Few industries are as accepting to queer aesthetics as the music industry, yet
the people that pioneer a lot of pop and mainstream music in this field struggle
to be centre stage. In this talk we’ll chart the contributions of queer
communities to the (aesthetics of the) music industry, and discuss how these
communities can capitalize on their contributions, both financially speaking,
and to further the LGBTQ rights movement.w/ BRYN, Juriji der Klee, Hendrik
Wittock and Amari BouzinThe conversation ise in English and moderated by Rachael
Moore (The Belgian Pride)Recorded on 12.05.21BRYNBrussels-based pop
singer-songwriter BRYN has quite the story behind him. The Rwandese refugee
followed his dreams in the music world - against the advice of his teachers and
parents, who wanted to push him into academic studies. He moved a lot growing
up before settling in the country he now calls home. He started writing songs in
2011, whilst living in an asylum seeker center, where he taught himself how to
play guitar. He regularly played his compositions to a friend there who used to
call him “The Brain” as a way to encourage him in his passion: that’s how the
project BRYN (pronounced “brain”) was born. Now the 21-year-old is back to tell
us more with his first EP ‘Middle 8’ of heavy pop sounds inspired by artists
such as Lorde and Tove Lo, including the singles ‘A Degree’, ‘Teenage Dreams’
and ‘LTIWYL’.https://www.instagram.com/musicbryn/ JURIJI DER KLEEJuriji der
Klee, a drag performer who trained as a lyrical singer, cabaret artist at Madame
Arthur in Paris and the mother of the house Bénédiction-Rituels Exceptionnels.
She creates electro-pop music away from the mainstream, where lyrical singing is
made sacred again, transcending sounds, genders, and eras, blessing the city
through Queer rituals where inclusivity and diversity are the
keywords.https://www.instagram.com/jurijiderklee/ AMARI BOUZINFrom street dancer
to art performer. Amari is an artist but also a non-binary fashion model,
represented in Paris and Milan. They’re known as an experimental DJ,
deconstructing club's music narrative with spiritual sounds. But most of their
recent work is around Black and Queer sensualities: creating innovative spaces
around that topic. They are the founder of ROYALE, a new experience diving into
the Art World with visual art, sound, and performance, questioning
institutionalized spaces around Queerness, Blackness, and
sensualities.https://www.instagram.com/amariskingdom/HENDRICK WITTOCKHendrik
Wittock is a marketeer and writer with a Master's in Comparative Modern
Literature. He graduated with a thesis on (metaphorical) discourse on HIV/AIDS
in the 80s and is currently working as Marketing Manager for VICE Media Group,
the biggest youth media company around the world. In his current position,
Hendrik is responsible for partnerships and marketing of VICE in Belgium, and he
also writes and (co)produces (video)content related to queer politics, gender
equality, music, and other art forms for
vice.com.https://www.instagram.com/hendrikwittock/ RACHAEL MOORERachael Moore is
a British-born LGBT activist who lives and works in Brussels, Belgium. With a
background in youth empowerment, LGBT rights, and advocacy, Rachael is no
stranger to discrimination in social and professional settings. Previously she
worked at the European Parliament and as the director of Rainbowhouse Brussels.
Her experience at both local and European levels of politics has given her a
greater insight into places that were never meant for Black people or people of
colour. Together with Eric Cyuzuzo, she co-founded Rainbow Nation Brussels, an
organization that pushes for a different narrative regarding the visibility of
QTIBPOC through pushing for diversity, inclusivity, and multiculturalism that is
not defined by whiteness, with a true ‘Nothing about Us without Us’ stance with
regards to how the LGBT community deals with its own issues of racism,
transphobia, and xenophobia. Rainbow Nation Brussels also provides support group
meetings for QTIBPOC and organizes community-building activities for victims of
racism. Rachael is also cofounded SHAKEDOWN Bxl which organizes cultural events
that centralize queer and trans women and femme persons. Additionally, Rachael
works as a consultant about intersectionality and
anti-racism.https://www.instagram.com/raerae_lacray/Co-organizers: Vice & The
Belgian Pride
