She’s on a roll, that’s for sure. North Carolinian drag queen, Flamy Grant provides a third taster of her forthcoming album, CHURCH.
Release Date: Out Now
Label: Self Release
Formats: Digital
Our anticipation for CHURCH, the forthcoming album from Carolinian drag queen, Flamy Grant, scheduled for release on 27th September – that’s just a couple of weeks away now – has already been stimulated by her two recent singles, the funky S.P.R.K.L. and her July offering, Last Days. Expectations were raised another couple of notches in late July when we caught Flamy’s eye-popping set at Cambridge Folk Festival and now, here comes another taster, and it’s another corker!
Flamy’s stage name – her drag name – is her homage to Amy Grant, Christian musician and 90s chart-topping artist. The Christian aspect is important; much of Flamy’s music centres upon the queer spiritual journey, telling stories of resilience and recovery from religious trauma in a world where LGBTQ+ people are frequently ignored by, harmed in or ejected from religious spaces. And nowhere are those sentiments more emotionally and directly addressed than with this new single; If You Ever Leave is a trenchant, bitter swipe at the toxicity she has encountered.
Musically, If You Ever Leave is a triumph. A heartfelt country ballad, Flamy’s clear, soaring vocals are impeccable and, when she hits those high notes… wow! And Andy Sydow’s string arrangement blends gloriously with the strident guitars and the dreamy pedal steel. But, to really get If You Ever Leave, you need to concentrate on Flamy’s biting lyrics. I don’t believe that I’ve ever heard her express anger and deep hurt as articulately as she does here, with lines like: “If you ever leave, I hope you leave a light on, just enough to see the open door you left from” and, particularly, the crunch line: “There’s no such thing as a true religion, babe. A god who makes you cling to hatred for yourself is not a god who saves. It’s mirrors and smoke.” She’s right, of course, and it’s a measure of rejection she’s suffered for being considered different that she’s willing to voice such wounded sentiment. Good for you, Flamy!
There isn’t long to go now. We’re counting the days to the release of CHURCH and you can bet your mother’s jewels that we’ll be dissecting every part of it as soon as it arrives. Watch this space…
Hear it for yourself: listen to If You Ever Leave here:
Flamy Grant online: Official Website / Facebook / Instagram / X (formerly Twitter) / TikTok / YouTube / Spotify
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