Queer The Music: Jake Shears On The Songs That Changed Lives Mercury Studios

We have a bonus episode for you! Join us as we are celebrating the brilliant ‘Fast Slow Disco’ the up-tempo reworking of ‘Slow Disco’ by singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Annie Clark, who goes by the stage name St Vincent.
Annie began her music career as a member of the Polyphonic Spree, and has since released 7 critically acclaimed albums, picked up 3 Grammy awards, collaborated with the likes of Taylor Swift and David Byrne and is frequently listed among the best guitarists of the 21st century.
As well as finding out about how the creation of the song and why she released this different version, we discuss the filming of that video, her musical influences, her performance fantasies, her love of David Bowie, what it's like collaborating with David Byrne and of course her wonderful new album 'All Born Screaming' which is out at the end of April.

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For our last episode of this current series we celebrate the brilliant 'Going To A Town' by singer, songwriter Rufus Wainwright. The song, which was the first single from Rufus’s 2007 album 'Release the Stars', has garnered huge critical acclaim and has been covered by artists from George Michael to Lily Allen however its critique of the United States and the war in Iraq provoked strong negative reactions in audiences and when he performed it he says “I would sing it often and get booed”.
Listen to Jake and Rufus' insightful conversation where they cover the meaning and making of the song, it's reception, what it means to be a gay artist, his influences and his encounter with George Michael.
Rufus' first musical of John Cassavetes’ 'Opening Night' opens on the 26th of March at the Gielgud Theatre in London - it is directed by Ivo van Hove and stars Sheridan Smith.

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The hit '1950' is the focus of this week's episode - Jake speaks to American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mikaela Straus, better known by her stage name King Princess, about the making of the song, queer representation, her influences and how her gender identity impacts her music.
1950 was King Princess' platinum certified debut single, it has had over 21 million views on YouTube and has been streamed over 550 million times on Spotify!

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This episode celebrates a hit from 2015 that went straight to the top of the UK Charts and was named song of the year by Time magazine. It’s the compulsively danceable ‘King’ by electro-pop then-trio Years and Years. Jake is joined by Musician and Actor Olly Alexander, the then frontman of Years & Years. Olly is a huge champion of LGBTQ+ issues, proudly celebrating his queerness by writing inclusive songs, displaying queer love in his music videos and portraying lead character Ritchie in the hit TV show ‘It’s A Sin’.
They discuss the making of 'King', Olly’s career, his influences and the struggles he’s faced as a Queer artist. 
Good luck representing the United Kingdom at Eurovision Olly! (This interview was recorded last summer, so before the news was announced). 

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Factor’s delicious, ready-to-eat meals make eating better every day easy. Head to factormeals.com/queerthemusic50 and use code queerthemusic50 to get 50% off.
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Cult feminist musician and artist, Peaches exploded onto the music scene in 2000 with her punky, electroclash album The Teaches of Peaches and it’s standout hit 'Fuck the Pain Away'. She’s been pushing the boundaries ever since, making genderqueer work that is sex and body positive and has led the way for successive generations of artists to diddle their skittles (hi Beyonce).
In this episode Jake speaks to Peaches about the making of 'Fuck The Pain Away', her creative process, it's initial reception and what being a queer artist means to her.

You can watch the full episode on Mercury Studios' YouTube channel here
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Andy Bell was out and proud from the get go, fronting synth pop duo Erasure who sold over 20 million albums and had an incredible 17 Top 10 singles. This episode celebrates the most enduring of all their records, the 1988 hit ‘A Little Respect’. Considered by many as the ultimate Pride Anthem, to this day it still gets dance floors heaving and crowds singing their hearts out. Jake and Andy discuss the making of the song, the gay scene in London during the early days of Andy's career, growing in confidence and progressing as a queer performer.

You can watch the full episode on Mercury Studios' YouTube channel here
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