What is Gay Music? Music by gay artists… music by out musicians… music with gay lyrics? Nhojj is one of a growing number of recording artists carving out a niche in the music industry, and shaping the answer to those questions. Expressing their reality, artists like Nhojj are depicting gay life and sharing their experiences as gay people in gay songs and gay music videos. This baby industry revolution has been growing underground for almost 2 decades and is beginning to spill into mainstream America .

Music lovers have always danced with gay artists. Tom Robinson’s “Glad to be Gay” was a hit in the UK in the 1970s and disco singer Sylvester won 3 Billboard awards. In 1998, Rolling Stone named Rufus Wainwright Best New Artist, and Adam Lambert’s release debuted at #3 on Billboard’s 200 chart. However fans often become aware of a singer’s sexuality after the artist-fan bond is formed – as is the case with Elton John, George Michael, Boy George, Tevin Campbell and Johnny Mathis. The industry’s model of marketing to heterosexual desire keeps many artists closeted until after their career’s have peaked.

But while mainstream approval keeps many major label artists in the closet, the indie music world is rich with gay music in every genre.

In 2009, BET/Centric TV congratulated soul singer Nhojj on being a gay history and a black history first, after becoming the first gay black male to win an OUTMusic Award. His provocative gay music video “Love” recently climbed to the #1 spot on the MTV Music Top 100 chart and was featured at the Sundance Film Festival’s Queer Lounge. Nhojj’s work has been featured on Logo TV and VIBE/Singersroom. Other black gay performers include 6x Stellar Award winner Tonéx now TON3X™, Donnie, and Rahsaan Patterson, who co-wrote Brandy’s #1 song “Baby.”

In 2007, gay rapper Deadlee grabbed Rolling Stone and CNN headlines when he organized the first HomoRevolutions Tour, eventually appearing on the Tyra Banks show in the homo hip hop episode. The tour featured gay hip hop artists Tori Fixx, QBoy, and Johnny Dangerous among others. And last year gay rappers Last Offence and Bry’Nt were featured in Spin Magazine.

In 2006, alternative pop artist Josh Zuckerman scored the #1 spot on Sirius Radio, and the year before that Levi Kreis released his debut after appearing on “The Apprentice” with Donald Trump. Around that time music from Christopher Dallman’s debut was featured on MTV’s “The Real World.” While last year Matt Alber’s dreamy vocals earned him a spot in OUT Magazines OUT100 issue.

Dance music has always been a popular form a gay music. Artists Kevin Aviance and RuPaul have both earned #1 Billboard Dance hits, Ari Gold won at the 7th Annual Independent Music Awards, and artist baron was nominated for an OUTMusic Award.

OUTMusic is an 18 year old organization that promotes and supports gay artists, and runs OutMusic.com – a database of popular indie gay recording artists. This year marks the first time the OUTMusic Awards have been featured on a Major Television Network – MTV owned LOGO.

One can remember the pivotal role songs like “We Shall Overcome” played in the Civil Rights Movement – music has always affirmed shared experience. Now gay rights is front and center in the public debate with President Obama’s plan to repeal ‘Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell’ and gay marriage winning the slow and steady war around the globe – most recently in our nation’s capitol. “Music and revolutions go hand in hand, and I’m proud to be apart of this revolution!” – Nhojj explains.

Even fifty-five years after Brown vs. The Board of Education, being named the first Black anything in this country is still a big deal. And so it is interesting to note…

Read full article at

http://blogs.centrictv.com/music/soulsessions/nhojj-makes-black-history/

Indie R&B recording artist Nhojj had a big night at the OUTMusic Awards earlier this month. Picking up an award for Outstanding R&B/Soul Song of the Year, Nhojj also made history as the first African American male to win an OUTMusic Award.

In addition to earning Outstanding R&B/Soul Song of the Year for his single “Love,” Nhojj took the stage to perform before an audience that included LOGO personalities DeMarco Majors and Julie Goldman.

“Love” features keyboardist Carl Evans (Stevie Wonder, Barry White); David Stark on Guitar (Rick James & Teena Marie); Tommy Aros on percussion (Luis Miguel); and is mastered by by Robert Honablue, whose Gold and Platinum credits include Santana, Roberta Flack, Aretha Franklin, Bob Marley, and Miles Davis.

Nhojj’s recent win a the OUTMusic Awards follows a praised performance at the 2009 Barbados Music Awards.

To date Nhojj has released six CDs and an unplugged live DVD by Emmy nominated director Bill Cote. He has performed at Lincoln Center, and toured the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, and the United Kingdom.

Singersroom.com

“Nhojj delivers his sweet soul stylings in a stripped down format, featuring his acoustic guitar and unique, range-defying vocals in live renditions of songs from his latest album, Soul Comfort, and discusses his life and music with host Nicole Januarie.”   Produced by Dan Sheehan and David Pallant, Bergen Community College.   (Bergen Bulldog)

Listen to the Podcast

“Determined to focus on the positive aspect of the soul, award winning jazz/soul artist Nhojj has given us a wonderful helpling of soul food with his latest release ‘Soul Comfort’.   Nhojj earned the #1 position on the Neo-Soul, Fusion, Nu-Jazz, Healing, Easy listening, and Gospel Myspace Indie NY Charts for a total of 31 weeks, and honorable mention at the 13th and 14th Annual Billboard Songwriting Contest.  Music from ‘Soul Comfort’ has been featured in Indie films, has taken Nhojj back home for the 2nd Annual Guyana Fashion Weekend…”  by Mut Asheru from the Unsigned Magazine.

Read the Article

On behalf of the Student Operated Press…..

Chase Von: Nhojj, this is a true pleasure! So on behalf of the Student Operated Press and myself I really want to thank you! When I got that music gift from you I figured why not ask him for an interview? Worst case scenario he’s too busy, so I was pleasantly surprised when you wrote back and said let’s do it! So again thanks for sharing yourself with our readers!

Nhojj: Thank you so much for extending the invitation – things have been really busy this year with the release of the new disc Soul Comfort but this has always been my dream, so I’m counting my blessings.

Chase Von: You’ve led a very interesting life! Growing up in Guyana and then moving to Trinidad and Tobago before making your way to the U.S. and New York. I’ve read your father was a Minister and you began singing in church at the mere age of six with your sister also playing the organ as well! And that you were appearing on radio stations and eventually even performed for the presidents of Guyana and Trinidad!

Read the Article