RightOutTV Music & Video Awards 2014 • Michael V. Doane & K Anderson

The winners of the 2014 RightOutTV Music & Video Awards were announced recently, proving what great music is being made by LGBT artists. Well, that was obvious when I saw the list of nominees, coming from all around the world. RightOutTV was founded by Marlee Walchuk and Tully Callender, devoted to the promotion of LGBT artists and their music all across the globe. The submissions are from many genre, from Rock to Country to Electronica. Once again this year, I was proud to be asked to be a judge, hearing some more great music and discovering a few new artists. But enough with all that. It is time to showcase some very deserving artists. In this post, I am so happy to feature Michael V. Doane (above, left) and K Anderson, (above, right).

I must admit, I love both of the winners featured in this post, and both the artists and the songs have been represented here. So let me cut to the chase, and just say I am thrilled to announce the winner of the 'Best Video Pro' for 2014 is "Looking For Love", from Michael V. Doane. There is something provocative about a video that kicks off with the sound of a camera shooting, but that is quickly forgotten when the driving beat pulls you in, reverberating in your chest. When Doane's vocals begin, there is a wonderful strength and urgency. It had to be pretty good, for he beat out Matthew Connor's "How is July Already Over?", Matt Zarley's "Somebody 4 Everybody", "Naked" by Ramona Montañez, Marck Angel's "Positions", and Suzanne Nuttall with "Trophy Wife". The video, giving New York City hooker realness, never lets up until the end. This is Michael V. Doane with "Looking For Love" with Ivan Roudyk, Magnit and Slider.

You can purchase the single "Looking for Love" from iTunes and Amazon. To learn more about Micheal V. Doane, visit his official website. You can also 'like' him on Facebook, and 'follow' him on Twitter.

As like several wards given out this year, the one for 'Best Video DIY' is going international as it goes to an artist living in England. DIY is short for 'do it yourself', and in this case, refers to videos which does not all a smaller budget from keeping the project from shining bright. It proves that when you have a great song and a fantastic artist, it is had to go wrong. This video won out over stiff competition from Tony Banks with "Old School Love", "You Don't Represent Me" by Nastaij and featuring Dawn Laird, Ember Swift's "Laowai / Foreigner", and Random Order with "Black Lipstick Kiss". That is certainly the case with K Anderson's music video for "14-Year-Old Me". I just love the song, and the music video, both of which cover me with charm from the start. The video captures the confessional and personal components of the song perfectly, so there is no question why it was named 'Best DIY Video'. This is K Anderson with "14-Year-Old Me".

You can purchase "14 Year Old Me", along with a wonderful b-side "I Bruise Like A Peach", from iTunes, BandCamp, and Amazon. To learn more about K. Anderson, visit his official website. You can also 'follow' him on Twitter and 'like' him on Facebook.

Marlee and Tully developed RightOutTV to help LGBT artists with promotion, as a way of giving back to the community. The couple are also a musical duo, making up Sugarbeach. They were kind enough to ask me to participate in the awards for the last few years as a judge. To learn more about RightOutTV, visit the RightOutTV website. You can also 'follow' them on Twitter, and 'like' them on Facebook.

K Anderson • F**k Around

Since the first time I heard the opening bars of "This Changes Everything", I have been at the mercy of British singer/songwriter K. Anderson. Smart, sexy, fun, and intriguing are just a few of the words I could use to describe his music, but I could also throw in ever-changing. What started out as Rocky Blues on "This Changes Everything", was followed by the Folky charm of "Bruise Like A Peach", and the quirky confessional of "14-Year-Old Me". Well, you get the idea. But now, he had a new music video out, and it is something unlike the others, but keeps my attention nonetheless.

In his latest single, K. offers a view of the freedoms of youth, when love and sex were offered freely and generously. Stylistically, the song is part Arlo Guthrie, and part Macklemore. Somehow, Anderson has combined the tradition of Folk storytelling with the Hip-Hop vibe more familiar to the current generation of music lovers to make a yummy treat with "Fuck Around". Yes, the theme might be more adult in message, and perhaps not safe for viewing/hearing in the office or around children, but I know it works damn well for me. In retrospective, when you are young, the trajectory of love and sex were not always running in parallel, even if, at times, they intersected. Sometimes, we are just left with memories, photographs, and some lube. This is K. Anderson with "Fuck Around".

In the old days, I would say this single included a B-side, although now it is seen as another track on the EP. In this case, that honor goes to "Sunburnt Bodies", a delicious song that combines Pop with the music of spaghetti Western movies, sounding both mysterious and desolate. There is something quite sexy about the song, be it the reflective nature of the lyrics, or the sexy delivery of them. Chalk it up for another win for Anderson and for fans of music, who will need to own both tracks. You can purchase the 'Fuck Around' EP from Amazon, and Bandcamp. To learn more about K. Anderson, visit his official website. You can also 'follow' him on Twitter and 'like' him on Facebook.

K. Anderson • "14 Year Old Me" Music Video

About a year and a half ago, I discovered the music of K. Anderson, and it was love at first song. For me, 'The Overthinker' was an amazing album, one I still come back to from time to time, just because it makes me so damn happy. So I was very excited when I heard there was new music coming, and a new music video arrived last week. The song is "14 Year Old Me", and is it not what I expected, and that is a wonderful thing. Where "This Changes Everything" has a rawness, an edge, "14 Year Old Me" is infused with innocence and charm. The music video is a perfect complement for the song, with an approach that seems lighthearted, but instead is so real, so true. This is a letter from a grown man to his teenaged self, offering a few insights to the boy. This is "14 Year Old Me" by K. Anderson.

The song is available as a single, coming with a 'b-side', "I Bruise Like A Peach". I love both songs, and made them a part of my music collection. You can purchase "14 Year Old Me" from iTunes, BandCamp, and Amazon. To learn more about K. Anderson, visit his official website. You can also 'follow' him on Twitter and 'like' him on Facebook.

K Anderson • The Overthinker

Don't be fooled by the picture above, for it proves that like some other things, plenty of yummy items can come in brown paper wrapping. And I learned that only recently, when I happened across a new talent who blows me away. And, oddly enough, I discovered it two years almost to the date of the release, showing I am not nearly as on top of things as I was hoping I was. But enough about me and my shortcomings. What I had managed to do was to happen across the music of this London-based singer/songwriter, and it was most certainly my lucky day. I was so infatuated by the album, The Overthinker, I went right back to the store to purchase his equally delightful EP, Foxes. And I learned of K. Anderson's preoccupation with the animal, which includes wearing a furry costume. In which he looked pretty damn good, I might add...

The first cut off The Overthinker is "This Changes Everything", a bluesy rocker that had me drooling ever more than the pictures of the sexy Brit. His throaty growl was perfectly showcased, showing K can bring it on with a soft touch, or turn up the volume and apply for the role as my next ex-boyfriend. Or any other position he would agree to...

The album has a certain charm, filled with a delightful mix of honesty, humor, plenty of rock. I was particularly fond of "Bulletproof Kids", "Shrug", "Foxes" and the delicious "Boys In Pearls". Really, I can't recommend this album any higher. If you would like to learn more about K Anderson, visit his official website. You can also 'follow' him on Twitter and 'like' him on Facebook. You can purchase The Overthinker on iTunes and Amazon. And while I so very excited about this new addition to my collection, I was even more excited when I heard from the artist himself, telling me new music would be coming soon. It is in moments like this when I think there just might be a God, and he has great taste in music. And men...