A talented musical icon in the making, Gio John is set to release his new single ‘Str8.’ on the 9th of February this year, delivering a luscious new release that “reclaims the harmful stereotypes regarding the gay experience.” A gorgeous release arriving just before Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, ‘Str8.’ sees Gio John spreading awareness of the discrimination that LGBTQ+ individuals still experience.
A rising pop artist who fully inhabits the role of your messy gay brother, Gio John has been sharing his music with us since 2021, navigating life in his 20s through vibrant, dance-friendly pop songs. After making his mark with debut single ‘Yours’, Gio John has continued to refine and expand his style, capturing a unique blend of sounds and styles that he affectionately calls ‘social media pop’.
His new single, set for release on the 9th of February this year, perfectly encapsulates his larger-than-life sound, delivering a bold pop anthem infused with skater punk, incorporating teen and bedroom rock undertones. Inspired by his own difficult experiences facing harmful stereotypes, ‘Str8.’ sees Gio John hyperbolising the false idea that ‘gay men are infatuated by all straight men’. As he explained, "Last year, I was rejected from applying to shared accommodation as many male housemates were 'uncomfortable' with my sexuality."
He continued, "I found the situation so absurd, almost comical, and left with a new song idea in hopes to spread awareness of the discrimination that LGBTQ+ individuals still experience." Inspired by a new wave of social media pop such as Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Nonsense’ and Urpretty’s ‘Keep Riding Me’, but with a sharp vocal track that takes lead from more pronounced rock acts like Aerosmith, the new single is a hybrid anthem that Gio John can be infinitely proud of.
You can pre-save the new single now on Spotify and check out a very special teaser that Gio John shared on his Instagram page earlier this year. ‘Str8.’ will be officially released on the 9th of February in time for Sydney’s Mardi Gras, as Gio John explained, "Sydney's Mardi Gras is about celebrating my community, the LGBTQ+ community, and I think it's the perfect time to share my song and experiences."
Gio John decided to pursue his artistic endeavours in hopes of further representing the LGBTQ+ and Asian communities in the punk music scene, his influences include blink-182, Paramore, The All-American Rejects, Fall Out Boy, and Sum 41. So far, Gio John has written and produced songs with Christian Lo Russo (Amy Merideth, 5sos) and JP Fung (Reece Mastin), and has over 5,000 monthly listeners on Spotify alone.
Connect with Gio John
