with tracks selected by the artists themselves.

Credits

• The podcast can be reached on email and on social media at Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. The podcast’s forever home can be found here.
• Theme tune is by Paul Leonidou.
• Press & PR by Paul Smith.
• Many thanks to Kaj and Moray for their continued support.
• In the Key of Q is presented and produced by Dan Hall and made at Pup Media. Dan has recently produced the landmark BBC film, "Freddie Mercury: The Final Act" (dir. James Rogan) and is the producer of the podcast series Been There Done That. For audio or video production inquiries Dan can be reached here or at Talent Manager.

Would you like to appear on the show? Or have an artist you'd like to recommend, please tell them to get in touch via email.

A message from presenter and producer Dan Hall about series 2.

Welcome to In the Key of Q the weekly podcast where I chat with inspiring Queer musicians from around the world as they share stories, inspirations and of course their music.

Just one week until the launch of Season 2 with QBoy!

But until then pull up a chair and listen in on TyMcKinnie and I talking gentrification, COVID and dating, not dating, dating, not dating, definitely not dating, but sort of dating... :-)

Additional Material

• Hear Ty's original episode here!
• Ty guests on the pod's two Black Queer America specials: Part 1 & Part 2.
• Ty on Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp, YouTube, TIDAL
• Ty on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok
• Ty's homepage

Ty mentions queer artists in this episode. Take a listen to their episodes - The IZM and FURILLOSTAR.

In the Key of Q is a weekly 30-40 minute podcast publishing every Tuesday. I’m your host Dan Hall, and in each episode, I chat candidly with a gay/bi musician about their life and music. 

Access exclusive interview content and support the production of this podcast by heading over to Petreon and making a small donation.

Enjoy the music of previous guests by listening to these playlists with tracks selected by the artists themselves.

Credits

• The podcast can be reached on email and on social media at Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. The podcast’s forever home can be found here.
• Theme tune is by

Featuring new material made public for the first time, LGBTQ singer Jsky discusses his five favourite songs plus the one track that he'd chosen as a gateway song into his catalogue.

Series 2 of In the Key of Q will begin on 1 March 2022.

Links:

• Episode transcription.
• Jsky’s choices: Deniece Williams, Pavarotti, Jocelyn Brown, Larry Heard
• Jsky’s homepage.
• Jsky’s blog.
• Jsky on Twitter, Insta, Facebook and YouTube.
• Jsky’s podcast.
• In the Key of Q composer Paul Leonidou’s online home.

Please subscribe to the podcast, rate and review. And spread the word!

You can find us on Twitter and Instagram and join the community over on Facebook.

Featuring new material made public for the first time, LGBTQ singer Wuhryn Dumas discusses his five favourite songs plus the one track that he'd chosen as a gateway song into his catalogue.

Series 2 of In the Key of Q will begin on 1 March 2022.

Links:

• Transcript.
• Wuhryn’s homepage.
• Wuhryn on: Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, SoundCloud, Amazon Music, Tidal, Napster.
• Wuhryn’s choices: Beyonce, Michael Jackson, Prince, Wuhryn Dumas, Solange.
• Wuhryn’s gateway track: 2U.
• In the Key of Q composer Paul Leonidou’s online home.

Please subscribe to the podcast, rate and review. And spread the word!

You can find us on Twitter and Instagram and join the community over on Facebook.

Featuring new material made public for the first time, LGBTQ singer Brendan Maclean discusses his five favourite songs plus the one track that he'd chosen as a gateway song into his catalogue.

Series 2 of In the Key of Q will begin on 1 March 2022.

Links:

• Show transcript.
• Brendan at Bandcamp, Facebook, Twitter, Spotify, YouTube.
• Brendan on Patreon.
• Brendan’s choices: Rufus Wainwright, Moloko, Frank Ocean, Years and Years.
• Other references: Common People (Pulp), Champagne Charlie (“Champagne!”), Ode To a Gym Teacher.
• Brendan’s Gateway Song, Stupid.
• In the Key of Q composer Paul Leonidou’s online home.

Please subscribe to the podcast, rate and review. And spread the word!

You can find us on Twitter and Instagram and join the community over on Facebook.

Featuring new material made public for the first time, Hip-Hop artist SADBOY discusses his five favourite songs plus the one track that he'd chosen as a gateway song into his catalogue.

Series 2 of In the Key of Q will begin on 1 March 2022.

Links:

• SADBOY‘s forever home online.
• Episode Jan 24, 2022

Featuring new material made public for the first time, LGBTQ singer Blake Mundel (aka Courier) discusses his five favourite songs plus the one track that he'd chosen as a gateway song into his catalogue.

Series 2 of In the Key of Q will begin on 1 March 2022.

Links:

• Blake’s forever home online.
• Show transcript.
• Blake (as Courier) and his video in which “a black man can go out for a jog and make it home”.
• Inspirational gay NFL players at Casino.org.
• Blake's chosen artists: Beyonce, Paul Simon, Sufjan, James Taylor, Chance the Rapper
• Blake's chosen song: San Francisco.
• In the Key of Q composer Paul Leonidou’s online home.

Please subscribe to the podcast, rate and review. And spread the word!

You can find us on Twitter and Instagram and join the community over on Facebook.

In this bonus mini-episode, Flint-based alumni Furillostar introduces his new single, DWNLD which drops today. And as ever, a London shout-out to Mamma Star!

• Episode transcription here.
• FURILLOSTAR’s linktree can be found here.
• His full Key of Q interview can be found here.
• In The Key of Q publishes every Tuesday (‘Quesday’) and is available at inthekeyofq.com, on Apple, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, Gaana, TuneIn, Overcast, PlayerFM, Deezer, Saavn and most other podcast platforms. Its social media homes are on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Series 2 of In the Key of Q drops in March 2022.

Featuring new material made public for the first time, pop singer Aruan Duval discusses his five favourite songs plus the one track that he'd chosen as a gateway song into his catalogue.

Series 2 of In the Key of Q will begin on 1 March 2022.

• Support the podcast at our Patreon page for as little as £3 per month.
• Transcript here.
• Aruan’s band Furiku on Spotify and Apple Music.
• Aruan on Spotify and Apple Music.
• Aruan's chosen artists: Prince, David Bowie, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Madonna
• Aruan's gateway song, Go-Go.
• “A Brief History of Prince” from The Beat Goes On
• In the Key of Q composer Paul Leonidou’s online home.

Please subscribe to the podcast, rate and review. And spread the word!

You can find us on Twitter and Instagram and join the community over on Facebook.

Featuring new material made public for the first time, singer Ty McKinnie discusses his five favourite songs plus the one track that he'd chosen as a gateway song into his catalogue.

Series 2 of In the Key of Q will begin on 1 March 2022.

Links:

• Ty’s forever home online.
• Transcription here.
• Me. Him. Us. A sexual health awareness project for gay and bisexual men from Black, South Asian and other ethnic minority communities.
• Ty's chosen artists: Brandy, Tori Kelly, Whitney Houston, Nat King Cole, Beyonce
• Ty's gateway song Mutual.
• In the Key of Q composer Paul Leonidou’s online home.

Please subscribe to the podcast, rate and review. And spread the word!

You can find us on Twitter and Instagram and join the community over on Facebook.

Featuring new material made public for the first time, pop rock singer Matt Fishel discusses his five favourite songs plus the one track that he'd chosen as a gateway song into his catalogue.

Series 2 of In the Key of Q will begin on 1 March 2022.

• Transcription is available here.
• Matt’s forever home.
• Matt on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
• Matt's chosen artists: Madonna, Manic Street Preachers, Prince, Pet Shop Boys, Seal
• Matt's gateway song, Radio Friendly Pop Song.
• In the Key of Q composer Paul Leonidou’s online home.

Please subscribe to the podcast, rate and review. And spread the word! And do keep your eyes peeled for Matt's new album that's on the way.

You can find us on Twitter and Instagram and join the community over on Facebook.l

This week, presenter Dan Hall welcomes back a Santa sack of guests, each with an exclusive musical treat for listeners. The singing festive elves are: Ty McKinnie (ep 2), Aruan Duval (ep 3), Paul Andrews (ep 9), The IZM (ep 10), Vincent DiGeronimo (ep 11), Matthew Presidente (ep 22), TIN (ep 25), Tommy Atkins (ep 31), Venn Smyth (ep 32), Mr Slade (ep 35) plus special guests London performers Derek and Orla presenting their Christmas single.

Useful links:

• Support the pod at Patreon and gain access to exclusive interviews with every guest.
• Let’s chat about #QueerMusic on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
• Feeling lonely at Christmas? It’s nothing to be ashamed of. Links that might help: Very Well Mind, Campaign to End Loneliness, Mind and Red Online.
• Spotify links for guests: Ty McKinnie, Aruan Duval, Paul Andrews, The IZM, Vincent DiGeronimo, Matthew Presidente, TIN, Tommy Atkins, Venn Smyth, Mr Slade and Derek and Orla.
• More Queer artists with Christmas cheer! – Steve Grand, Kevin Yee, Tom Goss.
• KoQ favourite Christmas advert this year, for Posten Norway. So nice to see that us gays are allowed to be over...

This week, presenter Dan Hall welcomes back a Santa sack of guests, each with an exclusive musical treat for listeners. The singing festive elves are: Ty McKinnie (ep 2), Aruan Duval (ep 3), Paul Andrews (ep 9), The IZM (ep 10), Vincent DiGeronimo (ep 11), Matthew Presidente (ep 22), TIN (ep 25), Tommy Atkins (ep 31), Venn Smyth (ep 32), Mr Slade (ep 35) plus special guests London performers Derek and Orla presenting their Christmas single.

Useful links:

• Support the pod at Patreon and gain access to exclusive interviews with every guest.
• Let’s chat about #QueerMusic on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
• Feeling lonely at Christmas? It’s nothing to be ashamed of. Links that might help: Very Well Mind, Campaign to End Loneliness, Mind and Red Online.
• Spotify links for guests: Ty McKinnie, Aruan Duval, Paul Andrews, The IZM, Vincent DiGeronimo, Matthew Presidente, TIN, Tommy Atkins, Venn Smyth, Mr Slade and Derek and Orla.
• More Queer artists with Christmas cheer! – Steve Grand, Kevin Yee, Tom Goss.
• KoQ favourite Christmas advert this year, for Posten Norway. So nice to see that us gays are allowed to be over...

‘What have you got to be depressed about?’ is like saying, ‘What have you got to have a cold about?’

In this episode, Paul discusses his Greek Cypriot roots, his battles with depression and suicidal thoughts, and his own journey into authenticity.

Useful links:

• Support the pod at Patreon and gain access to exclusive interviews with every guest.
• Let’s chat about #QueerMusic on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
• Paul’s homepage can be found here.
• Alumni Andy Pisanu is mentioned, and his episode can be found here.
• Click here for help with suicidal thoughts.

Coming next Quesday is the second of our two-part specials in which previous guests return to deliver exclusive audio gifts to our listeners!

TRANSCRIPTION:

Dan 00:00

Hello and welcome to the first in two Christmas special episodes of In the Key of Q, the guest in this week's episode is, well, one of the family, really. He composed our theme tune and has been a brilliant supporter of the podcast.

Please be aware, though, that there was extensive discussion of depression and including some references to suicide. So listener discretion is advised. As ever, there will be support links provided in the show notes.

Paul 00:27

Well. I remember the first time I was depressed, seven years old. And my answer to me? What's wrong with you? I said, I'm depressed and she goes, Oh, seven, how can you be depressed? I was. It was this sense of someone dims the screen and your lens of perception, and everything feels heavy.

Dan 00:52

This is In the Key of Q featuring musicians from around the world who inspire my queer identity. Everybody is welcome to the conversation, whatever beautiful identity pleases you. Music helps us feel connected and know that we are not alone.

This program is made possible thanks to the financial support of listeners like you over at hatred on dot com slash in the key of queue, and remember to join the conversation across socials using the hashtag queer music. I'm Dan Hall.

Come on in, sit down and be heard. You've been hearing this week's guests since episode one. He composes and sound designs for advertising and short films and studied music technology at the University of West London, as well as a composer.

He's also a singer performing and releasing under the name to D Loono. So a big, big welcome to the horribly talented and very, very lovely Paul Leonidou.

Paul 01:45

Hello. Hello, Daniel San.

I was born in North London, which is a bit of a cliche if you're Greek Cypriot. I remember my mum telling me that at about a year and a half old, the first sign that she saw that I loved music was that I was watching Bugsy Malone with my milk bottle.

I was lying on my back with my legs crossed, swinging my leg and kind of learning every single word that musical. And I remember being so small that I didn't get that they were kids. They were like grown ups to me, you know, in terms of context.

So and then I started singing a bit of Tallulah, and then she got a bit...

‘Hang tight, because things will change and you are inspiring someone by being you and not being afraid to be you. And that is contagious.’

In this episode Aris discusses the pain and inspiration behind grief which has been woven throughout his life, be it through the loss of his mother, his friend Ari Gold amongst others. He reveals the importance of being authentic as an artist, and the importance of empathy.

Useful links:

• Support the pod at Patreon and gain access to exclusive interviews with every guest.
• Let’s chat about #QueerMusic on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
• Aris can be found over at YouTube, Twitter, Apple Music, Insta
• Alumni Vincent DiGeronimo recommended Aris for the pod. Hear his episode here.

Coming next Quesday is In the Key of Q composer and singer, Paul Leonidou.

Dan Hall is a TV, film and audio producer whose credits include the podcast series ‘Been There Done That with Susan Osman’, ‘Cher and the Loneliest Elephant’ and ‘Freddie Mercury: The Final Act’.

‘If we could all just be aware about each other’s mental health and not look down on each then we could actually learn to get on with each other.’

In this episode bandmates Ethereal and Ant O'Donnell. duo whose music is inspired by the best of Anthony and the Johnsons, London Grammar and Portishead. In the episode they discuss the disrespect shown to trans identities, the Marvel vs DC comic wars and Veganism.

Useful links: 

• Support the pod at Patreon and gain access to exclusive interviews with every guest.
• Let’s chat about #QueerMusic on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
• Ethereal and the Elevated over on Spotify, YouTube, Facebook, Insta, Twitter.
• Trans support groups in the UK, the USA and globally.

Coming next Quesday is Aris Ziagos.

Dan Hall is a TV, film and audio producer whose credits include the podcast series ‘Been There Done That with Susan Osman’, ‘Cher and the Loneliest Elephant’ and ‘Freddie Mercury: The Final Act’.

‘After I got the diagnosis I start having lots of unprotected sex because I thought, “Well why did I even bother to be careful if I still managed to have this?”. In retrospect, I should have just enjoyed it.'

Oli Spleen comes this week from the ever-sunny seaside shores of Brighton in England. His first album was released in 2013. Titled ‘Fag Machine’ it was a Velvet Underground-tinged take on Queer life. His most recent album is 2020’s ‘Night Sweats and Fever Dreams’ and is a complex and moving work inspired by the HIV / AIDS epidemic.

Oli discusses in the episode how HIV brought him dangerously close to dying and the effect that crystal meth addiction has had on his personal life. This episode also contains discussion of suicide, so listener discretion is advised.

Useful links:

• Help for suicidal thoughts from the UK’s NHS.
• Oli’s pages at Bandcamp and YouTube.
• Help for crystal meth addiction at 56 Dean Street.
• Useful info about HIV AIDS from GMFA.
• Compilation of death references in Fraggle Rock via YouTube.
• Domestic violence and abuse, support resources from Stonewall.

The podcast can be financially supported at patreon.com/inthekeyofq where for as little as five US dollars a month subscribers can access exclusive interview contact with every guest.

Keywords: #HIVAIDS #HIVDiagnoses #CrystalMethAddiction #CrystalMeth #VelvetUnderground #QueerSon #FraggleRock #JimHenson #Queercore #BoysInMakeUp #BoysInDrag #FraggleRock #DeathObsession

‘In our attempt to be accepted by mainstream media we’ve exchanged leather parties for quiche partiers and BBQs with neighbours.’

Mr Slade’s sound features tinges of Grunge mixed with the British 80s Goth scene, a splattering of Punk’s guitar fury and a smidge of Pop. He discusses how an empowering Arts High School saved him from the familiar classroom Queer experience of isolation. He talks about the compromises Queer culture has made to be accepted into the mainstream, and also the homophobia, sexism and racism behind Rock’s hatred of Disco.

Useful links:

• Support the pod at Patreon and gain access to exclusive interviews with every guest.
• Let’s chat about #QueerMusic on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
• Mr Slade’s homepage.
• Mr Slade on social media: Instagram
• Mr Slade’s music: Spotify, Apple Music
• Billy Idol made us gay! See him on YouTube. And so did Sinitta’s So Macho.
• Living with HIV with Matthew Hodson on YouTube.
• Trailer for the HBO film, The Normal Heart on YouTube.
• Blake Mundell discusses his complex relationship with religion. Click here.
• “Dear Straight Acting Gays” on YouTube.

‘When I grew up in the 1980s I almost never heard pop songs where openly gay men sang about their truths,’ says Dan Hall. ‘But these days there are plenty of songs where openly Queer men sing their truths. This podcast aims to celebrate those musicians and raise the profile of their music so we can feel connected, heard and not alone.’

To hear the Series 1 30s promo, please click here.

Earlier highlights include Carrington Kelso, Brendan Maclean, Emmet Michael, Matt Fishel, Bowie Special with Janette Mason & David McAlmont, The IZM,

‘When we come out we free ourselves of the shackles of having to perform.’

This week, Dan’s guest on In the Key of Q is British producer and singer Kieran Lewis, performing under the name Sevenths.

His first EP was published in 2018. Titled “08/08” it introduced audiences to his mid-tempo synth-pop and catchy hooks. Most recently he has released ‘The Other Side’, a higher-tempo track drawing influences from early 1990s dancefloor bops.

Kieran talks about growing up in a poor household in the North East of England and the betrayal he felt being outed by a classmate. He discusses the self-destructive conflict within Queer communities and his passion for Trans rights.

Find Kieran's music on Spotify and Apple Music.

Keywords: #QueerMusic #PoorLiving #NEEngland #Fakeliving #Str8Acting #Outed #NoFatsNoFemmes #NoFats #NoFemmes #LGBAlliance

‘I think DaBaby is not understanding that the world is changing. And what I will say is that he has to have more of a higher standard of quality when it comes to dealing with people.’

Tramel is the star of the popular reality YouTube series G-Status. In 2020 he released the critically-acclaimed EP, ‘Six Page Letter’ and this year two follow-up singles, ‘Favourite’ and ‘Popped Off’. He discusses his time on the show, and how honest conversations got him into hot water. He also chats about being outed and the legacy effect it had on his education and new-found Queer community.

Useful links:

• Support the pod at Patreon and gain access to exclusive interviews with every guest.
• Let’s chat about #QueerMusic on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
• Tramel’s music videos for ‘Popped Off’, ‘It’s Real’ and ‘Single’.
• Tramel on YouTube, Distrokid, Spotify, Apple Music and Tidal.
• Tramel performs the song ‘Single’ live on YouTube.
• Tramel’s social media on Insta and Twitter.
• Help with being outed from Minus18 and The Independent.
• ‘Why do so many LGBT people suffer from mental health problems?” from the BBC.
• Fellow Georgie peach, Wuhryn Dumas’s episode of In the Key of Q.
• “Don’t talk with your hands” Ty McKinnie’s episode of In the Key of Q.
• “If you can’t be funny without tearing someone down, then you’re not funny” JR Price’s episode of In the Key of Q.
• Tramel’s partner The Prince on

Musician Venn Smyth discusses synth pop, Scotish identity and ideas for a new Queer community.

Links:

• Venn's website.
• Venn on Insta.
• Venn on FB.
• Venn on Twitter.
• Paul Leonidou (theme composer) website.
• In the Key of Q website.

‘Not even independently were there Queer Country artists singing openly Queer lyrics. When you look at the charts on mainstream radio and there isn’t a single openly Queer person on there, something’s going on.’

Tommy Akins is a British singer songwriter singing beautiful and surprisingly authentic songs in the Country Music genre. His debut album ‘Truth Be Told’ has just been released, and his previous single releases have hit number one chart positions across the world. 

He talks about performing in a highly hetero-dominated music genre, and his love of Americana. The podcast includes discussions about the beauty of authentic, flawed relationships and how he resisted pressure from record company executives to straight-wash his lyrics.

Tommy’s homepage can be found here and his Proud to be Country playlist can be found here.

Keywords: #CountryMusic #SmalltownLiving #NorthEastEngland #EssexGay #Americana #QueerAmericana #StraightWashing #RecordIndustry #LoveIsLove #HomoPod #QueerPod

‘People don’t get that Queer music is all genres. For some reason we’re all expected to be George Michael.’

Cory is a graduate of the Royal Conservatory of Music vocal programme. Canadian-born he has been a songwriter and student of music since the age of seven and has toured and performed in several countries around the world including Canada, Germany, the Netherlands and Austria. Cory is a great advocate of Queer Indie musicians, hosting the monthly online event ‘Queer Music Social’, an online networking opportunity for musicians and music experts from around the world. He also presents the weekly Twitch show ‘Queerentine’.

In this episode Cory talks about the social effects of major weight loss and his desperate escape out of smalltown Canada. He discusses the importance of safe, Queer spaces and most importantly of all which soundtrack is the best: ‘The Bodyguard’ or ‘Beaches’?

• Cory’s online home can be found here.
• Jon Ali’s ‘Queer Necessities’ Spotify playlist can be found here.

Keywords: #Canada #TorontoQueer #LoveBetteMidler #LoveMadonna #BeachesSoundtrack #QueerSpaces #ExtremeWeightLoss #QueerMusic #HomoPod

‘There’s enough boring straight people making boring straight people music, isn’t there? You look at the charts and it’s still Ed-fucking-Sheeran.’

Daniel Vs the World released in 2016 his album ‘Remember Who You Are’ which features the records ‘Thank You’ and ‘5 By 5’ alongside ten other catchy tracks.

In this episode he talks about the challenges growing up when you’re the have-nots and your schoolmates are the haves. He discusses his passion for strong female artists, and shares exclusively with In the Key of Q audiences two demos of upcoming records.  

Useful links: 

• Support the pod at Patreon and gain access to exclusive interviews with every guest.
• Let’s chat about #QueerMusic on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
• Daniel Vs the World on Bandcamp, Twitter, Facebook, Spotify and Apple Music.
• The episode also discusses In the Key of Q alumni Brendan Maclean, Carrington Kelso and the Black Queer America Specials (Part 1 and Part 2).

Earlier highlights include Carrington Kelso, Brendan Maclean, Emmet Michael, Matt Fishel, Bowie Special with Janette Mason & David McAlmont, The IZM, Tom Goss, Rebel Will, Jsky, Blake Mundell,

‘It shouldn’t come down to heteronormative or gay. It should just come down to human interactions and relationships.’

Joey hails from Northern Virginia in the United States and is the oldest of four children. His music entertains a myriad of genres include dance, R&B, rock, Latin fusion, and electro beats. Whilst his material is mainstream, he never strays from his core intersectional identity as a gay man of Latin descent.

In this episode he talks about growing up in the multicultural regions around Washington DC, and the freedom that performing on stage gave him from an early age. He discusses being negatively profiled due to his Latin heritage and shares his thoughts on the Queer community’s fetishization of race.

Useful links:

• Support the pod at Patreon and gain access to exclusive interviews with every guest.
• Let’s chat about #QueerMusic on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
• Joey over on YouTube, Insta, Apple Music, Facebook, Twitter, Soundcloud and Spotify.
• The episode also discusses In the Key of Q alumni Tom Goss and The IZM.

‘When I grew up in the 1980s I almost never heard pop songs where openly gay men sang about their truths,’ says Dan Hall. ‘But these days there are plenty of songs where openly Queer men sing their truths. This podcast aims to celebrate those musicians and raise the profile of their music so we can feel connected, heard and not alone.’

Earlier highlights include Carrington Kelso, Brendan Maclean, Emmet Michael, Matt Fishel, Bowie Special with Janette Mason & David McAlmont, The IZM, Tom Goss, Rebel Will,

‘Why would you choose hate over love? It’s so much easier to be kind and to love people. So why wouldn’t you just chose that?’

This week’s guest discusses how one tiny guitar led him to becoming an award-winning sing-songwriter. Ryan talks about being one of the first trans youths to come out on American national television, and how his Faith has been an integral part of the love he feels both to the outside world and most importantly, to himself.

Useful links:

• Support the pod at Patreon and gain access to exclusive interviews with every guest.
• Let’s chat about #QueerMusic on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
• Ryan's homepage.
• Ryan on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Insta.
• Ryan's music: YouTube, Bandsintown, Apple Music, Soundcloud, Spotify
• Resources for trans, non-binary, gender diverse and LGB people from TransEDU, Supportline and London Friend.
• What the bible says about homosexuality, from TED-X.
• Natalie Merchant performing Wonder.
• Why feminists should support transgender rights, from TED-X.

 ‘When I grew up in the 1980s I almost never heard pop songs where openly gay men sang about their truths,’ says presenter and producer Dan Hall. ‘But these days there are plenty of songs where openly Queer men sing their truths. This podcast aims to celebrate those musicians and raise the profile of their music so we can feel connected, heard and not alone.’

To hear the Series 1 30s promo, please click here.

Earlier highlights include Carrington Kelso, Brendan Maclean, Emmet Michael,

‘The Sega Mega Drive and masturbating they took the back seat. Suddenly this piano was the most amazing thing I’d ever experienced and I just couldn’t keep off it.’

This week Dan is joined by Essex-born musician Andrew M Flowers. His first notable work was a 2011 composition for the Brockley Jack Theatre and he has since scored and sound designed a plethora of stage and commercial compositions. In 2014 he won the Waterloo Film Festival Score Competition, and has somehow also found the time to make two full-length albums. His most recent work is the catchy pop-bop IDWK performed under the name Memory Flowers.

The episode includes discussions about growing up a gifted musician in Essex and his journey to catchy pop via Radiohead and Rachmaninoff. He tells us his thoughts of “masc for masc” identities in gay culture, and of embracing his inner INFJ introvert. 

Andrew’s music performed under Memory Flowers can be found at www.memoryflowers.co.uk.

‘I didn’t understand why no-one was hard! I was like, we’re in a darkroom isn’t that the point?!’

This week’s guest hails from Brisbane in Australia but has made South London his home. In this episode, he chats about Queer attitudes towards Asian men, and the racism and fetishisation that grows from it. And more importantly, he talks sex-positive – LOTS OF IT!

Useful links:

• TIN’s pages at Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.
• British Asian LGBTI at Consortium.
• ‘Don’t Say His Name’ reviewed at Scene and DNA.
• Matthew J Dempsey discusses gay men and slut shaming on YouTube.
• The podcast can be financially supported at patreon.com/inthekeyofq where for as little as five US dollars a month subscribers can access exclusive interview contact with every guest.

Keywords: #SexShaming #QueerAsian #Vauxhall #BrisbaneGay #UnderwearModel #FatKid #BodyPositivity #AndrewChristian #AndrewChristianUK #AndrewChristianModel #FirstGenerationImmigrant #VietnameseHeritage

In The Key of Q posts using #QueerMusic on social media at Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

‘Not only are you not supposed to be gay, and you’re somehow choosing this horrible life, well guess what now if you’re going to have sex you’re probably going to die.’’

This week’s guest is a star on America’s Queer Country Music scene. His horny sex-positive songs are filled with all the sexy traditional Country tropes but with a cocksure man-on-man spin. In this episode, Daddy discusses beating depression and the isolation faced when there is an absolute lack of Queer visibility in media. He shares the trauma of living in the eye of the HIV / AIDS storm and how the global pandemic persuaded him to fulfil a lifelong dream.

Useful links:

• Daddy on Instagram and Twitter.
• Daddy’s music at Spotify and Apple Music.
• Daddy’s homepage.
• Stories of Queer Country music at the BBC.
• The challenges of living long-term with HIV / AIDS at THT.

The podcast can be financially supported at patreon.com/inthekeyofq where for as little as five US dollars a month subscribers can access exclusive interview contact with every guest.

In The Key of Q posts using #QueerMusic on social media at Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

‘It’s not boiled down to the people you have sex with, but with everything around you; the way that you express yourself through clothing, or music…’

Dhorin has been releasing music for a number of years, including several singles and the 2021 EP, ‘Viking Rave Comp I’. His most recent single is the 2021 release ‘Olof’ and he intriguingly describes his sound as ‘Techno Viking Pop’. This week’s episode truly has a unique sexy Viking vibe!

He has genuine passion for his country’s Folk history. He discusses how listening to and creating music has been a mental health life-raft and how Queer identity has freed him to fully explore his own sense of self, from silver glitter trousers to bear-chested muscle bear.           

In The Key of Q publishes every Tuesday (‘Quesday’) and is available at inthekeyofq.com, on Apple, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, Gaana, TuneIn, Overcast, PlayerFM, Deezer, Saavn and most other podcast platforms. Its social media homes are on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Dhorin Fireheart’s music can be found on Spotify and Apple Music.

Keywords: #Sweden #Chile #Santiago #HappyKid #VikingHero #QueerViking #QueerSweden #Stockholm #QueerStockholm #SchoolCrush #Smalltownboy #VikingDrag #Drag #UnrequitedCrush #UnrequitedGayCrush

Enjoy volume 1 of our artist-curated playlist by clicking here.

The podcast itself can be found by clicking here.

‘I was so scared to say “he”, “him”. I was making reference to pussy that I’ve never even been involved with. So it was like, I can’t keep doing this anymore.’

IZM writes deeply personal beats striking at themes of self-acceptance, sexual rejection and toxic masculinity.

In the episode he challenges the homophobia he perceives within Black American culture; his recovery from sexual trauma and abuse; and the challenges of coming out as one of Hip Hop’s first openly gay performers. His intelligence and passion on the topics of social justice are an inspiration and carry beautifully into his music.

The IZM can be found Spotify, Apple, Twitter, Instagram and Bandcamp

In The Key of Q publishes every Tuesday (‘Quesday’) and is available at inthekeyofq.com,on Apple, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, Gaana, TuneIn, Overcast, PlayerFM, Deezer, Saavn and most other podcast platforms. Its social media homes are on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

‘There’s something fun about performance. There’s something fun about being a character. And when you can marry that with some personal songs, a bit aggression, and a bit of an edge, it’s just such a wonderful way to get that out of your system.”

This week, Dan’s guest on In the Key of Q is Canadian singer-songwriter MATTHEW PRESIDENTE (pronounced “President-ay”).

Matthew Presidente hails from Vancouver in Canada. He isn’t restrained by style, crossing all sorts of genre. He has thus far released six studio albums, and during the COVID crisis launched a YouTube series ‘World is Watching’. In it he collaborates with Queer musicians from around the world. His latest single is the mid-tempo Summer chill track, ‘Standing in the Way of Love’ which held the Qreviews number one spot for four impressive weeks.

Matthew’s online home is at matthewpresidente.com.

Coming next Quesday is Swedish musician DHORIN FIREHEART.

‘I don’t like labelling myself, or labelling anything. That’s why I use the term Queer because it’s widely used. You can use it in so many ways.’

This week’s episode heads to the European mainland and the German capital city of Berlin. Neyon has been releasing singles since 2019 including ‘Disco Punk’, ‘Top Dog’ and the 2021 single ‘Glammed Up’. His sound is fused with 1980s retro pads and a dash of Soft Cell sleaze.

In this episode Neyon talks about growing up in the small South German town of Heidelberg, and how its normality suffocated him. He speaks about the pain when trust is broken and how Berlin and Britney Spears inspired the musician he is today.

Neyon’s music can be found on Spotify and YouTube.

Keywords: #QueerBerlin #BerlinLiving #Heidelberg #LoveBritney #IcySynth #SoftCell #QueerMusic #MichaelMedrano

‘If you can’t be witty or funny without tearing someone down, then you’re not funny.’

JR writes light, catchy pop as showcased in his first album the 2021 release, ‘Daydream’. But beneath the catchy melodies and Britney-inspired production are tales of body shame, Queer toxicity and growing up poor in the American South.

JR is a trailblazer in the Queer community, battling against the body fascism which is such a strong part of its culture. He discusses the importance of seeing beauty in everyone and how shows like Ru Paul’s Drag Race promote a toxic culture of bitchiness and destruction.

JR Price’s homepage can be found here.

In The Key of Q publishes every Tuesday (‘Quesday’) and is available at inthekeyofq.com, on Apple, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, Gaana, TuneIn, Overcast, PlayerFM, Deezer, Saavn and most other podcast platforms. Its social media homes are on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

‘I was angry. I was sad… and I was suicidal. Music saved me.’

HELP FOR PEOPLE WITH SUICIDAL THOUGHTS

Aish writes intelligent and personal pop with echoes of his Indian heritage woven within the beats, production and lyrics.

In the episode he mulls the concepts of mother and motherland, having himself a complex relationship with both. From the gruelling summers of India, the violent homophobia of New Delhi to the beauty of the Himalayas he is left with a deeply conflict relationship with ‘home’. He talks about how prescription drugs helped lift him from depression; the legacy of being the “chubby kid” and how gynecomastia led him to use anonymous sex for validation and escape.

Aish’s Link Tree can be found here.

In The Key of Q publishes every Tuesday (‘Quesday’) and is available at inthekeyofq.com, on Apple, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, Gaana, TuneIn, Overcast, PlayerFM, Deezer, Saavn and most other podcast platforms. Its social media homes are on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

‘It’s not a crime to not understand. But when that knowledge is presented to you, and you still refuse to grow from it, then we have an issue.’

Carrington’s most recent release is ‘Baptize Me In TNT’ an acoustic collection of songs that showcase his smokey, gravelly voice to a tee. This has come on the back of his 2018 album, ‘Baptize Me’ featuring original studio versions of many of his tracks on ‘TNT’. He has just dropped the steamy single, ‘Come Over’.

Carrington offers his thoughts on coming to terms with his unique voice despite initial attempts to sound more like his icons Adele, Ed Sheeran and John Mayer. He talks about the unique intersectionality between Queer and Black identities, and how toxic indoctrination from religious ideologies led him into dark mental health corners. He discusses how his shy teen self, riddled with shame, turned into an extreme people-pleaser and he celebrates the brilliant, strong Black women that provided the backbone of his upbringing.

He is also a special guest presenter on a 2-part special about Black and Queer identities. The episodes features musicians Ty McKinnie, The IZM and comedian Sampson McCormick. The episodes are available here: Part 1 and Part 2.

Carrington’s music can be found at www.carringtonkelso.com.

Keywords: #FirstKiss #LGBTQReligion #BlackandGay #QPOC #Intersectionality #BlackBarbershop #PeoplePleasing #Depression #LGBTQIADepression #QueerMusic

‘I still face a lot of judgment from the gay community because I’m different. Because I like different things.’

In this week’s episode, Tom talks about his experiences as a young man in a Catholic seminary, being a misfit within the Queer community, and the painful but rewarding honesty that comes from infidelity. He shares his love of authenticity within his music, his thoughts on Lady Gaga, and the importance of using his voice to spread the word about body positivity.

In The Key of Q publishes every Tuesday (‘Quesday’) and is available at inthekeyofq.com, on Apple, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, Gaana, TuneIn, Overcast, PlayerFM, Deezer, Saavn and most other podcast platforms. Its social media homes are on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Tom’s music can be found at www.tomgossmusic.com.

Keywords: #BodyPositive #LadyGag #ToxicPerfection #KenoshaMissouri #Kenosha #TomGoss #LiveMusic #NoFags #BlackTransHeroes #Infidelity #OpenRelationship #LockdownLiving

‘I’m making the music that I wanted to listen to growing up. And I think if nobody else like’s it, it’s there for me to enjoy.’

This week’s guest hails from Chicago. In 2018 he released his first long-player, ‘Rituals’. And then in 2020 a five-track EP called ‘33’. Most recent is his 2021 single, ‘But a Dream’.

In this episode, Nick discusses growing up in a trailer park and the challenges he faced growing up near the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder. He discusses the importance of Queer logical families and the surprising creative influence of the COVID pandemic.

In The Key of Q publishes every Tuesday (‘Quesday’) and is available at inthekeyofq.com, on Apple, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, Gaana, TuneIn, Overcast, PlayerFM, Deezer, Saavn and most other podcast platforms. Its social media homes are on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Nick’s music is at nickvaan.bandcamp.com.

‘David Bowie has it all: style, fashion, attitude, compassion.’

This week, Dan’s guests on In the Key of Q are Jazz musician Janette Mason and singer-songwriter David McAlmont.

A special episode this week celebrating the new EP, ‘Wall to Wall Bowie’. The five-track record contains amazing, fresh, Jazz-driven new interpretations of David Bowie classics including ‘The Jean Genie’, ‘Suffragette City’ and ‘Starman’. It has been created and arranged by Janette Mason, with David McAlmont and Sam Obernik on vocals.

In this episode Janette and David talk about how Bowie has inspired them, their working relationship, as well as lamenting the loss of the iconic Streatham performance venue, The Hidewaway. Janette discusses how Bowie provided an escape for her as a North London lesbian teenager, and David recalls his memories of the day that Bowie died. 

In The Key of Q publishes every Tuesday (‘Quesday’) and is available at inthekeyofq.com, on Apple, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, Gaana, TuneIn, Overcast, PlayerFM, Deezer, Saavn and most other podcast platforms. Its social media homes are on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Social Media: Instagram @walltowallbowie, Facebook janettemasonmusic, Twitter @janettemason

‘I felt isolated. I also felt like I had to obey because it was better to obey and be in a space that I knew than to branch out and touch unchartered waters.”

This episode contains references to suicide. Please click here for help and advice.

Rebel Will hails from Toronto in Canada. He has a number of singles out including, ’Til the Sun Comes Down’, ‘Better’, and the 2021 release ‘Rocky’. Waiting in the wings ready for an Autumn release is the album, ‘Rebel Futurism’. He works for the LGBTQIA charity It Gets Better Canada and is a spokesperson for Pride Toronto.

In this episode, Rebel Will discusses the pressures of being marketed and told that his authentic self had no commercial value. And how the pressure of this led him into a depressive spiral. He reveals his very personal journey through a domestically abusive relationship and its climax in a suicide attempt. And how empowering it is to see other Black, Queer artists gaining traction in the music scene.           

In The Key of Q publishes every Tuesday (‘Quesday’) and is available at inthekeyofq.com, on Apple, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, Gaana, TuneIn, Overcast, PlayerFM, Deezer, Saavn and most other podcast platforms. Its social media homes are on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

‘Even if you are living your truth, you still fear that people won’t accept you for it.’

This episode contains references to suicide. Please click here for help and advice.

In 2019 Emmet released his first EP, ‘I Feel Like I Just Woke Up’ and followed this up with the 2021 release, ‘I Hope You’re Home’. The title track of the album deals with his close friend whose own internal struggle ended in suicide.

Emmet writes beautiful, soulful Folk-influenced songs. In the episode he speaks honestly about drink and drugs addiction, the psychological trauma caused by a homophobic, religious upbringing and his empowering journey transitioning.

Emmet’s homepage can be found here.

In The Key of Q publishes every Tuesday (‘Quesday’) and is available at inthekeyofq.com, on Apple, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, Gaana, TuneIn, Overcast, PlayerFM, Deezer, Saavn and most other podcast platforms. Its social media homes are on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

‘There’s probably another little black boy somewhere in Flint, Michigan that feels unrepresented. He feels that he can’t really be himself because it’s not there. He can’t see it.’

Please note this episode contains a discussion about a young person's murder. Support can be found by clicking here.

In 2018 FURILLOSTAR released his first EP, ‘Pride’ and has since then released a series of catchy R&B singles and the 2020 6-track EP, ‘Flame’. Most recent is his 2021 release, ‘Vibe With You’ a duet with his sister Brelia Renee.

In the episode, FURILLOSTAR talks about his frustration at using female pronouns in his love songs and his admiration for artists such as Lil Nas X pushing the boundaries for Queer artists. He discusses the love he has for his belittled hometown of Flint and the decimation of its education system. He also reveals his ultimate plans to create community spaces for those in his hometown that he feels are being left behind.

FURILLOSTAR’s linktree can be found here.

In The Key of Q publishes every Tuesday (‘Quesday’) and is available at inthekeyofq.com, on Apple, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, Gaana, TuneIn, Overcast, PlayerFM, Deezer, Saavn and most other podcast platforms. Its social media homes are on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

‘As hard as we work, nobody attacks us as Black, gay artists the way other Black, gay men do.’ (Sampson McCormick)

In the Key of Q has so far published several episodes featuring American artists who identify as Black and Queer. These include Ty McKinnie (episode 2), SADBOY (episode 5), Wuhryn Dumas (episode 7) and The IZM (episode 10). There was a consistency of messaging coming out from these musicians about the unique (and often ignored) experience they encountered as Black, gay men living in America. These special bonus episodes were commissioned on the back of this.

The two-part special is guest presented by Carrington Kelso, a Chicago-based Black, Queer singer whose own episode will drop on 20 July. He discusses this unique Queer identity with three guests: Ty McKinnie, The IZM and award-winning comedian Samson McCormick who is making his first appearance on the podcast. Each of the men provides a passionate, intelligent and truly individual perspective on the subject.

• Carrington Kelso homepage: www.carringtonkelso.com
• Ty McKinnie on Twitter: @TyMcKinnie
• The IZM on Twitter: @The_IZM
• Sampson McCormick on Twitter: @OfficialSampson 

In The Key of Q publishes every Tuesday (‘Quesday’) and is available at inthekeyofq.com, on Apple, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, Gaana, TuneIn, Overcast, PlayerFM, Deezer, Saavn and most other podcast platforms. Its social media homes are on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

‘As hard as we work, nobody attacks us as Black, gay artists the way other Black, gay men do.’ (Sampson McCormick)

In the Key of Q has so far published several episodes featuring American artists who identify as Black and Queer. These include Ty McKinnie (episode 2), SADBOY (episode 5), Wuhryn Dumas (episode 7) and The IZM (episode 10). There was a consistency of messaging coming out from these musicians about the unique (and often ignored) experience they encountered as Black, gay men living in America. These special bonus episodes were commissioned on the back of this.

The two-part special is guest presented by Carrington Kelso, a Chicago-based Black, Queer singer whose own episode will drop on 20 July. He discusses this unique Queer identity with three guests: Ty McKinnie, The IZM and award-winning comedian Samson McCormick who is making his first appearance on the podcast. Each of the men provides a passionate, intelligent and truly individual perspective on the subject.

• Carrington Kelso homepage: www.carringtonkelso.com
• Ty McKinnie on Twitter: @TyMcKinnie
• The IZM on Twitter: @The_IZM
• Sampson McCormick on Twitter: @OfficialSampson 

In The Key of Q publishes every Tuesday (‘Quesday’) and is available at inthekeyofq.com, on Apple, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, Gaana, TuneIn, Overcast, PlayerFM, Deezer, Saavn and most other podcast platforms. Its social media homes are on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

‘There was not a day that went by that I was not called fairy, queen, faggot. The typical slammed into lockers and all that stuff. Food thrown at me. People saying that they wanted to hit me with their trucks or their cars.’

Vincent has a beautiful lo-fi feel to his music, as can be heard across his two albums ‘Not Again’ (2009) and ‘Think. Strings. Machines.’ (2015). His 2020 single ‘1950’ is a thoughtful lament on his father and mid-twentieth century living in New York City.

In the episode Vincent talks about the incessant bullying that he faced in school, and how threats of physical harm forced him to finish high school with a tutor and completely miss his prom and graduation; the challenges of growing up queer amongst FFA (Future Farmers of America) peers and the overwhelming guilt of growing up Catholic. And he shares thought on the pain of the passing of his father and the subsequent complicated grief (aka “persistent complex bereavement disorder”)

Vincent can be found on Twitter, Spotify and Apple Music.

‘I want so much of gay life to be normalised. Where it’s just part of everyday living.’

Paul writes and performs complex, beautifully produced records with a touch of maturity and even melancholy. His 2019 album Light and Dust is a testament to love, loss and living.

Paul talks about his experiences writing and remixing for artists such as Madonna and Phyllis Hyman; he reveals how the murder of a friend inspired him back into music; his theories on reincarnation and his almost all-consuming love for his husband, Tom.

Paul can be found Spotify, Apple, Twitter, Instagram and at his online home.

In The Key of Q publishes every Tuesday (‘Quesday’) and is available at inthekeyofq.com, on Apple, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, Gaana, TuneIn, Overcast, PlayerFM, Deezer, Saavn and most other podcast platforms. Its social media homes are on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

‘People are allowed to make mistakes. I make mistakes every day. I think we just need to be more open to the idea of growing as people.’

Jsky is known for his brilliantly inventive outfits, charismatic personality, and celebrity-filled address book. He fronted Channel Four’s controversial reality series Naked Beach and featured in the long-running series, First Dates. He has released two 6-track Eps, Reality in 2019, and this year’s Á La Mode.

But don’t be fooled into thinking this singer is a typical reality-TV show fayre. Behind the public face is a thoughtful man with much to say on issues such as body image, cancel culture, and the racism and homophobia he has faced in Manchester’s night-time economy.

Jsky can be found Spotify, Apple, Twitter, Instagram, and at his online home.

In The Key of Q publishes every Tuesday (‘Quesday’) and is available at inthekeyofq.com, on Apple, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, Gaana, TuneIn, Overcast, PlayerFM, Deezer, Saavn and most other podcast platforms. Its social media homes are on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

You've heard the trailer in the episodes, now find out more about the Song Surfing Podcast from the presenter and producer, John Kehl.

These are not paid ads! I think his is a great show and would be of interest to those who subscribe to IN THE KEY OF Q. I hope you think so too!

In The Key of Q publishes every Tuesday (‘Quesday’) and is available at inthekeyofq.com, on Apple, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, Gaana, TuneIn, Overcast, PlayerFM, Deezer, Saavn and most other podcast platforms. Its social media homes are on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

“It is possible to be this entity, this identity, this fearless Black, Queer person.”

Wuhryn Dumas was born in Atlanta, Georgia and makes beautifully positive music. His style is a blend of funkadelic Pop, R&B, House, Jazz and not to forget an undertone of Soul. His first six-track EP, ‘Glitter On Fire’ was released in 2020 after 2018’s premier single, ‘Chemistry’.

Topics covered in the episode include the power of Androgynous identity; the unfortunate absence of joy in Urban Music and Hip Hop; growing up Black and Queer in Atlanta, Georgia (yes the dolls and wearing shirts for wigs!); toxic masculinity with the traditions of the barbershop; the masks that we all wear in life and the magic of Prince and Michael Jackson.

Links:

• Our Patreon page and forever home.
• Say hello at Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or podcast@inthekeyofq.com
• Episode transcription available in PDF form.
• In the Key of Q composer Paul Leonidou’s online home.
• Artist’s music: Exclusive playlist; Spotify; Apple; SoundCloud;
• Artist’s social media and online home: Twitter; Instagram; online home

Please subscribe to the podcast, rate and review. And spread the word!

“Music is healing for queer people because we find codes and messages that are hidden within songs, and we hear ourselves in them. And we see that caught in other people’s eyes.”

 Sydney-based singer-songwriter joins Dan Hall to talk about growing up gay in the Christian suburbs of Australia, singer-songwriter John Grant, the power of performance and his complex relationship with his commercial hit single, House of Air.

Links:

• Episode transcription
• Brendan’s Spotify playlist featuring his songs from this episode and his five tracks to save from Armageddon.
• Brendan’s at Bandcamp.
• Alan Jones and the Cronulla beach riots via ABC News.
• John Grant at the Brixton Academy (bootleg).
• John Grant singing Queen of Denmark, Strongroom Sessions.
• The NSFW music video for House of Air.
• Brendan’s long-time collaborator, Harry Clayton-Wright.
• In the Key of Q composer Paul Leonidou’s online home.

Please subscribe to the podcast, rate and review. And spread the word!

You can find us on Twitter and Instagram and join the community over on Facebook.

“Drake really opened the door for Rap to get that vulnerability.”

Hip Hop singer SADBOY shares with us his upbringing, his blinding work-ethic and of course his percussive and deeply atmospheric tunes.

Links:

• Episode transcription
• SADBOY’s Spotify playlist featuring his songs from this episode and his five tracks to save from Armageddon.
• SADBOY‘s forever home online.
• Vox’s short on Afrofuturism.
• Alyssa Jerome’s short on Neo Soul.
• Destiny’s Child Lose My Breath.
• Felix Howard in Madonna’s Open Your Heart video.
• Real Talk – Black Boys Don’t Cry (Mental Health with Black Men).
• Me Him Us – Mental Health campaign for Black gay and bisexual men.
• Lil Nas X music video for Holiday.
• In the Key of Q composer Paul Leonidou’s online home.

Please subscribe to the podcast, rate and review. And spread the word!

You can find us on Twitter and Instagram and join the community over on Facebook.

“So much of my journey with not just my sexuality, but my spirituality, has been returning to a childlike version of myself.”

WARNING: THIS EPISODE CONTAINS REFERENCES TO SUICIDE.

Blake Mundell speaks about his highly personal journey through Faith and the clash with his Queer identity.

He discusses his fear of coming out as an NFL employee, a shame that drew him to attempt suicide, and the emergence of the empathetic musician we see today.

Links:

• Episode transcription
• Blake’s Spotify playlist featuring his songs from this episode and his five tracks to save from Armageddon.
• Blake’s forever home online.
• Blake (as Courier) and his video in which “a black man can go out for a jog and make it home”.
• Inspirational gay NFL players at Casino.org.
• Galop help and advice for someone who is being blackmailed at work.
• History Channel discusses blackmail used as a tool against the Queer community.
• Blackmail and persecution in Nigeria, from The Guardian.
• Lucan Presbyterian Church’s Zoom chat on Stigmas in the Church: Being Gay and Being Christian.
• USA Today reports Presbyterian Church approving gay marriage.
• Runner’s World short documentary on the Running While Black movement.
• NPR’s excellent Code Switch on the challenges faced by runners of colour.
• BBC report on the shooting of Tamir Rice.
• In the Key of Q composer Paul Leonidou’s online home.

Please subscribe to the podcast, rate and review. And spread the word!

You can find us on Twitter and Instagram and join the community over on Facebook.

“It was just as well he was pretty because he wasn't very smart!”

WARNING: This episode contains a discussion about a real-life extreme violent event.

• Metropolitan Police – reporting hate crime.
• GALOP – the LGBT+ anti-violence charity.
• Childline – homophobic bullying
• NHS - lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans (LGBTQ+) mental health support.

Aruan Duval talks about his accidental outing at school and his lifelong music love of David Bowie, Prince… and Bucks Fizz!

Other subjects include the Russell T Davies HIV / AIDS drama, “It’s a Sin” and the homophobic murder of Jody Dobrowski.

A big thanks to our new Patreon subscriber Warren Woods whose generosity is allowing you to enjoy this episode.

Links:

• Support the podcast at our Patreon page for as little as £3 per month.
• Episode transcription
• Aruan’s Spotify playlist featuring his songs from this episode and his five tracks to save from Armageddon.
• Aruan’s band Furiku on Spotify and Apple Music.
• The Stones vs The Beatles from Vinyl Rewind.
• “My friend Stephen”’s great article on “Being Boring” from Pet Shop Boys.
• Bucks Fizz “Cold War” (Extended Version) on Spotify and Apple Music.
• THAT performance of “Tainted Love” from Soft Cell on Top of the Pops.
• “A Brief History of Prince” from The Beat Goes On
• David Bowie lyric “Oh no, love. You’re not alone!” in situ on Spotify and Apple Music.
• It’s a Sin – Trailer from Channel Four / Trailer from HBO...

“Where’re the black people? Where are they?”

Smooth crooner Ty McKinnie chats about being an impossibly happy kid growing up Gay and Black in America’s religious South.

He discusses first boy-kisses, Queer shaming in the home and the invisibility of Black Queer artists in Queer spaces.

Links:

• Episode transcription.
• Ty’s Spotify playlist featuring his songs from this episode and his five tracks to save from Armageddon.
• Ty’s forever home online.
• Me. Him. Us. A sexual health awareness project for gay and bisexual men from Black, South Asian and other ethnic minority communities.
• Mental Health America links providing support for bullied LGBT Youth.
• Georgetown University piece on Proposition 8.
• Medical News Today writes about Toxic Masculinity.
• “A Close Look At Frank Ocean’s Coming Out Letter” from NPR.
• BBC reports on Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery.
• In the Key of Q composer Paul Leonidou’s online home.

Please subscribe to the podcast, rate and review. And spread the word!

You can find us on Twitter and Instagram and join the community over on Facebook.

Pop Rock singer Matt Fishel discusses British Queer Suburbia and his own upbringing in Nottingham which featured its fair share of bullying, sex, Nirvana and Prince.

He shares his thoughts on the loss of his first boyfriend, Queer culture’s obsession with youth and the music industry’s insistence that he silence the Queer messaging in his music.

Links:

• Episode Transcription.
• Matt's Spotify playlist featuring his songs from this episode and his five tracks to save from Armageddon.
• Matt’s forever home.
• Matt on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
• Support for those encountering bullying: BBC, Stonewall
• Grief support advice from Stonewall.
• How I Found My Voice podcast with Paloma Faith.
• In the Key of Q composer Paul Leonidou’s online home.

Please subscribe to the podcast, rate and review. And spread the word! And do keep your eyes peeled for Matt's new album that's on the way.

You can find us on Twitter and Instagram and join the community over on Facebook.

In the Key of Q is a new show launching on Tuesday 23 March 2021, where you can find conversations with international Queer musicians.

Say hello to us at pod@inthekeyofq.com - it'll be great to hear from you!

Dan Hall (Producer / Presenter)