Jun 6, 2022
Don+: Hip Hop, Islam and The Golden Girls
Welcome to https://www.inthekeyofq.com/ (In the Key of Q) the weekly podcast where I chat with inspiring Queer musicians from around the world as they share stories, inspirations and of course their music.
Don+ is an independent artist and writer who has been writing and making music since 2013. He gained recognition with his first EP Raw Rhythm and Words (https://music.apple.com/us/album/r-a-w-rhythm-and-words-ep/1575238032 (Apple) / https://open.spotify.com/album/4iJjvlAv5JL04Sx9MSO19L?si=42a451c8b6454c13 (Spotify)), which debuted in the top 40 on the http://www.itunescharts.net/uk/charts/songs/rnb-soul/ (iTunes RnB charts).
He grew up in a house surrounded by music, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNj9bXKGOiI (Luther Vandross) to gospel and learned to make peace with the https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/aug/09/dababy-steps-is-hip-hop-finally-conquering-homophobia (homophobia in some of Hip Hop). With loved artists such as https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-wBxMcBpSY (R Kelly) it was tough to separate the music from the man.
Christianity and Islam were highly influential, not an easy combo for a Black kid growing up in America's South. Despite attacks from many religious sides, he went on to find peace in his own sense of spirituality.
After testing HIV+ in what he thought was a monogamous relationship, Don+ took this news and ran with it. He became an advocate for people with HIV, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXBT6uzqQqU (giving lessons in schools) to fight ignorance and stigma.
Additional MaterialDon+ on https://open.spotify.com/artist/4ok9PAC8jvEa4lyzwxtrw0?si=UhOCOByWRLyPOXr7wXCvKA (Spotify), https://music.apple.com/us/artist/don/1511800362 (Apple Music), https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGYL_ev2L6N0DFdnzSu9Ztw (YouTube)
Don+ on https://twitter.com/itsdon_music (Twitter), Facebook, https://www.instagram.com/itsdon_music/?hl=en (Instagram)
Advice for newly diagnosed HIV-positive people from https://www.tht.org.uk/hiv-and-sexual-health/being-diagnosed-hiv/newly-diagnosed#:~:text=If%20you%20don't%20have,with%20HIV%20in%20the%20UK. (THT).
Managing being https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvA5wMgKq3k (LGBTQ and Muslim).
If you enjoyed this episode why not take a listen to https://player.captivate.fm/episode/80ab65df-042a-4eb0-a4b5-5c975b83e7ea (Blake Mundell).
https://www.inthekeyofq.com/ (In the Key of Q) is a weekly 30-40 minute podcast publishing every Tuesday. I’m your host Dan Hall, and in each episode, I chat candidly with a gay/bi musician about their life and music.
Access exclusive interview content and support the production of this podcast by heading over to https://www.patreon.com/inthekeyofq (Petreon) and making a small donation.
Enjoy the music of previous guests by listening to https://linktr.ee/inthekeyofq (these playlists) with tracks selected by the artists themselves.
CreditsThe podcast can be reached on email and on social media at https://twitter.com/inthekeyofq (Twitter), https://www.instagram.com/inthekeyofq/ (Instagram) and https://www.facebook.com/InTheKeyOfQ (Facebook). The podcast’s forever home can be found https://www.inthekeyofq.com/ (here).
Theme tune is by https://www.unstoppablemonsters.com/ (Paul Leonidou).
Press & PR by Paul Smith.
Many thanks to Kaj and Moray for their continued support.
https://www.inthekeyofq.com/ (In the Key of Q) is presented and produced by Dan Hall and made at Pup Media. Dan has recently produced the landmark BBC film, "Freddie Mercury: The Final Act" (dir. James Rogan) and is the producer of the podcast series https://btdtshow.com/ (Been There Done That). For audio or video production inquiries Dan can be reached here or at https://www.thetalentmanager.com/talent/156474/dan-hall (Talent Manager.)
Would you like to appear on the show? Or have an artist you'd like to recommend, please tell them to get in touch via email.