Have you enjoyed touring in the UK?

Yeah! All my fans are so amazing; I wouldn’t be here without them. Everything I do, I do for my fans and touring all these cities to hear more and more people singing my songs is something I can never quite get my head around. It’s been hard being away from my friends and family but I do often find a way of visiting them, and sometimes my best friend Emily comes on tour with me which is so much fun.

How has your sexuality affected your direction as a singer-songwriter?

Sometimes I do feel as though I do have to keep up a certain reputation because I am, in some ways, representing the gay community. However, I just feel like it’s 2018 now. Write the songs you want to write and sing the songs you want to sing, I’m not gonna let anything stop me from doing these things, especially my sexuality, which shouldn’t stop me from doing anything I want to do.

How important are events like Pride in 2018?

I can understand the extreme popularity of these events and its great to see people celebrating who they are and how far we’ve come. However, Pride events aren’t really my style personally. I don’t like having to address my sexuality, because we’ve been fighting to normalize who we are, and by making it such a big deal, you’re addressing the fact that it isn’t normal. But I support anyone who wants to do it.

Do you feel empowered by the LGBTQ community?

Again, it’s amazing how far we have come. It's so great to see people feeling free and confident enough to come out of the closet, and everyone being so accepting and supportive about it. Coming out for me was such a relief and a huge weight off my shoulders, everyone basically knew anyway but it was still amazing to receive all this support. I’m just so happy to love in a society where everyone can be whom he or she wants to be.

How does it feel being in the public eye?

Being in the public eye is hard! A year ago I could go out shopping, go to the movies, but now, I can't even run to the shop and buy a pint of milk or walk my dog. Its kind of sad and lonely sometimes just being stuck in the house or the studio all day and just hopping in and out of cars. I just want to walk somewhere, you know, without a camera flash in my face. But I am very grateful for all of the opportunities that I have been given and would never change it for the world.

Any final thoughts?

Stop labelling, START LIVING! Also, check out my new album.

OUT WEDNESDAY 17TH OCTOBER

Credits to Emily Smith, Coursework 2019

CULTURAL ISSUES

COVER FEATURE

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Frida Kahlo

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ABOUT

'Considered one of Mexico's greatest artist, Frida Kahlo was born on July 6, 1907, in Coyocoan, Mexico City, Mexico. She grew up in the family's home where was later referred to as the Blue House or Casa Azul. Her father is a German descendant and photographer. He immigrated to Mexico where he met and married her mother Matilde. Her mother is half Amerindian and half Spanish. Frida Kahlo has two older sisters and one younger sister. 'FridaKahlo.org

INFLUENCE

Women prior to Kahlo who had attempted to communicate the wildest and deepest of emotions were often labelled hysterical or condemned insane - while men were aligned with the 'melancholy' character type. By remaining artistically active under the weight of sadness, Kahlo revealed that women too can be melancholy rather than depressed and that these terms should not be thought of as gendered. theartstory.org