When excellent up-and-coming Aussie band FVNERAL reached out about the possibility of me guesting on their new single ‘Friendly Fire’, I was excited. FVNERAL had opened for me several times, they wrote great melancholy pop tunes, and the singer Tay and I had formed a great creative friendship.
But listening to the work-in-progress song, I wondered how I fit into it? It was a gorgeous yearning song about growing up queer in the church, “giving homophobes head”, and the awful cycle of self-punishment that young queer people often subject themselves to.
I sat on it for a while…then one day it hit me. I wanted to write a verse that offered Tay, and others like them, courage. Some words of support from an older artist, and older outsider, who may not have grown up queer in the church, but in my own way, understood what it meant to always feel different, and how painful that could be.
Here it is:
…and if you are interested in learning a little bit more about FVNERAL and the process of how this tune came to life, check out this great piece by Twisty Chaney for themusic.com.au
Also out today, our mini-pod Listener Question episode about Gus Van Sant and late 80’s Hollywood.
If you have questions for us, hit us at weirdertogetherpod@gmail.com and we will answer them on an upcoming episode.
Big love,
Ben (and Ione)