Queer The Music: Jake Shears On The Songs That Changed Lives
Mercury Studios
Jake Shears celebrates the anthems that have dominated dancefloors and shaped queer lives. Throughout the history of popular music, queer artists have made huge...
Have you heard the news?? Scissors Sisters are reforming and going on tour next May so for this special edition of Queer The Music, recorded in front of an audience at The Phoenix Arts club in London, we celebrate one of the songs that started it all, a song that is instantly recognizable from the first chord and one that the LGBTQ+ community have taken to their hearts, it's 2004's 'Take Your Mama'
Longtime friend and associate of Scissor Sisters, Ms. Aimee Phillips turns the tables on Jake Shears and his fellow band mates, Babydaddy and Del Marquis and asks them to spill the tea on this iconic song.
Tickets to the Scissor Sisters 2025 UK & Ireland tour are now on sale! Get yours via https://www.scissorsisters.com/ ✂️
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
--------
48:35
14 - 'Midnight Radio' with John Cameron Mitchell
This episode celebrates the song 'Midnight Radio', by Stephen Trask, the epic finale song from the ground-breaking film and stage musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
Jake is joined at his home in New Orleans by the creator, director and star of this cult classic, John Cameron Mitchell, to talk about where the ideas for the musical came from, it's reception, the making of the film and its enduring significance.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
--------
53:31
13 - 'Free Yourself' by Jessie Ware
Queer The Music not only shines a light on songs by queer artists but also those that have been adopted by the LGBTQ+ community and in this episode we’re celebrating an absolute banger and one that has well and truly been claimed by the queer community - it’s the unbelievably uplifting call to arms ‘Free Yourself’ by Jessie Ware.
Tune in to hear Jake and Jessie chat about how the song came about, her influences, creative process, working with Stuart Price, channelling Erica Jane and how incredibly important her queer fans are to her.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
--------
47:31
12 - 'Explode' by Big Freedia
In this episode of Queer The Music we’re shining a light on an incredible artist as we celebrate ‘Explode’ by the rapper and ‘Queen of Bounce’ Big Freedia.
Big Freedia, “The Queen Diva,” not only brought bounce music to the mainstream but has become a cultural icon, an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and an ambassador for New Orleans.
Big Freedia joined Jake at his house in New Orleans to talk about how the song was conceived, her influences, her faith, the impact of Hurricane Katrina & her love of New Orleans.
Explode isn't just a song - it's a powerful declaration of self-expression and resilience.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
--------
39:56
11 - 'Glacier' by John Grant
This week on Queer The Music we welcome the great singer songwriter John Grant to talk about his epic song Glacier.
Glacier is the standout track from John's 2013 album 'Pale Green Ghosts' and is about the pain of growing up gay in a hostile environment, which for John was his conservative Methodist upbringing. It’s an emotional tour de force with hauntingly beautiful orchestration and powerful lyrics. We hear about how this song came to exist, his songwriting process and how music helped John find confidence and acceptance.
Watch the full episode here
Come and have a kiki with us! We're doing our first live episode recording on the 5th of November at the Phoenix Arts Club followed by a party to celebrate season 2 - tickets and more info here
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
About Queer The Music: Jake Shears On The Songs That Changed Lives
Jake Shears celebrates the anthems that have dominated dancefloors and shaped queer lives. Throughout the history of popular music, queer artists have made huge contributions - often at great expense and risk to themselves personally and professionally. This podcast shines a spotlight on those who trailblazed paths towards self expression. Join Scissor Sisters’ frontman Jake Shears and his guests as he unearths these important stories song by song.
Executive Producer: Alice Williams, Producer: Debbie Kilbride, Research: Mark Wood and Luke Wheatley
Listen to Queer The Music: Jake Shears On The Songs That Changed Lives, Song Exploder and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app