PRS Presents LGBTQ+
WHAT'S ON THIS PAGE?
PRS for Music and PRS Foundation bring you a special online virtual edition of PRS Presents to celebrate the diversity of our members and the LGBTQ+ community. Hosted by Sabrina Grant, we present a full packed show including performances from PRS for Music members and Artists who have been funded by PRS Foundation and special contributions from Gendered Intelligence, Pride in Music, Lady Phyll (Co-founder and Executive Director of UK Black Pride) and Paul Kemp (Managing Director of Brighton Pride).
About the artists
Right Said Fred
Right Said Fred are one of the UK’s most enduring pop acts and in the 28 years since I’m Too Sexy’s release, the brothers have reached fans all across the globe, selling in excess of 7 million copies of their debut album Up worldwide, receiving two Ivor Novello’s for I’m Too Sexy and Deeply Dippy as well as a Brit Award nomination for Best British Act. They also have three BMI awards. Fred and Richard have played The Royal Variety Performance, met the Queen, released a track for Comic Relief (Stick It Out) and, most importantly, Richard was voted Rear of the Year by Smash Hits Magazine.
Self Esteem
Self Esteem is Rebecca Lucy Taylor, and a project which began with painting and video alongside her day job writing and performing as one half of the Slow Club. Since her musical divergence from the band, Rebecca has revelled in unleashing a whole version of herself with no compromises, no reducing herself, no hesitating. She would go on to write the songs that had been rising up inside her through the years – big songs, that spoke of love and sex and chaos, that brought in huge basslines, gospel choirs, the kind of polished, provocative production she admired on the biggest pop records.
Big Joanie
Big Joanie are a black feminist punk band based in London, UK, who formed in July 2013 to play First Timers in November 2013, a gig where every band played their first set. Big Joanie are Chardine (drums & vocals), Steph (guitar & vocals) and Estella (bass & vocals). Latest single is a cover of Solange’s ‘Cranes in the Sky’.
Bishi
Bishi is a singer, electronic rock-sitarist, composer, producer and performer born in London of Bengali heritage. As a multi-instrumentalist she has been trained in both Hindustani and Western Classical styles and studied the sitar under Gurav Mazumdar, a senior disciple of Ravi Shankar.
Abisha
In each song she shares with the world, London-based alt-R&B artist ABISHA embodies a quiet self-possession, an element especially evident in her sophisticated yet soulful vocal presence. But for the 25-year-old singer/songwriter, that confidence follows from overcoming profound insecurity, a journey closely tied to coming of age as a gay person of color in her homeland of Devon. Imbued with both raw sensitivity and understated power, ABISHA’s music intimately documents her transformation through the years—and ultimately speaks to the urgency of representation, and the radical beauty of self-acceptance.
“Growing up black and gay in a place that’s largely white and where I didn’t know of anyone else who was queer, I had this feeling of being different for most of my life,” ABISHA reveals. “There wasn’t anyone around for me to identify with, and there weren’t even many popular queer artists back then—so for a long time I wanted so badly to be what I thought was normal. Now that I’m discovering who I am as an artist, I’m also discovering who I am as a person, and I’ve finally gotten to a place where I’m happy to stand out and express myself every way I can.”
About the host
Sabrina Grant
Sabrina Grant has just bagged an RTS Award for ‘Best on screen personality’ in Scotland. The fresh faced and charismatic presenter is best known for presenting Channel 4’s award-winning documentary series Supershoppers. More recently Sabrina has started featuring on ITV daytime show Lorraine, and you can also see her present VT's on BBC's Sunday Morning Live.
She recently hosted her own one off documentary for Channel 4 "How Healthy Is Your Gut?" A show that explores the gut, and how it affects everything from our moods and energy, to sleep and health. And fronted her own series "The Secret life of Slim People" on Channel 4, a series that examines the lives of people who stay in shape without apparently trying. With the help of private detectives and secret cameras, this series unpicked their every move and morsel to find out what determines their size.
Extended interviews
Charities and organisations
A huge thank you to Brighton Pride, Gendered Intelligence, Pride in Music and UK Black Pride for their contributions in the show.
PRS for Music and PRS Foundation are proud to support Come Play With Me and its latest LGBTQ The Music event on Friday 4 September. The online panel offers an opportunity to discuss challenges and celebrate some of the amazing achievements from LGBTQIA+ people within music. Register your interest here.
Here is a list of additional charities and organisations that are around to support the LGBTQ+ community.
