Romeo from Brooklyn-based twin duo EHIRE offers a raw and moving account of finding his voice in the music industry while navigating the complexities of being a Black queer artist. From growing up in a Haitian household filled with music to experiencing religious trauma and homelessness, Romeo shares how these challenges strengthened his bond with twin brother Cameo and fueled their artistic expression. With refreshing candour, he discusses the importance of queer Black visibility in media and the revolutionary act of Black male love. Despite facing rejection from family and church, EHIRE has emerged with music that resonates with hope and self-acceptance, offering listeners not just songs but affirmations of queer resilience and joy.

Timestamped Key Takeaways

• 00:00:56 - Introduction to Romeo and Cameo (EHIRE), twin brothers from Brooklyn who've been recording music since age nine, with features on 500+ playlists including Spotify's Fresh Finds R&B
• 02:31 - Growing up in a Haitian household surrounded by music from Madonna, Anita Baker, and Whitney Houston, which deeply influenced their artistic development
• 03:55 - Romeo discusses major musical influences including Prince, Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Lady Gaga
• 04:41 - A thoughtful reflection on Prince's groundbreaking impact as a Black male artist who challenged gender norms through style, makeup, and flamboyance
• 09:29 - The pivotal moment at age nine when seeing young R&B star Sammie on TV inspired Romeo and Cameo to pursue music creation
• 10:59 - The significance of Lil Nas X as the first openly gay Black artist they've seen "pushing the envelope" fearlessly in their lifetime
• 11:41 - The importance of queer visibility in media for mental health and preventing self-destructive behaviour among LGBTQ+ youth
• 14:05 - Shocking account of experiencing an exorcism in his twenties when family members attempted to "cast out" his homosexuality
• 20:12 - Discussion of the complex relationship with religion, faith, and the church after experiencing religious trauma
• 21:35 - Reflection on the state of Black queer representation in America and the lack of Black queer male relationships portrayed in media
• 24:51 - The unique bond with his twin brother Cameo, creating a "safe zone" where they never had to come out to each other and protected one another
• 27:43 - Romeo's heartfelt advice to fellow queer artists about self-love, changing perspective, and living authentically
• 32:07 - EHIRE's gateway song recommendation: "Let Go," a track about hope, love, and self-acceptance

Guest Bio

Romeo Records is one half of the R&B duo EHIRE alongside his twin brother Cameo (Arie). The Brooklyn-born Haitian-American artists have been creating music since age nine. Their debut EP garnered over 200,000 streams, with music featured on Spotify's Fresh Finds R&B and Billboard Pride's Queer Necessities playlists. They were nominated by Pop Smash Radio for Best R&B Song by a Duo or Group.

Resource List

• Prince - "When Doves Cry" - One of Prince's most iconic tracks mentioned as influential
• RuPaul's Drag Race - Mentioned as important queer representation on television

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Producer and Presenter Dan Hall's other work.