Ready to Rumble: Pop Star Noa Tylo Makes a Call to Action

Noa Tylo wants to be more than your average hot pop star. The sexy crooner has an announcement to make to his fans: Get off your asses! Tylo hopes to reignite activism in today's younger generation. Similar to John Lennon, Tylo is making music to stir up his fans and get them involved-not just in the club, but in the political areana. "If we want change, it's up to us to fight for it, he explains. Unlike Lennon, Tylo's not rdepending on rock ballads. His latest album, the aptly named Let's Do It!, is a sexually-charged reinterpretation of classic 90's pop and R&B dance sounds peppered with modern hooks. We spoke to Tylo about his new album, and his new message.

Matthew Ray:Your new album encourages people to Let's Do It. "Do" what?
Noa Tylo: Let's Do It! is about freedom. We live in a world of hatred and intolerance. I remember encountering hate in South Africa, where I grew up, and how painful it was. People had to fight for basic freedoms. We fought and won. South Africa is the first country to have gay rights written into its constitution.

Our predecessors were big on political activeness. Has the younger generation lost its will to fight?
I don't think the younger gay generation has lost its will to fight. They just need to understand that intolerance leads to persecution and we need to stop it now before it escalates even further.

Young gays don't feel the need to be labeled as gay. Do you share this philosophy?
I'm not a fan of homogenizing humanity. Being different is something to celebrate, not hide. Being part of the mainstream is the goal, but not at the expense of being yourself.

Philadelphia's Gayborhood is almost a gay ghost town because the younger gays are choosing to hang in straight areas.
It's good that young gays are not as defined by their sexuality but I do believe that communities where people with similar interests can coalesce are valuable. Gay villages offer a certain safety, which is nice. But it will be even nicer when a gay man can feel comfortable walking hand in hand with another man down Main Street USA.

Without the support of the young gay generation, the gay bars and clubs are suffering and some, even closing. Are we at risk of losing our community?
Gay bars and clubs are important for those who lack the confidence to be themselves in a mixed environment, and so I do think it's sad for those people when a favorite closes. But we live in a free, capitalist society where the market dictates whether venues survive. If the community needs a gay bar or club, then they should support it. Otherwise, they shouldn't be upset when it disappears.

What advice would you give your younger fans in order to maintain their community?
Community is about mutual support. Support those in the community who are finding it hard to be true to themselves. Support local gay businesses that you do not want to see close.

Do you feel the gay community is supporting its gay artists enough?
I think people should support music and artists because they're good, not because they're gay. But I do think gay press should be more supportive of its artists. I don't understand why gay magazines will put a straight artist on their cover when the artist has no relevance or hasn't done anything for the community apart from having a song gay people like to dance to. It's hard enough for GLBT artists as it is without the mainstream marketing machine behind them, and I would think the GLBT press would be more supportive to their own.

Why is it important that our community have its own faces and music?
Every community needs its own icons to enjoy and respond to.

What's next for Noa Tylo?
I'm not a politician. I'm a musician. But if my voice can make a difference and persuade people to reject intolerance, then that's great. This is my first album written in the US. I grew up in a country where freedom and tolerance did not come naturally. I stand by the thoughts and beliefs I'm expressing in my music. I hope people enjoy Let's Do It! as much as I do, and my main objective for now is to make this album all it can be.

Noa Tylo's new album, Let's Do It!, is in stores and on i-Tunes now. For more info, go to noatylo.com.