Billy Porter has reached a new high in his career and he’s ready to share the love with the world. Porter recently joined 100.7 STAR’s Bubba Show to talk about it all from his forthcoming Black Mona Lisa album and accompanying tour.
LISTEN NOW: Billy Porter talks new music and more - Part 1
Being on the scene since the 90s, Billy Porter has made a name for himself as an actor, singer, writer, and director. While proud of his many accomplishments, he says his forthcoming project, Black Mona Lisa, marks the first time he’s been able to show his authentic self through his craft instead of being hidden by a character.
“For the people who don’t know, my first R&B/Soul album came out in 1997 on A&M Records. The industry was very, very homophobic at the time and I didn’t have such a great time at it,” he shared. “Blessedly, I had a lot of other talents I could lean into, but now, here I am as the Billy Porter everybody knows. One award away from an EGOT, fashion icon, blah blah blah blah blah, and I get to re-enter the mainstream music space on my own terms.”
He continued, “With the Black Mona Lisa album that’s coming out at the end of the summer/early fall and the tour, Black Mona Lisa Volume 1 Tour, it represents for the very first time — through my music — what I want to say and how I want to say it and who I am as a human being. It’s a celebration of life, of love, of hope, of joy, of peace, of love.”
Porter has big plans to not only translate those celebratory emotions through his new music, but also through the 25-date tour, which kicks off April 29 in Seattle. Find tickets here.
LISTEN NOW: Billy Porter talks new music, tour and more - Part 2
“I just want to give a bear hug to the world,” Porter said. “We’ve been in this collective trauma for longer than we should — it’s [been] three years now, none of us are OK, and that’s OK. We’re trying to be, and I hope that when people come to this concert, they leave a little bit more healed. That is my intention and that is my goal.”
Hear more from Porter by checking out his entire conversation with 100.7 STAR’s Bubba Show above.
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