This week, In the Key of Q welcomes Eric Terino, a folk musician and songwriter from New England. Eric's music blends elements of folk, classical, and alternative sounds to create something uniquely his own. In this candid conversation, Eric discusses his journey as a queer artist who doesn't fit the stereotypical image of LGBTQ+ musicians, his experiences with agoraphobia and mental health challenges, and his path to finding self-worth.
Eric's latest album, "Innovation of Grave Perversity," was recorded remotely during lockdown and explores themes of isolation, connection, and self-acceptance. Throughout the interview, he shares profound insights about living a life that hasn't followed expected paths and learning to extend the same kindness to ourselves that we offer others.
Timestamps
[00:00:28] - Introduction
[00:02:12] - Eric introduces himself and his musical style
[00:03:21] - Discussion of stereotypical queer musician image
[00:04:23] - Eric explains folk music as a storytelling medium
[00:06:03] - Dan and Eric discuss queer representation in music
[00:07:42] - Conversation about "gay icons" who remained closeted
[00:09:21] - Eric shares his coming out story
[00:13:12] - Discussion of family acceptance
[00:15:49] - Eric opens up about his mental health and agoraphobia
[00:19:15] - What it feels like to experience anxiety
[00:20:40] - Conditional acceptance of queer people
[00:21:00] - Fear of public affection with same-sex partners
[00:23:17] - The parallels between victim-blaming women and gay men
[00:24:53] - Reflections on queer relationships and success
[00:26:21] - Discussion of Eric's new album created during lockdown
[00:30:08] - Eric's two minutes to speak on any topic (self-worth)
[00:35:30] - The fifteen-year-old self segment
[00:36:43] - Gateway song: "Felt" from latest album
About Eric Terino
Eric Terino is a folk musician and songwriter from New England whose work blends elements of folk, classical, and alternative music. His third album, "Innovation of Grave Perversity," was recorded remotely during lockdown in 2020-2021.
Eric describes his approach to music as "earthiness, textures... naturalism rather than gloss," setting him apart from more mainstream queer artists. His work is explicitly queer without being ambiguous, as he believes in the importance of authentic representation in music.
Living with agoraphobia, Eric has adapted his creative process to work within his limitations, collaborating remotely with other musicians and finding connection through his art despite physical isolation.
Key Quotes
"I never wanted anything to be veiled in ambiguity, purposefully, for the sake of making it palatable to somebody who is uncomfortable with an LGBTQ perspective."
"If you asked me to drive to the corner shop a mile down the road to me, that would feel like you're asking me to jump out of an airplane... the level of anxiety is so high it feels like you're doing something wild."
"Just because you don't have the life that you envisioned for yourself and the life that you expected... it doesn't mean that it's the wrong life for you. It doesn't mean that it is in any way invalid, you know, not valuable."
"Worthy. What a thing to claim. And it really is. It's a very powerful idea to say to yourself, I am worthy. And I think a lot of people in our community really struggle with that."
Links and Resources
- Eric Terino's music
- In the Key of Q website
- In the Key of Q blog