QueerSounds

CW: Queerphobia, Racism and a brief mention of terrorism by right-wing extremists.

The Christmas Times are upon us! Personally I always link the holidays to Germany. Almost every year I would visit those typical markets with hot chocolate, deep fried snacks and fake snow. However, with all the over the top decorations and loud music I can’t begin to fathom what it must be like to not be invited to celebrate along with everyone else. Zuher has been so kind to give a bit more insight into what it’s like to be Muslim this Christmas.

On this stop during our tour through Europe we talk about what you can do to be a bit kinder to your friendly neighbourhood Muslim this Christmas. For example, did you know non-Christians also enjoy getting gifts? Shocking, right? What’s more this episode: German traditionalism, the value of Queer Arab parties, and certain internationally spread morning rituals.

Flashback Track: Warda – Batwanes Beek

Queer Artist Spotlight: Lil Nas X – THATS WHAT I WANT

Best Live Experience: Kalis, Andre 3000 – Millionaire

Recent Discovery: Kali Uchis, Jhay Cortez – la luz(Fín)

Shownotes

Walter Lübcke News: https://www.euronews.com/2021/01/28/verdict-expected-in-trial-of-neo-nazi-accused-of-murdering-german-politician

BBQ Podcast: https://linktr.ee/bbq.podcast

Get in touch through https://Queersounds.com/Contact

Also available through Apple Podcasts and Spotify

cw: (Internalised) Queerphobia

This episode could get quite confrontational. We’ve all had some moments where we would doubt our own identity, but a “fear of queer people” is very serious. We’re diving deep into Victoria’s psyche and try to untangle their thoughts. Latvia has a long way to go when it comes to the acceptance of queer people, so to have this as the environment to grow up in, comes with some severe consequences. Don’t worry though. It doesn’t get too graphic or painful.

What’s more in this episode: Leather pants, more Eurovision and two people trying not to be horrible at playing guitar. We don’t actually play guitar on the pod though, so nothing to worry about there either.

Consider Supporting through: https://Patreon.com/Queersounds

Flashback Track: Iron Maiden – Fear of the Dark

Queer Artist Spotlight: Destroy Boys – Nerve

Best Live Experience: Måneskin – In Nome Del Padre

Most Recent Discovery: Greta van Fleet – Heat Above

Shownotes

active rainbow: https://www.instagram.com/active_rainbow/

Destroy Boys Controversy: https://www.reddit.com/r/swmrs/comments/i0wbdi/what_are_people_thinking_about_destroy_boys/

Get in touch through https://Queersounds.com/Contact

When Cathy left Greece to travel Europe it was an opportunity to go on a journey of self-discovery. This wasn’t the intention they set out with though. The reason they left their birthplace wasn’t clear when they left, to be honest. However, the way they put it: as a child they were always destined for something great. They were right: they’re queer. Meeting new people in so many different countries helped Cathy to figure out their gender, their poetry and general love for life.

What’s more this episode: a shameless discussion on American early aughts alt rock. This nostalgia fuelled subgenre is a surprisingly common spark to light a musical fire. It didn’t always age too well but the first time you hear 3 Doors Down on the radio can be weirdly impactful.

Consider supporting through https://Patreon.com/Queersounds

Flashback Track: The Calling – Wherever You May Go

Queer Artist Spotlight: LP- Lost on You

Best Live Experience: Natassa Bofiliou – En Lefko

Most Recent Discovery: Todrick Hall – Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels

Shownotes

Active Rainbow: https://www.instagram.com/active_rainbow/

Tunefind: https://tunefind.com

Get in touch through http://QueerSounds.com/contact .

Dominique Mras is the first Vienna trans politician in the city council. She’s a rising star in local politics, which makes interviewing her an absolute joy. Like a well-trained politician, she avoids answering questions directly. Instead, she tends to look at the bigger picture. I did manage to get some great personal stories though. So, she’s just as fun to listen to, as it is to talk to her.

Amongst this bigger picture stuff is leftist infighting. As the occasional self-proclaimed centrist, she thinks providing social housing for people should not be seen as a radical left standpoint. However, both left and right-wing people tend to disagree. Another issue is, of course, Vienna trans healthcare. Transphobia, in *my* Europe? It's more likely thank you think.

Consider Supporting through: https://Patreon.com/QueerSounds!

Flashback Track: Gigi D’Agostino – L’Amour Toujours

Queer Artist Spotlight: David Bowie – Space Oddity

Best Live Experience: Linkin Park – Bleed It Out

Recent Discovery: Gazal – Regenbogenlove

Shownotes:

Dominique on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happysozi/

SPÖ: https://www.alsergrund.spoe.wien/personen/dominique-mras/

Districts of Vienna (wiki): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Districts_of_Vienna

Get in touch through https://Queersounds.com/Contact

For episode 50 I decided not to do anything special, but just a regular conversation with someone who feared to be too plain for this episode. Eva Marta, like other teenage girls, just tried to be normal. This led to her hiding her love for hugely popular boybands. It’s absurd to think that some people dismiss a widely popular act because it’s target audience is highschool kids.

Whether it’s music or social issues, teenagers are a good insight into what’s current. Personally, I also had some issues with a n un just sense of cultural superiority back in the day. Did classmates ever shame you for something you liked? Share your stories though the contact link below.

Consider supporting through https://patron.com/Queersounds

Flashback Track: The Beatles – A Hard Day’s Night

Queer Artist Spotlight: Sylvester – You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)

Best Live Experience: One Direction – Best Song Ever

Most Recent Discovery: The Boondocks – Whatever You Said Went Over My Head

Shownotes

Hannah Ewens – Fangirls: https://www.vice.com/en/article/d3nnqx/hannah-ewens-fangirls-book

Troye Sivan Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TroyeSivan18/videos

Eva Marta’s Bachelor Thesis: https://skemman.is/bitstream/1946/31506/1/Thesis%20Final%20Submission%20Eva%20Marta%20Sokk.pdf

Get in touch through https://Queersounds.com/Contact

Also Available through Spotify and Apple Podcasts

It’s been a long time since the heights Eurodance Fad. Since then this specific subcategory of nineties and zeroes pop is surrounded by a stigma of poor taste and a lack of any credibility. Licia is here to throw all those preconceived notions right out the window. The enthusiasm with which Licia talks about subjects others might dismiss as a guilty pleasure is infectious. Nothing needs to make sense as long as you’re having fun.

What’s more in this episode: getting into hardcore punk while trying to hide your love for Norwegian pop, dealing people who don’t know how to act around blind people, and our guesses for the 2021 song of the year!

Support this podcast through https://Patron.com/Queersounds

Flashback Track: Dina – Bli Hos Meg

Queer Artist Spotlight: Limp Wrist – Want Us Dead

Best Live Experience: The Get Up Kids -Holiday

Most Recent Discovery: Pitsa – Avokaado (leidsin ta)

Shownotes

Finest fm: https://www.finestfm.fi/

Raadio 2 Aastahitt (viki); https://et.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raadio_2_Aastahitt

R2 Aastahitt Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4XbAXBJ9YSlDBGvrVN3WLF?si=f36c7b72803d41e0

Get in touch through Queersounds.com/Contact

You might think being a trans parent is very different from parenting as a cis person but that’s just a bold assumption. Sure, there might be some issues to get out of the way, but after that small extra step being a trans parent is, to use Aubree Calvin’s words: Uneventful. Trips to the playground, the much needed night off, Bree has been through it all with as much love as any other Maddy would.

We totally failed to mention this on the pod, but I got in touch with Aubree through our mutual friend Leigh of History is Gay fame. I got the honour of co-hosting an episode of this wonderfully nerdy podcast, like Aubree has done before me. Check the links below to find out all about this and all her other work.

Consider supporting through https://Patreon.com/QueerSounds

Flashback Track: Tiffany – I Think We’re Alone Now

Queer Artist Spotlight: Chastity Brown – Whisper

Best Live Experience: Corinne Bailey Rae – Closer

Recent Discovery: Andrea Gibson – I Sing the Body Electric, Especially When My Power’s Out

Shownotes:

Southern Queeries: https://www.southernqueeries.com/

Tommy James and the Shondells – I Think We’re Alone Now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFWhTqLSVzE

A sample of Aubree’s writing in Gay Parent Mag: https://aubreecalvin.com/2021/07/07/july-2021-gay-parent-magazine-alternatives-to-mothers-and-fathers-day/

History is Gay feat. Aubree: https://www.historyisgaypodcast.com/listen/2020/08/15/episode-31-the-gaymother-of-rock-n-roll

Get in touch through Queersounds.com/Contact

Also available through Apple Podcasts and Spotify

CW: Self-harm, Queer death and Queerphobia

If you’re listening to this podcast, changes are that you’re zēga. This word used to be a stealthy way of asking a stranger in Ethiopia if they’re queer. It’s gotten less and less stealthy over the years though. Today’s guest Bahiru explains how there are several languages in Ethiopia, so there’s a lot of work yet to be done when it comes to finding the right vocabulary to describe all different queer identities.

Zēga is not the only way to pick queer people from a crowd. Amharic, one of the Ethiopian languages, has a formal form. The trick is to only use the formal form with queer people. Because us queers deserve to respect, am I right?

Consider supporting through https://Patreon.com/Queersounds

Flashback Track: Nigusuu Taammiraat – Haadhakoo

Queer Artist Spotlight: Prince – Kiss

Best Live Experience: Janelle Monáe - Pynk

Recent Discovery: Which Prophet – Teslay

Shownotes:

House of Guramayle: https://houseofguramayle.org/media/

Languages of Ethiopia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Ethiopia

Janelle feat. Lupita: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZsTM-3b5G0

Get in touch through https://Queersounds.com/contact

High academic expectations among Asian students might sound like a tired trope, but Best experienced it first-hand. As an only child she had to live with the pressure of passing on the family name and provide for that family by getting an appropriate college degree. After she came out it was a challenge to overcome these family focussed expectations. School was not really a problem though. She turned out to be a real Diva in academia.

Thankfully, she had pop music to cope. Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, and all the artists played in this episode help her feel empowered. Whether it’s her alarm in the morning or just sitting at home trying to relax, Best has a pop diva for every occasion. Now you may think this is an over the top episode, however, Best shows how versatile the past decades of pop divas have been.

Consider Supporting through https://Patreon.com/QueerSounds

Flashback Track: Whitney Houston – Greatest Love of All

Queer Artist Spotlight: Lady Gaga – Hair

Best Live Experience: Ariana Grande – Breathin

Recent Discovery: ETC – ไม่ต้องรู้ว่าเราคบกันแบบไหน (Mai Tong Ru Wa Rau Kop Gan Bep Nai)

Shownotes:

Academic Expectations: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/225135833_Academic_expectations_as_sources_of_stress_in_Asian_students

What trans and nonbinary people need to know about birth control: https://helloclue.com/articles/culture/what-trans-and-nonbinary-people-need-to-know-about-birth-control

Chiang Mai Keeps Breathing: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=198878794662262

Chiang Mai Pride: https://www.chiangmaicitylife.com/clg/our-city/lgbt/pride-prejuclices-ongoing-lgbt-fight/

Get in touch through https://Queersounds.com/Contact

CW: Transphobia, Homophobia, Misogyny

Lilith picked her name as a deliberate jab at the patriarchy. No matter where she goes, she still needs to deal this this shit. From a young age she already wondered why women do all the cooking while men sit on their asses and eat cookies. I know we’re preaching to the choir here, but sometimes you just have to get it out of your system. All together now: Fuck the Patriarchy.

There’s a lot of religious overtones in this episode. Like Festus in the last episode, even though Lilith isn’t a particularly religious person she still enjoys religious music. In this case: Qawwali. A religious type of music in the Sufi tradition. Let me know your thoughts on this special musical genre through the contact link below!

Consider supporting through https://Patreon.com/QueerSounds

Flashback Track: Asha Bhosle – Piya Tu Ab to Aaja

Queer Artist Spotlight: Abida Parveen – Main Nara E Mastana

Best Live Experience: The Weather Girls – It’s Raining Men

Most Recent Discovery: Elif – Alles Helal

Shownotes

Caravan (1971) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066888/

Qawwali (wiki) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qawwali

The Myth of Lillith - https://mythology.net/demons/lilith/

Queer Refugees Deutschland - https://www.queer-refugees.de/

Get in touch through https://QueerSounds.com/Contact