Showing posts with label Colton Ford. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Colton Ford. Show all posts

Sunday, July 2, 2023

"Handle It"



Colton Ford Releases “Permission”

His 5th Studio Album Featuring the Smash Single, “Handle It”

Colton Ford’s new album, Permission, covers a wide spectrum of narratives, from lustful encounters to falling in love, love lost and dealing with infidelity.  The compilation of contemporary R&B and Pop songs also carry messages on aging and coming out of the closet.   “The album’s title track, Permission, is about being who we are born to be and living authentic lives that do not require anyone’s permission but our own,” Ford explains.   Some of the stories - like “Won’t Look Back,” a song about a difficult relationship Ford experienced years ago - come directly from Ford’s own diary.   Others are simply observational.  Then there are sexy little romps like “Handle It,” the album’s first single release, songs that are fun, provocative and romantic.

 

“’Handle It’ is the kind of ooey gooey R&B song that I love,” Ford gushes.  Producer Spin Sista created the track, hook and first verse.  Ford wrote the second verse and bridge, then organized the song and arranged all of his vocals. From there, Spin Sista recreated a whole new track and added additional background vocals

 

The song’s playfulness is echoed in its video.  Filmed at The Barracks and Snap Studios in Palm Springs, the “Handle It” video features the artist with his real-life porn star friends Drew Sebastian, Mack Austin and Macho Dog.  The men take on the roles of go-go boys at a gay underground nightclub who can’t keep their hands out of each other’s jocks.   “There was intense chemistry between the four of us, and you see it, especially in the explicit version of the video,” Ford laughs.

 

Ford contends that the highly sexualized scenes in the video affirm the trend of cross generational sexuality.  Two of the men, including Ford, are 60, one man is in his forties and the other is in his thirties.  “I think it’s wonderful that men in different stages of their lives are finding common ground on the dancefloor and in bedrooms,” Colton Ford says.  “Giving ourselves permission to explore ourselves and our lives, including the wonderful experiences we share with others as we move through it, is liberating!

 

Permission begins with “Don’t Stop,” a song about a hot and cold, push-then-pull relationship where one person refuses to commit wholeheartedly to their lover. The second song, “No Time To Waste,” is about being in a same-sex relationship with someone who is struggling to come out. “You (Don’t Wanna Wait)” reflects on someone who is eager to take things to the next level and “You Told Me So” is about aging and no longer having the stamina to party all night long. “Handle It” is about sex and hooking up and “Triflin’” is a call-out to dirty players who cheat.

 

The seventh track on the album, “That Don’t Make It Right,” also ruminates on infidelity, while “Won’t Look Back” compels listeners to walk away from dysfunctional relationships. It leads to the title track and then “In The Morning,” and “Amazing,” two love songs, and the final track, “Destiny”, about pursuing life’s dreams and not giving up until you achieve them.   

 

It is a credo that Colton Ford lives every day.  He’s been making music for four decades.  In the 90’s, he was signed to Grammy-nominated producer/songwriter Denise Rich's production company, MIDE Productions, and had two deals with Virgin, the first of which had him paired up with the Godfather of House Music, Frankie Knuckles.

He’s released five full-length albums since: Tug of WarUnder the CoversThe Way I AmGlenn Soukesian, and his new release, Permission.  He has also released two EP’s, Next Chapter and Unity, and numerous Billboard charting singles, including “The Way You Love Me,” “That’s Me,” “Losing My Religion,” “Let Me Live Again,” and “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” with dance diva Pepper Mashay. 

His collaborators include Frankie Knuckles, Chris Willis (David Guetta), Nervo (Kelly Rowlands, Kesha, Britney Spears), Wawa (Kylie Minogue), Redtop (BeyoncĂ©, Taio Cruz), Larry Peace (Prince) and Erik Griggs (Jordan Sparks, Chris Brown) as well as his current creative partners, Spin Sista and The Real RJS

In addition to his own numerous Top 10 music videos, Colton Ford was featured in Cyndi Lauper’s video for her hit single, “Into The Nightlife,” and he performed on the Lauper-helmed 2008 True Colors Tour. He was also a featured singer on Chris Reece and Mischa Daniels’ 2010 albums on Armada Music (The Divine Circle and Where You Wanna Go), writing the toplines for “Tonight” and “The Story.” Colton was also named in AfterElton.com’s Top 50 Gay Male Musicians.

 

On the big and small screens, Colton Ford was the subject of the acclaimed 2003 documentary, Naked Fame, and has had cameos in the films Another Gay Sequel by Todd Stephens and John Schlesinger’s The Next Best Thingstarring Madonna and Rupert Everett.  He co-starred for three seasons playing Sheriff Trout on Here! TV’s The Lair, and was a featured panelist on the channel’s resident chat fest, Threesome

 

On stage, Ford made his off-Broadway debut in 2012’s Little House on the Ferry, and in 2018, he co-starred in Studio C’s Production of Howard David Rivers’ critically acclaimed play, And All The Dead, Lie Down, in Hollywood, California. 

 

In 2019, Colton Ford launched Woop Woop Productions with Spin Sista and The Real RJS.

Colton’s Ford’s “Permission” is a Woop Woop Productions release and is available now on all major digital platforms. The “Handle It” music video is on YouTube.

Follow Colton Ford on Instagram and Twitter.

Friday, June 10, 2016

Colton Ford, This Time It's Personal


Once upon a time in Southern California there was a boy name Glenn Soukesian. That boy grew up loving theater and most of all, music.

After a few deals with major labels that did not quite materialize what he had hoped for,  He decided to try a different approach to springboard his singing career. Glenn went into porn under the name of Colton Ford.

Well it worked. After many hit singles and albums, Colton has hit his fans with his most personal CD to date, titled, what else? Glenn Soukesian. We met at Desano Bakery in Silverlake CA, to catch up and talk shop. Take note world at large and listen closely....

MS: You recently got back from Pride in Spain.

CF: Yes, it was really a good time, where everybody gay and straight were there to enjoy themselves and celebrate.It was a free spirited, accepting non-judgemental party with great energy, and everyone was carrying their alcohol and mixers in a bag and making their drinks on the sidewalk. A PARTY!! I performed three songs off of the new record for the first time which was awesome! People were there from allover Europe, it's really a great mix of people.

MS: I listened to your new music just before I got here.

CF: Right before you come and do your thing. (laughs)
In Spain, No Rain
Colton Ford
Photo: Romi Simmons
MS: Yeah that way it's fresh in my mind. I love your current single "Free Yourself," it's pretty bluesy.

CF: Well I'm going back to my R&B/Soul roots. My roots  have always been in R&B/soul, something that's been present in all of my dance releases. But now, at fifty-three, I wanna do what I wanna do. I'm more of a bluesy crooner, ballad singer anyway. I took the opportunity to do what I felt. I worked with some amazing producers who get me. This is the first record where I didn't have to consider anyone or anything else.

MS: Did you self produce your current album?

CF: Yeah, the five people that I worked with, they wrote the tracks, I get the track and I write the melody and the lyrics. They produce the track and and I arrange and produce the vocals. Larry Peace did five of the tracks on the record, and he co-executive produced it with me. He was the DJ for Prince. 

MS: Funny you should say that when I saw your song "R U Gonna" I thought of Prince because of the spelling. 

CF: Yeah, yeah. (laughs) Now that guy is Eddie J Free who is another mixer/producer I did that and "True Love" with. 

MS: I still can't believe Prince is gone. Fifty-eight is not old, especially since I'm fifty and your fifty-three, it really caught me off guard.

CF:  What a trip. It was so sudden.

MS: Honestly I like this CD best out of everything you've done. I can hear how much more you are connected to the songs on this.

CF: Well Thank You. My EP "Next Chapter" was a nice segue into "Glenn Soukesian." This is more about the songs and the vocals and less about production. "The Way I Am" was a great dance album, but it was high in production. In terms of this album when you compare it to that one, it's much more personal.
It's All Good
Colton Ford

MS: It feels that way. 

CF: Totally more personal. It was a very liberating project. 

MS: Something about it pops more to me.

CF: Cool, I love it! That is also the feedback I have been getting from people. Before I did the record I would see people posting: "We love your stuff, but we feel there's something else, and we look forward to what that is" and here it is. (laughs) 

MS: And that's why the CD is named after you. 

CF: Yes, my actual name. (both laugh) I really thought this through, a lot of people use my real name anyway because of the documentary about me "Naked Fame." It's about continuing that connection between Colton Ford and Glenn Soukesian. I'm in a place right now where I want to be as organic and true to myself as I can. 

MS: The connection between music and sexuality is a strong one...sometimes people forget you have a great voice to go along with it. Miley Cyrus for example.

CF: She's amazing! She's got an amazing fucking voice! No Joke! If she wants to swing around naked on a wrecking ball, go for it! 

MS: You lose sight of how good an artist is sometimes when that is the way they choose to express themselves.

CF: Well, I know I've experienced it, they judge you as if your doing that because your music is not strong enough. That's a bunch of bullshit. Some people actually do, but you can tell based upon the music who's doing it and who's not. Put the visuals aside and listen to the music and respond accordingly. 

MS: One last personal thing, Glenn Soukesian. What is your favorite track off of your current CD?

CF: Well that's a hard one. Each song has a special meaning to me for a variety of reasons, both personally and artistically. I really love "Love's Around." Love the track, love the spirit of the song, the "you're not alone" message. And it's a universal love song. Could be to a friend, family member or a lover. It represents the personal relationships that I have. Loving, kind and supportive.

Keeping Up With Colton at:
https://twitter.com/coltonfordmusic
https://www.facebook.com/ColtonFordMusic/

Get Him On iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/colton-ford/id256309957 

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Colton Ford's Next Chapter


OK, let's get the obvious out of the way and sweep it under the rug. Colton Ford is best known for being a porn star. That's so fifteen years ago...

Since then Colton has become an accomplished singer and actor. He has had hit singles and albums such as Tug of War. His current EP is Next Chapter. He recently starred in the premiere of the play (which I attended) And All The Dead, Lie Down by Harrison David Rivers directed by John Coppola in Los Angeles, CA.

With a portrayal of Sheriff Trout on Here's hit supernatural series The Lair thrown in for good measure, what's next?

It's time to turn the page on Colton's career. Hey, it's all about that falsetto...Let's meet the 2015 model of Colton Ford.

MS: Hey how are you?

CF: I'm driving and eating, it's one of those days where I have to schedule my bathroom breaks. (laughs)

MS: You recently moved back to Los Angeles.

CF: I've been back in LA for a year and a half. I lived in New York seven years prior to that. It was time to move back to LA. I got everything I needed to from New York and I didn't have to be there to do what I was doing. I love New York though and still make trips there.

MS: Obviously I saw you in the play And All The Dead, Lie Down. This was the first time it was done ever, correct?
CF: Yes, it's the first time it was done. The writer, director and my co-star Kila Packett all developed it. It was a great experience!

MS: Kila and yourself had amazing chemistry!

CF: Yeah, we wanted to make it real and we worked hard on that. I really enjoyed it. I haven't had the opportunity to play a drama in quite some time with the things that I've done acting wise. It's usually been more cheeky, or like Sheriff Trout on The Lair stuff along those lines. So it was fun to explore that energy, there were more emotional things happening in this project than what I have been able to play in the other things that I have done.

MS: There was a lot of nudity and free balling in the show, I was told that was in it before I went, but was not expecting as much as there was.

CF: It wasn't supposed to be gratuitous. The whole idea and concept of this was that the audience is a voyeur. Your peeking in the window and watching a couple in their own natural habitat, without them having the knowledge of being watched. When they come out of the shower they take their towel off and they get dressed, when they go to bed and have sex they take their shit off...you know what I mean? It was the way it would be in real life and that's what the playwright & director wanted.

There is a thing about seeing a penis. We know Nicole Kidman was nude on Broadway, but when Daniel Radcliffe was nude we heard a lot more chatter about that. Some people are really taken aback by it and some just accept it as part of what the story is. The director was very cautious and concerned that it not be delivered in a way that was gratuitous.

MS: Mainly the conflict in the show stemmed from one of the couple being HIV + and the other being HIV - what are your thoughts on that?

CF: I think everybody has to figure out how they want to love. I am of the mind set that it would not be an issue for me if I was feeling somebody, and falling in love with somebody. We all should be educated about how you get it and how not to get it. We also have to recognize that we are a species that has to deal with sexually transmitted diseases, I don't care what it is you are at risk even if you practice safe sex. Personally I am not of the mindset that I am going to give someone head with a condom on, it's not for me. I make sure there are no cuts and sores in my mouth and I generally stay away from people cumming in my mouth. Just little things that make my experience safer. If your sexually active and not in a relationship chances are you are going to connect with someone that might be HIV +.

People now have undetectable viral loads, I don't live in fear around it. It certainly does not dictate whether or not I get to know somebody. That's the way that I look at it. The more that you are educated and the more you get to know the dynamic of HIV the less fear based you will be. You will be more open with regard to loving somebody without placing those kinds of conditions on that love.

Photo: Kevin McDermott
MS: Let's talk about your current EP Next Chapter.

CF: OK.

MS: It's more hard R&B and less Electronica than your previous efforts.

CF: My roots are R&B/Soul that's where I have lived all my life. When I was signed with Virgin in the 90's it was straight R&B. I moved into House Music and subsequently EDM. There has always been a thread of soul in my music and certainly in my vocal arrangements, you can tell my roots are in that genre of music. Now that I am in my fifties I want to do music more reflective of where I live and who I am...I certainly love Dance Music. The new stuff I am working on is more R&B/Soul, but it has the ability to be re-mixed into a dance song. That is how I am shifting musically. My next album is definitely going to be more Soul/R&B/Contemporary. Depending on the single release we will have a re-mix package that will give all of the different musical vibes and energies, but the album version will be of the R&B/Soul genre.

MS: I really loved Love is Taking Over which you co-wrote.

CF: Thanks! I co-wrote all of them except for the covers of Yesterday and Something About You.

MS: Sorry I didn't stay and hang out to say Hello after the play. I figured it was OK since I saw you before. (laughs)

CF: No worries I figured you had something to do. (laughs) 

Keep moving forward with Colton at: