With Twin Mass Shootings, Playing for Change Asks “What’s Going On?”

Guest post by Lawrence Pfeil, Jr.

This year in America, there have been 251 mass shootings as of day 215; three of them in the past week.

While the motive of the Dayton shooter is still TBD, the shooters in Gilroy, CA and El Paso, TX were both motivated by racist hate with the goal of slaughtering men, women, and children of color.

This is the sickening truth that Americans woke up to today and must live with.

How do any of us cope with the ceaseless crisis of gun violence and our leader’s complacency and willful inaction? How do we stem the growing tide of racism, xenophobia, and public displays of hate? How did we get here? What’s going on?

Nearly fifty years ago, the great Marvin Gaye asked the same question after an act of police brutality. His chart-topping, “What’s Going On?” is a ballad of grief, yearning, and most of all hope.

It became an instant classic and has brought people together in the darkest of times reminding us of common humanity when we are in most need of healing.

Playing For Change, an artist collective created to inspire and connect the world through music recently released a cover of Gaye's hit that shines a special light of hope today.

From their official website:

“Playing For Change is a movement created to inspire and connect the world through music, born from the shared belief that music has the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people.

"Our primary focus is to record and film musicians performing in their natural environments and combine their talents and cultural power in innovative videos we call Songs Around The World.

"Through these efforts, we aim to create hope and inspiration for the future of our planet.”

(screen capture)

Founded in 2002, Playing For Change released its first album in 2009, “Songs from Around the World,” featuring 100 musicians from 21 countries.

From its liner notes:

“For seven years our small film crew traveled the world with recording equipment and cameras in search of inspiration — we traveled from streets and subways to native Indian reservations, through African towns and villages, up to the Himalayan Mountains and beyond.

"Throughout the journey, we created a movement connecting the world through music. This album is a collective statement from over 100 musicians spanning five countries. Many of them have never met in person, but through their different cultures, these songs demonstrate a profound human connection and willingness to unite.

"Through music, we can understand our differences and create a better world.”

Playing For Change’s debut music video, a cover of the Ben E. King classic, "Stand By Me," showcases their inspirational and remarkable journey.

Their latest music video of Imagine Dragon’s “Love” was recently released and its message could not be more relevant or important. Featuring musicians from across six continents, “Love” reminds us we are all one in the human choir inviting us to share in the song,

“All around the world, we are one …” and let’s share the love with everyone we meet.”

More about Playing For Change:

Support their work by becoming a member HERE.

Follow their inspirational work on social media:

Facebook: @PlayingForChange
Instagram: @playing4changefoundation
Twitter: @playing4change


You can follow guest contributor Lawrence Pfeil Jr. at his website, TheOUTFront.com

Cool Pool: Ella Fitzgerald "Days of Wine and Roses"

Sitting by the pool after working today, listening to "cool pool" music.

And this comes on.

How fabulous is Miss Ella Fitzgerald?

More wine...

Pride Music: Tom Goss "Bears"

Pride Month includes all of our diverse communities, so I love sharing this music video.

Back in 2013, over 200 “bears” joined together to make guitar-toting Tom Goss’s super-fun music video for "Bears."

Complete with lots of robust, hirsute men playing with Super Soakers, careening down a slip and slide, and dancing in a club (usually in slow motion), the video celebrates all the furry goodness.

Prominent figures in the “bear” and LGBTQ community star in the film including model and Bear World Magazine’s “Bear of the Month,” Miles Windsor (a.k.a. Lumberjack Bear), Charger Stone (DC Bear Crue), and well-known drag queen, B’Naka.

Aside from his personal tastes (his husband since 2010 is a self-professed Bear), Tom wanted to showcase the diversity of the gay community in a high caliber production.

“We are overrun with images of perfect men, in perfect clothes and perfect bodies, and as a result, many people doubt their self-image,” says Goss.  “This video showcases what it means to be beautiful and sexy, regardless of size,” he continues.

Even before it's formal release, the buzz both online and through the production had already resulted in Goss receiving dozens of emails from men thanking him for boosting their self-image.

All things Tom Goss can be found at his official website here.

Listen to internet radio with CandiXRandy on BlogTalkRadio

Does Your Favorite Music Reveal How You Like To Get Down?

(Image via Depositphotos)

Does your favorite kind of music reveal if you prefer the top or bottom bunk?

A new survey by TickPick, an online ticketing service, was interested in if the music people listen to affects sexual preferences, attitudes and fetishes.

In the online survey, titled "Music's Influence on Sexual Behaviors," TickPick asked over 1,000 music fans of all kinds (LGBTQ, straight, and all in between) if their sexual preference was to be “on the top” or “on the bottom.”

Now, we know you can be the “insertive” or “receptive” partner in either physical position, so take this all with a grain of salt as we don’t know how respondents might have interpreted the question. Plus, the answers are self-reported so...there you go.

In any case, the survey showed fans of country music, show tunes, pop, alternative and indie rock say they prefer being “on the bottom.” Country music fans lead the way with 48 percent preferring the bottom bunk.

On the other end of the spectrum, reggae, folk, EMD, Jazz and Blues music fans tended to choose being “on top.” Not sure if it’s the rhythm, but Reggae music fans topped the graph at 37 percent.

Interestingly, there was no question for versatile folks.

(image via TickPick)

Also from the survey:

The overall favorite sexual position, chosen by 36 percent of respondents, was doggy style.

BDSM was the most mentioned fetish, and was the top choice of Indie rock fans.

Role-play was the next-preferred fetish, with 47 percent of country music fans leading the pack.

Blues fans say they last the longest in bed at 16 minutes.

It turns out technology comes in handy for couples who have different musical tastes. Seventeen percent of respondents shared they wear their Apple AirPods while getting down so both partners can enjoy their own favorite tunes.

One last factoid: country music fans were the least likely to use contraceptives during sex with just under 50% reporting usage, and over 25% of these same country fans admitted to having one-night stands.

Click here to check out all the stats from the survey.

Pride Music: Matt Alber "I Wanna Dance With Somebody"

Part of what the LGBTQ community has had to do over the decades was co-opt popular music for ourselves when it wasn't possible for an artist to be open about who they really were.

I've loved this gorgeous, poignant cover version of Whitney Houston's mega hit, "I Wanna Dance With Somebody," by popular out singer Matt Alber for years.

Alber's brilliant reimagining of the tune reflects a universal feeling many young LGBTQs have experienced forever. Let's face it - how many of us thought we'd never find someone to dance with?

The lyrics really are front and center in this thoughtful take on the song.

From the single release notes: "I grew up listening to Whitney on my Sony Walkman cassette player while wandering my apartment complex in St. Louis. No one knew I was gay, and I spent a lot of time alone singing along to Whitney, and this song in particular."

"It's lonely growing up as a teen in the closet and Whitney helped me express the deeply hidden desires of my heart-- I wanted to dance with somebody who loved me."

A portion of the proceeds from the single benefit Larkin Street Youth Services in San Francisco, an organization directly meeting the needs of homeless LGBTQ youth in the bay area.

Learn more at: www.larkinstreetyouth.org

You can buy the single at iTunes or CDbaby.com

Saturday Slow Down: Vanessa Williams "The Comfort Zone"

Classic Vanessa Williams for a Saturday slow-down. This just feels good.

From her 1992 hit album, The Comfort Zone.

I wore a hole in my CD playing this on repeat.

#MoreWine

Marianne Williamson On Aretha Franklin & The Music Of Our Lives

Aretha Franklin

Ruminating on the news that the "Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin is gravely ill, Marianne Williamson shared this thoughtful and delicate essay on the music of our lives and the joy it brings.

This has turned out to be a sacred night, as millions of souls are saying to others, “Did you hear that Aretha is dying?” There’s the quiet hush of a collective deathwatch, as we throw our prayers to God that they might be roses on her path.

I once read that no matter how old you are, the music of your youth is the music of your soul. To say Aretha Franklin’s is the music of my soul is to vastly understate her effect upon my life. Hers was more than the music of my soul; she was in many ways the opener of my soul, a light on my path, a goddess who chanted what I could not chant and cooed what I could not coo and howled from the depths that I had not yet reached.

How I remember, as a woman in my 20s, the sacred rite of opening a new Aretha album, putting it on the turntable and sitting for hours just listening.

To this day, I know her phrases and notes, I have lived inside them, I remember the tears of both joy and sorrow for which they have been the soundtrack of my life. She opened me and guided me, she uplifted me and soothed me, she accompanied me and spoke for me.

While I never met her, she was one of the loves of my life. To have even lived at a time when she was singing to us - for what more could anyone ask?

And while I cry as I write this, it is not for her. Such preparations must be happening now, such trumpets and harps must be tuning up, such angels even now must be singing her home.

How does one say thank you to such a soul as she?

Dear God, please bless your phenomenal daughter. And thank you for lending her genius to us.

May she know the joy of a million smiles, for such joy she gave to us. Amen.

Music Video: Shoshana Bean & Travis Wall "This Is Me"

Waaaaaiiiiiittt.

You are not ready for this. Stop, drop and scroll down to watch this.

Broadway/recording diva Shoshana Bean teams up with choreographer divine Travis Wall to brings visual life to her acoustic cover of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul's "This is Me" from the Hugh Jackman film, The Greatest Showman.

Wall conceived, directed, produced, and choreographed the music video wherein Bean talks Wall through the fears and doubts that life dumps on us.

Wall, like Bean, is a Broadway veteran having made his Broadway debut in the 2000 revival of The Music Man before becoming a major force in the dance world as a fierce competitor on the second season of Fox’s reality dance competition So You Think You Can Dance in 2006.

Bean, of course, starred on Broadway in Wicked as the wicked witch "Elphaba" and brought down the house in Hairspray. She's since moved on to conquer the music charts with her own R&B/pop albums, touring the country to sold out audiences. I've previously written about Shoshana extensively - find more posts about the diva here.

It was only recently that I learned Bean recorded the original demo of "This is Me," which won the 2018 Golden Globe for Best Original Song. But, with her still strong Broadway roots, it comes as no surprise.

Bonus point for the recording - Proceeds from downloads and streams of the new cover benefit the Los Angeles LGBT Center.

While I enjoyed the song in the context of the film, the powerful point on view here is both Wall and Bean bring their impressive powers to bear on a collaboration where, in my opinion, the song finds its new universal destiny.

Talking about the recording, Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein wrote, "My daughter, Shoshana Bean, takes this song and makes it her own, which means... she makes it OURS."

Take a look below, and you can download the song here.

Song Of The Day: Cub Sport "Good Guys Go"

Cub Sport leader singer Tim Nelson

"Good Guys Go," the latest single and music video from Australian band Cub Sport, is a moody, melancholy, chill synth track born from the loneliness of unhealthy relationships.

"'Good Guys Go' is about an imbalanced relationship where one person is doing everything they can to keep the other up but it isn’t being reciprocated," said lead singer Tim Nelson in an interview with OUT. "It’s more-or-less about carrying the burden of emotional labour for yourself and your partner."

In the video, saturated color, light, and sensual shadows are utilized as musical metaphors for the rigors of imperfect relationships.

Check out the new video below:

New Music: MILCK "This Is Not The End"

New music today from MILCK, who became a viral sensation performing her song "Quiet" at the Women's March in Washington, D.C. last year.

"Quiet" went on to hit number 1 on Billboard’s 20 Best Protest Songs of 2017.

Her latest single, "This Is Not The End," is from her upcoming self-titled EP on Atlantic Records.

The soaring, powerful anthem follows "Quiet" in underscoring her message of resistance and self-empowerment.

I will hunt my hunters down
Take back my broken crown
I will look them in the eye
Will not be the beast that hides
I will hunt my hunters down
This is not the end
Trouble will not take me in

Speaking to Billboard on the release of an acoustic studio version of "Quiet," she said, “Whoever relates to this song and can garner some type of joy or support and to think on it and feel less alone. This is what music did for me growing up and still does now."

Look for MILCK on The Today Show January 19 where she will perform "Quiet."

She will also headline the Women’s March on New York City on Saturday, January 20th.

Listen to "This Is Not The End" below.

Christmas Music: Natalie Toro "Just In Time For Christmas"

From Broadway actress Natalie Toro's Christmas CD, "Just In Time For Christmas."

Natalie brings her infectious energy and powerhouse vocals, coupled with luscious tones to melt any heart with the release of her new, eclectic holiday collection. The CD features classic holiday favorites, new songs and, duets with such artists as Ryan Kelly (of Celtic Thunder) and 3-time Grammy Award winner, Jon Secada.

And who doesn't love new holiday music to add to your library?

Among the selections on the album, Toro showcases holiday classics as well as more obscure gems - "I'll Be Home For Christmas", "Ave Maria" and "The Christmas Song" as well as "Once Upon A Christmas Song" and more.

You'll love her "over the bar" key change near the end of "Just In Time For Christmas" below.

You can check it out on Amazon or iTunes.

New Music: Hercules & Love Affair - "Omnion" Feat. Sharon Van Etten

Hercules & Love Affair drop their new single release “Omnion” ft. Sharon Van Etten today, and the electronica collaboration is clearly the result of a mutual admiration society between the artists.

Balancing lithe and soothing vocals with a crackling rhythmic texture, “Omnion” is the title track of the act’s forthcoming fourth studio album, scheduled for release on September 1st via Big Beat Records.

Featuring vocals from New York singer-songwriter Sharon Van Etten, the track is, according to Hercules front man Andy Butler, an ode to “a childlike dialogue with a higher entity voiced through the filter of a broken adult male.”

Speaking of Van Etten, Butler says, "I feel so blessed to have had Sharon Van Etten sing ‘Omnion.’ She is an artist of incredible depth and authenticity and her voice is so inviting yet truly has a mystery about it. Those qualities rendered a beautiful interpretation of a song that is ultimately an appeal to the divine for help and healing. With such a generous spirit and kindness about her, she was a joy to work with.”

Van Etten clearly shares the sentiment: "This song is so vulnerable, but strong. Coming to terms with identity and finding community... It's a very important time to share in that sentiment. I really appreciate Andy reaching out to collaborate. His heart beats in his songs.”

Check out "Omnion" below.

Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand, David Bowie, The Wiz Selected For Preservation At Library Of Congress

Via Broadway World:

Judy Garland’s “Over the Rainbow” Barbra Streisand’s “People” and the original cast album of Broadway’s THE WIZ are among the 25 titles which will be preserved by the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry for 2016.

Each year, the Librarian of Congress selects 25 songs that are “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant” and at least 10 years old. This year’s collection spans the years 1888 to 1997, bringing the total number of songs on the Registry’s list to 475.

Upon learning that her song “People”, composed by Jule Styne with lyrics by Bob Merrill, had been selected, Barbra Streisand commented that the honor was both “humbling and gratifying.” “This is the prestigious treasure house in which American art is archived and acknowledged as part of the flow of our nation’s culture,” she said. “I believe ‘People’ touched our common desire to relate to others with love and caring, and I’ve always tried to express this in my renditions of this magical song.”

The 2016 National Recording Registry titles follow (in chronological order)

1. The 1888 London cylinder recordings of Col. George Gouraud (1888)
2. "Lift Every Voice and Sing" (singles), Manhattan Harmony Four (1923); Melba Moore and Friends (1990)
3. "Puttin' on the Ritz" (single), Harry Richman (1929)
4. "Over the Rainbow" (single), Judy Garland (1939)
5. "I'll Fly Away" (single), The Chuck Wagon Gang(1948)
6. "Hound Dog" (single), Big Mama Thornton (1953)
7. "Saxophone Colossus," Sonny Rollins(1956)
8. The Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants at the Polo Grounds, announced by Vin Scully (September 8, 1957)
9. "Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs," Marty Robbins(1959)
10. "The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery," Wes Montgomery (1960)
11. "People" (single), Barbra Streisand (1964)
12. "In the Midnight Hour" (single), Wilson Pickett(1965)
13. "Amazing Grace" (single), Judy Collins (1970)
14. "American Pie" (single), Don McLean (1971)
15. "All Things Considered," first broadcast (May 3, 1971)
16. "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars," David Bowie (1972)
17. "The Wiz," original cast album (1975)
18. "Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975)," Eagles (1976)
19. "Scott Joplin's Treemonisha," Gunter Schuller, arr. (1976)
20. "Wanted: Live in Concert," Richard Pryor (1978)
21. "We Are Family" (single), Sister Sledge (1979)
22. "Remain in Light," Talking Heads (1980)
23. "Straight Outta Compton," N.W.A. (1988)
24. "Rachmaninoff's Vespers (All-Night Vigil)," Robert Shaw Festival Singers (1990)
25. "Signatures," Renée Fleming (1997)

New Music: Leon Else "The City Don't Care"

British singer/songwriter Leon Else, follows up his 2016 hit singles “Black Car” and “Dance,” with his new track, “The City Don’t Care,” featuring Oliver.

Else, the man Elvis Duran says "is about to be a star," says he wrote the song based on his experiences in Los Angeles.

“There is a fine line between dreams and nightmares, and I felt like I was experiencing both. So I wanted to do a song that musically felt like I was driving through paradise — the sun setting, the pink skies, the palm trees over the ocean, the city in the distance — but, lyrically, I wanted it to be about the dark side, the lonely side, and the deceiving side of the city; everyday being the same old shit."

I love the visual. Before I even read the quote, Else's new song reminded me of a sequence from the 1980s hit TV series Miami Vice that featured Don Johnson racing through the streets of Miami to the tune of Glenn Frey's "You Belong to the City."

This being about LA, the vibe here is more laid-back.

I like the rich 80s synth vibe set against the melancholy of the lyric.

I guarantee you'll be hearing this at afternoon pool/beach parties this summer.

New Music: "Billy Porter Presents The Soul of Richard Rodgers"

Billy Porter Presents The Should of Richard Rodgers

My longtime friend (and Tony Award winner!) Billy Porter drops his newest music project, Billy Porter Presents The Soul of Richard Rodgers.

The new album is Billy's 4th studio album, and his first as producer and content curator.

Via press release:

“I like to think of this as the Richard Rodgers version of the Hamilton Mixtapes,” Porter said. “These are classic songs that everybody knows and loves, and I’m so excited for people to hear them in a brand new way.”

Tony and Grammy Award-Winner Billy Porter’s new studio album, Billy Porter Presents The Soul of Richard Rodgers, will be released April 14, 2017 and will be available for pre-order tomorrow (Friday, March 3), it was announced today by Bee & El and Sony Masterworks Broadway.

 The album, which features new, soulful takes on classic Richard Rodgers songs, includes solos and duets from the following artists (in addition to Porter himself): Tony and Grammy Award winners Cynthia Erivo (The Color Purple), Renée Elise Goldsberry (Hamilton) and Leslie Odom Jr. (Hamilton), Tony Award-winner Patina Miller (Pippin), Grammy Award winners Pentatonix and India.Arie, Tony Award nominees Brandon Victor Dixon (Shuffle Along), Joshua Henry (Violet), and Christopher Jackson (Hamilton), alongside YouTube sensation and Kinky Boots star Todrick Hall and multiple Grammy Award nominees Deborah Cox and Ledisi.

The complete track listing for Billy Porter Presents The Soul of Richard Rodgers:

1. "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning" (Pentatonix & Billy Porter)

2. "My Romance" (Leslie Odom Jr.)

3. "If I Loved You" (Renée Elise Goldsberry & Christopher Jackson)

4. "With a Song in My Heart" (Brandon Victor Dixon & Joshua Henry)

5. "I Have Dreamed" (Patina Miller)

6. "My Funny Valentine" (Cynthia Erivo)

7. "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair" (Todrick Hall & Billy Porter)

8. "This Nearly was Mine" (Deborah Cox)

9. "Bewitched" (Ledisi featuring Zaire Park)

10. "Carefully Taught" (India.Arie & Billy Porter)

11. "Lady is a Tramp" (Billy Porter featuring Zaire Park)

12. "Edelweiss" (Billy Porter)

The pre-order for the album begins today, with an expected April 14 release date. Pre-order now on iTunes and immediately download Billy's reinterpretation of "Edelweiss."

Listen to "Edelweiss" below:

Radio Show: Recording Artist Chloe Lattanzi Feels NO PAIN

My latest radio show on BlogTalkRadio gave me the chance to have a really upclose and personal chat with singer/actress Chloe Lattanzi about her debut album, NO PAIN, which has been released to critical praise.

Here's the show description:

Acclaimed singer/songwriter and actress Chloe Lattanzi releases her debut solo album, NO PAIN (co-written and co-produced with Jarrad Rogers), the follow-up to her #1 Billboard Dance Club hit, “You Have To Believe,” the acclaimed collaboration with her mother, international superstar Olivia Newton-John.

Chloe began the project when she was signed to Warner Australia at the early age of 17, as a creative outlet to express her personal battle with body dysmorphia and anorexia. Although some leaked demos created excitement for the project, it was eventually put on hold as Chloe addressed her inner demons.

“When I was making NO PAIN thirteen years ago, it was ‘never good enough’ in my mind. Perfection was important to me. Now, the state-of-mind I’m in, I can hear the beauty and the vulnerability of the journey I was taking when I was making the album, and I wanted to share it with the world. I’m proud of it now.”

Mike Wass, writing for Idolator says, “We’ve been blessed by the occasional stand-alone single (2010’s “Wings And A Gun” and 2011’s “Play With Me”) and a club-conquering duet with her mom. But none of those tracks rival the greatness of (NO PAIN). Chloe has a distinctive voice and, more importantly, something to say.”

Chloe’s Billboard debut, “You Have to Believe,” became the very first #1 hit on the Billboard Dance Club chart by a mother/daughter team. The music video inspired former Backstreet Boy, Nick Carter, to create a role for her in his successful zombie film, Dead 7, which premiered earlier this year on the SyFy Channel.

In 2008, Chloe garnered national attention on the MTV reality show Rock the Cradle, where she was the last female singer standing, coming in third in the finale.

I really hope you hit play below and take a listen. Chloe is quite frank about a lot of her journey through anorexia and body dysmorphia. Good on her for inspiring others.

Music: Giorgio Moroder "Good For Me" Featuring Karen Harding

The year 2015 marked the return of legendary music producer Giogio Moroder when he dropped his first full-length album in forever - Déjà Vu.

Now, Moroder keeps the disco ball spinning with his new single, “Good For Me,” featuring British vocalist Karen Harding.

“My goal is to make music that will make people want to dance, nothing else,” Moroder told EW. “When I first met Karen, I couldn’t believe how young and talented she is! She was so excitable! The studio atmosphere was very fun. When I heard her voice, and met her in person I knew it would be perfect. She is a talented girl, radiating beauty inside and out.”

New Music: Lady Gaga "Perfect Illusion"

Lady Gaga thrilled her little monsters with her first new single in three years - "Perfect Illusion."

The break-up song starts off with strong rock guitar riffs, leading into powerful vocals from Gaga. The lyrics may not be her deepest as the song is a whole lot of repeating "It was the perfect illusion," but her fans are sure to be thrilled.

You can check it out on iTunes here.

New Music: Martin Garrix & Bebe Rexha "In The Name Of Love"

Add this to your weekend party mix.

Electronic dance music’s youngest and fastest rising dj/musician/songwriter/producer Martin Garrix releases a brand new single “In The Name of Love” featuring singer/songwriter Bebe Rexha.

The 20 year old switches thing up combining piano, bass, and guitar strums in place of drums for much of the track to provide percussion, but don't worry - when that massive drop kicks in, Garrix delivers that EDM euphoria.

This new single comes on the heels of Garrix’s announcement earlier this week that he has signed with RCA in the US and Sony Music international worldwide.

New Music: Clean Bandit "Tears" Featuring Louisa Johnson

Grammy Award-winning quartet Clean Bandit, known for combining classical technique with pop music, makes a run at Song of the Summer with new single, "Tears."

The track features vocals from the UK’s 2015 X Factor winner Louisa Johnson, and hasn’t left iTunes’ UK Top 5 chart and the UK’s Top 10 Official Singles Chart for six consecutive weeks.

The music video for ‘Tears’ is directed by band member and creative force, Jack Patterson. Incorporating fire, water and slow motion, the video even features a cameo from the owl that played Hedwig in the Harry Potter movies!

From Patterson: “We always make our own videos, and this one has been an amazing experience. There are zero special effects and we did everything in front of the camera. As you’ll see, there’s a lot of water and fire and even a special guest cameo from the Harry Potter owl, Hedwig! The video conveys the fire you need to find within yourself in order to part from a person you love.”

The band's violinist, openly gay Neil Amin-Smith, was in a high-profile relationship with Years & Years' Olly Alexander that ended last year.