Valentine 2015 • Nhojj • Love

As part of my Valentine's Day celebration, I am offering up love songs from some of my favorite artists. If I were to make a list, Nhojj would certainly appear on it. It was a no brainer to say that his recording of "Love" would be appearing here. There is something so sweet, so sensual about the song, I find it impossible to resist. This is Nhojj singing "Love".

For more about Nhojj, visit his official website. You can also 'follow' him on Twitter, and 'like' him on Facebook. "Love" can be found on the album 'Love Songs', released in 2009. 'Love Songs' can be purchased from iTunes and Amazon.

Nhojj • Made to Love Him: Celebrating Love

Since I first discovered the music off Nhojj, I have found myself repeatedly enchanted and seduced by his work. I am constantly amazed how he can be both sweet and sexy in a single breath, but he does. While he has his own sound and style, it never overpowers the material, but adds to it. He combines the genres of Folk, Pop, and Jazz with South American and Caribbean sounds to make it all his own. From his 2001 release 'I've Been Waiting So Long' to 'Made to Love Him: Celebrating Love' that is being released today, I find myself being hypnotized by his music, in only the best way.

The new album is a collection of well-known love songs from the last 90 years, with twelve songs coming from songwriters like Eden Ahbez, India.Arie, Billy Joel, George & Ira Gershwin, Stevie Wonder, and so any others. With a diverse group of songs and style coming together like this, it is not always easy to make it come together in some coherent fashion, yet somehow, Nhojj accomplishes that feat. The album beings with a jazz version of "Over the Rainbow", the iconic song with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. 'Yip' Harburg for the 1939 blockbuster, 'The Wizard of Oz'. There is a wonderful ease to Nhojj's vocals, as he takes us on this journey, giving a freshness to an old favorite. He follows that up with another iconic song from the Great American Songbook, "Nature Boy". The song, written by Eden Ahbez written in 1947 and first recorded by the great Nat King Cole, sings to life quickly, with Nhojj showing how nimble he can be as a singer. Next up, we have "He Heals Me", a song off the 2009 album 'Testimony Vol. 2: Love & Politics', by India.Arie. This is a beautiful song, so spiritual and sensual. Here is Nhojj singing "He Heals Me".

When "She's Got A Way" was written by Billy Joel for release on his 1971 album, 'Cold Spring Harbor', I am not sure he gave much thought that it might have a gender reassignment. I first heard it as "He's Got A Way" from Bernadette Peters int he 1990s, and now I've heard it from the gay perspective with Nhojj. there is a sweetness, a gentle nature that is so lovely, and so beautiful, it is hard to resist. When it comes to big name writers, it is hard to top the team that put Motown on the map in the 1960s, and kept them there for some time after. Holland-Dozier-Holland created many of the hits from the label, including "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)". The song was written in 1964 by Lamont Dozier and brothers Brian Holland and Eddie Holland, and given life by the great Marvin Gaye. Nhojj gives the song a light Reggae feel, adding a bit of tropical love to the equation. Could any collection of love songs exist without at least one song from the Gershwin Brothers? I don't think so, and neither does Nhojj. George and Ira Gershwin wrote the music and lyrics for the 1926 musical, 'Oh, Kay!', including the great song "Someone To Watch Over Me". While it might be the oldest song in this collection, it shows no signs of aging with the fresh treatment. With a lovely piano treatment, the richness of Nhojj's voice tells me all I need to know. He follows this up with a a reworking of his song off the 2001 album 'I've Been Waiting For You'. "Waiting For You" was written by Nhojj, and given new life with an ethereal take, making it an intoxicating listen. "So Amazing" was written by Luther Vandross in the early 1980s, and first recorded by Dionne Warwick for her 1983 release. Nhojj also gives it an R&B feel, only keeps it a bit lighter and more buoyant. Last night, I featured Johnny Mathis singing the next song, and I was so happy to hear it again. "Twelfth of Never" was written by Jerry Livingston and Paul Francis Webster, and first recorded by Mathis in 1957. There is something truly inspiring about this song, and Nhojj helps tell the story of longing and loving with a strong vocal, keeping it lighter, not with a more expected heavy hand. With the most recent song of the collection, Nhojj follows up that classic with a song from 2011, sung by one of the biggest names of the music business of the last decade. "Love on Top" was written by Beyoncé Knowles, Terius Nash, and Shea Taylor for Beyoncé's 2011 album, '4'. This is a delicious confection, as Nhojj allows love to drive the song with some urgency, but never fails to take a moment to appreciate some tasty moments. "I Was Made to Love Him" is up next. The song was written by Stevie Wonder, his mother Lula Mae Hardaway, Sylvia Moy and producer Henry Cosby in 1967. It made it to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and it is easy to hear why. It is sweet, hooky, and honest. This is Nhojj singing "I Was Made To Love Him" live at a Pride show in New York City last year.

For the final track of the album, Nhojj goes back to the great George and Ira Gershwin for a real gem. "Our Love is Here To Stay" has music by George and lyrics by Ira, and first appeared in 1938's 'The Goldwyn Follies', the first Technicolor film produced by Samuel Goldwyn. The song went on to be sung by just about every great name in the music business, from Gene Kelly to Frank Sinatra to Ella Fitzgerald and so many others. Nhojj tackles the song with a light touch, a delightful Jazz take with his voice and a guitar. Once again, I could just eat it with a spoon. I can't get enough of this album, I keep playing it time and time again. You can purchase 'Made to Love Him: Celebrating Love' from iTunes, Amazon and Bandcamp. For more about Nhojj, visit his official website. You can also 'follow' him on Twitter, and 'like' him on Facebook.

RightOutTV Awards 2012 • Nhojj & Sonasfly

After taking a break for the weekend, it is time to restart the series spotlighting the winners of the 2012 RightOutTV Music & Video Awards. The depth in the categories was pretty amazing, and speaking as someone who was honored to have been asked to judge both in the preliminary round as well as the finals, it was never an easy choice. Some excellent music and musicians ended the competition without the win. But are certainly winners in my book. The first one we will check out will be the award for Best "Living Room" Performance. This category was topped by the amazingly talented Nhojj, for his video of him singing "He & Him." Nhojj released the song in February, and a few months later put this video up on YouTube. Enjoy the gifted and sexy singer/songwriter in his award-winning video.

You can purchase "He & Him" from iTunes, Amazon and Bandcamp. For more about Nhojj, visit his official website. You can also 'follow' him on Twitter, and 'like' him on Facebook.

Marlee and Tully of RightOutTV give one category to the fans of LGBT music, allowing them to vote for the Fan Favorite Award, from a list of all the artists who had a song or video nominated in the competition. To bring home the international nature of this contest, the Fan Favorite hails from Portugal. The winner is Sonasfly, a sexy member of the community. Here is her acceptance speech.

To learn more about Sonasfly, visit her official website. You can also 'follow' her on Twitter, or 'like' her on Facebook. I wasn't able to find a place to purchase her music, but I am sure that will change soon. To get a taste, here is the music video for "Carousel," which was also nominated for Best Video DIY (Do It Yourself). The song has such a beautiful and haunting quality to it. Enjoy!

Hope you enjoyed the music! Look for more tomorrow night.

2012 RightOutTV Award Nominees Announced

The RightOutTV entertainment industry judges have determined which LGBT Artists will vie for the 2012 RightOutTV Awards. The Awards’ global reach includes artists from Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Canada, the U.S., Australia, Portugal and Austria.

“Making choices between one great talent and another could not have been easy,” says Marlee Walchuk, co-producer the awards. “The judges have had a difficult job so far and as you can see from the nominees list, it is only going to get harder.”

Co-producer Tully Callender adds "I am so proud of the caliber of original music artists in our community, and one of the joys for me is discovering artists from around the world whom I can’t wait to add to my personal music library.”

Judging for round two begins Friday and the winners will be announced on October 29, 2012. Deadline for voting in the only award category determined by a vote of the public, the Fan Fave, is October 17, 2012. One vote per person is allowed in Fan Fave voting online here.

BEST POP / ROCK / ADULT CONTEMPORARY VIDEO
Jeffery Straker - Gone
Matt Fishel - The First Time
Derek Bishop - Take Him Away
Blinded By Stardust - Changes
Matt Zarley - Trust Me

BEST ELECTRONIC / DANCE / HIP HOP / R&B VIDEO
Saturn - Oblivion
Blinded by Stardust - Can't We Just Dance Instead (feat. Biuna)
Nhojj - My Brother
Young Kaii - Fantasy Girl
Lovari - Keep It Movin' (feat. Loco Ninja)

BEST FOLK / COUNTRY / JAZZ VIDEO
Kat Devlin - Dear Emmi
Steven Gallavin - My Baby Just Cares For Me
Suzanne Nuttall - I See Wild Horses
Charles K Brown - For My Best Friend
Jeffery Straker - Birchbark Canoe

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A LIVE VIDEO
Jen Foster - Taking Bob Dylan
Anna Gutmanis - People (Got To Get It Together)
Rachael Sage - Everything
Rev. Yolanda - Rev Yolanda's Old Time Gospel Hour - Finale
Tom Goss with Potomac Fever - You Don't Question Love

BEST "LIVING ROOM" PERFORMANCE
Norine Braun - 99%
Derek Bishop - Thinking About You
Nhojj - He & Him
Martin Swinger - God Loves
Grrlz will be Boiz - Don't Tell Her

BEST VIDEO DIY (Do It Yourself)
Blinded By Stardust - Changes
Charles K. Brown - Stanley
StormMiguel Florez - I've Been to Manhattan
Kat Devlin - Dear Emmi
Brett Every - What A Beautiful Day
Sonasfly - Carousel
Corday - Weekend Warrior

BEST VIDEO (PRO)
Steven Gallavin - My Baby Just Cares For Me
Matt Zarley - Trust Me
MAOR - Long Way Home
Matt Fishel - The First Time
Kelly and the Kellygirls - Nightsweats

BEST VIDEO SO FAR
Jen Foster - Closer to Nowhere
Kelly and the Kellygirls - Catherine Deneuve and the Deus ex Machina
Matt Fishel - Football Song
Matt Zarley - WTF
Darren Ockert - Celebrity du Jour
Jess McAvoy - Bring the House Down

BEST POP / ROCK / ADULT CONTEMPORARY SONG
Tom Goss - It's All Over
Corday - My Evil Twin
Jen Foster - You Stayed
Darren Ockert - The Rain from London
Matt Fishel - Behind Closed Doors

BEST ELECTRONIC / DANCE / HIP HOP / R&B SONG
Melange Lavonne - One of a Kind (Teen Suicide)
Lunatic-FLO - Gurl U So Fly
Baron - RadioHeart
Matt Zarley - Trust Me
Darren Ockert - This Modern Life (1984)

BEST FOLK / COUNTRY / JAZZ SONG
Summer Osborne - Be Still
Kat Devlin - 4 o'clock light
Emily Nyman - Time for the Marching to End
Lucas Kane Hall - 1985
Ezra Axelrod - American Motel

BEST SONG SO FAR
Matt Fishel - Football Song
Matt Zarley - Change Begins With Me
Jen Foster - I Didn't Just Kiss Her
Nash Satterfield - Down Yonder
Anna Gutmanis - I Am Who I Am

SONG OF THE YEAR
Matt Fishel - Behind Closed Doors
Kat Devlin - Dear Emmi
Kevin Wong - Baby Grand
Ezra Axelrod - American Motel
Darren Ockert - The Rain from London

In a personal note, it was an honor for me to participate in the competition as a judge, and I look forward to final judging. I am also very proud to say several of the nominated artists have appeared on this blog previously.

Nhojj • My Brother Music Video

Left to right: ButtaFlySoul; Baron; Nhojj; sean360x; and Sam Martinborough.

Nhojj has released a new video, and once again the artist scores high marks. The song, "My Brother" first appeared on the album Soul Comfort. The video features Nhojj, as well as creative artists Baron, ButtaFlySoul, Sam Martinborough, and sean360x. The song is a beautiful ballad, laced heavily with Soul and Jazz and Hip-Hop to create something fresh and from the heart. When asked about the creation of the song, Nhojj answered "I wrote the music and lyrics and the spoken word artists - sean360x and Baron wrote their words." That collaborative effort shows just the support the song is talking about.

Clockwise: Nhojj with Sam Martinborough; Nhojj & sean260x; Nhojj with ButtaFlySoul; and Nhojj with Baron.

The video also includes scenes of Nhojj with his brother, Sam Martinborough. "we are great friends" he told me. But that isn't the only relationship he has with the group. "All these artists have inspired me and helped me along my path - I wanted to share what we have with others and hopefully inspire others to appreciate the men in their lives." But there is also a wider, more universal theme the artists explore. "The goal of this music video is to show the possibilities that can exist in the realms of friendship between men," Nhojj explained, "and to remind viewers to cherish these special moments. I hope it provides a warm feeling and sends waves of love to the viewer because love is healing." Check out this amazing video for "My Brother".



If you enjoyed that as much as I did, you can purchase the "My Brother" single on iTunes, Amazon and CD Baby. You can purchase the album Soul Comfort from iTunes, Amazon, and CD Baby. As a proud owner of the album, I think it is fantastic and would highly recommend it! For more about Nhojj, visit his official website.

To learn more about the other artists, click on their names to visit their website: Baron, ButtaFlySoul, Sam Martinborough, and sean360x.

Sunday Morning with Nhojj

The 2012 London Olympics are not quite halfway completed, so I bet there are many participants who are making sure they are saying their prayers. Well, I would believe there are a certain number of athletes in the London Olympic Village who will be singing "Amazing Grace" by this point in the competition, either in a group, or quietly to themselves. They wish they could sound as good as Nhojj on this version.



You can purchase "Amazing Grace" on BandCamp, Amazon or iTunes. I think many of them might also be singing "Wade In The Water", and not just eh swimmers. The song is a great spiritual, first published at the turn of the 20th century, in 1901. Listen to the beautiful version recorded by Nhojj.



"Wade In The Water" is off the album I've Been Waiting For You. You can purchase the single or the album on iTunes and Amazon. You can find more about Nhojj at his official website.

Nhojj Tackles the Gershwins

Nhojj takes on a song composed by George Gershwin with lyrics by Ira Gershwin from the 1926 musical Oh, Kay!, "Someone To Watch Over Me", a classic in the Great American Songbook. He is performing at Joe's Pub at Rome Neal's Out - Jazz, A Tribute to LGBT Jazz Greats, a part of the Fresh Fruit Festival 2009. Along with Nhojj, we hear Yael Archer on Flute, Mara Rosenbloom on piano, Mary Rodriguez on drums and Tara Thierry on bass.



For more about Nhojj, you can visit his official website. You can also find him on Twitter and Facebook. You can also listen to and purchase his music at his online store at Bandcamp.

Nhojj • Wade In The Water

Nhojj just rereleased the song "Wade In The Water," off his 2001 album I've Been Waiting For You. The song, much like the rest of the album, is a tranquil and beautiful song, with a serene soul. There is just something so soothing, both inside and out. Check it out.



There is just so much to recommend about the album, but have to admit I have a bit strapped for time, this being a very busy weekend for me. So I would advise you to buy the album, and let Nhojj lay his magic on you. You can find out more about Nhojj on his official website. You can purchase I've Been Waiting For You or the song "Wade In The Water" from iTunes, Amazon, and Bandcamp.

Nhojj • Music & the Word

Check out this documentary featuring the gifts and talent of singer/songwriter Nhojj. Get to know him a bit better, and get a glimpse into his thoughts and musical process. This is an interesting 17 minute film. I think you should grab a drink and some popcorn, and be ready to enjoy yourself.



For more about Nhojj, visit his official website here, Facebook here, or Twitter here. Give him a shout some time, he is a wonderful man who is every bit as sweet as he is gorgeous.

Great Singles from 2011

Clockwise: Nhojj, Gavin Creel, Gareth Asher, and Ricky Martin.

There were many singles released this year that were of special interest to this blog, and four of them are appearing here on this post. In fact, all four are of similar theme, of people coming together, finding acceptance for the common good. Take, for instance, when the gifted Nhojj released a video for his version of the classic song, Amazing Grace, in support of marriage equality.



You can purchase Amazing Grace on iTunes, Amazon or visit Nhojj's official website.

Broadway star Gavin Creel has proven to be a talented and masterful voice on the New York stage, garnering Tony Award nominations for Best Actor in 2002 and 2009. He proved to have talents as a songwriter as well, working on a couple of non-Broadway releases. Recently, he wrote and recorded the song Noise, a song supporting equality nationwide. The proceeds from the sale of the single will go to Broadway Impact, which Creel co-founded with Rory O'Malley and Jenny Kanelos. Here he is, to make some Noise.



This single will be included on an album due out in the Spring. You can purchase Noise on iTunes, Amazon or visit Gavin's official website. You can also check out the official website for Broadway Impact.

After coming out as a happy gay man, Ricky Martin released his first single and video for The Best Thing About Me Is You. The video was a call for inclusivity, for the people of the world to fight against discrimination of any kind. And he looked damn good doing it.



You can purchase The Best Thing About Me Is You on iTunes, Amazon or visit Ricky's official website.

In early November, Atlanta-based singer/songwriter Gareth Asher released a new version of his song Get It Right. The new recroding was a collaboration with Nappy Roots, and was a call for the world community to strive to live together, to move past our differences and just Get It Right.



The song was originally found on Gareth's beautiful album, Between The Smiles And Tears. You can purchase Get It Right on iTunes, Amazon or visit Gareth's official website.

Nhojj • Adam & Steve

Who doesn't want to celebrate love? Well, I can tell you most, if not all the musicians I listen to on a regular basis do, and do it so very well at that. Most certainly, that is the case for Nhojj, whose music continually celebrates love, joy, and the person you are. His latest track, Adam & Steve, is no exception. In it, Nhojj celebrates the love between two people, be it Adam & Steve, Madame & Eve, or Adam & Eve. All perfect, just as they are.



Purchase you copy by clicking on the widget above. You can purchase it for a minimum of 99 cents. Get you copy and support independent music!

Nhojj • My Brother

Nhojj released a new song this week, and I almost missed it as I was recovering from the Hurricane and the aftermath - lack of electricity and internet. Well, I have caught up, purchased the song, and am loving listening to the remixes of My Brother, the sexy song off the Soul Comfort album.



You can purchase the single on Bandcamp here (or clicking above), on CD Baby here, and on iTunes here. And you can find out more about Nhojj by visiting his official website here, Facebook here, or Twitter here. Give him a shout some time, he is a wonderful man who is every bit as sweet as he is gorgeous.

OUTstanding R&B, Dance & Folk/Country Songs

I am continuing the series to spotlight the award winning entries for Rock, Pop and Hip-Hop for the 7th Annual OUTmusic Awards. The Awards were given in New York City.



I cannot express how pleased I am to announce that the winner of the OUTstanding R&B Song is The Gay Warrior Song by Nhojj. The gifted singer/songwriter picked up his second win in the category, having won last year for Love. Nhojj has been featured on this blog before (5 times, to be exact), and will undoubtedly again. He makes great music! You can buy the single on iTunes here, on Bandcamp here, and on Amazon.com here. While you are there, check out his other music - it is well-worth buying. You can discover more about the sexy man by checking out his official website here. Give a listen to the winning single, The Gay Warrior's Song, below.





To be named the OUTstanding Dance Song is impressive, as it is a hotly contested division. But when you give a listen to Intoxicated by Chadwick, you will know why he was victorious. You can purchase the single on iTunes here and on Amazon.com here. I don't really know a lot about the musician, but I like this song, and think I need to check the rest out, too. And it doesn't hurt that he is a yummy guy, you know? For more about Chadwick, check out his official website here. But first, give the song your ear, and it might just steal your heart.





Well, this handsome and sexy guy has been featured in a couple of posts on this blog, for as good-looking as he is, it is his talent that really shines through. When Justin Utley sings, he brings it straight from the heart to touch your soul. He was named the OUTstanding Folk/Country Song for his composition, Stand For Something. You can find it on iTunes here, on Amazon.com here, and on CD Baby here. Just a tip - I purchased the Extended Single, with the amazing Stand For Something as well as 3 additional cuts, all sung live. Highly recommended! I LOVE Runaway. You can find more about Justin by checking his official website here.




How great was it 2 of three of the winners have been featured on the blog already? In the next installment, I will feature the winners in the Jazz, Soundtrack, and Male Chorus categories. And I am pleased to say one of them have been featured here before! Can't wait! Don't forget to visit the official website of The Awards!

Nhojj - How Sweet The Sound

Every so often, music comes along that inspires, be that feelings, warmth, more creativity, who knows. When music can breathe a freshness into the air, when it makes inhaling an intoxicating affair, you know you've found something special. And just recently, Nhojj managed to do that to me with a new video, and it knocked me off my feet. The brilliant musician managed to cover a song that is over 230 years old, and made it step away from the spiritual to a more appealing soulful R&B sound, secular and more personal. Something I want in my collection.



With the video, he was able to do another remarkable thing. He took a centuries-old religious song, often used in services for groups wanting to discriminate against the LGBT community, and he takes back this traditional song that everyone knows, and put it in the context of civil rights, and the right to love. All the while, it also maintains a resident level of sexy that is irresistible.



As always, the vocal performance from Nhojj is outstanding, and he is so good in the video. I can't wait to be able to purchase this and make it a permanent part of my collection. You can find out more about Nhojj, check out his Official Website here.

New Song from Nhojj - Happy New Year

Over the weekend, the gifted and talented Nhojj released a new song, Happy New Year's Day. Like much of Nhojj's music, it is a celebration of love, quite joyous and strong. It has made the way onto my iPod, and I can already tell this will not be a holiday song that will see the light of day once a year, but something I will be listening to year-round. Check it out here.



To purchase the new song, click on the word 'BUY' above. You can buy it for a dollar! It is well worth it, and you would be supporting an out and proud singer/songwriter. For more about Nhojj, stop by his official website here. You can also check out his music on iTunes, including the album Love Songs, by clicking here.

Visit Nhojj for the Holidays

One of the things I love about writing this blog, and in my life in general, is when I happen across an artist who is new to me, and just wanna smack myself for not finding their music earlier. Such was the case with Nhojj, the talented and soulful singer/songwriter takes the vibe of great soul and R&B music, and places his own personal twist on it to set it apart. The out performer might bring in reggae and tribal beats to color the music, but it is his sweet and honest voice that makes the music soar. Of course, his stunning good looks and disarming smile don't hurt, either.

But I first came across Nhojj when I saw a release for his song The Gay Warrior Song, and found it intriguing and special. It drove me to iTunes, where I downloaded the song, followed shortly by his album, Love Songs. But first, here is my initial contact with the man's music, videoed at Indianapolis Gay Pride.



The album was sleek, sexy and strong, and made me want to curl up on my sofa with someone special. For the moment, however, a nice warm cup of tea will have to do. I can't tell you how happy I was that Nhojj agreed to be a part of the holiday series! And in case I didn't already think the man was charming and sweet, he opened up his end of the interview with "Thank you so much for all the love and support - you are the best!" This kinda sealed the deal for me... But, back to the burning questions of the season, like what is the holiday music Nhojj likes to listen to? "I love Someday at Christmas by Jackson 5," was his answer, and I found that brought a warmth to my heart, too.



So I had to ask if he had a favorite holiday song to perform? "This Christmas by Donny Hathaway," came back with no hesitation. Not that I can blame him, cause it is a great song by a remarkable artist.



With 2011 just over a week away, what are his hopes for the New Year? "To get more in touch with my creative, spiritual self," he answered. Well, I certainly don't know Nhojj well enough to disagree, but it seems to me that after listening to his music, the man is fairly centered and seems remarkably in touch his his self.

Time for the iPod question, one of my favorites. Exactly what is Nhojj's favorite song/music from 2010? "Whip my Hair by Willow Smith..." he said, laughing. "I loved that it was fun and affirming."

Musically speaking, what is he looking forward to in 2011? "Becoming a better guitarist," he answered, much to my surprise. After all, this is not a newcomer, by any means. Nhojj is already and award-winning artist, picking up Best R&B Song at the OutMusic Awards for 2009 for the remarkable Love. The music video for Love was also nominated for Video of the Year in 2010 by OutMusic, a true tribute to the man's talent. Check out the video.



For more about Nhojj, stop by his official website here. You can also check out his music on iTunes, including the album Love Songs, by clicking here.

Nhojj - It Gets Better with Love

The OUTMusic Award winning artist has added his effort to the It Gets Better campaign the way he knows best by adding his songwriting skills and amazing voice to the chorus of people who speak to the LGBT Youth suffering from bullying and discrimination. Like the rest of Nhojj's music, Things Will Get Better is beautiful, with an ethereal quality and sung from the heart. But rather than have me blather on, this is the song.



It is availabe for purchase on Bandcamp for 99 cents. You can click here to buy it here. The lyrics to the song are:

Is this what they say?
Is this what they do?
That makes you want to fade away

Are these the words that they use?
Do they bully and abuse?
Just because you’re gay

Well I’ve been there before and I know how you feel
We all walk through this door
And somehow learn to live
And on the other side
You can stand with pride

Things will get better
Things will get brighter
I promise it will

Things will get better
Your days will look brighter
I promise it will

Amazing Grace
How sweet the sound
Love saves a child like me
I once was lost
But now I’m found
Was blind, but now I see

Things will get better
Life will shine brighter
I promise it will

Some will be nicer
Some will be kinder

Things will get better
Love will bring laughter

Things will get better
Love will bring laughter

Nhojj is no stranger to supporting others in the LGBT community. The out singer/songwriter won the OUTMusic Award from the song Love was voted 2009 Outstanding R&B/Soul Song of the Year, by The Alliance of LGBT Recording Artists & Performers. It marked the first time an African American male won an OMA. For the 2010 OMAs, the video for the song has been nominated.



Earlier this year, Nhojj made history a second time when his gay music video Love topped the MTV Music video chart. He has been featured in The Advocate, About.com, and appeared on LOGO, New York 1, WNYE / WNYC TV Channel 25, an affiliate of the PBS Television Network. To find out more about this amazing artist, check out his official website here.

Nhojj Sings Love Songs

Sometimes, I just get lucky, and the other day that was the case on YouTube. I am wont to wonder around on it, looking for new music, and this time, I was lucky enough to find it. Well, at least new to me. I stumbled across the music of Nhojj, and boy, am I glad I did. The one I stumbled across was Love, and it sent me scrambling for iTunes and buying the Love Songs EP. The smooth and sexy soul songs are just beautiful. Here's Love.



So, I figured it was time I tried to learn a little bit about Nhojj. I went to Google, and found his website. It tells how Nhojj grew up in Guyana and Trinidad, the son of a church minister. He began singing in church at the age of 5, but didn’t embark on a career in music until after graduating from NYU with a BA in Economics. So he's smart, handsome, and talented. Singer/songwriter broke another barrier when his gay music video, Love, reached #1 on MTV Music Top 100 chart. Last year Nhojj made OUTMusic Awards history when he became the first black male to win an OMA. The Alliance of LGBT Recording Artists & Performers voted his ballad “Love” 2009 OUTStanding R&B/Soul song of the year.



His latest release, The Gay Warrior, Is starting to make an impact as well. He debuted it at Pride festivals, and it is an amazing track. Part reggae, part tribal, all empowering, I had to buy it to add to my collection.



I Miss Uis another cut on the sultry and sexy Love Songs album. I am constantly amazed by the emotional content in his voice, in his delivery. This is music I just wanna bathe in.



I can't believe it has taken me so long to find Nhojj and his music. For more on Nhojj, check out his official website here. You can find his amazing album Love Songs, released last September, on iTunes here. You can purchase the single The Gay Warrior Song from CD Baby here. I have added both Love Songs and The Gay Warrior Song to my collection, and would highly recommend you do the same. You can follow Nhojj on Twitter here.