Queer Music in SA: Queer expression is seldomly represented in popular main-stream, South African music. Queer musicians Umlilo and Whyt-Lyon have joined forces to break this commercial absence and infect it with their catchy, homo-erotic dance track – “DL Boi”. The duo have elicited the help of some of Joburg’s fiercest queer talent to create a music video extravaganza of impactful proportions.
“DL Boi” is inspired by the “straight-acting” boys who keep their agenda’s on the “down low” whilst frequenting gay clubs.
As much as it’s about these “discreet” fellas, it’s also about the closeted gay man who is finally exploring the depths of his sexuality, whilst grappling with self-acceptance.
The song encourages queer acceptance and embraces the power of Queer identity.
We are queer musician/artists based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Umlilo is a an independent queer musician and Whyt-lyon makes up one half of electro/rap duo STASH CREW. Over the last year we have worked on a project called “Rainbow Riots” alongside Swedish producer Petter Wallenberg. Umlilo and STASH CREW begin their international tour of the “Rainbow Riots” project at the end of April. The tour will continue through 2017 and will include the releases of the “DL Boi” single as well as the Rainbow Riots Album and singles.
A major part of the project/tour includes a workshop program which involves us collaborating with other queer artists across the globe. These collaborations will potentially feature in a second edition Rainbow Riots album.
In anon-sequential series of events, the narrative of the music video is told largely in the POV of our DL Boi.
Audiencesget to be voyeurs into the queer scene, as we begin at the point ofintention of the DL Boi entering the gay club.
As thenight progresses, his angst subsides and he mingles with the voguemavens, the high fashion kweens, the butch, fem, trans and somewhereinbetweens.
Heendulges in the freedom of the dancefloor, stealing kisses frommultiple characters and entwines himself in a menage a trios with ourperformers Umlilo and Whyt Lyon.
Hisescapades overwhelm him, blurring his perspective as the truth of hisqueer identity weighs heavily upon him.
During thebridge of the song, DL Boi stares into his reflection in the bathroommirror. He stumbles into a stall- he can’t keep supressing hisfeelings.
He opens adating app on his phone, revealing his profile, one rife withdiscrimination and with true revelation into his fear of self.
A newprofile begins to bubble “up high” to the surface.
Whilst DLBoi grabbles with his self-acceptance, the dancefloor illuminateseffervescently with Queer Pride.
A fiercechoregraphed sequence, uses body language to express non-binarygender roles, fluidity of identity and the power of self-expression.
It’s a rainbow manifesto of equality and love.
The funds generated will be used to pay the film crew for the duration of the filming. We require R11 000 to cover the cost of our film team’s time and expertise. However, our tipping point is R8000. With R8000 we would still be able to cover at least two thirds of the cost of our video and we can then potentially cover the outstanding amount at our fundraiser event:
INDUSTRY (CLUB) 305 FOX STREET – MABONENG
We invite you to our fundraiser event on Thursday 13th April 2017 at Jozi’s hottest queer space “Industry”. The event will include:
* (20h00 – 20h30) Drinks and a brief screening/discussion on the DL Boi Music Video Concept and fundraiser.
* (20h45 – 21h45) An hour long preview/showcase by Umlilo and STASH CREW of upcoming International Rainbow Riots Tour 2017 show launching at the end of April (Location To Be Announced Soon).
* (21h45-22h00) – 15 minute Q&A for press.
Admission: – R50 (proceeds go towards the DL Boi Music Video)
Media Pass – please contact us @: bookingstashcrew@gmail.com
1 | DOP | R 3,500.00 | R 3,500.00 |
1 | Focus Puller: | R 2,500.00 | R 2,500.00 |
1 | Camera Assistant: | R 2,000.00 | R 2,000.00 |
1 | Grip/Gaffer: | R 3,000.00 | R 3,000.00 |
Total | R 11,000.00 |
PRODUCTION HOUSE
ALV Productions
ARTISTS
Umlilo
Whyt Lyon
DIRECTOR
Charles Hunter Ryder
COSTUME& STYLING
Dylan Andrew Beckerling
ARTDIRECTION
Candice Cruse
CHOREOGRAPHY& MOVEMENT PERFORMANCE DIRECTOR
Joni Barnard
Contact:
“If you want a piece of this, let us know…”
EMAIL: bookingstashcrew@gmail.com / umlilo86@gmail.com // CONTACT: 0735482137
We are Queer musicians based in Johannesburg South Africa. We currently touring our Rainbow Riots Project at various International venues.