A Friendly Musical Visit Every Day

Yesterday was a long hospital day with my partner. Though the news was good (radiation appears to have obliterated his cancer), as soon as his oncologist left the room, my partner and I both burst into tears. It wasn't a sad cry, but it wasn't a happy cry. We couldn't figure out what it was. A shared release of pent-up emotions, I guess.  Maybe it was relief, but relief doesn't usually feel so tentative. One of the many things I never realized about cancer is that the fall-out from treatment goes on and on for months and possibly years. The new thing we were worried about was swelling in my partner's neck and lymph nodes. It looks really bad, but his medical team assured us they expect to see this. It's common, and the degree of his edema is actually not too bad. They see far worse in their clinic.  So that was reassuring, but we also left with a list of 8 types of lymphatic massage to do every day. That's in addition to the new physiotherapy exercises that...

It's funny--I've had this song in my head on and off for... months. Before we went on hiatus, I'd been featuring trans opera singers here on the music blog. Well, Avery Jean Brennan came to my attention through a piece of mail I received from the Canadian Opera Company. I love this video they created--especially the post-it notes. Does that ever hit home. If you're wondering how you can support me in bringing you songs and anecdotes, the easiest thing you can do is buy my books (most are for adults only!) or check them out from your local library.  Supporting my  AudioErotica  endeavour on  Patreon  would also help me hugely. I'm also an  Amazon Influencer,  so hopefully I can make a little pocket change when you buy stuff by clicking through  my affiliate links . I also recommend subscribing to my newsletter. I generally e-mail subscribers with a weekly update, and I would LOVE to have you on the list.  Click here to sign up:  http://...

One thing I love about both music and books is that a song is always new to someone who's never heard it. A story is always new to someone who hasn't read it. Our art can be new forever, because there's always going to be someone who hasn't listened to this album or read that book. This is on my mind today because I'm listening to Vivek Shraya's album 1:1, which was released ten years ago. It's new to me, because I'm listening to it for the first time. https://vivekshraya.bandcamp.com/album/1-1 If you're wondering how you can support me in bringing you songs and anecdotes, the easiest thing you can do is buy my books (most are for adults only!) or check them out from your local library.  Supporting my  AudioErotica  endeavour on  Patreon  would also help me hugely. I'm also an  Amazon Influencer,  so hopefully I can make a little pocket change when you buy stuff by clicking through  my affiliate links . I also recommend subscribing to my news...

There was a full moon recently--a blue moon, in fact--but I didn't see it. We were still in the city that night, but you can't see the moon from my apartment and we didn't have the energy to leave my building.  A stark contrast to the previous full moon, which we went out in search of.  We learned, at that time of night, that we had to walk down the street behind my building until we got to the first cross road.  From there, if we stood at the corner of the sidewalk, we could just see the moon over another apartment building. There was a satellite dish somewhat in the way, but we could see it. A stark contrast, also, to the night my partner woke me at 2:30 in the morning and brought me into the backyard to watch the shooting stars.  If you're wondering how you can support me in bringing you songs and anecdotes, the easiest thing you can do is buy my books (most are for adults only!) or check them out from your local library.  Supporting my  AudioErotica...

The other day, as my partner was waiting for his radiation appointment, someone in the waiting room started proudly extolling the ideas of his favourite right-wing politician. This man said he was looking forward to attending a protest "against gender in schools." When my partner told me this story later on, my stomach dropped. Simultaneous to that--to being personally hurt by the sentiment, as a non-binary queer--I couldn't help thinking how incredibly stupid this bigot sounded.  Protesting against gender in schools? That doesn't even make any sense. Do you not want there to be gender in schools? Or do you just not want there to be certain genders in schools? Like mine, perhaps? I used to speak eloqently, before the menopausal brain fog set in. Pile the caregiver brain fog on top of that, and I'm lost in an endless fog. So I'm glad I wasn't there in that waiting room when this man was spewing his transphobia all over the cancer patients (he wasn't a...

 Before I had to put this blog on hiatus, I had been featuring trans opera singers. We're back with non-binary super-soprano Teiya Kasahara 笠原 貞野 and a balcony performance. Make sure to stay until the end--there's a cat at the end. Both my elderly cats died during the pandemic. My partner is very allergic, so adopting another one would be kind of a big "fuck you" in his face. I just gotta say... I miss cats. This is the first time in 20 years that I haven't had cats, and it's an adjustment.  I want cats. If you're wondering how you can support me in bringing you songs and anecdotes, the easiest thing you can do is buy my books (most are for adults only!) or check them out from your local library.  Supporting my  AudioErotica  endeavour on  Patreon  would also help me hugely. I'm also an  Amazon Influencer,  so hopefully I can make a little pocket change when you buy stuff by clicking through  my affiliate links . I also recommend...

Baritone Lucia Lucas probably has the best opera singer name in the world. When she took on the role of Don Giovanni at the Tulsa Opera, she was the first trans singer to do so--rather, she was the first trans singer to perform any leading role in the United States.  Today we're listening to her sing an aria from Verdi's Macbeth, an opera about which I know absolutely nothing. I didn't even know it existed until right now.  I'm going out on a limb, here, but I'm guessing it's based on that Shakespeare play? The one called Macbeth? If you're wondering how you can support me in bringing you songs and visits every day, the easiest thing you can do is tell your friends about the site. Tell anyone you know--particularly people who are isolated and enjoy music. Readers of adult fiction can also buy my books or check them out from your local library. Supporting my  AudioErotica  endeavour on  Patreon  would also help me hugely! I'm also an  Amazon Influence...

This week we're listening to trans opera singers here on the music blog. Adrian Angelico is up today. He's a Norwegian mezzo and one of the few men specializing in trouser roles. Also, he's sexy af--I am MELTING: https://www.adrianangelico.com/gallery If you're wondering how you can support me in bringing you songs and visits every day, the easiest thing you can do is tell your friends about the site. Tell anyone you know--particularly people who are isolated and enjoy music. Readers of adult fiction can also buy my books or check them out from your local library. Supporting my  AudioErotica  endeavour on  Patreon  would also help me hugely! I'm also an  Amazon Influencer,  so hopefully I can make a little pocket change when you buy stuff by clicking through  my affiliate links . But you don't HAVE to do any of that. I'm very happy to get a daily visit from you, so just keep coming back. Oh, and I also recommend hitting the "Subscribe" button a...

I'm researching trans opera singers this week, and I came across Breanna Sinclairé in my studies. There's an extensive introduction in the video, so I'll let you listen. If you're wondering how you can support me in bringing you songs and visits every day, the easiest thing you can do is tell your friends about the site. Tell anyone you know--particularly people who are isolated and enjoy music. Readers of adult fiction can also buy my books or check them out from your local library. Supporting my  AudioErotica  endeavour on  Patreon  would also help me hugely! I'm also an  Amazon Influencer,  so hopefully I can make a little pocket change when you buy stuff by clicking through  my affiliate links . But you don't HAVE to do any of that. I'm very happy to get a daily visit from you, so just keep coming back. Oh, and I also recommend hitting the "Subscribe" button at the top of the page so you won't miss a song! See you tomorrow! Giselle

I ask google a lot of questions. Just now, I realized I couldn't think of any trans opera singers. So I asked google, "Are there any trans opera singers?" I mean, I figured there must be. I'd just never heard them sing. Well, I can't say that anymore! And neither can you! Today we're listening to Holden Madagame, who trained as a mezzo and sings tenor roles now. The aria we're hearing is from Good Country, which Holden's website describes as "a newly composed opera about the life of transgender stagecoach driver Charley Parkhurst," composed by Keith Allegretti, libretto by Cecelia Raker Ehrenfeld. If you're wondering how you can support me in bringing you songs and visits every day, the easiest thing you can do is tell your friends about the site. Tell anyone you know--particularly people who are isolated and enjoy music. Readers of adult fiction can also buy my books or check them out from your local library. Supporting my  Audi...

Trans talent is all around us. Today we're listening to the only harpist who has ever been featured here on the blog, Ahya Simone. I just remembered something: when I couldn't sleep last night, I kept telling myself I should find out more about the Harpies--the mythical... somethings. Did they have wings? I don't remember. I didn't look them up.  But didn't they screech? Why were they called Harpies? Harps don't screech. Harps make beautiful music. Case in point: If you're wondering how you can support me in bringing you songs and visits every day, the easiest thing you can do is tell your friends about the site. Tell anyone you know--particularly people who are isolated and enjoy music. Readers of adult fiction can also buy my books or check them out from your local library. Supporting my  AudioErotica  endeavour on  Patreon  would also help me hugely! I'm also an  Amazon Influencer,  so hopefully I can make a little pocket change when you bu...

I read this lovely article by the organist for the Anaheim Ducks where she comes out as trans and bi, so of course I'm featuring a track from her album of organ music today. This album couldn't be queerer if it tried. Check it out here . If you're wondering how you can support me in bringing you songs and visits every day, the easiest thing you can do is tell your friends about the site. Tell anyone you know--particularly people who are isolated and enjoy music. Readers of adult fiction can also buy my books or check them out from your local library. Supporting my  AudioErotica  endeavour on  Patreon  would also help me hugely! I'm also an  Amazon Influencer,  so hopefully I can make a little pocket change when you buy stuff by clicking through  my affiliate links . But you don't HAVE to do any of that. I'm very happy to get a daily visit from you, so just keep coming back. Oh, and I also recommend hitting the "Subscribe" button at the top of the pa...

Backxwash has a new album out called I LIE HERE BURIED WITH MY RINGS AND MY DRESSES . My plan was to listen to it this week while I had some time to myself, but my mental health decided to spiral, so I wasn't in the right place to be with it. Even though I haven't yet listened to the new release, I'm showcasing a song I picked because I like the title. Backwash's music is so raw and full of so much unapologetic pain that it's hard to predict when it'll help me and when it won't. I hope it helps you, if you're looking for help. If you're wondering how you can support me in bringing you songs and visits every day, the easiest thing you can do is tell your friends about the site. Tell anyone you know--particularly people who are isolated and enjoy music. Readers of adult fiction can also buy my books or check them out from your local library. Supporting my  AudioErotica  endeavour on  Patreon  would also help me hugely! I'm also an  Amazon Influence...

Before Covid hit, I was actively working to moderate my anxiety by doing things like volunteering and leaving the house regularly, even just to go to the library. Well, I haven't done volunteer work since last March. My position evaporated. My local library has been closed for almost a year. I am even more afraid to leave my apartment than I was before, because I don't want to get sick.  I don't want to make my partner sick. When I'm at my partner's place, I'm a little better at going out. The simple difference is that his apartment door opens to outside, whereas mine opens into a high-rise hallway.  I always schedule these posts a few days in advance, so it's actually March first as I write this. I still pay my rent by cheque (because I am Old School, according to my sister who is two years younger than me), and I felt so anxious about leaving my apartment to drop off my cheque that my stomach actually hurt.  I am afraid of everything outside my apartment. ...

 Even though I'm not a religious person, I really like the idea of Lent. Making a change for 40 days is an interesting way to test the waters of a new life.  The first time I gave Lent a go (which was probably only two or three years ago), I decided to give up meat. It went really well.  It went so well that I thought I might just give it up forever.  I went back pretty fast, after forty days were up, but it was still a worthwhile exercise. I don't remember what I gave up last year, but this year I've decided to take a break from social media during Lent. Should be good for my mental health.  I always end up feeling pretty awful after scrolling through Twitter for hours on end. My big concern was: where am I going to hear about new music?  I follow musicians I enjoy on Twitter, and that's how I hear they've come out with something new. Well, today I hopped over to YouTube to start schedule posts for this site, and one of the first videos suggested to me was...

 Black Cloud is a song I can easily listen to for five hours straight. It's been our song of the day in the past. Now there's an entire album of Black Cloud remixes available!  Watching Devi film in a laundry room is seriously stressing me out.  I can count on one hand the number of times I've done laundry in my building's laundry room since the start of covid. I was scared enough, as it was, to be in a confined space with strangers during a pandemic, but to make matters worse, the last time I was there I was harassed so violently security had to be called. So now I'm doubly traumatized around laundry rooms. My clothes were really starting to stink, so my partner was sweet enough to do my laundry for me. Before that, I was just washing socks and underwear in the sink. Sometimes life is not fun. If you're wondering how you can support me in bringing you songs and visits every day, the easiest thing you can do is tell your friends about the site. Tell anyone you ...

 You've probably heard that 34-year-old trans musician SOPHIE died in an accident last weekend. I encourage you to read this great article about her life and work.   Read also this moving tribute written by Morgan M. Page .  This song is just gorgeous. It's breaking my heart to listen to it right now. If you're wondering how you can support me in bringing you songs and visits every day, the easiest thing you can do is tell your friends about the site. Tell anyone you know--particularly people who are isolated and enjoy music. Readers of adult fiction can also buy my books or check them out from your local library. Supporting my  AudioErotica  endeavour on  Patreon  would also help me hugely! I'm also an  Amazon Influencer,  so hopefully I can make a little pocket change when you buy stuff by clicking through  my affiliate links . But you don't HAVE to do any of that. I'm very happy to get a daily visit from you, so just keep coming back...

 I find this song very relatable--especially the part about the sandwich.  If you're wondering how you can support me in bringing you songs and visits every day, the easiest thing you can do is tell your friends about the site. Tell anyone you know--particularly people who are isolated and enjoy music. Readers of adult fiction can also buy my books or check them out from your local library. Supporting my  AudioErotica  endeavour on  Patreon  would also help me hugely! I'm also an  Amazon Influencer,  so hopefully I can make a little pocket change when you buy stuff by clicking through  my affiliate links . But you don't HAVE to do any of that. I'm very happy to get a daily visit from you, so just keep coming back. Oh, and I also recommend hitting the "Subscribe" button at the top of the page so you won't miss a song! See you tomorrow! Giselle

 I've been listening to this album again--rook&nomie's me&you--because I wanted to fill my head with music while I was working. First I tried putting on an "instrumental study music" channel, but that just made me mad. I could concentrate better listening to this. If you're wondering how you can support me in bringing you songs and visits every day, the easiest thing you can do is tell your friends about the site. Tell anyone you know--particularly people who are isolated and enjoy music. Readers of adult fiction can also buy my books or check them out from your local library. Supporting my  AudioErotica  endeavour on  Patreon  would also help me hugely! I'm also an  Amazon Influencer,  so hopefully I can make a little pocket change when you buy stuff by clicking through  my affiliate links . But you don't HAVE to do any of that. I'm very happy to get a daily visit from you, so just keep coming back. Oh, and I also recommend hitting the "S...

Well, this is a first. Today I'm featuring a song we've already listened to here on the blog.  Why?  Because Backxwash just won the coveted Polaris Prize for her remarkable album God Has Nothing To Do With This Leave Him Out Of It , and this is my favourite track. It features Ada Rook, another artist I adore.   Huge congratulations to Backxwash on a well-deserved win! Here's where you can snag a copy of her album (and you definitely should!):  https://backxwash.bandcamp.com/album/god-has-nothing-to-do-with-this-leave-him-out-of-it If you're wondering how you can support me in bringing you songs and visits every day, the easiest thing you can do is tell your friends about the site. Tell anyone you know--particularly people who are isolated and enjoy music. Readers of adult fiction can also buy my books or check them out from your local library. Supporting my  AudioErotica  endeavour on  Patreon  would also help me hugely! I'm also an  Amazon I...