With news from entertainment and the arts, here is Amanda’s Trans Media Arts column. Today she features news about the 17th Street High Heel Race, Elton John’s purchase of some drag art, GLAAD’s annual report on how the television industry is treating trans actors and characters, word of an Ed Wood musical and a lot more. Don’t miss Trans Media Arts!
Today Pamela DeGroff reviews the new CD from trans man singer songwriter Ryan Cassata. It’s titled Shine. Then Pamela dives into to some music news from her favorite artists like Rev. Yolanda, Georgie Jessup, and Calpernia Addams. She also has Hedwig tour news and a note about the new Lady Gaga album, Joanne. She rounds out the column with a mini review of a new EP by a Norwegian rocker names Dagny. You’ll find it all in Perpetual Change, TGF’s longest running column.
Shawna Virago, the San Francisco based singer/songwriter, was last interviewed on TGForum when her Objectified album came out. Today Pamela DeGroff checks in with Ms. Virago and learns that she is now working on a new album. The interview covers touring, her work with a dance troupe, and her politics and musical influences. If you haven’t met her before give Perpetual Change a read and learn all about Shawna Virago. Then Pamela gives you a mini review of a new album from a group called Tritonal. Listen to one of their new tracks right here.
The Rev. Yolanda Mapes is a drag queen musical minister whose live show “Rev. Yolanda’s Old Time Gospel Show” mixes that old time religion with gospel music and eastern philosophy. Last month Pamela DeGroff interviewed Yolanda about her upcoming projects. Today she presents Part 2 of that interview along with some musical news concerning Cyndi Lauper and does a review of new music by female rocker Kaye. It’s all in our TGF music column, Perpetual Change.
Is the world ready for a film in which a hitman is forced into sex change surgery? There’s one coming out soon and it has the trans community stirred up. Meanwhile, some in the community say “good riddance” to the cancelation of I Am Cait. Amanda F. has those stories along with info on another upcoming film that follows 6 trans people through their lives called More Than T, and she fills us in on a new show title Strut that will follow trans models as they compete to reach the top. There’s more coverage of the media, the arts and music all waiting in Trans Media Arts!
The Rev. Yolanda Mapes is going to be celebrating her birthday soon and in honor of the occasion our trans music scene writer Pamela DeGroff has done an interview with the Rev. Yolanda. In case you don’t know about her drag queen gospel show you can learn a lot about it and how Yolanda came to be a minister and a drag queen who created Rev. Yolanda’s Old Time Gospel Hour by reading Part 1 of the TGF interview with Yolanda. Then Pam gives you some news about live appearances by several trans artists and reviews a new album from a band called St. Lucia. It’s all there waiting for you in the longest running column on TGF, Perpetual Change.
Tona Brown is a violinist and vocalist who performs across genres, from classical to jazz to R&B. Ms. Brown is a trans woman from Baltimore and she has been interviewed in this column before, back in 2009. Pamela DeGroff interviewed her again recently and brings you that interview today. Ms. Brown has been active in music and also as a presence on social media doing a live interview show. After the interview Pamela has some music news and a mini review of the new Ariana Grande album.
Trans Media Arts is our column dedicated to trans people and trans subjects portrayed in the art and media. Today Amanda has a look at trans topics as diverse as a new drag singing sensation in San Francisco; the new season of Orange is the New Black; a trans man athlete featured in a magazine in the nude; a drag mural; a trans super hero, and much more. Don’t miss Trans Media Arts!
Our music columnist interviews Jodi Jolt of the trans band Jodi Jolt and The Volt. They’re from Rhode Island and they gig throughout New England. The Volt performs in LGBT clubs and straight clubs. How do the crowds react when Jodi Jolt and The Volt hit the stage? Check out Pamela’s interview and learn a lot about the band. Then she has some music news from other trans performers.
An Australian film maker working in Japan has produced a music video for a song by Robyn Loau titled “Everybody’s Gotta Learn Sometime.” The video stars a trans woman and her Japanese girlfriend and tells the story of how the trans woman came out to her girlfriend about being trans. View the video here and listen to a podcast recorded by the couple talking about their relationship.
Today in Perpetual Change Pamela DeGroff interviews The Cuban Legend, David de Alba about his career, his Cuban heritage and the upcoming documentary about David that is now in post-production. Then Pamela offers appearance news about Coco Peru, Rev. Yolanda, and Georgie Jessup. She has news about a new release from Shawna Virago and a mini review of Cyndi Lauper’s new country album, Detour.
Today Perpetual Change brings you a song from trans man singer Ryan Cassata that tells the gender binary what it can do with itself in very certain, and profane, terms. Next up Pamela DeGroff has info on the forthcoming album from Reverend Yolanda, “Country Gospel Kirtan, Vol. 2.” Then she does a review of the newest music from No Doubt vocalist and solo artist Gwen Stefani, “This Is What Truth Feels Like.”
Pamela DeGroff reviews an advance copy of the new CD by Michelle Rocking Horse Garcia. Ms. Garcia added “Rocking Horse” to her name when she learned another woman was gaining fame as Michelle Garcia. Ms. Garcia is a musician, singer and songwriter from the west coast who moved to Nashville. Even though everyone in that town is a musician she has managed to stand out. Pamela reviews the CD and then gives you some music news and a mini review of the new EP by Alex Newell, the young man who played the trans girl on Glee.
Today Pamela DeGroff reviews the latest CD from trans woman, jazz musician and composer Jennifer Leitham. It’s called Mood Swings and features original compositions and Leitham’s take on the songs of others, including The Beatles’ You Won’t See Me. Then Pamela brings us info on upcoming performances by some trans performers and reviews a new CD by a group called Chairlift. The CD is titled Moth. Tune in for music news and commentary and check out Perpetual Change.
In December Pamela DeGroff featured Jennifer Leitham in her year end music buying guide and we ran an interview that Ms. Leitham did for the YourTrueGender podcast. Today, to compliment Pamela’s review of the Mood Swings CD we present Part 2 of the Jennifer Leitham interview. Ms. Leitham responds to questions about her music, her […]
Today Pamela DeGroff devotes the majority of her column to David Bowie. His androgynous stage looks, and the lyrics to his song “Rebel, Rebel” provided inspiration to many in the trans community. His legacy of music, his influence on fashion and his flaunting of traditional gender roles make him one of the greats. Pam looks back at Bowie, and then rounds out her column with some music news and a review of Peaches new “Rub” album.
Today we bring you an audio interview with jazz bassist and composer Jennifer Leitham which was conducted last month before a gig in California. The interview was made available to us by the good people at YourTrueGenderPodcast. Ms. Leitham talks about her band, her career and her Mood Swings album.
It’s time for Pamela DeGroff’s annual music buying guide, offering gift suggestions for that music lover on your Christmas list. Most of the artists and musicians on this list have an online presence through Twitter, Facebook, instagram, YouTube, etc. Their music can usually be found through major retailers such as Amazon and CD Baby. Many of these artists are trans while others are cisgender artists you will love to dance to.
Today Pamela DeGroff reviews two Christmas albums. One is from last year, Future Christmas by jazz bassist Jennifer Leitham. The second is Kylie Christmas by Kylie Minogue. Then Pamela reviews some new music from a new artist who has a “throw back voice,” Andra Day.
The writer who has been with TGForum longer than anyone, Pamela DeGroff, has another of her in depth musical columns for us today. First up is a review of the latest CD release from eccentric trans artist Baby Dee. Then Pamela has music news from David de Alba and Georgie Jessup, and mini reviews of new albums by Duran Duran, Leona Lewis and The Young Professionals.
Today Pamela DeGroff has an interview with the eccentric, hard to categorize musical artist Baby Dee. Baby Dee talks about old and new CDs, the types of venues that they have played on their last tour and what musical influences shaped their music. Then Pamela gives you music news, and does mini reviews of some new CDs by three women artists.
Today Pamela DeGroff provides Part 2 of her interview with Ike Allen, the producer of the documentary film about Rev. Yolanda’s old time gospel show. Then she interviews singer, wigmaker and queen around town Joie Starr. As if that wasn’t enough she also has info on Coco Peru’s tour and several mini music reviews.
Perpetual Change brings you an interview with the producer of “Rev. Yolanda The Old Time Gospel Hour, The Movie” and also does a review of that movie. Then Pamela DeGroff delves into some new music with two mini reviews — the latest from The Bird and The Bee and Ryn Weaver.
Pamela DeGroff has an interview with Michelle Rocking Horse Garcia about her move to Nashville, her new band lineup and a new musical project. Then Pamela brings music news about Beth Isbell, Calpernia Addams, Rev. Yolanda and Georgie Jessup. After all that there’s a mini review of a new CD by Tamia.
Pamela DeGroff interviews TGForum Contributor Meggan Sommerville about her life, her faith and her contributions to an essay project called Listen to Your Mother. Then Pamela has music news about Georgie Jessup, and David de Alba as well as advance word on some Perpetual Change friends releasing new music. There’s all that and a mini review of the electronic music duo Mackintosh Braun.
The Rev. Yolanda is starring in a film about her musical drag ministry Rev. Yolanda’s Old Time Gospel Hour. The film takes you to one of her shows and gets you into the gospel frenzy. The filmmaker decided that there should be a book about the film that took you behind the scenes. So he put together a coffee table book called Rev. Yolanda’s Old Time Gospel Hour Behind The Scenes. Pamela DeGroff reviews the book and brings us some other music news in today’s Perpetual Change.
