DBQ Magazine 2017 Fall Issue: The Love List “Our Pop Culture” Interview with David Bridgeforth →

DB: How would you describe your sound of music? QM: I would describe my sound of music as conscious R&B soul.

DB: what is the message you wish to convey with your songs? 

QM: I want people to be inspired to take on any obstacle that life has thrown them by tapping into their own inner God potential. Also my music is about complete self acceptance, and spiritual awakening, especially for black gay men. I think straight people have had this very flawed assumption that gay people can not be divine, or can’t be seen as holy beings. I want to change that. 

DB: who inspires you as a black gay young male artist?  

QM: As a young black gay male artist, I am mostly inspired by myself becuase I don’t see anyone in this music industry, really doing what I’m trying to do, or bring to the table. But I must say that I am a big fan of Beyonce, as well as inspired by her artistry, and work ethic. Just like she inspires, uplifts, and empowers women, I want to do the same for gay men. 

DM: When did you first know you wanted to sing, dance, and entertain? 

QM: I’ve always been very passionate about music, and performing arts since childhood, growing up singing in the church choir, and praise teams. However, it wasn’t until recently that I gained the confidence to actually pursue a career in music. I would always here that openly gay men could not be successful in the music industry. So I would say in my mid twenties, I realized that I was sleeping on myself, and sabatoging my talents, when I saw other queer artist of color, shattering those flawed perceptions, which leveled up my confidence. 

DB: What inspired your new EP “Days In The Midwest?” 

QM: My mixtape “Days In The Midwest🌵” is a window to my heart, and soul. It tells the story from start to finish, about my experience growing up as a gay black male in the Midwest, trying to survive in an environment where I don’t feel supported finding happiness, and manifesting my dreams. Aside from my sexuality, I wanted to pay tribute to my child hood, and growing up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It’s also inspired by 90’s music, which I grew up on, became influenced by, became influenced by, and has inspired my sound, and direction as an artist. 

DB: What kind of impact do you hope your music makes on your culture? 

QM: I want to leave my mark on the culture, in a spiritual way, and I hope that my music, will help other black gay men, rediscover their own spirituality, and strength, when they don’t always feel important to their communities.  I also want them to know that they are not alone. 

My debut mixtape Days In The Mid West is available on SoundCloud, and for download on DatPiff.com  

Get your copies of this issue of DBQ Magazine at  DBQMag.com   

IQue: Fall Style Tips + 10 Mental Health Practices

Hello Fall. The trees are about to show us how lovely it is, to let the dead things go. Learning to let things go has been the constant theme of my life this year, and even more so this season. So far I have been struggling with depression, financial stability, mental health, loosing friends, and feeling the stress, and anxiety of pursuing my dreams and being in my mid twenties. I feel that I am in a very pivotal point in my life. But on the flip side, I have been feeling, and witnessing myself peacefully, and quietly outgrowing certain friendships. I have been blessed with so many amazing opportunities for my music career. I got a new job at the Tulsa World, a job I’ve wanted for a very long time. I have been practicing letting go of unhealthy thinking, and I feel my vitality. The quieter I become, the more I am able to hear, and I have been listening. The Universe is calling me to vibrate higher, and shed my old skin. 

 “Don’t be into trends. Don’t make fashion own you. But you decide what you are.”

Fall Style Tips: 

1. Color Blocking is a great way to make fashion statements in the fall. 

2. Pulling styles from past decades can help to personalize your own style. This year I’m really into 90’s fashion like velvet, tie dye, and nose piercings. 

3. You don’t have to match, to have style. Sometimes not matching at all makes the most fashionable statements. 

4. Pulling inspiration from nature, such as colors, is an easy way to choose a fall wardrobe.  

5. Be you always. Find out what makes your approach to fashion different then others. Take style ideas you make like on a celebrity, or another fashionable person, and make them your own. 

I have always dealt with depression since child hood. But now that I am an adult, depression has taken an even more bigger role in my life with all of the stress, and anxiety of being a young adult. What I am learning is that your mental health vital to your success in life. Mental Health doesn’t discriminate among race, social classes, gender. No matter how good someone has it, they can still be struggking. 

10 Mental Health Practices: 

 1. Forgive yourself daily.  

2. Talking to yourself is healthy.  

3. Care about the way you feel. 

4. Connect to nature at least once a day.  

5. Spend some time alone.  

6. Get plenty of sleep, and drink lots of water. 

7. Listen to your intuition. It will never lead you to harm. 

8. It’s important to connect with a spiritual foundation, or philosophy no matter what you believe in. 

9. Take a break from social media, television, and electronics from time, to time. 

10. Learn how to say no, and don’t be a people pleaser. 

My Debut Mixtape #DaysInTheMidwest 🌵 now available on SoundCloud

  Days In The Midwest 🌵pays tribute to my hometown Tulsa,Oklahoma. The lyrics in my music reference my struggles as a black, gay man, trying to make it in a World that profits from your own self doubt. Liking myself where I'm from, is a rebellious act. My music also touches on self acceptance, and rising above obstacles of my own personal struggles, that block me from moving ahead, and becoming successful. But little did I know that in the process of creating this mixtape, that It would give my lyrics greater meaning.  

Days In The Midwest is my spiritual journey towards finding myself. I discovered that I am a songwriter, as well as very passionate about being an artist. Making the music, and writing the songs was the easiest part. There have been many obstacles, but I've learned that I am my worst enemy, I've learned that God is speaking to me when my spirit is pushing me far out of my comfort zone. Sometimes what God wants you to do won't be comfortable, but will help your spiritual growth.

The symbol for my mixtape is a cactus, because the cactus plant symbolizes strength, and survival, in an environment that seems damn near impossible to survive. This is how I feel about my own life, a strange plant, growing, and evolving in an environment where I have wanted to give up, or even wanted to take my own life because I didn't see any grass, but only dry dirt. Till this day I am still standing strong, like a tall cactus.

Embrace your journey, & your struggle. Don't compare your life to anyone else's. I would like to thank my producer Sol Ray, & collaborator Azia Lue, for helping give my vision life. It's only up from here. Pressure makes diamonds.

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My First Single #CarefreeBlackBoy Now Officially On YouTube

My first single #CarefreeBlackBoy, released on my Birthday December 9th, 2016, is now officially up on my YouTube Channel with the brand new official single cover. Like Comment, and subscribe. My debut mixtape #DaysInTheMidwest 🌵Is coming soon to my Soundcloud account. 

Performing At Tulsa Juneteenth For The Opening Of The Black Wall Street Times

It was such a pleasure being a new artist and performing for the grand opening of The Black Wall Street Times, commemorating the historical Black Wall Street here in my hometown of Tulsa Oklahoma for the annual Juneteenth festival. I performed an unreleased song titled " Black Wall Street" from my upcoming mixtape #DaysInTheMidWest🌵, along with helping the launch of this new amazing media, and news company. It was really great exposure for me as an artist, and I want to especially give my thanks to the owner, and creator of the Black Wall Street Times, Neo Frank, for believing in me. It's only up from here. My new mixtape #DaysInTheMidWest🌵is coming very soon.