Q&A: Openly Gay Recording Artist ARI GOLD Talks Music, Men and More
Award-winning Independent recording artist Ari Gold has been out of the closet since the beginning of his career. His new track 'Where the Music Takes You,' off his most recent album 'Transport Systems,' recently cracked the Billboard Top 10 Club/Dance Chart. Arista head honcho Clive Davis has sung his praises, he's won numerous awards, including LOGO's esteemed 'Queerest' video, and was named one of 'Out Magazine's' OUT100 - not to mention, he won grand prize in the USA Songwriting Competition - and those accolades are just the tip of the iceberg. Even Whoopi Goldberg has something to say about the songwriter!
Ari has been kind enough to share his thoughts with MUZO on his recent successes, the recording process, gay marriage, what he likes in a guy, charity work, who he'd like to get naked with and more.
Muzo: You have been out since the beginning of your recording career - in an industry dominated by heteros, do you feel your sexual orientation has had an effect on your career as an artist? If so, how?
Ari: Well I don’t think the music industry really is dominated by heteros. I think that the kind artists that get pushed in front of us all the time are mostly heteros, but so many of those artists have gay people behind them creating their looks, their music, their videos—not to mention all the gay people who work behind the scenes to break and promote these mainstream artists.
That’s why there really is no excuse for there not to be more visible openly gay artists out there. I’ve always believed the public will accept it, it just takes the industry to take the risk and have a sense of social and political consciousness. But I never waited for anyone to do it for me, and I’ve taken it upon myself, and I’m really proud of how far I’ve gotten. And that’s not to take away from all the amazing people who I have collaborated with or who have supported me, I simply mean that I have gotten this far without major money, any major power players or a major label behind me. I believe in what Ghandi said about being the change you want to see.
Muzo: Your Billboard hit 'Where the Music Takes You' just graced the top 10. What did you do to celebrate?
Ari: I definitely had a few "Le’Chaims!" I really don’t take any of this for granted, and I always make sure to have my share of fun, but at the same time I love what I do, so for me really celebrating is to continue to work.
Muzo: LOGO named your video for 'Where the Music Takes You' the #1 Ultimate Queer Video. First off, congrats! And second, what makes this vid so Queer?
Ari: Thanks! A gay pop superhero saves the world in the future with an interracial gay kiss! In cartoon! And the sentient computer who runs my spaceship is a high-singing, Afro-Diva who sings, "There’s No Place Like Home!" Need I say more? The fans voted, so they must agree.
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Muzo: Arista head honcho Clive Davis has said about your music, 'Ari writes from the heart.' How would you describe your creative process when writing a song?
Ari: I’ve never written a song in the exact same way, but it often starts with a title or a thought, an observation, something that happened to me that I want to express, and then I just start riffing off it until I get into the studio and work on the structure based on the kind of vibe I think the song should have musically.
Muzo: You've received accolades from literally every major music industry publication and gay mags, too. Out of all the awards and honors, is there one in particular that really stands out to you?
Ari: Like I said I don’t take too much for granted, so each thing has its own feeling connected to it. I mean, winning the Outmusic Awards or being named one of the OUT100 by Out Magazine, those things mean a lot because they come from the LGBT community and I have always made my music for the community first and foremost. But there is something also very gratifying when you win something like an Independent Music Award or your written about in Billboard when you’ve been reading Billboard since you were very little. I have to say when I won the Grand Prize in the USA Songwriting Competition this year, I felt like I won the lottery. To be recognized as a songwriter out of over 30,000 people--that’s pretty crazy.
Muzo: On your official site, you say your new album, 'Transport Systems' is 'about movement and progression: moving through past injuries so as to come out on the other side, letting go of all internalized phobias...' Was there something in particular you were looking to get past? Did working on this project help you do that?
Ari: Yes! That’s part of the mission statement on my album's liner notes, and it really frames my album and what I was wanting to get at. I definitely moved past a lot of my own shame from childhood and writing and recording this album really helped me to own all of who I am and be proud of it. I think its something we need to do as a collective. Gay people are still not there yet—there’s still a lot of internalized shame that determine how we treat each other and ourselves and the lack of gay role models especially in music in my opinion is a symptom of that.
Muzo: What are your thoughts on gay marriage? Will you ever marry?
Ari: I think having the right to marry is very important in how we are seen and how we see ourselves as being fully equal under the law and having the same rights and choices as everyone else. Until we have that, we are fostering an environment that says its OK for gay people to get beat up or bullied, its OK for gay people to die of disease and its OK for gay people not not be treated equally as everyone else. For me personally, I won’t know until I meet someone I’d want to make that kind of commitment with. I am singing my song "Bashert" for my friends Brad and Chris gay wedding this month in Provincetown, though! I think it's about time we shook up the concept of marriage. Heterosexuals have been doing a pretty bad job at keeping it interesting.
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Muzo: What's one misconception about you you'd like to clear up?
Ari: That I’m some kind of egotistical shameless self-promoter. I think in many ways, my being out there has changed the game, and I’m proud that I have paved the way for other openly gay artists to feel free to be who they are. You can’t be a pioneer without constantly putting yourself out there, finding new ways to do that and sometimes even having to scream more loudly than anyone else cause no one wants to listen.
It's so easy to stand in judgment, but very few people have had the guts to do what I’ve done and if that sounds egotistical then so be it. I had to learn how to put myself out there.
Believe me, I wished someone else would do it for me, and I could just show up and sing, but that’s not how its worked for me, and at this point I’m really grateful for the strength it has given me. What really matters at the end of the day is the work you put out into the world, and personally I would hope that the people who really know me know that I’m a good friend, a good son and brother and big a supporter of other artists.
Muzo: Sticky or sweet?
Ari: 'Erotica'
Muzo: What's your favorite part of your body?
Ari: My heart.
Muzo: What do you look for in another guy?
Ari: The first thing I notice is the way he looks in my eyes and his walk. After that, it's his intelligence and sense of humor.
Muzo: 'When on a date, the guy should...'
Ari: Be able to be both interested in my opinions and assert his own.
Muzo: Take it for what you will: Top or bottom?
Ari: Chemistry dictates dynamics.
Muzo: What is the greatest compliment you have ever received?
Ari: Wow, well there are two kinds of compliments. One is from a stranger, and one is from a friend. There are fans who send me so much love either online or on the street and tell me how much my music affected them, and I can’t tell you how good that feels. When a friend tells me that I gave them good advice or helped them without judging them, that’s the biggest compliment I can get.
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Muzo: 'Guy I'd most like to get naked with right now...'
Ari: Nobody famous. There are a few that go to my gym though...
Muzo: Aside from MUZOPHILE RADIO: 24/7 Club Hits on Live365, of course,
what is your favorite music to listen to?Ari: I still love albums. Loving the new Usher, the last Mary J. Blige.
Muzo: When hanging with your friends, what do you guys like to do?
Ari: Everything: Go to the movies, theater, art galleries, gym, play games, eat, or just hang and talk.
Muzo: On your official site, you support a variety of charities. Is there one in particular that you feel strongly about?
Ari: I just did a great concert with an organization called Soulforce that I really love. But choosing between charities is like choosing between songs you love.
Muzo: Why should someone open up their iTunes store right now and get your new album 'Transport Systems'?
Ari: My album is like the current election. You can go on and continue to buy the same old dull and unsexy crap we’ve been fed over and over or you can choose change and choose something that is fun and sexy but has substance and meaning. Whoopi Goldberg said what I was doing in music was not unlike what Barack Obama is doing in politics. Now how’s that for a compliment!
Muzo: What's next for Ari?
Ari: I am super excited to release my second video and single off my latest album. It's for the single "Human," and it's directed by Aaron Cobbett. It's a total fantasy--you have to see it!
Visit Ari's official site and say hey at his MySpace page.
LOGO named it the '#1 Ultimate Queer Video.' Check out Ari's vid 'Where the Music Takes You':
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Posted by MUZOPHILE at 9/17/2008 11:18 PM 
Categories: Ari Gold,0ALL LISTINGS,HOT!,Q and As,0Q and As
Categories: Ari Gold,0ALL LISTINGS,HOT!,Q and As,0Q and As
Ari Gold is super hot and super smart and his music rocks!
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