Ari Gold: Golden Boy of Gay Music Performs at FORTitude

Before there was Sam Sparro and the Scissor Sisters there was Ari Gold, who never hid or denied his sexuality. Gold helped lay the foundation for out musical artists, singing about gay life and themes. "Baby Daddy, from Scissor Sisters used to play guitar for me, and I absolutely love Sam Sparro," said Gold of the Australian musician. "You never know how your music and your energy on this earth effects people, so if I have helped paved the way that's awesome. Being openly gay wasn't a question for me, but it certainly was a question for the people around me."

Gold went on to say being an openly gay performer is still a big "question mark," and incorporating aspects of gay life into their work is still a question mark for some artists, who fear such topics could narrow their appeal. It is true that many gay artists allow themselves to come out to the public, yet many of those artists refuse to talk about their personal lives as gay people. Meaning, they will not publicly speak about their same sex-relationships. For Ari Gold, however, this is not the case.

His smooth, R&B-reminiscent, flowing lyrics are remixed into lush, soulful dance tracks, about modern, urbane gay life. Gold enjoys the process of sending out his songs to be remixed by DJs, and gives them free reign in the studio.

"Every song I have ever written comes out of my own personal experiences and it's so much fun to be able to write pop songs about things that nobody sings about," Gold said about his songwriting.

In "Ride to Heaven", Gold sings out "A native New York boy who never learned how to drive, you seem like you might be my kinda guy," he then mentions a "stick shift I'd like to take for a test drive." In "Mr. Mistress" he describes a relationship between a closeted married man and his "on the side" gay lover. Gold requests, "Please don't call me the next time that she is gone away." In "Good Relationship" he sings about the often-difficult struggle to find - and keep - a good man, saying that he wants to break the cycle of "where one guy likes the other one who likes another one who likes the other."

Yet, the gay themes in his work don't appear to alienate straight fans and that he has never had issues communicating to an audience. He has performed his love song "Bashert", which is Yiddish for "destiny" or "meant to be" at one lesbian, two gay, and three straight weddings.

"The fans know when they are seeing something authentic, and they respond to that," said Gold, which reminds us that art is a universal form of communication.

Of course while maintaining a presence and fan base among mainstream audiences it is important to Gold that he work for the betterment of the gay community, which he believes is still in a social and political struggle. That's why he agreed to come to Fort Lauderdale for the FORTitude event benefiting amFAR, and will be appearing on FORTrocks Sunday, February 20 with Martha Wash, Deborah Cox, and more performers to be announced. He has lent his time to amFAR before, just last year when he did a show with Deborah Harry.

"I opened for Martha Wash at Lincoln Center, and then this past summer at Summerstage in my hometown of NYC, so I'm looking forward to sharing the stage with her again," said Gold.

For more information on FORTitude, please visit FORTitude.com

For more information on Ari Gold, please visit AriGold.com