Of late, Tinseltown actors dabbling in music has become quite the industry trend. But Jay Brannan, who isn't so Hollywood yet, boasts the full package of quality goods: talented, cute and alarmingly honest in his indie folk music and acting choices (just watch his subtle performance in John Cameron Mitchell's cult-hit "Shortbus," and you'll see what I mean). Brannan is no Scarlett Johansson covering Tom Waits. He's more Zooey Deschanel charming audiences as part of She & Him.

"I always feel hungover and I haven't had a drink in three years," Brannan tells me over the phone. Touring around the world, running his own MySpace, YouTube, Facebook and personal blog, releasing his debut full-length album, and filming roles as well as auditioning for new ones has done that to the boy. Not that he doesn't make time for other stuff, too. When I launch into my first question about his storytelling lyrics, Brannan tells me that he writes from experiences with pain, anger and frustration: "What I do is pretty personal; it's what I do by myself at the middle of the night in my apartment. It's all of the thoughts that I've had in my head for years finally having a voice."

As an openly gay male artist, Brannan has a message that might make some uncomfortable, but being himself is non-negotiable, not part of a more political agenda. "I don't wanna be a professional 'gay,'" Brannan confesses. "I sing about men in my songs. I had sex with men in my movie. I don't want to censor anything. I want to be who I am." Without being pushed into what he refers to as the "gay musician corner" with other artists (Rufus Wainwright comes to mind), that is.

"Being gay has become its own industry, its own genre," he says. "When Lisa Loeb sings a song, she's just singing about her life, her relationships. No one calls her a straight singer. Or Whitney Houston a black singer. I don't like labels; I don't want my life to be about that."

With a smooth tenor and lyrics that will break your heart, I'm sure that pigeonholing this songbird is the last thing you'll want to do.

Jay Brannan plays Bottom of the Hill on July 24th; buy your tickets online here.

- Alex Catarinella

Similar Topics:indie folk, music, singer/songwriter

comments (0) : Send to a Friend : Subscribe

:  digg this :  del.icio.us! :