Analogue Pleasures
Issue 4 of the Rainbow Rodeo zine is chugging along! Subscribe to the Patreon today to get a sneak peek!
In just about a month, I'll be speaking at Country Radio Seminar about the need for diversity in radio programming. I'm not sure why I'm there; I have a face and voice for blogging but hey -- who am I to turn down to the opportunity to see what it's actually like in the world of country kingmakers? (Let's be real, it's gonna be a while before we see any country queens -- or queers -- with the same stature as the Wallens and Bryans.) But, like...what is it like out there on the radio?
I found out on Tuesday night because I accidentally left my phone at the office. (Or maybe not by accident???) Either way, I didn't feel like turning on my laptop just to listen to podcasts while I cooked dinner so I did something I haven't done since 2016: I listened to an FM radio broadcast. At first, I tried to listen to the local NPR affiliate, but it took me 5 minutes to find the station's call numbers. Shockingly, WFUV doesn't even have it on their website. (I mean, I guess it's in the logo, but I was too worried about my phone to figure that one out.)
So I tuned in to the iHeartRadio classic rock station I've listened to as a kid. I had a great time dancing around to the songs that helped me fall in love with Americana, though they're a little icky now that I'm old enough to understand the lyrics. (How is anyone allowed to play "Brown Sugar" on the radio? WTF) Instead of inundating myself with new music I have to think about to absorb, I cocooned myself in the old stuff. (PS, in the hour+ I listened to the station, they only played one woman-fronted band: Heart. Cool to know that some things really don't change.)
Be that as it may, it was fun to unplug for a while and let a human (guided by some kind of metrics of course) pick something out for me, rather than a soulless algorithm. It was also a useful reminder that for the most part, most people just want what they already know. That's a thought for another time, though. My hope for you this week is that you get a chance to unplug and enjoy art that is created and curated by human beings.
Reviews
Contributor Priya Sridhar shares her impressions of ISMAY's otherworldly Desert Pavement. Your support helps the future of queer country music journalism, so check out the Patreon today!
Rainbow Rewind: Marx (Marca) Cassity's Songs From the Well (we'll interview Marx this week about their latest project!)
Lizzie No lights country music on fire on her remarkable Halfsies
In Off Center, Large Brush Collection navigates coming out with grace, equanimity, and flutes!
Music
Country Risque hopes you don't rifle through their "Depression Drawer"
Austin Lucas bashes back against transphobes in their video for "Black Me Out," a twangy cover of the Against Me! song
Interviews
You can't take the queer or the country out of Emmy Woods
Sarah Walk and I talk about her top surgery, and what it's like to want top surgery if you do not identify as trans or non-binary
Playlists
COVID plus work got in the way of a playlist this week, but last week's playlist features Willi Carlisle, Shawna Virago, Aaron Lee Tasjan, and more!
Rainbow Roundup
I reviewed ISMAY's and Willi Carlisle's albums for No Depression
I'm also part of the founding writing team for Good Country, a country music newsletter that highlights diverse voices in country and Americana -- presented by the Bluegrass Situation!
Denitia is in the CMT Next Women of Country Class of 2024!
Fancy Hagood has been nominated for a GLAAD Media Award. Congrats, Fancy!
Joanne McNaney Stein talks with No Fences Review about kd lang's Ingenue
Are you on BlueSky? I made a feed for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC country music!
You can get almost 50% off the book Queer Country using this code: F21UIP
Support disabled artists when you support Rampd
This thread gives advice on self-managed transition in Alabama and other states that restrict our bodily autonomy
And here’s a directory of DIY HRT
Eli Conley is running a queer songwriting circle
Events
2/3 — (Harrisburg, PA) Autumn Sky Hollow and Sug Daniels are playing at Hunter Park
6/6 (Torrey, UT) — Jaime Wyatt is playing Fort Desolation Fest
Artist Resources
DEADLINE 4/1: Apply to perform at Philly Folk Fest!
Nashville's RNBW Collective is looking to book artists for shows on 1/26, 1/27, and 1/28 at the Nashville Flea Market
Got a release coming up? Add it to Country Everywhere’s newsletter! Country Everywhere is a directory of artists and news for queer, BIPOC, and disabled artists.
With Bandcamp changing hands and union busting, here are some alternative resources for selling your music online
Are you on BlueSky? Queer country artist Alone at 2 AM created this feed of musicians. You can ask them to be added to the feed!
I also made a Y’alltertantive Feed on Bluesky. Let me know if you’d like your posts to appear on the feed!
We Are Moving the Needle is looking for women and non-binary audio engineers and music producers
Eli Conley is teaching Unlock the Song Inside: Beginning Songwriting Class for Queer & Trans Folks & Allies, and he also offers an online LGBTQ+ songwriter circle!
Are you on Mastodon or another part of the Fediverse? Get your music on RadioFreeFedi!
PS — If you’re thinking of joining Mastodon, make an account on musician.social and read my tips for making Mastodon work for you!
Submit your music and events to The Q LGBTQ Creative Network
This Twitter thread has a whole list of places to find jobs in the music industry
And here’s a list of resources for “women” entering the music industry — presumably they also encourage nonbinary participants
Submit your profile to the Country Everywhere which seeks to unite BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and disabled artists and professionals
Sign up to the Black Opry Revue’s interest form!
Check out the weekly Queerfolk Fest show in Nashville