All Eyes On Logan Lynn an American Songwriter, Composer, Singer & LGBT Activist from Portland, Oregon| Q&A

While hiking through a creek the other day I lifted up a rock and found a gem. Ok, no that’s a story, I just really enjoy analogies. Nonetheless, the gem that was brought to my attention is singer-song-writer-ginger-beard-acitivist Logan Lynn. When I found him, it just happens, he is on a little hiatus, charging up for whatever the future holds.
Logan Lynn is an American songwriter, composer and singer from Portland, Oregon.
Lynn is most commonly classified as an artist in the pop, electronic, techno and dance genres and has released four studio albums, one mixtape and five EP’s. Videos of Lynn’s singles have been featured on Logo, MTV, VH1 and Spike.

“If the Land of Misfit Toys elected a team of cultural ambassadors, Logan Lynn would be its poet laureate. In Portland’s pulsating music scene, he occupies a singular position- an emo prophet with a penchant for electronic beats, preaching the Good Word to drug-damaged crybabies.” loganlynnmusic.com

Q & A:

A B: I read that you are coming back from a break you took to work full-time for LGBTQ equal rights at Portland’s Q Center? Are you back in the swing of things musically?

Logan Lynn: I’m still on hiatus from playing shows. It’s been a year since I announced I was taking the break and I still feel like I’m in break mode with the touring or whatever. I really just quit doing the parts I was hating. I was surrounded by a bunch of people who I needed to get away from and the only way I could think to do it was to sink the boat. Looking back (and reading the press around this time last year) I probably could have taken a less public, less dramatic approach…but at the time I was fed up with the whole thing. At the end of the day, it worked. I got rid of all the parts that were making me insane and released that last record “I Killed Tomorrow Yesterday” myself. I’ve been making videos and releasing singles on my own schedule without anyone telling me what I need to do musically or how to do it…and without anyone telling me what I should or shouldn’t look like. It’s lovely, actually. I work full-time still with Q Center and am going to keep doing that for now. I’m happy for the 1st time in a really long time so I figure I had better not fuck it all up by changing the course. It’s been hard to turn things down lately, though. I won’t lie and say that there are not parts that I miss. I’ve been working on new songs this whole time, too…so there hasn’t been much of a break with that part at all.

A B: What is going on with the Portland Q Center these days? I see you have an upcoming event on June 17th. “Hip to be Q”

Logan Lynn: Yeah! That’s the Portland Pride kick-off party I’m throwing for Q Center and is the 2nd edition of my queer concert series there. I’ve been bringing national queer acts into the center for these really intimate shows this year. I like the idea that people can party for a good cause around good queer music. It’s a new kind of activism…the super loud, fun, sparkly kind.

A B: In the last few days there has been numerous report about the two men attacked on the Hawthorn Bridge. What is the buzz around town?

Logan Lynn: I’m kind-of on the frontline at Q Center in the aftermath of these types of community events and tragedies. People turn to Q Center for support and they look to us for what the collective “we” are supposed to do next. It’s time for people to wake up and help others when they are in need. This is not the kind of thing that should be happening anywhere. These were people we know. I think the very real feeling of “This could happen to me and my boyfriend” spread like wildfire throughout the city and our allies came out in droves for the “Hands Across Hawthorne” event we just threw this past weekend. There were thousands of people there. It was really touching.

A B: Tell me about “Hands Across Hawthorne” Rally Against Violence (2011)? The photographs were powerful.

Logan Lynn: It was amazing to see the nearly 5,000 people come out to hold hands at the scene of where the

"Hands Across Hawthorne" Rally Against Violence (2011) Photo by Jonny Shultz

attacks had taken place. There were people for miles. It was hard not to cry just at the sheer magnitude of people who were willing to stand out in the freezing cold rainy weather on a bridge to hold hands with one another and send the message to these men who attacked our friends that we are not afraid, that we will not stand for this in our city. It was beyond exhilarating.

A B: It seems like activism and music many times goes hand in hand. Does your music contain a lot of political content?

Logan Lynn: No. My music is always about love. The pursuit, the loss, the memory of said lost love…Not because I try for it to be, though. That’s just what has come out so far. I think if I ever tried to be political it would come out all jacked up and I would feel embarrassed for myself. I’m political in my life in that I work and give to things I feel strongly about. I am active in my citizenship but I leave songs like that to bands that aren’t so self-involved.

A B: Is the local Portland queer music scene flourishing?

Logan Lynn: Yes. The queer music scene here (and the music scene in Portland in general) is flourishing. Local queer bands like Gossip have basically taken over the world. What happened to me in 2007 is happening to all of my friends. Everybody’s famous here now. It’s like LA in that way.

A B: Do you have a fan club for your red beard? Beard fan clubs are out there, really.

Logan Lynn: Uh-Oh…

A B: What are your thoughts on the rapture we just survived?

Logan Lynn: Worst. Rapture. Ever.

A B: Does music and religion mix? Your thoughts on religion in a nut shell.

Logan Lynn: Fuck religion. Jesus can sit on it.

A B: How do you think your hometown Portland, Oregon is doing compared to the rest of the US with the acceptance of the LGBT community?

Logan Lynn: In general I think we are a very progressive town. That doesn’t mean we aren’t still susceptible to violence and bigotry. We have a long way still to go for ourselves and we have the opportunity to lead the way for other folks around the country (and world, for that matter). Change takes time. We’re still working on it…

A B: If there were something you could change about the music industry, what would it be?

Logan Lynn: I wish people still bought records.

A B: Do you have a release of “I Killed Tomorrow Yesterday” that is slated for 2011 where 100% of the profits go to benefit Portland’s Q Center coming up?

Logan Lynn: That already happened last year. It was released August 31st, 2010 as a fundraiser for Q Center. It’s available in the store on my website here: http://loganlynnmusic.com/music/

A B: Where can we expect to see you in the next 12 months?

Logan Lynn: On Logo again here shortly. My new video is premiering sometime later this month. The rest is going to unfold however it decides to unfold. I have a day job, dog and boyfriend. Life is simple and good. I’ve gone inward for the time being.

After literally MONTHS of re-edits my “new” video has FINALLY passed MTV Standards & Practices. We will be on the air by July 4th it looks like…but it also looks like GIANT black bars and censored scenes have rendered the thing unrecognizable. – Logan

Contact info:
+ LOGAN LYNN ON FACEBOOK
+ LOGAN LYNN ON TWITTER
loganlynnmusic.com

Tags: beard, Gay Lesbian and Bisexual, LGBTQ, Logan Lynn, music, Portland, pride month