Romeo from Brooklyn-based twin duo EHIRE offers a raw and moving account of finding his voice in the music industry while navigating the complexities of being a Black queer artist. From growing up in a Haitian household filled with music to experiencing religious trauma and homelessness, Romeo shares how these challenges strengthened his bond with twin brother Cameo and fueled their artistic expression. With refreshing candour, he discusses the importance of queer Black visibility in media and the revolutionary act of Black male love. Despite facing rejection from family and church, EHIRE has emerged with music that resonates with hope and self-acceptance, offering listeners not just songs but affirmations of queer resilience and joy.

• 00:00:56 - Introduction to Romeo and Cameo (EHIRE), twin brothers from Brooklyn who've been recording music since age nine, with features on 500+ playlists including Spotify's Fresh Finds R&B
• 02:31 - Growing up in a Haitian household surrounded by music from Madonna, Anita Baker, and Whitney Houston, which deeply influenced their artistic development
• 03:55 - Romeo discusses major musical influences including Prince, Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Lady Gaga
• 04:41 - A thoughtful reflection on Prince's groundbreaking impact as a Black male artist who challenged gender norms through style, makeup, and flamboyance
• 09:29 - The pivotal moment at age nine when seeing young R&B star Sammie on TV inspired Romeo and Cameo to pursue music creation
• 10:59 - The significance of Lil Nas X as the first openly gay Black artist they've seen "pushing the envelope" fearlessly in their lifetime
• 11:41 - The importance of queer visibility in media for mental health and preventing self-destructive behaviour among LGBTQ+ youth
• 14:05 - Shocking account of experiencing an exorcism in his twenties when family members attempted to "cast out" his homosexuality
• 20:12 - Discussion of the complex relationship with religion, faith, and the church after experiencing religious trauma
• 21:35 - Reflection on the state of Black queer representation in America and the lack of Black queer male relationships portrayed in media
• 24:51 - The unique bond with his twin brother Cameo, creating a "safe zone" where they never had to come out to each other and protected one another
• 27:43 - Romeo's heartfelt advice to fellow queer artists about self-love, changing perspective, and living authentically
• 32:07 - EHIRE's gateway song recommendation: "Let Go," a track about hope, love, and self-acceptance

Romeo Records is one half of the R&B duo EHIRE alongside his twin brother Cameo (Arie). The Brooklyn-born Haitian-American artists have been creating music since age nine. Their debut EP garnered over 200,000 streams, with music featured on Spotify's Fresh Finds R&B and Billboard Pride's Queer Necessities playlists. They were nominated by Pop Smash Radio for Best R&B Song by a Duo or Group.

• Prince - "When Doves Cry" - One of Prince's most iconic tracks mentioned as influential
• RuPaul's Drag Race - Mentioned as important queer representation on television

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In this special Pride Month episode, host Dan Hall explores the vital concept of "finding our tribes" within the Queer community through conversations with previous guests. For many LGBTQ+ individuals, discovering safe spaces has been about more than friendship—it's been essential for survival and self-acceptance in a world that often fails to see or understand queer experiences.

These communities serve as places where Queer people celebrate triumphs and mourn losses together, but like any family, they can be complicated. Through intimate discussions with Queer musicians from around the world, this episode examines what community means to them, its imperfections, and how we might build more inclusive spaces. From hidden bars of decades past to the evolution of Pride from protest to celebration, these artists share personal stories that illuminate the ongoing journey of creating and maintaining vibrant queer communities.

[00:01:00] Finding Our Tribes: Dan discusses how finding safe spaces in the queer community is often about survival and learning to be comfortable with who we are, finally seeing ourselves mirrored in a world that didn't always see us.

[00:02:02] Historical Context: Looking back at previous decades helps us understand why queer spaces remain vital today, as openly queer living wasn't an option for many generations who had to carve out their own hidden corners of the world.

[00:02:49] Kele Fleming's First Community: Singer-songwriter Kele Fleming shares how a gay club called Rumours in Victoria became her "community centre" and "life saver" in 1984, offering a space where she could be her authentic self despite family non-acceptance.

[00:05:25] Creating New Spaces: Jon Ginoli of Pansy Division discusses founding a queer rock band in the early 90s when rock music wasn't considered "gay enough" within mainstream gay culture, helping pioneer the queercore music scene.

[00:08:01] Global Perspectives on Safety: Brazilian musician Eric Lenfair speaks about the inherent cautiousness that many queer people develop growing up, while Eric Torino shares his experiences with fear of public affection even in supposedly accepting places like New York.

[00:11:12] Exclusion Within the Community: James Taylor Junior discusses feeling left out of the queer community due to factors like ageism and racism, highlighting that the LGBTQ+ community isn't one unified entity but complex and diverse.

[00:13:14] Specific Spaces for Specific Needs: Brooklyn-based singer Roderick Woodruff explains the importance of spaces specifically for Black queer individuals where he doesn't have to "perform" or diminish himself to make others comfortable.

[00:15:19] Artistic Communities: Baltimore musician Greg Hatem describes how supportive queer ecosystems allow artists to thrive and create work that connects with people from all backgrounds.

[00:19:46] The Evolution of Pride: Various artists reflect on how Pride has changed from its origins as a protest movement to becoming more commercialized and mainstream, questioning what this means for its political message.

[00:24:33] Internal Community Challenges: James Taylor Junior and others discuss damaging stereotypes within the gay community, from body image pressures to racism experienced by queer people of color within LGBTQ+ spaces.

[00:29:23] Hope for the Future: Polish singer-songwriter Tomek Zdyb shares his vision for what community can achieve through mutual support and education, emphasizing respect and human connection.

• Kele Fleming -

In this candid and compelling conversation, Australian pop artist TIN returns to In The Key of Q to discuss his musical journey since his previous appearance. From opening for Bright Light Bright Light to releasing deeply personal tracks that resonate with fans in unexpected ways, TIN offers a raw look at navigating the gay music scene as a person of colour. With characteristic wit and refreshing honesty, he unpacks the complexities of privilege, racism within queer spaces, and how his experiences have shaped his creative expression. Perfect for listeners seeking authentic LGBTQ+ perspectives on music, identity, and the sometimes absurd realities of gay nightlife.

• 00:00:50 - TIN reveals how he came to open for Bright Light Bright Light through connections with EQ Music
• 00:02:11 - His EP "Sex, Cologne and Cigarets" performed well, with "Weasel" becoming an unexpected fan favourite
• 00:06:14 - TIN shares the deeply personal story behind his vulnerable track "Dear Matthew," which explores racial privilege in the gay community
• 00:10:30 - An important discussion about the additional obstacles faced by people of colour in queer spaces
• 00:14:25 - TIN reflects on internalised racism and its impact on self-worth and relationship expectations
• 00:17:02 - The origin story of TIN's new single "Trust Your Touch," originally written about a fantasy involving Troye Sivan and Olly Alexander
• 00:19:57 - Behind-the-scenes challenges of filming the "Trust Your Touch" music video, including shooting cruising scenes in freezing Burgess Park
• 00:23:33 - TIN discusses his evolution from primarily a performer to developing his skills as a recording artist
• 00:25:02 - How entering the circuit party scene unexpectedly forced TIN to confront deep insecurities about race and body image
• 00:31:35 - Upcoming releases including a Pride single called "Kid Pig" and remixes celebrating the one-year anniversary of "Dear Matthew"

TIN is an Australian queer pop artist currently based in the UK. Known for his energetic performances, candid lyrics, and exploration of LGBTQ+ themes, TIN combines catchy pop melodies with raw personal narratives. Find his music and social media at TIN Official Music.

• Sex, Cologne and Cigarets EP - TIN's EP featuring the fan-favourite track "Weasel"
• Dear Matthew - TIN's personal song about racial privilege in the gay community
• Trust Your Touch Music Video - TIN's latest release featuring Lost Child and Janis
• House of Air by Brendan Maclean - The NSFW music video about hanky codes mentioned in the podcast
• Bright Light Bright Light - Artist TIN opened for on tour
• EQ Music - The collective that booked TIN for shows

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