Hello music lovers,

To commemorate pride month, we interviewed @DavidEAnderson100 He is an LGBTQIAP+ author, and we had a most insightful dialogue. We hope you enjoy it, learn something new from it, or feel encouraged.

Who is David E. Anderson? Tell us more about yourself.

Something of an opinionated introvert. A person who frequently escapes into the worlds of movies, books, and music because he gets so mad at the injustices being perpetrated in the world, he fears he might crack up. But, somehow, still retains a sliver of hope that things might improve. It's said, 'It is hope that kills us,' but if we don't have hope, what have we got left? So, maybe a cynic with a defiant optimistic streak. Yep, that about sums me up.

Do you have a favorite TV series, movies? What are your favorite books?

Hands down, the greatest TV series ever is The Wire. You don't so much watch it, as experience it. Everything is so raw and real. Flawed characters that you can't help but love-good and bad. Dialogue that pops. And utterly engrossing storylines. It is like the greatest books and movies rolled into one. We are living in a golden age of TV series, and The Wire is the crowning glory.

Books and films are impossible to pick. Anything directed by Scorcese, the Coen brothers, Micheal Mann, or Stanley Kubrick would be near the top of my list. I will watch any genre, but my favorite way to pass the time is locked inside the minds of characters in a good psychological thriller.

When it comes to writers, Bret Easton Ellis, George V. Higgins, ChuckPalahniuk, Patricia Highsmith, and Elmore Leonard are my go-to authors when I need whisking away from this world. More than writing style, or plot, I value great dialogue. When it feels like you are sitting next to the characters overhearing their conversations. That is the type of intimacy you rarely find in the other mediums we mentioned.

You are a Wattys 2021 winner with your book The Art of Breathing Under Water—a captivating title, by the way—take us through your journey of writing it. What were your inspirations or motivations?

Thank you.

The motivation came from reading an article on the BBC website about the deaths of young lesbian women in Chile. Murdered because of their sexuality. With all the progress being made over the past decades regarding LGBTQ rights in certain countries, there are still 62 countries in the world where homosexuality is a criminal offense. In 13 of which, being gay is punishable by death. And many more, where the law has changed, but societal attitudes remain the same. Where hate crimes are commonplace. Meanwhile, the far-right movement is gaining in power, riding on a wave of racial-hatred, and homophobia.

My motivation in writing The Art of Breathing Underwater was to give younger readers a glimpse of how it used to be, a reminder that the fight for diversity, representation, and inclusion is not one we can ever give up on. The fight for equality for all never ends. We are but one supreme court ruling away from basic civil liberties we take for granted being repealed.

Also, I hoped that it might reach readers who are experiencing the same struggles with their sexuality as I did. That they might find comfort in knowing that they are not alone. That it is possible to make it through to a better place.

Let's dive in and talk about your main character, Aaron. A fifteen year old gay young man growing up in 90's Dublin. What are some of the differences between growing up in that time and today?

A sea-change in attitude. In the '90s, you couldn't swear on prime-time TV, but white characters could use racial slurs and homophobic language(and did, with abandon!) Stereotypes abounded in movies/shows. People of color were routinely portrayed as criminals, while gay characters were there for camp, comic relief that reinforced the audience's prejudices (Seriously, watch any cop show, or sitcom from that era, and you'll see what I mean.) Marginalized communities never had an on-screen hero they could aspire to, or look up to in popular culture.

Sure, directors like Spike Lee and Gus Van Sant broke barriers with their films, but they never broke through to the mainstream, until recently. And this is so important because people fear what they don't know. If your only knowledge of a community is from some scaremongering politician playing to your fears, just seeing a visual representation on screen can be a humanizing experience.

I remember watching a TV show where two gay lovers were having an argument, and somebody in the room said, "This reminds me of the fight I had with my girlfriend. Man, gay people are just like us." Like it was a revelation!

Thanks to a fundamental change in popular culture, we have a whole new generation coming through with a totally different mindset from the previous generations. All that being said, old prejudices haven't gone away. With the increasing polarization of society, moderates are being pushed to the extreme. As economic hardships continue to worsen, hatred is being fostered and encouraged. Social media has opened a gateway for dangerous elements to poison minds under the guise of free speech. Sadly, in some respects, nothing much has changed since my youth. But, I have to have faith that this generation will pass down what they have learned to the next generation, and we can continue to make progress toward a less divided society.

Your first chapter was gripping and intriguing. Bravo! In that chapter, there's a section where the students go for a break during the first day of school, and Aaron tries to find a "spot" that he'd fit in.

You say, "I selected a spot on the sidelines, wondering where I fit in. I was cheeky but no tough guy. My grades were good, but I wasn't big on studying ... As far as football goes, in my head, I'm Pele, on the pitch, I've got the coordination of a toddler."

More than the humor provided in that last line, the statement is true for most people entering any new environment. What made you choose scenes that were so relatable...to everyone?

Sport has always been a great uniting force. So, I thought Aaron watching the other players from the sidelines would be a good metaphor for the isolation he was feeling in his life-that outsiderdom.

Also, the other stereotypes mentioned are categories that society expects you to fit into when you are young. The tough kids, the geeks, the jocks, and the beauty queens. The staples of every teen movie. The cliques. Every culture has variations on them. And when you're young, you are desperate to fit into one of them because nobody wants to be that kid on the sidelines watching the game passing them by.

What can you tell us about Aaron's journey to self-discovery? The highs or the lows, we'd want to know.

I would say the low is pretending to be someone you are not to try and fit in. Feeling uncomfortable in yourself because the world around you is uncomfortable with who you are. The inner turmoil that threatens to tear you apart.

The high is discovering the meaning of true friendship, and what it is to have people in your life that genuinely care for you. Who accept your idiosyncrasies because they are part of what makes you who you are. People who you, in turn, care and respect for who they are. That beautiful synchronization of minds and hearts is what love really is.

That was a really beautiful description. Thank you. Now, back to the book😀. Aaron meets Robbie on the first day of school. Can you tell us a little bit about Robbie?

Intelligence is the first word that springs to mind when I think of Robbie. From our first meeting, I could tell this guy was operating on a higher level than the rest of us. But, he was never smug. Unless somebody was spouting ignorance, then he would call it out, and chew them up with an argument.

Next has to be loyalty. He would stick up for his friends no matter what the personal consequences. You could tell him your deepest secret and never worry about him repeating it to others. He projected an aura that nothing ever got to him. It was only much later I found out, just like me, he was bottling things inside.

I wore a mask so people wouldn't see who I was. He wore a mask of strength so people wouldn't know they were affecting him. You can only mask the pain for so long before it eats you away inside.

You tell us that Aaron and Robbie felt that the world didn't understand them. In your opinion, what do you think can be done today to show more support towards people who identify as LGBTQIAP+

Just treat us the same way as everyone else. We're not different. We're people. With the same hopes, dreams, and fears as everyone else. I became friends with Robbie because he is smart, funny, and a warm, genuine person whose opinions I respected. I had no idea he was gay, and really, it would have made no difference to our friendship if he wasn't.

Sexuality is only one aspect of a person's personality. So, be cool. Don't make a huge deal out of it. Focus on what you share in common. Mutual respect is the cornerstone of trust. And trust is the glue that holds us together. That's the best support you can have.

David, that last chapter... I cried. Aaron and Robbie already had my heart, and then I read, "Genuine friendship never requires re-setting or reconfiguring. It's an insoluble bond, existing beyond the constraints of space and time."

I never thought it'd be possible to cheer more for Aaron and Robbie. But I did. Louder.

What contributions do you think genuine friendships can make in someone's life, especially an LGBTQIAP+ person who may be misunderstood, coming to terms with their identity, or having an unsupportive family?

Thank you so much!

True friendship is everything. It's that shoulder to cry on. That ear that you can vent your frustrations into. That voice that isn't afraid to tell you when you're wrong. It's that space where you always feel safe.

A genuine friend is the one person that will carry you when you fall, and pick you up when you are at your lowest ebb. This is all beginning to sound like a greeting card, but it is so true. If you are having problems, talk to your best friend. When you are done, I guarantee the problem won't seem quite so daunting. A genuine friend knows you almost as well as you know yourself. And they are far enough removed from the situation that they can offer a fresh perspective. No exaggeration, true friendship can be a lifesaver.

That was beautiful, and encouraging. Thank you. On to the next question.

As a proud member of the LGBTQ+ do you have any words of encouragement for anyone who might be facing what Aaron was...feeling-a kind of blocking that doesn't allow them to be their most authentic self?

What I would advise is not to fight it. Being gay is natural. And Nature will flow. The more you try to stem the tide, the weight of the water becomes heavier. So it requires everything you have just to hold it at bay. You can lose years of your life using up every bit of available energy to stave off the inevitable. Energy that could be better utilized enhancing your life in other areas. You can wear a mask, or play a role, but you will always be you underneath-that will never change.

What I have learned is acceptance of who you are will make you feel whole as a person. Also, people around you can surprise you. Sure, they may have a homophobic attitude, but when it comes to someone they know and love that attitude can change given time.

In your book, Robbie identifies as a gay person of color, and he speaks with Aaron about how he felt judged because of the color of his skin above all else.

Do you think it is possible for one to find happiness and navigate this world when they feel there's a constant separating barrier that doesn't allow them to simply be?

Find happiness? Yes. But the constant struggle to just be can be exhausting. To be constantly made to feel different exacts a heavy toll. It is the subtle ways society discriminates that are the hardest to deal with. I remember when we were young, Robbie and I would check out the bookstore before school started. I saw the security guard shadowing Robbie around the store. How do you deal with that? Robbie can't complain because the security guard will say he is just doing his job, and it isn't racially motivated. Everyone knows this is a lie, but nobody will do anything about it. We call them micro-aggressions, but they all add up to one great big perpetual aggression. And for what? The color of his skin. There is only one thing a person should be judged upon-their character. Nothing else matters.

Perfectly said, David. Thank you. I want to mention another line from your book that got me thinking.

"Your past can mould you or deform you, if you let it."

Those are wise words, but not easy to hear, for anyone. Why did you give that caution?

Our lives are rooted in the past. It is literally coded in our DNA. But we shouldn't let it define who we are today. Our lives are like grains of sand, blown from place to place. Who we are today is not who we were yesterday, or who we could be tomorrow.

Sometimes we carry the hurts of our upbringings around with us, as we do behavioral patterns instilled in us from childhood. We can allow them to hold us back. To keep us locked in a dark place where growth is impossible. But, anything learned can be unlearned, and replaced with fresh knowledge. Every day we are shaping who we are as people, evolving. It is a continual process. Letting go of the past can be painful, but often it is necessary to enjoy a better future.

That was wonderful and insightful; thank you. Now, let's delve into a fun topic and why most of our followers are here: music. 

There's a lot of music mentions and happenings in your books and plenty of concerts.

What was your musical inspiration when writing this book? Are you a fan of Bowie's music? What's in your current playlist?

I'm a huge Bowie fan, but my biggest musical inspiration is the band, Suede. Partly, because they provided the soundtrack to my youth. But, more for the influence they had on my life. Suede is a band that has a healthy disregard for the music business, and fame. They followed, and continue to follow their own path. What I admire most about them is that they exist in their own self-contained universe. Twenty-five years later, and I still love getting lost in Suedeworld. Wu-Tang Clan is another huge influence on me. As are Massive Attack. The Beastie Boys still rock. Recently, I've gotten into Run The Jewels. If you want rap that is on point, with a unique flow, and an important social message, then check these guys out. Middle-era REM still cuts it for me, and early Pet Shop Boys. Jay-Z, Beyonce, Madonna, and NWA would also make it onto any playlist of mine.

PLAYLIST

Suede - Beautiful Ones

Jay-Z & Alicia Keys - Empire State of Mind

Massive Attack - Karmacoma

David Bowie - 1984

Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield - What Have I Done to Deserve This?

Wu-Tang Clan - Protect Ya Neck

REM - I Don't Sleep, I Dream

Beastie Boys - An Open Letter to NYC

Madonna - Like A Virgin

NWA - Straight outta Compton

Run The Jewels - Early

The Delfonics - Didn't I(Blow Your Mind This Time)

Suede - We Are The Pigs

David Bowie - Ashes to Ashes

Your playlist rocks! Thank you for sharing it with us!

You end the book with Robbie and Aaron walking with arms wrapped around each other's shoulders, unconcerned about where the universal flow might take them. What would you say the secret is? Living life unapologetically?

Yes, definitely.

We expend a terrible amount of energy worrying about how others view us. Why? So we can meet their accepted standards. The only person we should be trying to impress is ourselves. If we can look in the mirror and be happy with the person staring back at us, then who cares what anyone else thinks?

Opinions are like bad habits; everyone has them and can be as annoying as hell. Sure, criticism stings, and we all want to be loved. But you know what, you can only ever please some of the people some of the time. There will always be haters no matter what you do. So why worry? And if people don't respect you for who you are, they are not worthy of even a second of your concern.

Before I go, I would like to say a huge thanks to the wonderful kristianabooks for all her hard work in putting this interview together, and asking the kind of thought-provoking questions I've been waiting my whole life to answer.

Thank you, David. It was an honor to do the interview with you. Thank you for being bold in your answers and sharing a glimpse of your world with us.

That's all Rockstars! Thank you for reading. Hope you enjoyed the interview.

To read more works from @DavidEAnderson100, click HERE

To read the book that made this interview happen—The Art of Breathing Under Water—click HERE

Before we go, a parting paragraph from David's book that blew my mind away.

"A piece of our identity is lost the longer we remain silent. Living our lives on the margins, compelled to swim in the dark depths beneath the prevailing current, obliged to master the art of breathing under water in order to survive.

You can hide and be safe. And miserable. Or risk everything by being happy and visible. There comes a time when you have to choose happiness."

🏳️‍🌈 HAPPY PRIDE MONTH 🏳️‍🌈