The Ari Gold Interview: Pt. 2

This is a continuation of my conversation with Ari Gold. Part One was posted yesterday. One of the things we talked about was ambition and success: "I had my first demo when I was 12 years old and I basically thought then that I'd be as famous as Madonna - my ambitions have remained pretty grand over the years. I won't be happy until I'm on the cover of Rolling Stone (laughs). But I've never been more proud of my work, lyrically, musically and artistically as with this album. There's a feeling about this album that's just great because I'm so proud of it. The album is called "Transport Systems," it's about movement and progesssion so there's definitely the hope that it's going to move me forward to the next level where I need to go."
The first single on the CD is "Where the Music Takes You" which Ari says is really about being true to yourself.
"The song came out of my own experience of just going where the music took me, wherever I could fund a situation to record, find collaborators or co-producers, I'd pick myself up and go there. I didn't have a major label to help me out and say, 'OK, work with this top producer right here, it's something you have to create for yourself."
He also does a cover of "Human" by the Human League and in it her collaborates with a heterosexual hip-hopper, shades of Elton John and Eminem: "We came together to make this song. The original song was about a guy cheating on his girlfriend and saying, 'I'm only human.' I reworked the song and the verses and the bridge and made it more into a human rights anthem. I think the essence of the song has a really strong message that could be stronger than just cheating on your girlfriend. For me and this rapper to come together for this song about human rights, it's a powerful message."
Gold is also particularly proud of the song "Love Wasn't Build in A Day" which features jazz great Dave Koz.
"After he came out on the cover of The Advocate, I read the interview and thought, 'I just have to collaborate with this guy. We met and were in touch for like a year. He had a crazy tour schedule and at one point it didn't look like it was going to happen but I didn't give up. When we were in LA at the same time, he was like, 'OK, I'm here. I've got my saxaphone in the car and I'm coming over.' I cried when he played on the song. It was one of those things where you have an idea in your head and it comes to fruition. He told me he was really glad I was a pushy Jew about the whole thing. And he's a Jew so he can say that!""
Gold's news CD will be released just days after he appears on the LOGO channel on Sept. 30 as host of the "New. Next. Now" video show. He is hoping his CD with its positive themes, gets the attention it deserves.
"We give a lot of attention to artists like Eminem and 50 Cent but if we're going to rally in support of them for freedom of speech, then it's important to pay attentiion to artists who are saying a message that counters their message. There is homophobic lyrics and masogynist lyrics in their stuff, let's hear from people who are pro-women and pro-gay."

Fit and muscular, the currently unattatched Gold is not shy about flaunting his sex appeal: "I don't have a big machine behind me that's telling me what my image should be. Everything that's out there is because I put it out there. I put out a sexy image. At the end of the day, there's a lot of things about being gay that don't have to do with same-sex, bit it is our right to have sex with who we want to and love who we want to love. So I'm not trying to de-sexualize myself to make myself more palatable to people. I am a sexual human being and I think it's important for gay men to celebrate their own sexuality. The music is sexy and it's a part of what I do. There's nothing wrong with it as long as it;s done respectfully and tastefully."

I'll say.