Christina Aguilera is featured on the cover and in the pages of the new issue of Out magazine. In this coverstory interview, Xtina talks to Out about the inspiration behind her new album Bionic … and Out talks to some of Xtina‘s music collaborators (including the amazing Sia) as part of the coverstory as well. Here is Xtina‘s Out magazine coverphoto and some excerpts from the coverstory article:

Christina Aguilera, now 29, lives in Ozzy Osbourne’s old house right off the Sunset Strip with her 2-year-old kid, Max Liron, her husband Jordan “Jordy” Bratman, and a platoon of Latinos who dust, Swiffer, sweep, and generally keep the manor. The house has been thoroughly Aguilerized with zebra- and leopard-print carpets and Shepard Fairey prints that scream Obey from the walls. The doorknobs, at least, are holdovers from the Osbourne era, heavy iron affairs with Gothic crosses on them. The other holdover is the recording studio, a converted pool house past a courtyard full of teak gazebos, lightly melted Buddha-head candles, and a sad Kermit doll lying face down in the pool like Joe Gillis in Sunset Boulevard. The pool house is where Aguilera recorded most of her new album and where the singer is now curled up, Betty Page style, on a sofa, with those famous red lips wrapped around a Ricola … the cover of her new album, Bionic, features a D*Face portrait of Aguilera, one half of her face notably Marilyn Monrovian, the other a robotic consortium of gramophones and Edison bulbs. Her bright red Rocky Horror lips are the bridge that connects the two halves. Bionic does not logically follow from her last album or the one before that. From pop tart to Angry Young Woman (Stripped) to Marilyn Monroe (Back to Basics), the sequence of Aguilera’s sound is as wild as the wind. Her voice is a mercenary, one of the perks — and pitfalls — of being a versatile medium. “Every album has been a 180 from the past,” she admits. “On Bionic, I wanted to go completely futuristic. As a new mother, I was thinking about the future generation, so I was inspired a lot by electronic music.” When she began the album, Aguilera put out a call to artists whose work she found simpatico, an unexpected cavalcade including underground faves Le Tigre, Goldfrapp, and Ladytron. “It’s a gamble,” Aguilera says of the cattle call. “You never really know who’s going to get it and who’s not.” Sia Furler, professionally known as Sia and as the best Australian queer blue-eyed soul singer, got it. Her contribution to the album—four songs written with her bassist, Sam Dixon—is what Aguilera calls, “the heart of the album.” One song in particular, a raw, shuffling, vocally demanding Etta James–type ballad called “You Lost Me,” is not only the heart of the album but a defining apex of Aguilera’s career. Those four minutes alone are enough to ensure Aguilera’s place alongside Nina Simone and Whitney Houston in the soul pantheon. In its simple progression, Aguilera finds a song strong enough to withstand the blistering power of her voice. Sia’s words, stricken with the grief of abandonment and betrayal, release Aguilera’s voice, ranging from a deep, defiant growl to a lonely, high, vaporlike whisper. “The things she can do with her voice are insane,” says Sia, “but I really like it when she’s doing less of the squiggly diddlying. There were times when I’d just say ‘I think you should just sing it straight.’ I feel most able to identify with her and her vulnerability when she just sings simply with that amazing tone of hers.” As in “Beautiful,” written for her by former 4 Non Blonde Linda Perry, the grain of Aguilera’s voice is audible in “You Lost Me.” It crackles like an old phonograph at times, gathers itself up and takes to the keep in others. It breathes and sighs and writhes. It’s too big to fail but not too proud to falter. “It was hard for me. I really am a perfectionist,” says Aguilera. “I like to perfect a vocal and really make sure of every note. Even if it’s good I’ll go in to see if I get a better one. But when I get in studio with people like Linda or Sia, I’m able just to find inspiration inside the music in a different way. I can find the beauty in the imperfections.”

Of all the interviews that Xtina has done thus far to promote Bionic, this is the best of them. She really talks about the hows and whys of the album’s creation and gives us, in words, a really good understanding of what we can expect from the disc. Judging by the collaborators she worked with alone, I’m already a fan of Bionic. After the jump, check out some of the photos from Xtina‘s Out photospread — some of which may delight or disturb you …

Buffyverse alum and current Broadway star (plus good friend to me) Tom Lenk is featured in the new issue of Out magazine alongside some of his Broadway compatriots in a fashion spread in the magazine devoted to the Spring fashions hitting stores right now. Tom and co. are modeling some of the prints that will be all the rage this season … here is one of his fun photos:

Tom Lenk, Rock of Ages Though Joss Whedon fans will recognize him from his three-season turn as Andrew on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Lenk returned to ROA in September after creating the role for the show’s original 2006 Los Angeles run. Brooks Atkinson Theatre, RockofAgesMusical.com. Blue crocodile-printed tank top and navy pants by Versace. Black high-top sneakers with zip detail by Marc by Marc Jacobs.

I think Tommy makes a fantastic male model, don’t you? He’s like the real-life Zoolander, no? After the jump, check out his other photo from this spread in Out magazine …

Tori Amos sat down with Out magazine’s Popnography for a little tête à tête and in this new interview talks about things as varied as Lady GaGa‘s staying power in the music biz (a subject she’s talked about before), why she doesn’t like revealing what other contemporary artists she listens to and what she would do sexually to Jennifer Aniston if she were a man. Yes, folks, this interview is Tori Amos at her finest. Here are a few screencaps from her interview and some excerpts from her chat:

On her masculine side:
“When I play I don’t feel as if I’m a sex — sometimes. Sometimes I feel as [if I'm] an entity and an energy and a musician. But the word musician isn’t male or female and there are times when I play that I feel as if I have a third leg. And there are times that I feel that I’m pregnant. If I were a male musician I do believe in a way there’d be less available women around because I would know how to turn some of them out — particularly Jennifer Aniston. Because I just look at her sometimes and say, “I know what to do with you.” But that’s my third leg self talking, that’s not the woman who wants to eat pussy — because I just don’t want to do that.”

On younger female artists:
“I think Lady Gaga is immensely entertaining and is a musician. Not all the divas are musicians, they’re dancers who can sing, so it’s important to say those ones that are players — that needs to be acknowledged. Some of the performers as they are now, in their incarnation now in their 20′s, people have asked me “Will some of these people be around?” When you talk about these women — Britney and Lady Gaga — what’s working for them now, which is very sexualized, you don’t want to see sexualized in [their] 60′s.”

On which contemporary artists she listens to:
“I do listen to contemporary music but years ago there was a particular artist who was asked [who they listen to] and everybody’s names were mentioned as artists who would do something with their lives and I wasn’t mentioned. And I had to reexamine myself for a couple days and realize that OK, they might not believe in me or even know I existed. And I decided if I were ever in a position that to single certain people out and not others — I might not be aware of them or not — I do think that the process of creativity can be very personal and so I keep that to myself.”

Ye gods, I love this woman. Out‘s Popnography site is featuring this 2-part video interview with Tori Amos HERE. It is deffo worth your time. In addition to these charming quotes, Tori talks about so much more. Check it out, I think you’ll be pleased :)

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Out magazine is ready to release it’s annual Out 100 issue wherein they select the year’s “most interesting, influential and newsworthy LGBT people”. The full list has not yet been made available but the cover shows which LGBT stars have made the list honor roll … Adam Lambert, Wanda Sykes, Cyndi Lauper, Lt. Dan Choi and Rob Marshall:

Of these folks, I know the least about Rob Marshall … but I can absolutely understand why Glambert, Wanda, Cyndi and Lt. Choi made the cut as the top LGBT stars of the year. I’m very curious to see who else made the cut this year … besides the obvious names listed on the cover, do any of y’all have any guesses?

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Donatella Versace is featured on the cover and in the pages of the new issue of Out magazine. Clearly, Donatella knows who butters her bread (ie. the gays) so she finally decided to grace the cover of Out mag to explain to the world “What it takes to be Donatella Versace”. Here is Donatella‘s coverphoto along with the full text of the accompanying press release:

Out’s October issue shines the light on one of the most well-known and admired women in the fashion industry’s history, Donatella Versace. Gracing the cover alongside the new Versace man, Donatella goes on to discuss her take on American fashion, her inspirations and those who parody her seemingly outrageous life. Luckily, being in on the joke is part of her charm. Of Maya Rudolph’s now famous impersonation, Versace laughs, “I talked to her on the phone, Maya. I gave her suggestions on what to do about me.” Inside the issue, Versace articulates her own fashion sense and desire to show-off her sexiness to Out Editor in Chief Aaron Hicklin. “I always have to be sexy because I like to be sexy. Just for myself.” But when asked if there is such a thing as being too sexy, she quickly retorts, “Never, never! You can be too boring, but you can never be too sexy.” In addition to Hicklin’s electric interview with Versace, photographer Alexei Hay introduces us to Versace’s Fall/Winter 2009 Men’s collection, as well as the new Versace man.

I dunno why but I am wholly fascinated by Donatella Versace … but to be honest, I think I like her best when Maya Rudolph portrays her on Saturday Night Live. I imagine the real Donatella is interesting as well … but can’t be nearly as fun as she is portrayed on SNL. Click HERE to read the full Out magazine coverstory interview with Ms. Versace online or pick up a copy of the issue which hits newsstands next week.

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Out magazine hosted its 14th Annual OUT 100 Awards at Gotham Hall in NYC last night in order to honor the mag’s People of the Year who are described as gay and straight “artists, activists, athletes, and aesthetes [who] embody triumph, daring, ingenuity, and integrity”. Here are a few of the Out 100 honorees as they strutted their stuff on the red carpet last night:

Broadway actor Cheyenne Jackson (Xanadu) was named Entertainer of the Year by the magazine for his “stereotype-breaking performances” and musician Sam Sparro was chosen as Breakout Star of the Year for being “an exciting new musician who never considered the closet as an option”. Nikka Costa, Heather Matarazzo (one of the Actors of the Year) and her partner Carolyn Murphy among others were in attendance at last night’s affair as well. Here is this month’s cover of Out magazine which features Out 100 honorees Cheyenne Jackson, Sam Sparro, Katy Perry (Musician of the Year) and director Gus Van Sant (Artist of the Year):

In the spirit of celebration you’ll forgive us for not stopping at 100: Our special awardees, both gay and straight, include Gus Van Sant for his thrilling new cinema paean to our first high-profile out elected official; Dean and Dan Caten for Dsquared2, for their forward-looking menswear; Cheyenne Jackson for his stereotype-breaking performances; Katy Perry for her unfiltered ode to sexual experimentation; Bishop Gene Robinson for leading the fight for equality in our houses of worship; and Sam Sparro, an exciting new musician who never considered the closet as an option.

Click HERE to see some of the other folks who made this year’s Out 100 list and see if any of your faves were honored. Much congrats to this year’s honorees … having seen the list, I can honestly say that Out did an amazing job picking this year’s batch of honorees. Woot!

[Photo credit: Wireimage; Source]

New hubby and father-to-be Pete Wentz is featured on the cover and in the pages of the new issue of Out magazine (the headline boldly reads: “Yeah, I Am A Fag” — which strikes me as a bit sensationalistic) wherein Pete talks about his youthful same-sex kissing experiences and poses for a stylishly fun photoshoot, behold:

“Ambiguity makes you a lightning rod,” Pete Wentz tells Out. For our cover shoot, the Fall Out Boy front man swaps his usual uniform of hoodies and girls’ jeans for designer menswear. And while it’s typically his brash opinions and big mouth making headlines, we find that photos of Wentz can still reveal the vulnerable, nostalgic guy inside. “There was definitely a point where I was very unfiltered,” he says. “You do only see what I want you to now.”

And speaking of ambiguity, Pete decided to share some of his ambiguous experiences with the mag for his coverstory:

Dad-to-be Pete Wentz has a confession: He’s made out with dudes. He tells Out magazine he first smooched a guy when he was 16 or 17, probably on a dare. He experimented again around 18 and 19, he says. His last same-sex make out? “A long time ago,” Wentz, 29, says. “Probably when I was 22?” The Fall Out Boy bassist — who wed Ashlee Simpson in May — puts all his experimenting in perspective. “When I said that I make out with dudes, there was a slight sense of sexual rebellion in that,” he tells Out. “And I probably even made it a bigger deal than it was. Our culture bombards us with this idea that you’re not that, and if you are that, there’s something wrong with you, and then we’re going to call you that, and then it’s an insult,” Wentz says. After Wentz once discussed his “possible bisexuality” with Blender, rumors floated that Joe Simpson, an ordained Baptist minister, had told Ashlee not to bring him home for the holidays. He says that report was “such bullhit” and that Joe even joked about it. “He was like, ‘We should take a picture in front of the Christmas tree holding hands,’” Wentz says. Still, he admits,”“There are definitely ramifications for what you say.” In general, Wentz says people are becoming open to alternative lifestyles. “The actual acceptance of gay marriage is inevitable,” Wentz declares. “It’s just like how the next generation of kids are going to all have tattoos.”

And eyeliner … you can’t forget the eyeliner. I really respect Pete for being as open and honest about who he is as he can … within reason. I totally get how everything that he says is fodder for possible use against him so I can also understand the desire to not always give full disclosure about everything. I’m impressed that Pete decided to appear on the cover of Out even tho he doesn’t have to do that particular cover in order to get press. I’m sure there are any number of magazines that would happily put him on their cover … but his decision to talk to and be featured on Out magazine makes a huge statement about who he is as a man — a secure one.

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