Tom Goss is an acclaimed indie artist whose work spans pop, rock, and digital music and sometimes blends uncooked emotional storytelling with LGBTQ+ themes. With over a decade of touring and over 20 million streams to his identify, Tom continues to be a fearless voice for authenticity, inclusion and pleasure within the queer group.
This summer season, Tom dropped a daring, hilarious, and irresistibly catchy new single entitled “Homosexual Stuff.” Accompanied by an outrageously playful music video directed by longtime collaborator Michael Serrato, the track is an unapologetic celebration of queer pleasure, individuality, and the absurdity of labels.
“Homosexual Stuff” is a follow-up to a different latest launch, “Bear Soup”, which serves as a musical love letter to the bear group. This cheeky, bass-heavy anthem and accompanying video. full of hilariously attractive visuals, not solely is an ideal dance monitor however one other instance of how Tom makes use of music to uplift queer our bodies and tales.
We had the prospect to meet up with Tom to speak about his new music, pushing boundaries, the significance of being oneself and plenty extra in our unique interview.
I really like the video for “Homosexual Stuff”. It’s such a enjoyable summer season track. I heard it had been within the vault for fairly some time so what lastly made this the best second to launch the track?
You recognize, actually. It was like sort of Trump, you understand? It’s like simply the milieu during which we’re residing in. I had simply made this massive, enjoyable file and executed some movies behind it final 12 months, over the course of the final 18 months. I’m additionally ending up this this file that’s actually like Americana, which is like tales from the heartland, however from a very queer perspective. It’s very acoustic, it’s very queer, but it surely’s additionally a bit of gradual generally and a bit of heady. I simply felt like given what the world goes by and given what the nation goes by, that it will be apropos to launch some stuff that’s simply actually enjoyable.
That’s actually the place my principal focus was. I’ve been engaged on this track backwards and forwards with my producer, Austin Danson, simply sort of as a joke between us, to be sincere with you, for like 10 years and eventually I used to be like, you understand what? We must always simply launch this as a result of it will be nice and it will be a second of levity in a time the place we actually want it.
I do suppose simply being unapologetically queer on this second in time is subversive and I really feel like I’ve executed a variety of stuff that’s actually heady and actually severe and actually on the nostril in the case of political stances and I really feel prefer it’s more practical typically simply to do one thing that’s actually sneakily subversive and enjoyable and I felt like that’s what we needed to do on this second.
There’s something very subversive about how the lyrics of the track embrace and mock stereotypes on the similar time. Was {that a} exhausting steadiness so that you can strike?
No, under no circumstances, as a result of I reside on this world, you understand? I’m at Hearth Island proper now. I simply stepped out of drag bingo to speak to you. I’m sitting on a pier. There’s the largest Satisfaction flag you’ve ever seen in your life flying over me, and I can’t be happier to be right here, and I can’t be happier to see my queer group and all the ridiculousness that we’re …and that’s the factor…you stroll down the road and also you see these outfits which are so outrageous. No society would enable that to exist simply on its streets – with out judgment, with out sneers, with out cattiness – however we queer folks simply do it each single day and we have a look at one another and we are saying, sure, woman, do it. Proper?
I can solely communicate for myself, however a part of me is like, man, that’s loopy. I might by no means try this. However on the similar time, I feel, wow, that’s wonderful. What braveness does it take to be a queer particular person publicly on the earth? And so, I actually suppose that’s the steadiness of loving who I’m, loving who my group is, and likewise simply figuring out that we’re ridiculous and relishing in that.
You had been quoted as saying that “all the things is homosexual, all the things is straight, all the things is in between.” What do you hope folks will take away from that sentiment?
I feel that’s what I hope folks take away from it’s, you understand, I’m speaking in regards to the outfits in Hearth Island. I hope folks notice that they’ll put on these outfits in Nebraska. They will do no matter they need, anyplace they need, and so they may go be part of a soccer workforce, proper?
It doesn’t need to be flamboyant. It doesn’t need to be female. It could possibly be hyper masculine, it could possibly be hyper straight. For those who love fishing, go fishing. You recognize what I imply? No person’s saying that trout fishing is a homosexual exercise. Nevertheless, I do know homosexual those that love trout fishing, so go do it. I simply suppose that the concept that one thing is homosexual or one thing is straight is so ridiculous at this time limit. I simply need folks to do no matter brings them pleasure. That’s at all times my intention. Like what brings you pleasure? Is it hurting anyone? No. Good. Do it!
Humor is a big a part of this track – and so is freedom. Why do you suppose comedy is such an efficient device in queer activism?
I feel there’s a very massive diploma of self-reflectiveness that has to exist in case you are a queer particular person. We don’t get the posh of seeing the social mores and these paths that the heterosexual group has laid out for us. They don’t match us. We don’t embrace them with out query and so they typically rub towards us. And so, from an early age, we have now to essentially begin questioning why is the world this manner? And the way do I slot in that world? And I feel in the end humor comes from a spot of preliminary disconnect, then introversion, then discovery after which embrace.
You’ll be able to have a look at these items which are the disconnect and you may poke enjoyable at them, even when they wholly are you since you’ve already gone by the method of claiming like, yeah, I’m bizarre and I’m okay with that weirdness. You’ll be able to poke enjoyable of the weirdness as a result of you’re the weirdness and it’s additionally not coming from a spot of insecurity. It’s coming from a spot of full safety, a lot so that you just’re safe despite the fact that the world is judging you for that. I feel that’s what makes nice comedy and I feel that’s why queer persons are so humorous and artistic.
How do you steadiness the road between being humorous and being significant if you’re writing a track like “Homosexual Stuff”? Do you begin with the joke or do you begin with the message?
It was at all times the joke. It was simply homosexual stuff. I’ve to credit score Austin as a result of it’s modified so many occasions within the iteration during which it’s now. I might say that he did a variety of the writing on it. It’s been very totally different over the course of 10 years. And when he despatched it to me like eight months in the past with a few of these various things in it, I simply was like, that is too good to not exist on the earth.
I feel that’s oftentimes how songwriting goes is you’re like, oh my God, that is hilarious. I like it. You recognize, there was an episode of This American Life that I listened to as soon as that was within the author’s room of The Onion and so they had been saying like, they sit round a desk and so they simply pitch their concepts everyone’s there. There are 10 folks within the room and 10 folks have 10 headlines. They usually pitched the headlines and so they stated, oftentimes the factor that has the funniest headline that has folks cracking up, there’s nothing behind.
There are such a lot of jokes. You understand how you’re hanging out with a pal and also you’re similar to, oh my God, that is hilarious and that’s it, you understand? But when that factor retains coming again to you and if that factor retains creating in your thoughts, then you understand, there’s one thing else there. I feel it at all times begins with the punchline, and then you definately attempt to determine, oh, is there meat to this punchline? And, in that case, then you definately proceed with it.
The music video for “Homosexual Stuff” is a lot enjoyable and also you, you’ve pulled it off in 48 hours. How can you get such a refined video out put collectively in simply two days?
You recognize, it’s humorous as a result of Michael Serrato and I’ve labored collectively for thus lengthy, so we actually do have a shorthand and we additionally actually belief one another implicitly. Michael’s actually good at creating characters and he’s actually good at style. He has a very eager imaginative and prescient and we knew like, oh, we need to go on the desert. We had simply shot “Bear Soup”, which was an enormous endeavor and took a lot planning and took so many individuals, and it was actually particular what we needed.
And so, after we had been driving out afterwards, we simply began speaking. We knew this was going to occur. We knew we needed some dancers. We had booked the dancers, and that’s all we had. So, we knew who they had been after which we determined we needed, like, you understand, I feel there was like three principal outfits, however we went to the thrift store and if you happen to ever must go thrift purchasing, you must go together with Michael Serrato as a result of he’s simply the very best at discovering all the things. And I used to be texting whereas I used to be driving, sorry, mother, and similar to texting my associates. And the factor about Palm Springs is that – and I’m getting the sense that Hearth Island is similar – is that the queer group is so tight and everyone who’s there may be there for a purpose that’s not like folks in LA, as a result of they need to be well-known. Individuals are in LA as a result of they need one thing to be given to them. Individuals in Palm Springs need to give one thing again and so it’s very easy to ascertain friendships and connections and discover a occasion and discover an journey.
For those who want a poodle, if you happen to want a health club, if you happen to want a espresso store, it simply began flowing in. Individuals simply began texting me, “I heard you’re on the lookout for issues. I can do that, I can do that, I can do that” – which is an anomaly on this world. Individuals are not attempting to provide you one thing and attempting to create artwork. Individuals need to be part of one thing so long as it’s good for them and there was no level on this course of the place that occurred. I additionally suppose there’s no place on the earth that this might have come collectively prefer it did then in Palm Springs.
If somebody’s feeling uncertain or afraid to embrace like their weirdness or homosexual stuff, like what would you inform them?
Hmm. I assume I inform them that I worth them and respect them and love them for who they’re. That’s a very fascinating query. It’s making me a bit of emotional. I’m attempting to not cry, you understand? I feel that’s it. I don’t know that it’s one thing that anyone can do for anyone, proper? However I additionally suppose that we are able to all be a assist and to embrace different folks’s authenticity no matter how totally that matches our personal.
Now, can I ask you about “Bear Soup”? What was the inspiration behind it?
I used to be strolling round Barcelona – and once more, the punchline got here and I assumed, oh my God, wouldn’t it’s hilarious if there was a bear? Properly, first I assumed, why is there not a bear track that may be a twerk anthem? There are all these bears. They’ve acquired all this meat to shake and no one’s writing that. I Googled and seemed for it. I used to be like, does this exist? And it didn’t exist. And I used to be like, oh, this has to exist and it must be “bear soup”, which is a bear pool occasion.
Then I simply began strolling round Barcelona, which once more is sort of a actually queer metropolis stuffed with so many bears. And I simply began writing totally different iterations of lyrics that made me snigger and that was actually it. Actually, the verses are sort of improvisational. I wrote the refrain after which I recorded the refrain and I used to be like, oh, that is nice. However I knew that the verses needed to have a very totally different power and I wasn’t precisely certain what was going to occur. Typically I simply play the monitor and go within the studio and simply go off and that’s primarily what occurred, I feel particularly on that second verse, that was my first improvisational take of the track. Typically you seize a second so completely if you’re not overthinking it that you just’re like, I’m not going to do one other take. I’m not going to do the rest with this. That is too humorous – since you’re being sincere within the second.
The video and the track actually rejoice physique positivity, which I feel is nice. What does physique love imply to you right now and has your relationship modified with that over time?
It’s actually fascinating. I assume the query actually is twofold. By way of how I embrace different folks, I totally embrace different folks and my reply to that final query was simply be like totally supportive and loving in no matter approach someone presents themself. That’s at all times what I need to be and the place I come from.
I’m full of individuals in my life. The bear group that I really like, these are my husband, my associates, and so they maintain a lot trauma because of how the world has handled them or seen them because of their physique form and I see them as so stunning and luxurious and sensible and gifted and delicate and caring and compassionate.
If I might do something on the earth, it will be to take all of that judgment away from them in order that they could possibly be on the earth with out sort of that deep ache. I feel, mockingly, if I discuss physique positivity, I put it again on myself. I’m way more judgmental about my very own physique and the way I current on the earth and I feel a part of the explanation that I might be actually empathetic to the physique positivity motion is as a result of my household made enjoyable of me loads for being the chubby one. I grew up in a household of gymnasts and I went to school as a wrestler.
We’ve at all times been actually athletic and my brothers are a lot leaner than I’m and I’m sort of stocky. My mom’s a brief, stocky Italian lady and he or she at all times advised me, “Be careful, you have got my physique sort. Have a look at my aunts, have a look at all my household, have a look at my cousins. Have a look at how they give the impression of being.” She’s sort of acquired her personal physique dysmorphia and I feel she handed that right down to me. So, it’s fascinating how I’m not significantly nice at listening to my very own message, however I’m actually attempting to work on it. I’ve additionally created this dynamic the place I proceed to make these music movies the place I’m scantily clad. I perceive that I’m on this enterprise the place the best way that I look impacts the variety of those that watch my movies. And so, I’ve created this this paradigm for myself that’s actually unhealthy. And as I’m getting into into my mid-forties now, it will get tougher and tougher and tougher, so it’s fascinating.
Throughout the initiatives that you just’ve labored on, you don’t actually stick to at least one lane. How do you keep so genre-fluid and fearless in your creativity?
You recognize, I feel a part of it’s I do not know what I’m doing half the time. I’m not a educated artist. I by no means had position fashions in the identical approach. There weren’t queer singer/songwriters once I was rising up and I actually simply do what makes me completely satisfied.
I simply need to discuss gratitude for a second as a result of I’ve been doing this for 20 years. I’m on tour proper now and day by day I present up and there’s some wonderful person who I’ve identified for eight years, 10 years, 12 years, 20 years, who’s adopted my journey and embraced me and beloved me totally – it doesn’t matter what venture I put out. They actually get me and so they perceive my intentionality behind issues. They perceive that I’m not like attempting to be a poser about something. I’m simply attempting to create and generate pleasure on the earth.
And I feel that my fan base – which, I hate that phrase – I might say that my associates who’re on this journey with me embrace me it doesn’t matter what’s happening in my life. I feel you may’t count on someone to be doing the identical factor and even be the identical particular person for 20 years. It’s simply not potential and so I feel that the those that hearken to my music which are on this journey with me, and likewise my husband who supplies me with a variety of love and assist make it potential for me to, on no matter tangent feels enjoyable to me or vital to me on the time.
You talked about the Americana album and along with that, what else is occurring? What’s subsequent for you?
Gosh, isn’t that sufficient? I launched two music movies prior to now month. I’ve one other file arising…the reply is I don’t know. I’ve been doing a little writing and producing for different queer artists. If there are some other queer artists which are serious about working collectively, they need to simply write me.
I’m in a studio now in Los Angeles and I’ve at all times needed to have a spot the place I can simply be free to create, and so I’m simply creating each single day. I feel that I really feel like now, as a queer elder, I can present that chance for different folks as properly and I feel that may be a very nice transitionary interval for me. I simply directed music movies for Ryan Cassata and Mike Maimone prior to now 12 months and I might like to be a assist for different queer artists looking for their voice.
To be taught extra about Tom Goss, go to his web site, You too can observe him on Fb and Instagram.
HOT DEALS
Crocs Baya Clog
Make a snug Crocs assertion with the Crocs Baya Clog. A twist on the signature Basic Clog, it options the light-weight, sturdy construct you like with superior air flow for breathability and to assist drain water and particles. [Crocs]
Previous Navy Basic Match Pique Polo
The Previous Navy Basic Match Pique Polo encompasses a unfold collor with a buttoned placket and is a soft-washed pique knit product of 60% cotton and 40% polyester. [Old Navy]
Like most web sites, Socialite Life makes use of affiliate hyperlinks the place accessible, which implies we earn a bit of fee if you happen to click on by and purchase one thing. Additionally, as Amazon Influencers, we earn from qualifying purchases. Financial savings proven are these from the date and time of this text’s publication.
TRENDING ON SL
Jonathan Bailey and his thigh-high boots are setting the Web on fireplace
Celeb Snaps: Leslie Bibb, Sam Rockwell, Tom Sturridge, Cate Blanchett, Idris Elba, and extra
Celeb Snaps: Jonathan Bailey, Ed Skrein, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Rami Malek, Cooper Koch, and extra
