GETTING TO KNOW: LELANND BLACKWELL
How did you become so passioned about dancing?
It became very dear to me because the fact of how people react and how people really enjoy watching people dance. I will dance just like the girls (laughs) because I felt way more comfortable dancing like that. The booty dances, the shaking.. fast movements. But I also started to create my own form of dance that made me stand out.. made me feel more comfortable in myself. A lot of people didn't like that, but dance makes the world go round and I became passioned because how it made me and other people feel.. like it was an escape. What age did you start singing and dancing?
Around the age of six. I was just inspired by people like Prince and Janet Jackson.. so I wanted to be Janet (laughs) I wanted to have that little fire of energy that males are so scared to be.. YES! I'm not scared to admit that I'm a very flamboyant guy, more flamboyant than females, but when I was young.. a lot of females inspired me because females are not afraid to be natural and theirselves.. boys.. are so scared because boys can judge often quick.. but ME. Hell NOOOOOOOOO HONEY! I had to break out that little shell..
What made you so excited about music?
How music made me feel... it was like music took all the worries away from me, even pop and dance music. I remember singing and dancing around my room, with my momma's brush, also sadly.. (laughs) dressing up in her clothes and dancing like I was putting on a show with my little underwear on. I was get lipstick and put it on my face.. like it was sign of freedom.. it made me feel so creative.. when I listen to music.. I imagine the unimaginable. Music made this gay boy feel fucking free.
When did you decide to really break the silence about your sexuality?
When I wanted to be free honey, HONEYYYYY, let me tell you. How will you feel when people don't even know you and making judgements? they all see the outside.. you know? They don't see the pain and the torture my family, uncles gave me because I was gay. It was horrible HONEY! BUT BABYYYYY, YA YA YA YA! It was soooo messsssssyyyy, at the time and so like brave for a black guy to come out because my people are very secretive about so many things. I wanted to come out because I felt I didn't want to lie to myself or my parents anymore.
How did they react?
My parents love me so it wasn't a big deal, but religous come in with my grandmother and everything started to turn from there because she felt like I was betraying God.. which I wasn't, I grew up in the church.. I grew up listening to Gospel.. and my grandmother didn't understand. Like I told her, HOW ABOUT YOUUUU baby, come out and try to be straight when you know you got a little ting ting for guys? (laughs) that's how I operate honey.
Are you afriad to speak about your sexuality?
No.. it's how I am.. I'm going to embrace and enjoy it while I can. If no one doesn't like it, while eat my cakes for dinner and supper!!!
Cakes?
Ass. (laughs)
I was it like in school.
I was the popular one because I was so loud, expressful and gay. (laughs) But I didn't want to reflect myself on my sexuality.. I really wanted to be to love me for love because YES. I'm very expressful, very free and fun. I will do anything.. because I feel like shit, you have one life to life. YOLOOOOOOO baby. you can do anything you put your mind too and a lot of people respected me because I was the postive one in school, never negative. I had my flaws.. but I embraced them. That's the thing about me- no matter what I'm faced with. I will EMBRACE THAT HONEY.. Embrace it until it fallls out HONEY! People needaaa to learn dollface.
It seems you have no doubts.. what will you say your music is? How does it stand out?
I think that a guy or just a man.. has never really put their mind to become a big dance star or pop star.. if it is.. a pop star.. they are not iconic.. they not are memorable.. and my music stands out because it's memorable. it's DANCE. It's POP! It's something that will stand out because it's POPPPP baby, pop goes the music honey. It's stands out because it's me.. and no one can't be mind better than my own got damn self. I don't want this world liking me because I am gay.. that is just another aspect of myself that I love.. but I want people to love me for the movement I create because I want everyone to be true and be bold... no matter what life brings you.. be bold.. be open.. be yourself.
How is your biggest influence? or someone you look up to?
I will have to say people like Vanity.. Stephanie Fierce.. Cinzia Ricca.. Janet Jackson. Prince.. all of these people I love because they are sooo fucking free with the music and their personalities. They dont CARE BABYYYY! YESSSSS! They give me so much life.. I just do a gay drop everytime I see them.. they are true entertainers.. and at the end of the day, I want to be that entertainer people go crazy over.
On stage, what do you like to be called? what do you name your fans?
That's a fun question.. I like to be called PHENOMENAL.. Because I am that... and I will became bigger than that.. My fans is the mixes.. they are so different and crazy.. creative.. mixtures of people love me for me and my music. My little mixesss..!
What can we hear some music from you?
Very soon, sooner than you think baby.
Do you have a boyfriend..?
I'm not worried about the lamess.. boys are so lame! OH MY GOD.. So lame. Dont shake it baby.. like I said.. people can't knock it until they try it.
What is the big goal in music for you?
Look at me.. to create more people to be free. let's start a fucking RIOT!!!!!!!!!!! BABY! I just want people to enjoy me as an entertainer and my music. that's all I ask for me...
