𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 - this week: Ruthless - Bryce Bowyn

Welcome all to 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿, a series of weekly reviews by Charles Connolly - an artist in his own right. Here, Charles delves into the greatest brand new singles brought to you by the best unsigned artists on our electrifying and eclectic set of 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝘼𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 playlists.

𝙍𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 - 𝘽𝙧𝙮𝙘𝙚 𝘽𝙤𝙬𝙮𝙣

Charles is in the pink.

Here we are, bang in the middle of the month of June. Happy June, everyone! Another word for ‘happy’ that my parents or even grandparents might have used is ‘gay’ - another meaning entirely, these days. But this time around I wish to blend both definitions, for we are now in the centre of LGBTQ+ Month! A time to celebrate our differences, come together (if you will) and enjoy this sparklingly garish and wonderfully camp festivity! It’s time to whoop, get the flags out - a sprinkling of rain makes the skin glisten, and a rainbow sets the scene. Coloured streamers fill the air. Many have dyed their hair the colour of cotton candy. The energy is high. This is not the time for reservedness, nor is it the time to be stuffy or old-fashioned. Free hot-pants for everyone!! This really is the spirit the 60s tried to be, but it was just too early, and most people were just not ready for it - everything was still rather conformist. Times have changed, and I couldn’t be happier! It is time to be proud of Pride.

What better time to welcome to the stage, the proudest New Artist Spotlight advocate of LGBTQ+ rights, Bryce Bowyn, with his latest single, Ruthless! And BOY is he ruthless. He struts to the centre of the stage and steals my mic, with a wink that chimes. His smile is radiant, and he thanks us all for joining him - we couldn’t be more delighted! 'BRYCE' travels up one leg and 'BOWYN' slinks down the other. He has a dazzling show in store for us tonight: dancers, fireworks, lasers, tinfoil (don’t ask), lights, camera, ACTION!!

Bryce saunters off stage, and the lights fade to black. A peppy yet subtle synth starts to emerge from the speaker stack. A strong spotlight is on our boy who descends from the ceiling, suspended by invisible nylon threads - either that, or he has additional powers about which we do not know. The crowd goes wild! He reaches the ground soon enough, just in time for the kick: and we’re off! The Washington superstar has a very direct way of singing that cannot be ignored, and neither SHOULD it be. He packs a punch in perfect pitch. Soon after the first verse, we are handed the pre-chorus in long silk gloves, and four dancers appear - two on his right side, two on t’other. They sing and snake with arrogance like choreographed Egyptians. The audience anticipates the building hype before all goes black for a split second.

POW! Glitter and disco lights aplenty! All the colours of the rainbow. Four more dancers miraculously appear on stage. Despite the blinding lights, the brightest comes from the soul of every fun-loving spectator, as they dance their socks off. Who needs sock anyway?? Just as we near the end of the first chorus, a silver pole rises from the floor to eventually reach the roof. Bryce curls one slender hand around it as he starts to seduce us with a second verse, deftly swapping hands with the mic and the pole, from line to line. This is chest-out sexy pomp at its finest. No holding back - just pure unequivocal fun. Just as we approach the second chorus, a bald man in a black t-shirt rushes on stage to swap Bryce’s traditional microphone for a more progressive headset…

As the chorus explodes and the shiny confetti rises and falls, Bryce’s pole comes into play, as he gives us the most incredible show of gymnastics, while continuing to sing. He has the crowd in the palms of his hands - not literally, of course, as his hands are rather busy right now - otherwise he’d fall straight to the floor. Which we don’t want. He pauses and calmly leans his face against the shiny side as the beat drops out. “I show no mercy, or else you’ll hurt me”, he sings while clutching the pole like a cherished loved one. Time for one last blast of that hooky chorus…

The pole is released from its supports and Bryce fly kicks it away with a KABOOM, as the fireworks ignite and do their thang. Lasers bounce to the beat of the tune, dancers move to the rhythm of the heart, and Bryce, well Bryce is just doing what he loves. Singing, dancing, and making people feel great!

This is an inspiration to us all. What a tingly feeling that is left within us. It’s good to be proud in this month of Pride.

I’m going to the afterparty. Are you coming out?

Listen to 𝙍𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 on the 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 Spotify playlist HERE!

Listen to 𝙍𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 on the 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 Apple Music playlist HERE!

Follow 𝘽𝙧𝙮𝙘𝙚 𝘽𝙤𝙬𝙮𝙣 on Instagram HERE!

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