Here is all you need to know about this week's Virgin Radio Pridecast!

Virgin Radio

4 Feb 2022, 13:37

This week on the Virgin Radio Pridecast, Alex and Shivani are continuing their musical masterclass, looking at the relationship between the LGBTQ+ community and the music industry. Last week, they examined some of the difficulties that some LGBTQ+ people have in making it in the industry, and this week, they're celebrating some of music’s queer icons…

You’ll hear from the legendary LP and Adam Lambert on what it means to make music for the community, as well as the responsibility which many LGBTQ+ musicians feel to be role-models.

You’ll also hear from Northern Irish singer/songwriter Conleth Kane on the incredible response to his song ‘Proud’, which was written to coincide with the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland…

‘I’ve had people reach out to me from all over the world - as far as Australia, America, Europe - people who come out after hearing ‘Proud’, and it’s the most incredible, humbling feeling to get a message on Facebook from someone on the other side of the world, who you don’t know, who related to your lyrics and felt an element of courage to come out…’

Alex and Shivani will also be exploring what makes a great LGBTQ+ musician, with the help of singers Justin Vivian Bond and Bright Light Bright Light, who chatted to each other about the legendary Sir Elton John on Quite A Queer Conversation on Virgin Radio Pride over the summer…

‘He came into my life at a time where the whole of the UK music industry was just basically telling me no, and that I was never going to get anywhere, and that I was kind of worthless… And then he liked the first album that I put out and asked me to go on tour with him, and just basically, for no benefit of his own, became a mentor, and decided to help out this silly little kid that liked making pop music wearing bright colours!’

But - there are also allies of the LGBTQ+ community who express their allyship through their music - we’ll be exploring this with the help of country singer Brooke Eden, who defined Katy Perry’s iconic ‘I Kissed A Girl’ as a moment which assisted in her queer awakening…

Finally, you’ll also hear from Virgin Radio’s very own Graham Norton, speaking to Steve Denyer on My Pride Playlist about an incredibly powerful performance of ‘The Power Of Love’ by Holly Johnson at Pride in Clapham in 1997. It’s one of the most moving pieces of audio from Virgin Radio Pride - so have your hankies at the ready!

You can listen to the new episode of the Virgin Radio Pridecast here.

The Virgin Radio Pridecast is a weekly look back through the archives of Virgin Radio Pride, our fabulous three-month pop-up radio station which ran last summer. Each week, Alex Milsom and Shivani Dave re-live some of the best moments, as well as attempting to continue the great conversations that Virgin Radio Pride started last summer. There are entertaining guests, jaw-dropping stories, and of course loads of the laugh out loud moments and insightful, important discussions which made Virgin Radio Pride so special (and award-winning!)...