Karla Sofia Gascon makes trans history and an exclusive interview with Jordan Alexander on her new album, being an unrelenting artist, and the Gossip Girl Journey – December 16, 2024

[00:00:00] There’s no place like the Qube.

Family, it’s your favorite queer radio personality, Anna Deshawn, and [00:00:30] this is Queer News, your favorite weekly news pod where race and sexuality meet politics, culture, and entertainment. I’m not an artist because everything went really well. I’m not an artist because everybody loves me. I’m not an artist because my music is great.

Charts like I’m an artist because I’m unrelenting and I, I just won’t stop an unrelenting artist. That is exactly how Jordan Alexander defines herself, and [00:01:00] we get into all of that in this exclusive interview that I’m gonna share with you today. Now you may know Jordan from the HBO Max Series re. Of Gossip Girl, where she was the lead character, Julian Calloway.

But during our conversation, we of course talk about that experience because it changed her life 150%. But we also talk about her new album, her affirmations that keep her grounded and why there is no other way than being an out queer [00:01:30] artist, at least for her.

We’ve had 13 customers to our merch store in the first two weeks, which is pretty freaking dope this week Our top seller is our family holiday ornament If you get your order in today, you might actually get it before the Christmas holiday. So get it already It’s free shipping and it’s our first one. So I know it’s going to be a collectible.

I’m just saying. Okay. And family, remember if you do have a queer news tip, send it my way. [00:02:00] How to send is in the show notes and Q Crew, what’s going on family? I really cannot say thank you enough for your continued support. Did you use your Q Crew discount code yet for the merch store? I’m saying. Use it.

Okay. If it not, you have another one in your inbox for this week. It’s on the way saying, thank you. Thank you. Thank you for your financial support. It really does mean the world to me. And so hopefully you get something from the March store. Okay. Now for the news, it’s December, which means I’m winding down.

Yes. [00:02:30] We’ve been going all year round. This is my time of the year to wind down. And what I’m doing is sharing interviews. That I’ve recorded with some of your favorite LGBTQ artists, influencers, politicians. Okay. While dropping some queer news headlines still, but scaling back a little bit of what we do week to week because it’s time to begin to rest.

Yes. But let’s get into it in politics. Republicans continue to play dirty on the backs of our trans siblings. [00:03:00] I’m so over it. Okay. But I’m here to report on the news. And so here we go. Last week, the U. S. House of Representatives passed. An 895 billion military spending bill. Yeah, you heard me right. 895 billion.

That’s what’s happening right now. The whole world is at war. Okay. Now, what makes this dirty is that Republicans decided to throw in an anti trans policy that prohibits service members children from receiving gender affirming healthcare [00:03:30] through military plans. It’s just dirty because in general, support of the military is a bipartisan thing to do.

Usually this is the type of bill that gets passed, you know, 1000 to zero. Usually nobody is voting against a military spending bill, especially with the state of the world right now. We are at war, whether Our human bodies and I’m talking [00:04:00] specifically about American human bodies are on the front lines every single day.

But Chile, 895 billion. Where do you think that’s coming from? We are at war. Yeah. So this is a bill that would pass without even a second thought, but the Republicans decided to play dirty and there was just no reason for this provision. None at all. Other than Speaker Johnson pandering to the far right so he can retain his position of [00:04:30] power.

Yes. But let’s be clear. 81 Democrats decided to sign this bill anyway. Mm hmm. And we’ll see what the Senate decides to do and what President Biden decides to do. But it needs to get sent back and take them provisions out and just sign a standard bill. Military spending bill. Good grief. In better news, family, Governor Murphy of New Jersey has signed the Freedom to Read Act.

Which keeps public schools and public [00:05:00] libraries from following the dangerous, okay, trend of book bans. A trend that has intentionally focused on LGBTQ books and books centering people of color. The governor said, Across the nation, we have seen attempts to suppress and censor the stories and experiences of others.

I’m proud to amplify the voices of our past and present, and there is no better way for our children to prepare for the future than to read freely. Uh, Governor [00:05:30] Murphy, I couldn’t agree with you more, okay? And he joins about 13 other states who have done something very similar, even in the state of Illinois, in which I live, right?

Where banning books is plain out wrong and illegal. The governor has said that out loud. And if they try to do it, they just going to be without federal funding. I mean, that’s the consequences of this because book banning is just nonsensical in public institutions, at least in the democracy, [00:06:00] right, that I believe in.

In cultural entertainment family, Carla Sophia Gaskin been made history. Okay. She is the first trans woman to be nominated for a golden globe for her leading role in Amelia Perez. Now, Amelia Perez is nominated for 10 golden globes. Okay. So I feel like at some point in the night, she’s going to be making history.

So congratulations, Carla. Congratulations. And family, we’re going to [00:06:30] take a quick break and then you’re going to jump in. into the interview with Jordan Alexander. I really hope you enjoy it. I hope you decide to go and download her album. I hope you choose to support her. Okay. Cause she’s out here being independent, being queer.

Okay. Being a person of color and doing it on her own terms. And that’s worth supporting family. I hope your holiday season is treating you. Okay. All right. And if not, just tap here. Okay. We family till next week. Peace [00:07:00] need health insurance. It’s open enrollment for the Get Covered Illinois Marketplace.

Our navigators will help you enroll in a health plan and you could qualify for financial help. Visit GetCoveredIllinois. gov to enroll by December 15th for coverage starting January 1st. If you’re listening to this, it means we didn’t sell this ad space. If you’re listening to this, it means running ads on our podcast can actually work.

You see what I did there? Do you [00:07:30] need some promo? A little amplification hit us up at info at E3radio. fm. That’s info at E the number three radio. fm. We have a platform. You should use it. Family. It’s gift giving season and SAIL has the perfect gift for you. I know you got somebody in your life interested in singing or playing the piano, getting into music.

We’ll get them some [00:08:00] lessons for the holiday. Sel is the teacher you need and he’s booking free sessions. I said free sessions to close out the year. Any student that launches their lessons before 2025 will have a permanent 20 percent discount. He said permanent 20 percent discount on lessons moving forward.

But you got to visit his website and sign up today. It is keysforlifellc. com. That’s keysforlifellc. com. Get the perfect [00:08:30] holiday gift today. I’m just saying. Family. It’s your favorite Quip radio personality, Anna Deshawn, here with another exclusive Quip video. exclusive interview for you on the queer news podcast.

I’m excited. I’m getting to talk to Jordan today. She came to fame with the gossip girl situation, but I think there’s a lot more to Jordan than just that moment. And so we’re going to dig in today about her new album. That’s coming out dropping September 4th and that y’all need to get into. So Jordan, welcome to the show.

Thank you so [00:09:00] much for having me. Yo, I appreciate you coming on. I think it’s really dope the opportunities and like the doors that opened up for you around Gossip Girls. Can you tell us a little bit about that? Yeah, that experience absolutely changed my life. Like sometimes I even am still processing like that happened and like the impact of it and it was just so cool.

I talk a lot about this transition to music, but really it’s like a transition back to [00:09:30] music because that’s what I had been doing. And I was just in Toronto, making the local circuit. Sometimes I would perform, I performed in Pride in Ohio one time. That was cool. But Ohio, Columbus, crazy. I took two buses to get there with my guitar.

I was like, I’m gonna do it. But yeah, so I was like doing my little thing, but definitely in terms of visibility and like, That global visibility, Gossip [00:10:00] Girl, completely just changed everything for me. And I was doing my research. Okay. I got to be prepared in these situations. And I saw that you had to move in without two weeks.

Like you got the word and it was like two weeks turnaround. Like my life has changed. Yeah, that felt fast. It might be more normal in a sense, like in terms of what actors go through. But the, my first project that I went on, I had time. I had a lot of time. There was, uh, time for me to set things up [00:10:30] and square things away.

And my first project that I did, I think I was only there for three months. Whereas Gossip Girl was this undefined potential of, we don’t know how long you’re going to be there. And I actually had to move. Like, not just sublet my place or not just keep my room. Like, I had to move. And all of that happened in, yeah, like about two weeks.

Which was just It’s crazy. Cool. It’s wild. Life is crazy. The moments that change our lives happen in the blink [00:11:00] of an eye often. And it’s like the saying, you gotta stay ready, so you don’t gotta get ready or whatever that is. I’m very about that. Yeah. Yeah. We got to stay ready always. And I think it’s interesting.

So you said you like you’re coming back to music because music was the first thing. So what was the dream? So growing up, what was the dream? Was it music? Honestly, I feel like I’ve always been a very kind of aimless, but not in a bad way. I just was existing and I was doing things. It has become a more recent [00:11:30] thing of being intentional.

Specifically, I have a co or an executive producer on this album, my friend Havia Mighty, and she is like a very driven, passionate artist with a very clear intention about what she wants to do. And she’s had just such a profound impact on the way that I interact with like my career in the arts and music specifically, where I’m like, Oh, maybe I can be more intentional about this stuff.

Whereas before I was just existing [00:12:00] and the way I exist is like through arts and through music. So it just happened. But now I’m in this position where I’m like, Oh, like I could be really intentional about this and that’s really exciting. So yeah, even from like kid and whatever, like I was just there, I was just doing whatever I didn’t have.

I didn’t have that vision of oh, I want to be this. I think I think when I was really small I wanted to be like an archaeologist or like I liked rocks. No, yeah You’re far from liking [00:12:30] rocks I still like rocks though. I still like okay, you still like Rocks, okay. We all need hobbies You know what I’m saying?

We all need hobbies. I don’t know if that would pay any bill, but I think it’s a good hobby. I’m here for it. I got rocks all over the place. One that says dream, actually. That’s right. That’s right. That’s a reminder. So I’m here for it. I ain’t mad at you about that, but I was reading also somewhere and It defines you as an unrelenting artist.

I [00:13:00] did that to myself. Yeah, you did that to yourself. Okay. All right. Tell me about that. What makes you an unrelenting artists? Yeah, I feel like being in the arts and I’ve been in the arts for a very long time. I’ve never really had any other, I’ve had like jobs like serving, but I’ve never had any career direction.

Like I’ve always just been like, I’m doing this. Regardless, like I, I’ve lived that starving artist life and it never occurred [00:13:30] to me to do anything else. So I just feel like in my soul, like I, I like the idea of being an unrelenting artist. It doesn’t matter. About money or about how the world receives you per se, although those things are amazing, but it’s like the idea that this is part of like my DNA and I will be this no matter what.

That’s hard. Where does this courage come from? Now I want to know about like how you [00:14:00] grew up and who are your parents and who loved you. I think it’s, I think it takes a lot of courage to, to live in that way and to show up every day. I don’t care if I’m broke. This is what I’m called to do. I know it’s in my gut and I’m going to make it happen.

Like, where does that come from? I feel like it comes from the fear that exists in me. And then I come up with these kind of like phrases or reassurements to combat it. And it’s like, Having that reminder, like I am an unrelenting artist. [00:14:30] I’m not an artist because everything went really well. I’m not an artist because everybody loves me.

Not an artist because my music charts, like I’m an artist because I’m unrelenting and I, I just won’t stop. I love that. You got affirmations or something that you say to yourself every day? Oh wait, I love a good affirmation. Come on, drop me like one or two. I’m all into that. I’m all into that. I am too.

All right. Give us, share with me one or two of your top affirmations that continue to affirm who you are. [00:15:00] I am an unrelenting artist. a big one because it just goes up against all of the fears. You know what I mean? It really cuts them off at the knees, which I feel like is the point of affirmations. It’s supposed to stand up against those fears so that they don’t just steamroll you.

But another one that I really like is that I am allowed to exist. I feel like that’s something that could just be used in general. And I think I do use it in general, but it also applies to being an artist. It’s so [00:15:30] much of being an artist has been like, whether or not people like you, or you’re popular or you get this or you get that.

And it’s, I’m actually allowed to exist regardless. You know what I mean? And just knowing that in terms of like any identity that you might hold, like you are allowed to exist. You don’t have to fit into a box. You don’t have to change yourself. You can find the most authentic version of yourself and demand that you accept it and that you are allowed to exist.

So that’s a big one for me. I love those. I am enough. I [00:16:00] am worthy, you know, living at all these intersections of identities in a world, especially now that is so politicized here in the U S especially, um, where everything is not affirming where the world will tell you something opposite. of who you are.

Those types of affirmations are so incredibly important to you feeling whole and you being able to show up in the world as your full self. Because when we do that, we get to make our magic out here in the world and only you can do what you’re doing. I’m [00:16:30] always reminded about that as I see people moving throughout the world and doing what they’re called to do.

I’m like, I can’t do that. I’m so glad you’re doing that because I cannot do that. So I love that. I love that. All right, let’s jump into the album. Because we are on E3 radio, we are playing queer music. You are a queer artist and being a queer artist independent out here in the world, it is no easy thing.

But then again, you’re an unrelenting artist. So this is just like the path you have chosen to go down. This is the life I am living. [00:17:00] So tell us about the new album. It’s called Now You’re Caught Up. Now You’re Caught Up. Yeah. So it just feels like a very, about what was going on with me. It relates to What was happening with Gossip Girl and my life just completely changing, and then some really intense personal, interpersonal, like, love type stuff, where I feel like this album, it is like a reflection on those [00:17:30] times, now you’re caught up about what that was, and It’s like, now you’re caught up.

I’m not just a gossip girl, actor, and now you’re caught up on what’s going on in my life. And also the album, I was caught up. So it’s like these multi meanings. Like I was so incredibly caught up in what was happening, which is why I wrote an entire album about it. Like I feel things very deeply because what I was [00:18:00] responding to.

It was like a relatively short lived, it was like under a year of me being in it with this person and really specifically a summer to fall thing and it just exploded my world and it is a catalyst. It’s not to say that this album is just about that one person and that one experience. It was a catalyst for me to uncover a lot of stuff about myself.

And that [00:18:30] is something that I feel like I’m really on a journey with. I feel like it’s really important. I want to like reflect and I want to discover and I want to dig into myself and figure out who I am, not what has been put onto me that I’m just like. Projecting child heartbreaker have you write a whole album part one part two.

That’s right. That’s right Like it doesn’t have to be a whole thing. It doesn’t have to be like a marriage or something for me It’s like you break my heart over the weekend. Let me talk about it I’m telling you people who [00:19:00] fall in love with artists. I’ll be like, okay Do it if you want to okay, you’re gonna be like Hell yeah, you’re gonna be like The lead of the next album without, but honestly, some of the best songs, right?

Some of the, some of the best moments that we experienced come out. Some of the hardest, toughest times I learned like in my entrepreneurial journey, we want all of the mountaintop moments, but promise to goodness. It feels opposite. Any of those moments are some of the lowest moments [00:19:30] also that I’ve experienced that they sing to come hand in hand and not negating The low moments, right?

The valleys, right? Respecting them and learning how to move through them while still being present, right? To enjoy the mountain moment, um, and learning what it’s like and to live in the, also the in between because there’s so much work and journeying in the in between of the mountains and the valleys that, that we should also be enjoying, even when it really sucks.

Um, so [00:20:00] what’s the track on the album that gets you most excited that you like, I can’t wait for people to hear this one right here. This one is the bop. This is it. Honestly, there’s a lot. I feel like each single song, cause I wrote probably double what is on the album and then really paired it down to the songs that I felt really represented the journey that I was going on and that were just the strongest in general.

But there is a song whenever I get asked this question that kind of pops into my head and it’s a ballad and it’s [00:20:30] this last song in the album and it’s like it’s the conclusion like the order of the album is intentional although people listen however you want but I intentionally created an order to the album that kind of takes you on this journey and that conclusion song is called I Don’t Want to Lose You and it’s just I love it I love it so much I remember Writing it and producing it.

The specific moments like I will never forget it’s burned into my memory when that first came out of me. [00:21:00] And, um, yeah, I’m really excited for people to hear that. And to see, I feel like it’s going to be the people who really care because it’s a ballad and it’s slow and it’s, you know what I mean? So I feel like people who really get me are going to really attach that song.

I can’t wait to hear it and dig into it. Now, as a queer artist out here in the streets, and you singing to people who you love and who you’re attracted to and who bring you the most joy, have you found opposition in the world or is that exactly why you chose to be [00:21:30] independent? You’re like, I don’t even feel like dealing with all of this stuff.

Yeah, definitely. I’ve become a very strong willed person. I feel like earlier in my artist journey or career or whatever, I I think I was a little bit more malleable and now there’s some really strong non negotiables. It also just comes from the fact that I’ve been queer for so long, like it, you couldn’t come to me and be like, Oh, can you not?

It’s [00:22:00] just. Like I’m not there. I’m not there anymore. Whereas yeah, probably before if some big record exec was like, hey It would be much better if you didn’t. I might have been like, okay But now it’s just impossible. It’s just truly impossible Like I couldn’t even entertain that but I do being independent Because I really like being like a director.

Like I like being self directed. I like Being in control and deciding things. The most [00:22:30] recent single, I put out a remix to it and this incredible, actually the executive producer’s sister is also an artist. She’s like an incredible reggae dance hall artist. And I just in a week decided that I wanted her on the remix.

And then she wrote the verse we recorded and we shot the video the next week. With all of these other people involved and hands in the pot, I don’t think we could have achieved that because I was also [00:23:00] filming. I was in Atlanta back and forth filming and everything needed to just be like fast. And I think that being independent, you’re able to move in that quickness that really honors like the truth of the art.

Like it just felt so inspired. Like Omega, I don’t know if I said her name, but Omega mighty, she felt really inspired by the track and. Yeah, just not having to wait behind red tape allowed us to really just have the most magical expression [00:23:30] and it was great. I love that. That is the beauty of being independent.

You can be nimble. You can do whatever you want when you want to do it. I’m in control of my own destiny out here. I love that. I love that. And that single’s out on YouTube, right? It’s out on YouTube right now. You should please go check out that music video. It’s incredible. Omega Mighty is also an amazing dancer.

So she choreographed a little section for us to learn. And I did my bestest to try and do the dance. I am not necessarily in that form [00:24:00] yet, but I love dancing and I think it’s amazing. Yeah. It’s called scared to get close. And the remix is with Omegamighty. There you go, family. Go check it out. Jordan trying her one, two step doing a thing out here.

I love that. I love that. And one thing I also find when I speak with people is that when they’re supposed to be doing what they’re supposed to do, things are just In alignment, things just happen. It’s not hard. It’s not challenging. You were like, we talked, this happened, she wrote a [00:24:30] verse, we got in the studio, we recorded a music video.

It wasn’t anything extra. It was supposed to happen exactly at that time. And I think timing has So much to do with the course of life and how we show up. So I think that’s dope. And then just another reminder that things don’t have to be hard. Family don’t think that they have to be hard. And you were saying about the valleys.

I think that really embracing those valley valleys, because when you’re supposed to be in the valley or you’re supposed to [00:25:00] be in your ebb state, trying to force flow, That’s when I feel like things get so challenging. Like I’m trying to force this, make it happen. And it’s maybe it’s not supposed to happen right now.

Maybe you’re supposed to be resting right now. Yes. I knew I was supposed to be resting the other day and I didn’t, you know what? I paid for that. Okay. Jordan, I paid for it and I’m going to listen to next time. I’m so sorry, but that’s how life is. But I totally agree. So tell me what’s a couple of lessons that you’re taking away being an [00:25:30] independent artist out here.

Or maybe something even that challenged you and you were like. Yeah, I think timing I actually had intended to put this album out like Spring of 2023 and it just wasn’t right wasn’t the right timing And I feel like I had to just open my fist so you get trapped on an idea And then you’re just like hanging on for dear life, getting dragged through the muck.

No matter what I’m hanging on, it’s go like, maybe [00:26:00] let go. And I even, you know, again, being an independent artist, like, um, my really dear friend, Sakina Garcia, we started a band and then released that music before I started rolling out my album. Like I just was like this, it didn’t feel right to do it at the time.

And so I just did some other stuff. Did some other stuff and now you back at it, right? And I think that’s the beautiful part also about being a creative is that we [00:26:30] never are short of ideas. The opportunities will show up and your talent is going to do what your talent do. And I think that no one can stop that or deny that the family.

The key here is to go follow Jordan. If you’re not already

Jordan Alexander. You go follow me. I’ll give you updates. You’re, I’m the only place you can get it. Period. So that’s what you need to go do. So go follow Jordan. Jordan, thank you for being out here and being [00:27:00] out and being queer, being yourself, producing your music and being like a real true example of what success can look like when you choose to just do what you’re supposed to be doing out here in the world.

I really appreciate that. Yeah. So family stay close. You already know more to come. We are queer news done. Right.[00:27:30]

If you’ve enjoyed what you heard, rate and review us inside your favorite podcasting app. This podcast is written and produced by me, Anna Deshawn. Podcast editing by Ryan Woodhull. And brought to you by E3 Radio and distributed on The Qube. We are Queer News Done [00:28:00] Right.