Levi Kreis: Church, Chems and Tony Awards

<p>Welcome to <a href="https://www.inthekeyofq.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">In the Key of Q</a> the weekly podcast where I chat with inspiring Queer musicians from around the world as they share stories, inspirations and of course their music.</p><p>Levi Kreis is a multi-award winner. Having gathered himself awards from <a href="https://criticscircle.org.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Critic's Circle</a>, Out Music, and most excitingly, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHrFrqB48wk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Tony's</a>. Born in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ba9mWXtGU4g" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Oliver Springs</a>, Tennessee his music features a fusion of styles influenced by gospel, country, bluegrass, and even rockabilly.</p><p>He says of his career, "I've always believed that our mess is our ministry. I may be more candid than the next guy about my obstacles and struggles. I am not interested in painting a perfect picture for the world to see not when people all around me need to know how to turn their pain into personal power. The driving force behind all that I do is narrow and define. I want to heal."</p><p>Even as a kid Levi had an eye for business. When offered a dollar to sing in the church for God, he suggests off the bat that given two he'd sing for Jesus as well! His deep relationship with the church and his amazing voice he was offered a lucrative gospel record contract. The contract vanished when he was outed by a betrayal within the church. Maybe it wasn't a bad thing as from the age of eight it taught him that his queerness was "detestable in the eye of god".</p><p>Falling into a domestically abusive relationship, Levi's mother works out that his violent "flatmate" is actually his lover. Whilst she appears to rescue him from harm's way, she resolves the 'rescue' with a promise that his devilish homosexual ways will lead to <a href="https://www.aidsmap.com/about-hiv" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">an