{"id":56043,"date":"2017-09-06T00:00:30","date_gmt":"2017-09-06T04:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/out-country-singer-brandon-stansell-talks-resisting-heartless-administration-through-music\/"},"modified":"2017-09-06T00:00:30","modified_gmt":"2017-09-06T04:00:30","slug":"out-country-singer-brandon-stansell-talks-resisting-heartless-administration-through-music","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/out-country-singer-brandon-stansell-talks-resisting-heartless-administration-through-music\/","title":{"rendered":"Out country singer Brandon Stansell talks resisting \u2018heartless\u2019 administration through music"},"content":{"rendered":"

Out country singer Brandon Stansell talks resisting \u2018heartless\u2019 administration through music<\/b><\/p>\n

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Out gay<\/a> singer Brandon Stansell burst onto the country music scene in 2016 with his latest EP. Now, the California country crooner has written his first full-length album,\u00a0Slow Down<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"\"Over the past year, Brandon has quickly made his mark using his platform to speak his mind. The recently released\u00a0music video<\/a>, for the single \u201cSpare Change,\u201d is his latest to feature powerful messages of acceptance and inclusion for all marginalized communities. In addition, the emerging artist recently performed at St. Louis Pride and Sacramento\u2019s Rainbow Festival.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Brandon is currently raising money to produce and release his first full-length album. For more information, visit:\u00a0tinyurl.com\/BrandonKICKS<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Brandon took some time to speak with GLAAD about his music career and resisting the current presidential administration through his music.<\/strong><\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

GLAAD: How did you get into the country music industry? What inspired you to get started?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Brandon Stansell: <\/strong>I love country music and have my entire life.\u00a0I grew up\u00a0in a small town just outside of Chattanooga but spent my entire childhood wanting to live<\/a> in Nashville (and thanks to my parents, who drove me back and forth almost every other day to sing in shows at what used to be Opryland USA, it basically felt that way at times). Regardless, growing up in Tennessee, I was surrounded by\u00a0country music. I’d wake up\u00a0listening to what my older siblings were into — Alabama, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, and Amy Grant. Musicians who have influenced me to this day.\u00a0Thank God my siblings had good taste.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Amy Grant, who was actually the outlier, is THE reason I started singing. I heard \u201cBaby Baby\u201d for the first time when I was five years-old and knew then what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. (A side note: I met Amy Grant shortly after hearing her song for the first time on her 1991 Heart In Motion Tour. We took a picture backstage together, and it proudly hangs in my apartment as a constant reminder of when this journey of mine first began.)<\/p>\n

GLAAD: What does it mean to you to be an out singer-songwriter?<\/strong><\/p>\n

BS: <\/strong>Well, it means I get to write and sing honestly about my life experiences. Country music is rooted in storytelling and my music is just that \u2013 my story. For anyone who has ever been to my live<\/a> show, they can tell you I talk candidly about my inspiration for songs, ranging from family to falling in love.\u00a0<\/p>\n

GLAAD: We\u2019ve seen a number of high profile LGBTQ moments in the country music community in recent years. How have you experienced the evolution of acceptance in country music?<\/strong><\/p>\n

BS<\/strong>: I think fans of country music are more accepting than they are given credit, although I do think there are still quite a few minds and hearts to change. I am so excited to say I am going to be a part of Ty Herndon\u2019s Concert for Love and Acceptance Show, which is something I think would have been inconceivable 10 years ago in this industry. It\u2019s an exciting time for gay<\/a> artists in country music and I am thrilled to be a part of the changing tides.\u00a0<\/p>\n

GLAAD: You\u2019ve stated in previous interviews that the video<\/a> for \u201cSpare Change\u201d is an act of \u201cjoyful resistance.\u201d What are you resisting?<\/strong><\/p>\n

BS: <\/strong>I\u2019m resisting this heartless administration. The message of the \u201cSpare Change\u201d video<\/a> is one of solidarity in resistance. And that this moment in time is a painful, but shared experience.\u00a0I wanted this video<\/a> to be as entertaining as it was thought-provoking. We have a president actively dismantling the rights of minorities in this country, and I wanted to use my music as my own form of protest.\u00a0One thing the queer community has always been good at is protesting in colorful and creative ways, so this new video<\/a> is just another voice in the choir. Like I always say, if you\u2019re going to take the time to make something, it better mean something. And at the end of the day, if anyone watches this video<\/a> and is kinder to one stranger\u2014especially someone who doesn’t look like them\u2014then I’m happy.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

GLAAD: What inspired you to tell the story told in the \u201cSpare Change\u201d video<\/a>?<\/strong><\/p>\n

BS: <\/strong>We started thinking through the treatment of this video<\/a> shortly after Trump announced and initiated his travel ban. I saw the world in an uproar, rightfully so, and wanted to make sure the moment didn\u2019t pass without me being on record as saying in some way of saying how vehemently I disagreed with the policies being enacted on innocents in this country.<\/p>\n

GLAAD: What would you tell LGBTQ young people living in the heartland?<\/strong><\/p>\n

BS: <\/strong>I would say, \u201cyou\u2019re not alone.\u201d Though our stories may differ in detail, I can honestly say I know what you\u2019re going through. And even though it\u2019s hard, and you may feel hopeless at times, I promise it will get better and you will be a stronger,\u00a0confident, and more self-sufficient person for having had this experience.\u00a0<\/p>\n

—<\/strong><\/p>\n

To keep up to date with Brandon, follow @brandonstansell on Twitter and Instagram.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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September 5, 2017<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Issues:\u00a0<\/div>\n