Ari Gold
Gig Seeker Pro

Ari Gold

Band Pop R&B

Calendar

This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

Music

The best kept secret in music

Press


"Gold Shines"

Gold shines
Out vocalist Ari Gold reaches for the top on his sassy and slick new CD
By Larry Flick

From The Advocate, February 17, 2004 


Space Under Sun • Ari Gold • Gold 18 Records


It’s fascinating to watch Ari Gold in his ongoing bid to have it all. Unlike many young out artists, he refuses to pick a side of the musical fence. Throughout his sophomore recording, Space Under Sun—the follow-up to his eponymous debut—his hunger to be a mainstream pop star is palpable while his desire for queer credibility is equally evident.


For the most part he does a fine job of combining both ambitions, though there are times when his calculations fall a bit short of the mark—the funk-spiced “He’s on My Team,” for example, during which he spars with guest Kendra Ross over a man. Despite a few entertaining lyrics and playful performances, the track strains too hard to be novel and in sync with hetero America’s current Queer Eye for the Straight Guy fixation.


But like his apparent role models Madonna and George Michael, Gold has the skills and charm to render his occasional foibles forgivable. He also scores far more often than he misses, as proven by “Fan-tastic,” an amusing take on our community’s eternal diva addiction, and “Caught,” a salacious view of men who are busted for having sex in public. Beyond the clever content of the songs, Gold performs with equal parts of sly, finger-snappin’ sass and earthy R&B finesse.


Perhaps most striking about Space Under Sun is its slick studio sheen. Gold has assembled an impressive posse of collaborators that includes Peter Amato (LeAnn Rimes) and Steve Skinner (Bette Midler) to frame his voice with the crisp yet fleshy sound of a platinum-selling recording. Factor in a videogenic image that plays on the more erotic elements of hip-hop culture—while flashing a little porn-star sizzle—and you have a project that could give Gold all he wants. At the minimum it places him on the right path.  - The Advocate


"Digging For Gold"

"...steeped in sticky pop melodies, sing-along hooks, and butt-shakin' funk rhythms... solid radio-ready material. Gold is about to hit pay dirt!"
- Billboard Magazine


"Out Singer Ari Gold Makes His Own Music"

G Out singer Ari Gold makes his own music By Zoë Gemelli Bay Windows correspondent eorge Michael isn?t the only singer to be busted for having sex in a public place. New York-based singer Ari Gold was also charged for an incident at NYC?s The Cock. Gold, who was DJing at the infamous club, was closing up one night while his date waited for him. In the shadows they began some heavy petting. But these were Giuliani times; waiting outside across the street, members of the NYPD were primed to pounce and raid the place. As Gold and his mate fooled around fl ashlights fl ooded the bar. They were caught. lights fl ooded the bar. They were caught. Like any good songwriter, Gold took Like any good songwriter, Gold took that experience and wrote about it. On his that experience and wrote about it. On his sophomore release, “Space Under Sun” he sophomore release, “Space Under Sun” he explores what it meant to be exposed as a explores what it meant to be exposed as a deviant for something so natural. The song deviant for something so natural. The song is aptly called “Caught.” “At that time the is aptly called “Caught.” “At that time the gay clubs where having so much trouble gay clubs where having so much trouble with the cops,” he explained in a recent with the cops,” he explained in a recent conversation from his apartment in Man-conversation from his apartment in Manhattan?s Lower East Side. “I don?t think the hattan?s Lower East Side. “I don?t think the police would have had the same reaction if police would have had the same reaction if it were straight people.” After harassing the it were straight people.” After harassing the guy he was with for papers because he was guy he was with for papers because he was an Puerto Rican-American, the two had to an Puerto Rican-American, the two had to appear in court. “It was quickly dismissed,” appear in court. “It was quickly dismissed,” he said with a smirk. he said with a smirk. The Bronx native?s entertainment career The Bronx native?s entertainment career began at fi ve when he was discovered singing began at fi ve when he was discovered singing at his brother?s Bar Mitzvah. As a child vo-at his brother?s Bar Mitzvah. As a child vocalist he did everything from singing on more calist he did everything from singing on more than 400 jingles, doing voiceovers for ani-than 400 jingles, doing voiceovers for animated children?s shows like “Cabbage Patch mated children?s shows like “Cabbage Patch Kids” to singing back-up for Diana Ross. He Kids” to singing back-up for Diana Ross. He was an adorable Jewish boy-next-door with was an adorable Jewish boy-next-door with a curly mop-top and huge brown puppy dog a curly mop-top and huge brown puppy dog eyes (You can see for yourself from his old eyes (You can see for yourself from his old promo shots on his Web site). Gold grew up promo shots on his Web site). Gold grew up loving R&B music— he?ll quickly remind loving R&B music— he?ll quickly remind you “gay guys love R&B”— so it was only you “gay guys love R&B”— so it was only natural for him to want to be a soul singer. natural for him to want to be a soul singer. Now in his mid-20s, his good looks stayed Now in his mid-20s, his good looks stayed with him, allowing him to also do some with him, allowing him to also do some modeling (A slew of sexy pictures can also modeling (A slew of sexy pictures can also be seen on his Web site.). be seen on his Web site.). In 2002 his independently released self-In 2002 his independently released selftitled album won an Outmusic award for titled album won an Outmusic award for Outstanding Debut Recording. He worked Outstanding Debut Recording. He worked with renowned songwriter Desmond Child with renowned songwriter Desmond Child (Ricky Martin, Cher, Aerosmith, Clay Ai-(Ricky Martin, Cher, Aerosmith, Clay Aiken) and struck gold in the U.K. with their collaboration single “I?m All About You.” It put him on the map outside of the U.S. When readying the material for “Space Under Sun,” he tapped friends and professional contacts (including out songwriter Marsha Malamet, who writes for Luther Vandross, Chaka Khan and Jessica Simpson) spanning from NYC and Los Angeles to London to Israel. “I went where the music took me,” he said. With a suitcase full of songs and the desire to make his music on his terms, Gold traveled the globe. Gold prefers to do things independent of a label. His worst experiences with being an out Jewish artist trying to make it as an R&B singer have been when any major labels have tried to direct his talent. “When I tried to write expressly gay lyrics, they?d tell me, ?You have to write from your life,?” he explained. “And then I?d write something that had gay content then I?d write something that had gay content in it and they?d say, ?Are you crazy? Noone?s in it and they?d say, ?Are you crazy? Noone?s gonna buy this, they?re - Bay City Windows


"QSAT's"

Talented queer rockers seem to be coming out of the woodwork these days, but none are garnering the same kind of buzz as newcomer Ari Gold. And Ari is not just another pretty face -- the sexy singer has an interesting past that more than a few gay men will find intriguing: As a child, he had an extremely successful career doing voiceovers -- including singing the theme for "My Buddy, the doll for boys" and voicing a role on the '80s cartoon "Jem and the Holograms."

But now he's grown up and gorgeous, and his unique look is making him one of the most talked-about singers around -- and getting him coverage in music and fashion magazines. His new album "Space Under Sun," a catchy blend of R&B and pop, hits stores this week. The buff Bronx-bred beauty recently spoke to us about his ideal mate, being a lesbian and those persistent rumors about his secret sex tape.

When did you first become aware of gay issues?

When I saw Dorothy leave Kansas and enter the gay world of Oz at 5 years old.

If you were to star in a same-sex love story, who would you visualize as your romantic co-star?

After thinking for years that he was a strict top, my character would discover his inner bottom by a hot homo thug played by LL Cool J.

If you were going to be gay/lesbian for just one weekend, who would you want to go out on a date with?

If I were a lesbian, I'd love to go out on a date with Missy Elliot and explain to her why girls are better.

What's your current favorite CD, book, writer, movie?

Movie: "Kill Bill" and "Far From Heaven"
Book: Anything written by Michael Cunningham
CD: "Worldwide Underground," by Erykah Badu

Do you have a favorite drink?

Fresh-squeezed OJ


Does your favorite drink reflect your personality?

I'm fresh ... in the good and the bad way.

Who's your favorite Village Person? Angel? Brady? Backstreet Boy?

Randy Jones (cowboy), cause he was my first celebrity fan.
My favorite Angel? It's all about Jaime Summers, the Bionic Woman, although I have soft spot for Drew (because of "Firestarter").
Brady? Daddy Brady
Backstreet Boy: Nick's kinda cute.

What is your soap character name according to these specifications: First name = your middle name; last name = the street you grew up on.

Daniel Lydig (on "The Young and the Restless," of course).

Fill in the blank: I am the _____ of my generation.

Gay pop poster child

What was the most important event in your life in the last year?

Finishing my album

Fill in the blank: I always have _____ in my refrigerator.

Pickled herring

Who inspires you the most?

Madonna, George Michael, Kevin Aviance as artists. And Fran Drescher, Dolly Parton and Patti Labelle for their personality

Tell us something nobody knows about you.

I am a lesbian trapped inside a gay man's body.

Describe your ideal mate.

Kick-ass smart, ridiculously witty, emotionally mature, spiritually centered and f***ing gorgeous!

What do you consider the most groundbreaking concept or idea of the last year?

That people have an addiction to suffering and that we can choose not to suffer.

Two words:

Wonder Woman

Who was your first celebrity crush?

Soleil Moon Frye as Punky Brewster. Or was it Aileen Quinn as Annie?

What pushes your buttons/makes you angry?

Homophobic people, racists, misogynists and people who don't think they are those things but act differently.

Squelch or confirm (or start) a rumor about yourself.

I have a sex tape of myself making the rounds on the Internet.

Fill in the blank: The last movie I cried at/laughed out loud at was ___

"House of Sand and Fog"

What's your biggest guilty pleasure?

Mac and cheese and "The Real World"

Would you appear nude in a movie?

Haven't you heard about my sex tape?

Who is your favorite designer?

D-squared

What is your least favorite feature of your body?

My knobby knees

Fill in the blank: In high school, I was ____

President of the drama and choral societies -- and straight.

What's your favorite getaway?

Music
- Gay.com/PlanetOut.com


Discography

2000--ARI GOLD (Outmusic Award Winner for Outstanding Debut)
2001 "I'M ALL ABOUT YOU"--Island/Univeral Records (co-written and produced by Desmond Child with DJ Luck and MC Neat)
--Top 20 UK Pop hit (Top 10 Dance).
--Top Of The Pops/Radio One
--Heavily Requested Video on MTV and the Box
2004--SPACE UNDER SUN
--Debuted at #1 on Outvoice Charts
--Radio Play: Serious Radio, This Way Out etc.
--"Wave Of You" Video on Rock America, For Promo Only and VH-1's "Totally Gayer"
--Numerous magazine covers and rave reviews.

Photos

Feeling a bit camera shy

Bio

"...steeped in sticky pop melodies, sing-along hooks, and butt-shakin' funk rhythms... solid radio-ready material. Gold is about to hit pay dirt!" -- Billboard Magazine

"Gold's musicianship is flawless." –-Backstage

"a pop sensation [and] smash success...wowing the local music scene!"-- Time Out New York

Born and raised in the Bronx and currently a resident of the Lower East Side of NYC, Ari Gold has been “wowing” audiences as a global recording and performing artist and is fast becoming a household name in the gay scene around the world. Ari’s career began at age five, when he was discovered singing at his brother’s bar-mitzva. This led to a successful career as a child vocalist singing on over 400 jingles, doing various animated voices for Cabbage Patch Kids and the cartoon Jem and back-up singing for the likes of Diana Ross. Ari’s first following as a solo artist began in his home town of NYC where he has performed to packed houses at many NYC hotspots including Joe's Pub, Fez, China Club, Barracuda, Metronome, Flamingo East, Pyramid, SBNY, xl, Bar d'O, Starlight, Plaid, Avalon and CBGB's. He has also taken his show on the road to Kansas City, Philadelphia, LA, Milan, London, Israel and most recently, San Francisco where he performed at the DNA Lounge. Gold released his self-titled debut CD in 2001 to rave reviews from the press without the backing of a record label. The album anticipated pop music’s movement to a more R&B sound and included explicit lyrics of love songs sung to a man by another man—something the genre had practically never seen or heard of before. The album went on to take home the 2002 Outmusic Award for Outstanding Debut Recording and Ari was later named one of Genre Magazine’s “Men We Love” in 2002.

The debut album garnered the attention of legendary tunesmith Desmond Child (Ricky Martin, Cher, Aerosmith, Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, etc.) and their first collaboration "I'm All About You," (Island Universal) debuted in the top 20 on the UK pop charts and became a top 10 dance hit. Co-written and produced with UK garage sensations DJ Luck and MC Neat the song brought together the sounds of R&B, Pop and two-step—an underground genre that was breaking in the UK. The video, shot in Miami, was heavily played and requested on MTV and The Box. In conjunction with the single Ari performed with Luck and Neat on practically every major TV and radio show in the UK including, Live And Kicking (CH. 5), T4 (CH.4), Radio One Big Sunday and the legendary Top Of The Pops (BBC). The song has since gone on to appear on numerous compilations alongside other smash hits by Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliot, U2, Nelly Furtado, Destiny's Child, Craig David and many more.

Ari’s most recent project is his sophomore album titled Space Under Sun released in January 2004 on his own label Gold18 Records which debut at #1 on the Outvoice Charts (outvoice.net). An intergalactic hybrid of contemporary and 80’s R&B, jazzy future soul and spacey pop, the album was recorded in NYC, Miami, LA, Atlanta, London and Israel, and has been stirring up a huge buzz rarely seen for independent releases. The Advocate raved that, “Gold performs with equal parts of sly, finger-snappin’ sass and earthy R&B finesse,” and remarked on how “Gold has assembled an impressive posse of collaborators...to frame his voice with the crisp yet fleshy sound of a platinum-selling recording” which includes Major (Lamya, B2K), Desmond Child, Kahlil (Res), Kendra Ross (Talib Kweli), Peter Amato (LeAnn Rimes), Steve Skinner (Taylor Dayne), and Marsha Malamet (Luther Vandross, Jessica Simpson). While taking on the universal theme of finding oneself with the title track, Ari continues to push the boundaries of pop music. Gay City News stated that “Gold pushes the envelope as much as a rapper like Eminem does.” Although instead of lyrics that are fag bashing and woman hating, the subject matter ranges from a guy and a girl fighting over the same man (”He’s On My Team”) to getting caught having sex in public with another man by the cops (”Caught), to diva worship (”Fan-tastic”), a matter that is crucial to many a gay man’s evolution, seeking independence and self-actualization (”More Than Enough,” “Back To me”) to romantic and sexual intimacy (“Funk That Ship,” “Intimate.”) There is also the tender ballad “Bashert (Meant To Be)” in which Gold incorporates his Jewish identity of having grown up as an orthodox Jew. The CD is enhanced with lyrics, a bonus mp3 and the music video of “Wave Of You” which has been playing on Rock America and For Promo Only with videos by Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Seal and Madonna in clubs across the country and featured on VH-1’s Totally Gayer. The video, a tribute to the work of the late video director/photographer Herb Ritts can also be found as a bonus DVD extra on the fourth installment of the hugely popular series Boys Life.

Ari’s unique look and style have gotten him into top fashion ma