BY HEATHER SMITH

You’ve filled your phone with the latest Melissa Etheridge, k.d. lang, Indigo Girls, Brandi Carlile, and Tegan and Sara. So that’s it? You think you’re all set in case there’s a spontaneous queer music party on the next block? Not even close. While those more mainstream artists certainly have their place in the lesbian music collective, the multitude of new artists is growing by the day and the level of talent isn’t lacking. Don’t get overwhelmed. I’m here to get you started with a look at five artists that are sure to expand your listening horizons. Whether you’ve got a broken heart or you want to dance around, there is something for everyone on this list. Your ears will thank you.

Meshell Ndegeocello
Meshell Ndegeocello has always pushed the envelope with her music. From blurring the lines of musical genres by incorporating rock, jazz, R&B, funk and hip-hop into her sound to writing songs about provocative topics like race, sex, politics, religion and feminism, Ndegeocello, over the course of the last 20 years has consistently put out some of the most authentic and honest songs possible.

She has a new album called, “Comet, Come To Me” coming out in June. Here is one of the new tracks, “Conviction.”

Mal Blum
With quirky, self deprecating lyrics along with perfect melodies, it’s easy to connect with Mal Blum’s music. Her 2013 release “Tempest In A Teacup” manages to show vulnerability and be funny at the same time. It’s this characteristic that has given this album earworm status for me. It also helps that she is friggin’ adorable.

One of my favorites off the album is “Valentine’s Day (Let’s Stop Cheating On Each Other),” which highlights Blum’s sense of humor.

Allison Weiss
Allison Weiss’ “Say What You Mean” is full of songs that say the things you wish you could say, but you just can’t find the words. Weiss does this without an overabundance of analogies and platitudes. The songs lament about broken hearts, but over a catchy beat with completely relatable scenarios.

The skill with which Allison Weiss is able to articulate the angst over a broken relationship without sounding depressed is quite a feat and even if you’re not in the midst of a breakup, the album says something and remains fresh. This album has been in a constant rotation for me since it came out last spring, even though I was not suffering from a broken heart. Weiss is, however, saying some of the things I wish I had during my last breakup.

Check out this acoustic version of her song “Making It Up” from her latest album “Say What You Mean”.

Hannah Thomas
Georgia girl Hannah Thomas can’t be pigeonholed. Part rock and part country, she brings an energy to her music that cannot be contained. She’s been touring and writing relentlessly since she was 16, kicking ass and taking names along the way. I think that her talent truly shines when she performs live, so if you get a chance to see her perform, take advantage of it.

One of the highlights from her last release, “Goodbye On Wasted Time” is “Watch Out For the Deer,” a fan favorite that makes hanging out in a parking lot sound like a hell of a lot of fun.

CocoRosie
Sisters Bianca and Sierra Casady, form the core of this group whose music has been described as “freak folk” and “New American Weird.” Their sound, at first listen can sound a bit baffling, but the more you listen, the more haunting and lush it sounds.

What I love about CocoRosie is that they pay no mind to what they think others might want to hear and are doing this for themselves and seemingly, loving every minute of it. I had the chance to see them in New York knowing very little about them. My first thought was that it was a cacophonous spectacle. Then I really listened to them and paid attention to the layers of their sound and saw it for it’s beauty.

Check out “After the Afterlife” from their latest release, Tales of a GrassWidow.

Heather Smith is the creator and producer of Rubyfruit Radio, a podcast featuring the best in female artists.

The post Five musicians you need to know first appeared on Lesbian.com.

BY LESBIAN.COM

Label eschewing singer-Songwriter Hannah Thomas has been called country, punk, rock, Americana and more. She’s a genre-jumping outlaw, so it is no surprise that Thomas has enlisted power pop producer extraordinaire Don Dixon (R.E.M., the Smithereens, Marti Jones) to work on her next release.

The EP, tentatively called “The Truth About an Outlaw,” will feature an all-star ensemble, including Dixon on bass, Jim Brock (Indigo Girls, Joe Walsh, John Melencamp) on percussion, Tomi Martin (Madonna, Michael Jackson, Justin Bieber) on guitar and Cooper Carter (Solo-A-Week) guesting on lead guitar.

Once again, Hannah will be playing across genres with songs ranging from classic country with a twist like fan favorites “(God Help My Mama), I Turned Out Like My Dad” and “The Truth About Outlaws,” rocking licks like “Lie to Me” and “Ain’t Got Nothing to Do with Love’ and even an updated version of the Classic IV and Atlanta Rhythm Section hit “Spooky.”

In order to raise the loot to record the eight-song CD in four days, Hannah is launching a Kickstarter campaign. Supporters get all kinds of goodies, like a pre-order of the CD, house concert or a day in the studio.

Check out Hannah’s Kickstarter heist, which runs through April 24, 2014. Yeehaw. You can’t keep a good outlaw down.

The post Yeehaw, Hannah Thomas stages Kickstarter hold up to fund ‘The Truth about an Outlaw’ EP first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Hannah Thomas is a very busy young woman. As lead singer for the Hannah Thomas Band, she’s played over 200 shows in the last 18 months and shared the stage with a number of accomplished performers including Amy Ray, Jen Foster, Caroline Aiken, Zac Brown, Michelle Malone and Antigone Rising.

As a singer/songwriter with a country/rock/punk style that defies categorization, Thomas garnered acclaim as the winner of the Georgia Lottery All Access Music Search and performed during halftime of an NFL game at the Georgia Dome.

Thomas is preparing for a mid-March swing that will take her through four southern states (Ga., Tenn., N.C., and Ala.) in five days before she heads to the Midwest at the end of the month for shows in Milwaukee and Chicago. But she managed to make a little time for us to answer some Fast 5 questions.

1. What are you most looking forward to in 2014?

I am looking forward to heading out on the road to meet new people, especially the shows opening for Indigo Girls and playing with Antigone Rising. I hope to get into the studio and record some new songs this year and maybe find some down time somewhere in there.

2. Do you have a hidden talent? Do tell!

I am pretty good at finishing drywall – does that count?

3. If they started offering free trips to the moon tomorrow, would you sign up to go?

Can I bring my guitar?

4. Early bird or night owl?

Night owl. Musicians are a little like vampires – we don’t like the daytime.

5. What’s your favorite home-cooked meal?

I always appreciate that anyone would take the time to cook for me, but I really love stuffed mushrooms and risotto or tofu stir fry.

The post Fast 5 with country rocker Hannah Thomas first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Summer is still scorching much of the country, but Sweet is already looking ahead to September when the lesbian travel company will be bringing its unique brand of debauchery and do-goodery to Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

“Hundreds of Sweeties will be taking over the Playacar Palace resort from September 21st – 28th,” explained Sweet Founder and CEO Shannon Wentworth. “We’ll be featuring an amazing group of comedic and musical performers, theme parties and, of course, our trendsetting  and very rewarding community service projects.”

For those looking for a relaxing late summer getaway, Sweet’s Playacar resort vacation may be the perfect combination of leisure and indulgence. Located on the spectacular Riviera Maya on the beach in the town of Playa del Carmen, the five-star Playacar Palace hotel is just steps away from Mexico’s legendary 5th Avenue shops. The resort features ocean-view rooms that overlook the crystalline waters of the Caribbean, a swim-up bar, Jacuzzi tubs in every room, 24-hour room service and a host of other amenities which are guaranteed to leave even the most finicky guest feeling pampered.

Beyond the daily Sweet-sponsored excursions, guests can tour the gateway to Mayan civilization, visiting the ruins at Tulum, Coba and the legendary Chichen Itza, or spend an afternoon frolicking with dolphins, windsurfing or getting sand in all sorts of unmentionable places while diving around on the beach volleyball court.

Sweet’s entertainment line-up for Playacar includes Jackie Monahan, a bi-coastal comedian and actress featured on Showtime’s “Pride Comedy Jam;” Rakefet Abergel, an accomplished actress and outspoken stand-up comedian; Cathy DeBuono, out and proud lesbian actress, LA Talk Radio host, therapist and empath; seasoned actress and comedian Erin Foley; singer/songwriters Hannah Thomas and Sarah Smith; television and film star Traci Dinwiddie, perhaps best known for her role as Peyton Lombard in “Elena Undone;” and comedians Jennie McNulty and Shann Carr, veteran Sweet performers and perennial traveler favorites.

“Sweet trips are such an incredible experience,” shared McNulty. “I know for some of the women it’s a chance for them to truly be themselves, perhaps for the only time all year. But that’s only part of what makes the atmosphere so special. We visit beautiful places, stay in gorgeous locations and experience all the debauchery that goes along with these types of trips, but with Sweet, there’s another level of consciousness that permeates the atmosphere, too. There’s the feeling that you’re part of something special – giving back, helping people.”

In addition to the endless sand, sun, shopping and sight-seeing available on the gorgeous Riviera Maya, Sweet will offer a variety of community service projects in which their guests are invited to participate. Projects may involve anything from spending an afternoon at an animal shelter bathing, walking and cuddling with the residents to organizing a library for local youth to raising funds for the local community via participation in a Texas Hold ‘Em tournament hosted by DeBuono.

“Playacar will be my third Sweet trip,” DeBuono offered, “And I’m looking forward to spending more than a few hours around the poker table getting to know some really wonderful women – and raising money for whatever good causes we can.”

DeBuono’s previous “shuffle up and deal” efforts raised thousands of dollars used to support women’s, children’s and animal support organizations in the communities fortunate enough to host the Sweet group.

Actress and animal rights enthusiast Natalie Garcia organizes Sweet’s four-legged focused projects. “For the September trip we’re planning to work with Coco’s cat rescue, take a daytrip to Cozumel where we’ll rent dune buggies, explore the island and visit the local animal shelter,” Garcia detailed. “I am so grateful to be able to travel with such inspiring women while saving animals and raising awareness about animal rights.”

Many agree that there is something special about the essence of the Sweet travelers, collectively known as Sweeties.

Recent first-time Sweetie Erin Lee described her vacation with Sweet in Puerto Vallarta as life-changing. “I experienced instant connections with an exceptional group of women,” said Lee who ventured out as a solo. “I felt it was a time where we could be our most true selves and left with new life-long friendships. And I loved the excursions and the entertainment. It was definitely more than a vacation.”

Another Sweet newbie and solo traveler, Heather Price, described her recent experience, “As a shy, somewhat introverted person, new people in a new environment can be a little intimidating, but that only lasted about an hour into my time with Sweet. There just aren’t words for the friendliness and kindness I was shown. I danced until my feet ached and laughed until tears were streaming down my face. “Solo” is a misnomer; you’re actualy traveling with friends you just hadn’t met yet.”

For more information on Sweet and fantastic last-minute Playacar resort deals, including low down payments and interest/fee-free payment plans, click here or call 877-793-3830. Be sure to ask about the $1,500/room resort credit!

She magazine is the longest running magazine for LGBT women in Florida.

The post Sweet travel sizzles in September first appeared on Lesbian.com.

INTERVIEW BY DANA BRENKLIN

Hannah Thomas, the queer, rockin’ country singer-songwriter is on the rise. Having shared the stage with stars like Amy Ray and Jen Foster, Hannah’s energetic presence and bluesy songwriting has her new EP, “Goodbye on Wasted Time,” getting rave reviews. She caught up with Lesbian.com’s Dana Brenklin to talk about her new tunes, a big tour and coming out in the country music scene.

Your new EP “Goodbye on Wasted Time” is great. How would you say it differs from your previous work?

It comes from a more honest place. When I stopped worrying about how to market the music, and started making music that I would like to listen to myself everything changed. Writing without a filter gave me a much broader canvas that allowed me to really open up as a songwriter. I feel like I found my voice.

You’ve got quite a few tour dates lined up. Is there any show you’re particularly excited about?

I am excited about all the shows, but September has some really great things happening for me. I will be opening a couple of shows for the , Girls in the Midwest, as well as playing at Sweet’s Playa Del Carmen resort (which will be my first international show)!

In January of this year you came out in an interview with the GA Voice. Has your audience changed in the way they receive you since then?

I think people can tell when you’re not being with honest with them, Since I came out I feel like my audience has embraced me more and is more loyal than ever.

Was your coming out a spur of the moment thing or was it something you planned?

My songs were already headed in a direction where I think people had an idea, but it was still very difficult to make the decision. I thought about it for a long time, but when the CD was about to be released, I figured it was time. It was one of the more freeing moments of my life.

In your opinion, what are some of the pros & cons to coming out in this business, particularly as someone whose music falls under the broad “country” umbrella?

I am very thankful for those that paved the way like kd lang and Cheley Wright, and even though I think there is still a stigma, especially within the country world, the world is changing every day. While I have to consider the business side of things, I try to never let it limit who I am as artist.

Often, public figures/celebrities who come out say they were told it was a “bad idea” to come out. What would you say to that attitude?

All the success in the world doesn’t matter if you are happy.

And what would you say to an artist struggling with whether to come out or not?

You know when it is the right time to come out. You should never let anyone pressure you to stay in the closet or come out. It’s completely your decision.

Has allowing your audience to know the real you changed your life or career, so far?

I have a more loyal following with my core group of supporters. I think they would come see me every night if I played the same place! I could have never imagined how great it has been and I am thankful everyday for that.

What would you call the biggest moment of your career so far?

When I think I have reached my biggest moment it just keeps getting better. In the past couple of years I have played in front of large audiences, had Amy Ray come sing on my CD, she then asked me to come sing on her solo CD and in September I will be opening for Indigo Girls (who have been some of the biggest influences on my career), I hope if you ask me again in six months I can add more to the list, but I have to say I am pretty happy about all of it.

Thanks for your time, Hannah. So tell us, what do we have to look forward to from you? What’s next?

WI am working on a video soon and have enough songs for a new CD, which I can hopefully get out sometime next year. And hopefully I will keep adding new places to the tour schedule!

Watch Hannah perform “Church on Sunday” live at the Red Clay Theater:

Dana Brenklin is a Los Angeles based radio personality, award-winning poet and musician. Her radio show, “The Dana Brenklin Radio Show,” airs Thursdays at 9am pacific on kclaFM.com. Find out more at DanaBrenklin.com or listen To Dana’s shows on demand.

The post Hannah Thomas is coming out country first appeared on Lesbian.com.