Queer artist Mathew V gives Gershwin classic a gay twist
Vancouver-based queer singer Mathew V covers “The Man I Love” and announces Anything Goes, an album that aims at shaking up the Great American Songbook.
Due out April 14 on 604 Records, Anything Goes takes standards by the likes of Cole Porter, George Gershwin, and Henry Mancini and draws out queer perspectives from the elegant imprecision of their timeless lyrics.
“Queer culture, gay history, and jazz music have a lot of parallels,” explains Mathew V. “Jazz music was vilified not just as a genre of music but as a lifestyle that society looked down upon. It was synonymous with sin. This music lives at the intersection of camp, glamour, and showmanship, which are all aspects that inform the very essence of my performance.”
Mathew V’s take on George Gershwin’s “The Man I Love” pushes the boundaries of conventional jazz from the queer perspective. Mathew says, “It’s been exciting choosing songs like ‘The Man I Love,’ which a man like me may not have been able to sing when these songs were written,” and adds, “I’m at a place in my career and in my life that I not only want to sing at my highest caliber, but I want that music to come from my heart. I owe that to the little Mathew that was looking for this record all those years ago.”
Listen to his take on George Gershwin’s “The Man I Love” here.
Also on Anything Goes, storied tunes such as “Moon River” and “Georgia On My Mind” are sung from the perspective of a queer man who confidently shares his stance on love, romantic trials and tribulations with other men.
The new album also features the original song “My Boy,” a Marilyn Monroe-inspired song and fan favorite on tour, compelling Mathew to include it on the album. The song was written spontaneously with Mathew’s co-writer Ben Dunnill. Of the process, Mathew recounts, “Ben was in Europe at the time and sent me a voice note for a chorus idea from a public train station piano. From there the voice notes flew back and forth, and ‘My Boy’ came to life.” With the use of witty lyrics, a walking bass line, and energetic piano solos “My Boy” has the power to transport listeners to a glamorous smoke-filled 1960s lounge.
A seasoned performer, Mathew has played all over North America from arena’s like BC Place to the historic Massey Hall. Now with a catalogue of over 85 million streams, Mathew is making a bold return to the Jazz music he was raised on, introducing a rich and powerful side of his voice to the world.
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