GLLA 2018 Pride Guide

10 GAYLIFE LA PRIDE ISSUE SUMMER 2018
11
GAYLIFE LA PRIDE ISSUE SUMMER 2018
Kehlani is scheduled to perform
on June 9 on the Park stage in
2018 PRIDE FESTIVAL HEADLINER - PARK STAGE - KEHLANI
THE YEAR’S LA PRIDE IS
ALL ABOUT DIVERSITY
The slogan for this year’s LA Pride weekend is “just be,” a call out
to the diversity of the LGBTQ community and the importance of
being proud of who you are.
That diversity is evident in this year’s lineup of performers at
the annual festival, which takes place on June 9 and 10 in and
around West Hollywood Park and will include performers of all
gender and sexual and most ethnic identities. This year’s festival
will include the traditional booths occupied by non-profits and
Pride sponsors. However, given the construction underway
in West Hollywood Park, the festival will expand across San
Vicente Boulevard and incorporate the plaza outside the Pacific
Design Center.
THAT’S
EVIDENT
IN THE
LINEUP OF
PERFORMERS
ON ALL
THREE
STAGES
There will be three performance stages, the Park
Stage, Boulevard Stage and the Plaza Stage, where
a variety of performers can be found on both June
9 and 10. This year the list of performers will be
dominated by women. Two of whom -- Kehlani and
Tove Lo -- represent the social diversity of this year’s
performers.
Kehlani represents triumph over tragedy and
diversity in many ways. She was born in Oakland
to an African-American father and a mother she
has described as “mostly white, Spanish and Native
American. Her mother struggled with drug addiction
and was in prison. Her father, also a drug addict,
died young. Kehlani was raised by her grandmother.
At the young age of 14 Kehlani was recruited to
join PopLyfe, a local pop cover band. Kehlani left
the band after a fallout with its management and
struggled for years, stealing food from grocery
stores and sleeping on friends’ couches. But Nick
Cannon, a former host of America’s Got Talent, on
which Kehlani performed with PopLyfe, rescued
her and sent her to New York to work with a record
producer.
09&10
In 2015, Kehlani released her
second mixtape “You Should Be
Here,” which Billboard called the
“year’s first great R&B album.”
In 2016 she was nominated for a
Grammy award for Best Urban
Contemporary Album.
Tove Lo, who identifies as bisexual
and is known for her grunge look
on stage is a Swedish singer and
songwriter who Rolling Stone
has called “Sweden’s darkest pop
export.” Out magazine has called
her “the world’s most brutally
honest pop star” and noted that she
has been called “the world’s saddest
pop star.” Those descriptions were
a result of the release of “Out of
Mind,” a single that chronicles the
heartbreak of a broken relationship.
Tove Lo grew up in an affluent
neighborhood near Stockholm in a
family she has described as “pretty
posh,” a life the opposite of that of
Kehlani.
Early on she formed a rock band
named Tremblebee and later
worked as a songwriter, at which
she became successful. She was
offered a recording deal in 2014
and became a hit with her debut
album “Queen of the Clouds.”
Other popular albums have been
“Lady Wood,” released in October
2016 and “Blue Lips,” released in
November 2017.
2018 PRIDE FESTIVAL HEADLINER - PARK STAGE - TOVE LO
West Hollywood Park, where
Tove Lo will perform on June 10.
Icona Pop, an international pop
duo for the platinum single “I
Love It,” will perform at the Park
Stage on June 9. Also performing
there on that date will be Kim
Petras and Lauren Ruth Ward.
On June 10, you’ll find Eve,
Allie X and Jessica 6 among the
women on the Park Stage.
PARK STAGE - ICONA POP
Over at the Boulevard Stage
on San Vicente Boulevard on
June 9, Grammy-nominated
R&B singer and songwriter
Keri Hilson, known for hits
like “Knock You Down,” will
perform. Also on that stage
BOULEVARD STAGE - KERI HILSON