NOV. 2008 - The Rainbow Times

18 • Nov. 6 - Dec. 3, 2008 • The Rainbow Times• www.therainbowtimesnews.comQ-lebritiesA few Q’s:Ari Gold, Hebrew heartthrob[Hit Recording Artist Ari Gold has had the #1 MusicVideo on LOGO and a Top-10 song on Billboard'sDance Chart. He's releasing his newest single andmusic video for his cover of "Human," by the HumanLeague, released on Oct. 18.]TBy: Mikey Rox*/TRT Specialhe Hebrew heartthrob chats aboutcharity, the new book ‘Crisis,’ andthe criticism of his latest release,Transport Systems.MIKEY ROX: In addition to being an awardwinningvocalist, you’re also an activist and aphilanthropist who supports diversity andhealth charities like the HRC, ACLU, andGay Men’s Health Crisis. With all that’s happeningwith your music career, why is itimportant to you to stay involved?ARI GOLD: I see my art as part of myactivism, and I only hope I can make moreand more of an impact when it comes tohuman rights and LGBT issues. It’s the wholeGhandi thing of being the change you want tosee in the world. I don’t want anyone to sufferlike I did when I was growing up, and I didn’teven have it as bad as a lot of people. The creativeprocess of making music as well as performingis incredibly fulfilling, but I feel likeI’ve been given this gift of responsibility thathelps keep me going strong–especially in acrazy business like the music business.MR: The new book Crisis: 40 StoriesRevealing the Personal, Social and ReligiousPain and Trauma of Growing up Gay inAmerica, features personal essays from gaynotables, including Nate Berkus, CandaceGingrich, Billy Bean and you. What’s yourstory about?AG: You have to read it! I focused primarilyon being 16 years old in Yeshiva (orthodoxJewish parochial school), which was aroundthe time that I had sex for the first time withboth a girl and a guy.MR: You’ve received major props fromWhoopi Goldberg, who remarked that you’rechanging the face of pop music, and CliveDavis, who was quoted as saying, “Ari wrotea very personal album and the lyrics attest tothe battles that he’s been through … he writesfrom the heart.” What kind of weight do thesecomments carry, given the resistant nature ofmainstream America to fully embrace anopenly gay artist?AG: It meant a lot to hear that from Clive,knowing how influential he’s been at bringingartists like Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston,Billy Joel and Alicia Keys to the world. Andhearing that from Whoopi–and getting to meether–I mean, she’s so inspiring ’cause she’sone of those people that when she first cameon the scene there was nobody like her, andthere’s still nobody like her. She made a genrefor herself, and that’s very inspiring. And nowthat’s she’s on The View, people are really listeningto what she has to say about everything.MR: Your third studio album, TransportSystems, was released earlier this month.While you described it as being about movement,progression, transportation and transformation,Pink magazine said your lyrics lingeredon “gender, sexuality, addiction andrace.” Is that an accurate description? How doyou respond?AG: There are definitely songs that deal withall of those issues, and we need to move forwardwith our thinking when it comes to thosethings. It’s challenging for me to be able tosay something meaningful in pop music butalso make sure that I’m keeping it fun andsexy. There’s a lot of hope in this album, too;I was very conscious of making sure of that.MR: On a lighter albeit final note, you sharethe same name as actor Jeremy Piven’s characteron Entourage. Helping hand or hindrance?AG: I think it adds a layer to the story that’sinteresting, being that I’m all about challenginggay and Jewish stereotypes and he’s thismildly homophobic stereotypical Jewishagent. It makes my message all the moreclear–I’m combating the stereotype in thisstrangely literal way.* Who is Mikey Rox? Who gives a &#@%!But you can find him at www.mikeyrox.com.