Queer Singer Mykal Kilgore Talks New Tour, New Single, and New Move to Atlanta

Singer and “artivist" Mykal Kilgore says, in many ways, he feels like he is starting over. Having achieved success on Broadway (Motown The Musical, The Book of Mormon, HAIR!) and television (The Wiz Live!, Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert), Kilgore made history in 2021 when he became the first openly queer singer to receive a Grammy nomination for Best Traditional R&B Performance. Now, Kilgore is laser-focused on his budding recording career and “The Man In The Barbershop Tour,” which kicks off in Atlanta on February 3 at Vinyl. 

It feels appropriate that he would begin his 13-city east coast tour in Atlanta now that he’s a new resident. Kilgore’s sit down with The Reckoning was his first matter of business and official welcome to the South after getting settled into his new Atlanta address. Without hesitation, he made it clear why he chose to make Atlanta home. 

“I wanted to be around Black queer folks because the art is for us,” he said. “I want to test out the work and I want people to be able to say, this is what we want, or this is what we need, because sometimes the music may not be exactly what you think you want, but I want to give us the music, the art, the craft, the work that we as a community need.”

“I wanted to be around Black queer folks because the art is for us ... I want to give us the music, the art, the craft, the work that we as a community need.”

— Mykal Kilgore

Just as he did in the song and visual for “The Man In The Barbershop,” Kilgore’s latest single and follow-up to “Let Me Go,” the Grammy-nominated single from his “A Man Born Black” album, is based on real events.“Barbershop” is a beautiful display of unrequited love in one of the most challenging spaces for Black queer men. The reaction from fans, many of whom, with their own experiences of being Black and queer while navigating the hetero-normative space of the Black barbershop, felt seen and represented in Kilgore’s work. 

“I didn't realize that [Man In The] Barbershop was going to hit the way that it did,” Kilgore says. “I knew that I wanted to tell that story and I knew I was willing to take that risk, but it was so fulfilling to see Black queer folks say, ‘Oh, I felt that same thing. I've had the same experience.’ I'm so glad that I finally have a song that speaks to that.”

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Daily Northwestern - Q&A: Grammy-nominated singer Mykal Kilgore to perform in Chicago this month

Artist Mykal Kilgore performs at the 2021 Met Gala.

Rayna Song, Arts & Entertainment Editor
February 3, 2022

R&B singer Mykal Kilgore, who performed at the 2021 Met Gala, spoke with The Daily about his songs and upcoming performance at The Promontory in Chicago on Feb. 19. Kilgore released his latest single “The Man in the Barbershop” in September 2021, and he was the first openly gay artist nominated in the “Best Traditional R&B Performance” category at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

The Daily: Where did you draw your inspiration for “The Man In The Barbershop”?

Kilgore: It happened in real life a few years ago. I met a man in a barbershop, and I thought he was very handsome and interesting, but then he mentioned his girlfriend. We remained friends afterwards, and it has always been a sweet memory, since I was not treated badly because I was queer and decided to speak about that. It was someone who said, “I totally respect that. Thank you, but I’m just not interested.” 

The Daily: What message do you hope to send with the song?

Kilgore: I want to make it easier for people to tell the truth about who they are. I want people to see themselves reflected back and feel courage enough to do the same thing, to reflect themselves for others to see. I want this to be so common that it doesn’t feel strange to hear a man speak about another man in a loving way in a song.

The Daily: What was your experience performing at the Met Gala last September like?

Kilgore: As an independent artist and as a queer person who started their career in theatre in theme parks and cruise ships, to be able to ascend to such a place — it’s humbling to look around the room and feel, ‘Oh wow, all these stars are here,’ but it is also a reminder that the possibilities are endless.

The Daily: How does your identity impact your music? 

Kilgore: It impacts my work immensely because I have to live in this queer body, and I also have to live in a Black body. If you are an artist, it’s your job to do your best to get to know yourself and to feel your feelings. In this process of creating work and doing theatre and television and film, it really feels like I’m just trying to take masks off. The things that I can’t take off, I realized this is who I really am. And the audience can’t have my art without my queerness or without my Blackness. It’s in every note, every rhythm, every breath. 

The Daily: Do you have any advice for aspiring students at NU?

Kilgore: Focus on the craft. Don’t try to make art. We’ll figure out that something is art in years or generations. The focus should be on making good craft, like doing the things that you know, respecting your training and work ethic and being as excellent as you can, and then let the art take care of itself.

Email: raynasong2023@u.northwestern.edu 

Twitter: @RaynaYu_Song