Brian Justin Crum (photo credit: Mark Mendoza)
America’s Got Talent finalist Brian Justin Crum recently released the music video for his latest single, “I & U.”
Penned by #1 Billboard writers Melanie Fontana, Lindgren and Ferras, and produced by Lindgren, “I & U” is the follow-up single to “Circles,” released in February.
The singer recently told Huffpost the video for “I & U” is meant as an homage to his ‘spirit animal,’ queer pop icon George Michael.
“The video for ‘I & U’ is the most free Iʼve ever felt in my Queer expression,” says Crum. “I spent so many years trying to ‘butch it up’ so that people around would feel more comfortable and so that I could fit into anyones little box they wanted to put me in.”
After years of feeling ‘constricted’ and ‘confined’ by what might have been acceptable for other people, Crum says creating and expressing music for himself today has been a “journey.”
“It’s all about self-discovery and finding ownership over myself for the first time,” he told HuffPost.
Crum also shares he wanted the new music video to “feature a diverse cast of women who are strong in their own expression as well.”
“Growing up queer I was surrounded by woman who supported me,” says the 31-year-old singer. “My friends at school were all girls and it was their mothers (and my own) that loved me for who I was.”
“I think itʼs very important that we, as gay men, rally behind women and fight with them as they have always fought with us,” he adds.
During his time on Season 11 of America’s Got Talent, Crum garnered millions of views from his performances of songs by Michael Jackson, Radiohead, Tears For Fears and Phil Collins.
Check out the new track now available on all digital download sites.
