Johnna Lee Cummings
how and have been enamored with Frank N. Furter ever since. Lady Gaga is another one that has pushed me to be the best and most authentic version of myself, holding me not only high standards for art but high standards of being a human. Without these phenomenal characters in music, I would not be where I am today and I think that can be said for A LOT of people. Music, I think, is one the most influential mediums of communication we share as a human race. It can transport us back in time. It can inspire us for the future. Most importantly though, I think it brings us to the present moment. When I was younger and angry at just about everything going on in my life, I would drive around in my car and blast My Chemical Romance . With them, I never felt alone in my thoughts and feelings. That’s why it’s so important to continue to share stories through music that represent all walks of l |
TRAVIE AUSTIN
|
Music started off as a hobby of sorts that quickly developed into an every minute of every day passion. Now it's a way of surviving both financially, and emotionally. I remember when I was younger being confused about using she/her pronouns in my romantic love orientated songs, when I had no idea who I was or what I liked. I just remember over justifying that i wasnt gay, but that it sounded better. Sure did!
It is so important to me that we are seeing regular displays of queer narratives and visuals in all areas of the arts. Its the only way we can normalize it, and destigmatize queer relationships for what they are, the exact same as straight relationships when it comes to life and love. Most of us all want that special someone to do those ridiculously mundane and exciting tasks throughout life. Kids should know at an early level as well in terms of education, the younger the better in my opinion. My nephews don't bat an eyelid at girls loving girls and boys loving boys and boys loving girls, because it's the way it should be. To love and be loved is the most normal universal commonality. I was a super late bloomer musically and in understanding my sexuality so I wasn't writing a huge amount from a queer perspective at a young age. It was simply about feeling music and processing that. I taught myself how to play piano on an old keyboard in my attic when I was 17 and only started singing properly at 18/19. As a child It was film scores that really moved me and i didn't know why. I have a memory of watching the movie Brave Heart as a kid, then when i watched the movie some years later as an adult, I could hum the main melody of the score after all those years later, and it made me so emotional, the music, how music can sway the mood of a scene or explain what's going on without using words or lyrics, but rather a feeling in melody and instrumentation that evoked so many memories. This was magic to me. I wanted to write scores on piano and make people feel the way I did watching Braveheart. Now I can write and produce songs, with my own story and melody and lyrics and I try my best to capture that emotion in the music I put out there. Just try to be as authentic as possible. |