.24 seeeaasasaaa A Vermont Gay SoclalAltematives's. R PROUD to be ‘A. a part of P.R.LD.E. lR,JorN us FOR THE WEEKEND! PRIDE CRUISE Join us on the LTC Ferry Cham- , plain for an 8pm-11pm sunset ' ' cruise with music & munchies and beverages & breezes. DJ Marlo Boss is back by popular demand! The Champlain holds nearly 300 passen- gets, so don’t be left on shore! “The BEST gay event of the year.” K $35 advance tickets’ $40 week or cruise fifififlfifififififififigflfiflfififififififififlflfififififi ‘advance tickets are available at the ‘ Peace & Justice Center or online at www.vgsa.com §. SATURDAY, JULY 10 Plum: DAY ‘ Look for our float in the Parade and come visit our information table on the Waterfront. Rx. R".2.§.a1.‘.,‘.!..G“T e '3» .R.I.D.E. DANCE Kat Bnrllngtonb Memorial Auditorium Annex K featuring E 90.‘2l‘*..l..‘*9i‘" e PLASTIC FAMIIX PATIO PARTY 7:30-9:00pm with DJ MONACO YOLANDA 9:00-1 1 zoopm MONTREAUS DJ MARIO BOSS 1 1:00pm-2:00am TICKETS ARE 310 AND AVAILABLE AT THE PEACE 8: JUSTICE CENTER OR ONLINE AT WWW.VGSA.COM THIS IS A 21+ SUNDAY, JULY 11 P[C1'q](_‘, JOIN US FOR OUR ANNUAL POST-PRIDE PICNIC AT THE ST. JOHN'S CLU8 IN BURLINGTON. IT’S A FULL-FAMILY EVENT (NO PETS) WITH BEACH ACTIVITIES, VOLLEYBALL. I-IOFISESHOES AND FUN! $5. - eves» MEET rrorrr no THINGS saaaaaaéeaes fifififififififififlfi martin tire irwuniaim flat” BY CYNTHIA Po1Ts ere’s a soft chuckle hiding in Nhojj’s voice as he describes his early collegiate career. “I just couldn’t focus. I’d be in the library thinking of [song] arrange- ments when I was supposed to be studying.” That lack of academic dis- cipline shouldn’t be a problem. Nhojj did go on to get a degree in economics from NYU, but judging from his second CD, Someday Peace, Love and Freedom the young man has a career in music in front of him. " “When I was in my eco- nomics classes, I looked around and realized that I didn’t want to work with the people who were in my classes. They were all type-A go-get- ters, and that’s not who I am. Sometime you have to stop trying to fit yourself in a predetermined mold.” Referencing an earlier abortive degree quest, Nhojj laughed. “I’d run away from music before. This was the second time it had come back to me. I decided that was it.” The result was I've Been Waiting For You, Nohjj’s debut CD that showcases his smooth vocals. You can clearly hear the gospel influence of his childhood — Nhojj’s father is an Adventist minister — as well as muted Calypso and Caribbean motifs. “My influences? Bob Marley, of course. I know it isn’t popular right now, but I grew up listening to Michael Jackson. I’d listen to everything on the radio: Sade, Patti Labelle, Whitney Houston — all of that Eighties stuff. “I was born in the States, while my Father was going to col- lege,” Nhojj explained. “Then we went back to Guyana, where I lived until I was 14. Then we went to the tiny island of Trinidad for the next four years.” Trinidad’s conservative culture, as well as his father’s reli- gious vocation, kept Nhojj in the closet. “I knew I was attracted to guys, but there was nothing positive to identify with. Everything I heard was derogatory — I didn’t want to be the faggot, the queer.” In New York, “Many of my friends were in therapy — not because they were gay, but for all sorts of things. They urged me to go so I could work things out. It was free at school, so I went. And it was through that process, looking at past andpresent experiences, that I came to grips with it. That’s when I decid- ed that being gay wasn’t this horri- ble idea I had in my head.” Nhojj’s mother took his coming-out hard, “especially since my brother is also gay.” When asked about his father’s reaction, Nhojj paused. “We’ve talked about it. I don’t exactly know how he’s ration- alized it, but he doesn’t put pressure on me.” He has found a lot of sup- port in the gay community — espe- cially the gay music community. “There’s an organization called OutMusic, which includes artists from all around the world.” A quiet pride entered his voice as he contin- ued, “They have an awards ceremo- ny coming up, and I’ve been nomi- nated for an award.” That would be the Outstanding New Recording, Male award. It’s easy to see why the album has garnered so much atten- tion. With more overt Caribbean and Reggae influences than the earlier album, Someday Peace Love and Freedom is a more positive, uplifting work. Songs like “Peace” are espe- cially timely, with lyrics like “What would you do if you saw 2 children arguing?/What would you do if one of them was your own?/ Now what would you do if they broke out in a fight? / How long would it take for you to call for... / Peace”— while musical wizardry uses instruments to mimic the sounds of bullets whoosh- ing by the listener’s head. Nhojj’s writing — he penned all the albums lyrics — has an uncanny way of com- bining the intimate and the univer- sal, filling a listener with the desire to change the world and the hope that such change is indeed possible. You can find Nhojj’s work, which also includes a live-perform- ance DVD, at his website. The singer has independently produced his work “in order to stay true to myself. I might be able to go to a label, but they try to squeeze you into a market. This way I can do what I feel is right.” ‘‘It’s hard,” Nhojj admits, “because I don’t necessarily fit into a predetermined market. But when I talk to somebody and they tell me they love the music, that the songs touched their life, that’s what’s rewarding.” V Cynthia Potts is a freelance writer and mom who lives in Plattsburgh. She welcomes feedback and can be reached at ctp0tts@juno.c0m.