Weekend Starters by SIRPAUL, Matt Alber, Cazwell, and Darren Ockert

Clockwise: Music from SIRPAUL, Matt Alber, Cazwell, and Darren Ockert.

I just decided to put together a post of some recent singles released by some of my favorite artists, all ready to make your weekend that much better, for a Friday morning post to kick off your weekend with style. Four out and proud artists, all making music that makes you wanna get out of your chair and shake your groove thing like there was no tomorrow. They all take on love in a different way, in a different form. But whether the beat is bold and bright, or is smooth and sleek, the singers are tie it all together with exceptional performances. Our first cut is a perfect example of this, as SIRPAUL sings "Every Single Moment", his hot single off his just-released album 'Seventh Star'. SIRPAUL sings about love so strong, you don't want to be apart from that special someone even for a moment. So please enjoy SIRPAUL singing "Every Single Moment".

"Every Single Moment" can be found on 'Seventh Star', which is available for purchase from iTunes and Amazon. To learn more about SIRPAUL, visit his official website. You can also find him in the social medias, 'like' him on Facebook, and 'follow' him on Twitter. On his recent album 'Constant Crows', he included a track he wrote, "Tightrope". The acoustic track, with an underlying Latin beat that is kinda sexy, has a softness that truly warms the heart. For me, the song is about new love, when you are trying to see if someone can meet you in the middle, so you don't have to show too much. Well, some wonderful DJs remixed the song, and gave it more urgency, a bit of an edge. Matt packaged a few of the remixes, and made them available on iTunes, and made a fun new video as well. This is the official music video for "Tightrope" by Matt Alber.

You can purchase the Remixes from iTunes and Amazon. The proceeds benefit Larkin Street Youth Services, a charity that helps out with homeless and runaway Youth. To learn more about Larkin Street, visit their official website. For more about Matt Alber, visit his official website. While you are there, you can join his mailing list, to be kept up to date on the latest from Alber. You can also "like" him on Facebook, and 'follow' him on Twitter. While the album 'Short Story Long' just came out this week, the single and music video for "Crumbs" surfaced a few weeks ago, and it is a song I play again and again. From the stadium stomping at the beginning, you know Ockert means business. The song is about the search for love, for the person ready to let down the walls and invite you in. He's looking for it all, not just what crumbs someone has to offer him. I hope you enjoy the official music video for Darren Ockert's "Crumbs".

"Crumbs" can be found on the album 'Short Story Long', which can be purchased from iTunes and CD Baby, or you can purchase the CD from Amazon. For more about Darren Ockert, visit his official website. You can also 'like' him on Facebook, or 'follow' him on Twitter. And last, but certainly not least, we have rapper Cazwell exploring a whole different kind of love, the, well, love of self. No, not that kind, but when you feel the need to share endless photos of yourself in various poses and states of undress on all the social media platforms. We all know at least one or two people like that right? Well, Cazwell captures them perfectly with the song "No Selfie Control", and looks damn good doing it. And, best of all, sounds great, too! Have a blast with Cazwell as he sings "No Selfie Control".

You can purchase "No Selfie Control" from iTunes. To learn more about Cazwell, visit his official website. You can also 'like' him on Facebook, and 'follow' him on Twitter. And have a great weekend, and don't forget to take some advice from KC, of KC & the Sunshine Band, and "do a little dance, make a little love, and get down tonight!"

Darren Ockert • Short Story Long

I first discovered the music of Darren Ockert as a judge for the 2012 RightOutTV Music & Video Awards, when he won Best Electronic/Dance/Hip-Hop/R&B Song for "This Modern Life (1984)", off his EP 'The Rain From London'. I immediately went out to Download the EP, which I loved. It was a great collection of ElectroPop elixirs, eager to fix what ever is ailing you. Darren's music has a real sparkle to it, and I was eager for more. I was so excited I couldn't wait when I heard he was getting set to release a new album, I couldn't restrain myself, and pre-ordered it! I couldn't wait to get it, and was thrilled when November 12, 2013 finally came, and I could download 'Short Story Long'!

Needless to say, the moment I got the notice my purchase was available for download, I was hitting the button, getting even more excited. And it only follows suit that I would hit the 'play' button the minute it was done, and I got my first taste of 'Short Story Long'. The first track is "You Don't Know Me", a great song I had heard before, and will be hearing for some time to come. I just can't get enough of it, so I will share with you the music video for "You Don't Know Me".

The minute I heard Darren sing "Can't Think Straight", a smile grew, I must admit. The song manages to combine a youthful confusion with the innocence of the age. There is also an edge to it, a touch of anger growing out of the confusion. But there is a wonderful joy there, and I love it. That is followed by "Force of Gravity", which slows it down just a bit. Soon the chorus takes off, and the magnificence of the effect of gravity, pulling us back to earth, is a wonderful thing. There is a wonderful flirty, coy feeling on "Not Your Boyfriend", the boy teasing a girl about being her friend, but not her boyfriend. The song have a delicious feel I had a tough time not hitting replay every time I hear it. With the next song, I have to say, we've all been there before, going back to an ex, even though we knew why it didn't work to start with. Indeed, we've all been "Back For More".

From the very beginning, "Running Out of Love" sounded like it was gonna be told from the heart, and it certainly delivered. I know I've been in a relationship (or two) when you saw and felt the end coming, but opted to ignore it and keep running until we were empty. There is an interesting sexiness and strength to "Don't Let The Bastards Get You Down". The energy and tempo are opening up the throttle, looking to stand tall in the light, not succumbing to haters and bullies, looking to tear you down. There is a whole lot of joy in this one, and it is infectious. And speaking of catchy, "This Modern Life (1984)" is a glorious offering, a brilliant Pop confection with a hint of 1980s Pop without losing footing in the music of today. I cannot resist dancing to this one, fist pumping in the air. As the beginning of "Crumbs" starts, I remember how much I loved this when I saw the recent music video.

The lightness of the music for the beginning of "Center of Attention" belies the depth of the song, dealing with Mommy issues and other things that take you out of a relationship, leaving a partner very lonely. "Everybody's Lonely" starts out with the overall human condition, telling us that "everybody's lonely, everybody hurts". Ain't that the truth, that is one of the common denominators we all share, at least with a few relationships in all our lives. Maybe, just maybe, if we reached out to others when we feel this, could it help? With "I've Moved On", we've reached the last cut on the album. With music this good, it hardly seems like I've been listening for more than 15 minutes, yet the clock tells me 45 minutes has actually passed. The song talks about that moment when we know we must move away from a situation, a relationship that has become toxic to our lives and well-being. We all knew it wasn't the easy solution, but the only one that might help us spare our heart, and our spirit. This is a great conclusion to the album, the affirmation that we must take better care of ourselves at times, protecting us from the inertia that pins us in unhealthy relationships. The album is all about emotional release, from new love to moving on. There is much joy, a lot of love, and so much heart to be shared in the music, it is simply irresistible. You can download 'Short Story Long' from iTunes and CD Baby, or you can purchase the CD from Amazon. For more about Darren Ockert, visit his official website. You can also 'like' him on Facebook, or 'follow' him on Twitter.

Darren Ockert • "Crumbs" Music Video

Miami-based singer/songwriter Darren Ockert has a new music video out, featuring the second single off the upcoming album, 'Short Story Long'. 'Crumbs' is a classic story of love gone wrong, when we try to make things work that might not be the best idea. The music video features Ockert as that voice in our head, telling us things we might not want to hear. Once we start listening to that voice, and are no longer willing to take the 'crumbs' we are tossed, we just might be able to find something new. Enjoy the music video for Darren Ockert's "Crumbs".

I love the song, and can't wait to have it on my iPod. I just really love the music that Ockert makes, and am excited to get the new album. For more about Darren Ockert, visit his official website. You can also 'like' him on Facebook, or 'follow' him on Twitter. 'Short Story Long' will be released November 12, 2013, and you can pre-order the new album from iTunes. To check out the first single off the album, "You Don't Know Me", I have posted about it here.

Darren Ockert • You Don't Know Me

Miami-based Indie-ElectroPop artist Darren Ockert has a new single and music video out, and now seems like the right time to share it with you all. The song is brand new, so I am hoping that means a new album might be coming soon. But before that, we certain have this song, with a catchy hook and a music video that is charming and funny, much like what I think Darren might be like should I ever have the opportunity to meet him. I hope you enjoy the music video for "You Don't Know Me" as much as I do.

Wasn't that fun? And weren't you singing along with the chorus by then end? Well, I was! For more about Darren Ockert, visit his official website. You can also 'like' him on Facebook, or 'follow' him on Twitter. You can purchase the single "You Don't Know Me" from iTunes and Amazon.

Out In The Rain • Out Artists Singing About Weather

It was all over the television, there was a big storm coming to the area. According to both local newcasts and 'The Weather Channel', this was going to be a quick by hard storm. There were reports of the dark clouds coming in, and making it seem more like night than day. High winds and heavy rains would make it seem more like a monsoon than a spring shower, so they said. Soon the thunder and lightening could be heard in the distance, and some dark clouds came rolling in. It turned the day gray, not quite the darkness we expected. The wind blew a bit, but not enough to send the sheets of rain that followed too far. And just as quickly as it come in, it moved on through. The sky to the East showed the effects of lightning, flashing more dimly as the sound of moved further and further away.

With the storm gone, it left a glistening sheen on the plants, and puddles on the driveway with the occasional ripples from the drops off the trees. The birds came out, looking to eat, flying from one spot to another to check for worms and insects. Life was quickly back to normal. But it lasted long enough to make me think of songs about rain, some you might be familiar with, others refreshingly new. The first is a song by Darren Ockert, from his album 'Anything Is Possible'. There is a wonderful feel to the song, the sound of rain made in musical form. Enjoy "Out of the Rain" by Darren Ockert.

You can purchase 'Anything Is Possible', the album which features "Out of the Rain" on iTunes and Amazon. The next song has a beauty that is stunning in conjunction with the description of Manhattan's 8th Avenue. This is a very different rain than what I just experienced on the farm, but one I do remember from the decade I spent living in New York City. Dudley Saunder's evocative and intoxicating "The Rain on 8th Avenue" just fills me up like few songs could.

You can purchase the album 'Emergency Lane', which features "The Rain on 8th Avenue" on iTunes, Amazon, and Bandcamp. There is a wonderful tone to "The Rain", the beautiful song by Anna Gutmanis, off the album 'Glimmer in the Dark'. While listening, I begin to feel bewitched, transported into the story.

You can purchase 'Glimmer in the Dark', which features the song 'The Rain', on iTunes, Amazon, and Bandcamp. And finally, after bringing those three original songs to the post, I thought I would bring a classic in to complete the post. Matt Gold sings the classic "Come Rain or Come Shine", written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer, but puts his own stamp on it, giving it new life. I found the song on his SoundCloud page, and am very glad I did. Here is Matt Gold singing "Come Rain or Come Shine".

You can find the song on Matt's SoundCloud page. If you'd like to check out more of Matt's music, he recently released the excellent album 'Drown Before You Swim'. You can purchase Drown Before You Swim' on iTunes and Amazon. And I hope this 'rain' music has helped brighten your rainy day at least a little bit.

Music for a Rainy Night

Clockwise: Darren Ockert; Janis Ian; Matt Gold; and Dave Koz.

Here on the East coast, the rain started during the middle of the night, and has continued all day, at least for us. There are some reports it might change to snow, but so far, it has not. As I look out the window, I can hardly see, for the rain has beaten through the screen, causing a watery blur to make outside seem distant. So the cold and damp day also makes me want to reach for a blanket to curl up on the sofa, or even to crawl back into bed, snug in a warm blanket or two. All this made me think of a song or two, perfect to capture this feeling. It was then the light bulb went on, and I knew what I was going to post about - the rain. So I opened up iTunes, typed in 'rain' to see what came up. And a stunning 472 possibilities came up, giving me plenty of room to pick and choose. I decided to go with artists who were out and proud members of the LGBT community, making beautiful music. I still trimmed further, simply by picking some favorite songs. And one of those favorites is by Darren Ockert, an ElectroPop singer/songwriter. His song "Out of the Rain" is off his album 'Anything Is Possible'. The chorus is so damn catchy, I find the song irresistible.

You can purchase the album 'Anything Is Possible' on iTunes or Amazon. Folk artist Janis Ian is best known for her stunning "At Seventeen", a song that takes a close look at a young woman coming of age, and the pressures that come with maturing into womanhood. Her songs were often stories that were based on her experience, coming straight from the heart. Such is the case for the next song, "Night Rains". The moody song captures the feelings and emotions behind one of the rainy nights. Enjoy Janis Ian singing "Rainy Nights", off the album of the same name.

You can purchase the album 'Night Rains' on iTunes. There is something very sexy about listening to the Jazz Saxophone, which is almost doubled when I know it is a handsome man like Dave Koz. And when it is a song that seems to spen a bit of time steeping, and a little time brooding, all while you listen, I can't help but think this is a wonderful treat. That is how I feel about "Lullaby for a Rainy Night", a hit single off the 1996 album 'Off The Beaten Path'.

You can purchase the album 'Off The Beaten Path' on iTunes or Amazon. For the final song of the post, I picked a song that was written by Harold Arlen with lyrics by great Johnny Mercer. "Come Rain or Come Shine" was published in 1946, and quickly became a favorite of singers around the world. Some of the greatest names in the music business have taken their turn, an a couple have already appeared on this blog. I love when an artist can take a classic like this song, and deliver a performance from their heart that stands by itself, and I think I found that when I heard singer/songwriter Matt Gold take on "Come Rain or Come Shine". This song is a Jazz standard, but in this live performance, Gold makes it sound new and fresh. Listen for yourself.

Unfortunately, Matt Gold's performance of "Come Rain or Come Shine" is not available for purchase. But you can buy his debut album 'Drown Before You Swim' on iTunes or Amazon. And you can also listen to it on his Soundcloud page. I hope you are staying warm and dry this wet and chilly day.

RightOutTV Awards 2012 • Blinded By Stardust & Darren Ockert

In the final installment featuring the winners of the 2012 RightOutTV Music & Video Awards, I saved these winners to jump-start your Friday, to help kick off your weekend. Not only are both winners making excellent music, they also show the universal nature of both the awards as well as music itself. After all, the spotlight first falls on a musical project from Vienna, Austria. The group Blinded By Stardust was named the winner of the Best Electronic/Dance/Hip-Hop/R&B Video for their fantastic single, "Can't We Just Dance Instead (feat. Biuna)".

I love the song, but I will admit I had a tough time learning more about the group. For more about Blinded By Stardust, 'like' them on Facebook or subscribe to the YouTube channel. I can't seem to find a place to purchase the music, but you can check out their songs on Soundcloud.

Darren Ockert is an out and proud musician from England who is currently living and working in Miami, Florida. Ockert released his first album, 'Anything Is Possible,' in 2005. It is a wonderful collection of Electro-Pop, delicious, really. But fast-forward to earlier this year when Ockert released 'The Rain From London' EP, which featured the single that was named Best Electronic/Dance/Hip-Hop/R&B Song, "This Modern Life (1984)".

For more about Darren Ockert, visit his official website. You can also 'like' him on Facebook, or 'follow' him on Twitter. "This Modern Life (1984)" can be found on 'The Rain From London' EP, which can be purchased on iTunes, Amazon, or Ockert's online store. In fact, you can find his first album on those same retailers, and I can tell you I am thrilled to have it in my collection.

Well, that ties up the winners for the 2012 competition, and I would like to thank RightOutTV founders Marlee Walchuk and Tully Callender for inviting me to join the judging panel, and the opportunity to witness first-hand the depth of the competition among those in the LGBT community who nominated their music and videos. I remain proud of the commitment this blog makes to feature the music of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender artists, the the RightOutTV Awards brought new and interesting artists into my life. For that I will remain so very grateful. You can check out the website for RightOutTV, and discover an excellent line up of amazingly talented people making music from all over the world.