It’s a weekend of many firsts for singer Matt Zarley. Today he releases hopefulROMANTIC, an original musical film about one gay man’s emotional journey through love, heartbreak and healing. And Saturday Zarley makes his first-ever bear event appearance at Orlando’s very own Bear Bust, performing live in concert at the Parliament House.
Zarley, who’s played the title roles in both Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and The Who’s Tommy on Broadway, is no stranger to new and unique situations. In 2002 he was the first openly gay man named to People Magazine’s annual “Hottest Bachelors” list.
Zarley has several critically-acclaimed and Billboard- charting albums, singles and dance remixes under his belt. But with hopefulROMANTIC, Zarley combines his extensive musical theatre background and passion for songwriting – along with a healthy dose of pop sensibility – into an original musical film with a decidedly gay perspective. The film shows one man’s emotional journey through love, heartbreak and healing. It’s a universal story about loving, letting go and holding onto faith that there’s somebody for everybody. And it’s a vastly different project than the one he initially envisioned.
Two years ago, deeply in love in a relatively new relationship, Zarley set out to write a new album. His personal mandate was to focus on love songs, nothing sad and no power ballads; Zarley says he saw it as a “Colbie Caillat-type record.” Abruptly and unexpectedly the relationship ended. With the creative winds knocked out of his sails, Zarley re-routed and set out on the project that would become hopefulROMANTIC.
“When the breakup happened I had a really difficult time finishing the songs as I had originally intended,” Zarley says. “The song that helped me move forward was ‘Constantly.’ It was the catalyst for moving the project in the direction it went. That’s when it became a musical, and a narrative, and a story.”
That song is – project rules be damned! – in fact a power ballad. It’s the type of soul-bearing, tear-inducing tune that asks an ex – hypothetically, since they’re no longer there – why a relationship ended. Zarley calls his story of falling in and out of love relatable.
“It’s not scandalous; it’s what happens to a lot of people. And it’s not extraordinary by any means. It’s more special the way that it’s told, really, than the story itself.”
The list of autobiographical gay love stories told primarily in song on film may be short, but the one of film festivals that has chosen hopefulROMANTIC as an official selection is not. Among them: Cannes Short Film Festival, Mumbai International Queerfest, Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival, Out On Film: Atlanta LGBT Film Festival and the Chelsea Film Festival in New York City.
Zarley’s latest project is not the first to have been inspired by a man in his life. With previous songs about men both good (“Perfect”) and bad (“WTF”) Zarley is far from being a gay Taylor Swift. Still, he’s had the chance to tell his side of the story; if the various guys that have been the subject of one of Zarley’s songs all got together, what might they have to say about their collective ex?
“Now, that’s not fair!” Zarley demurs. “Hopefully nothing bad! For the most part all of my breakups have been mutual. I’m still friends with all of my exes. I think they would say I’m thoughtful and loving, and I’m a good boyfriend for the most part.”
Short of showing up on a first date with a disclaimer, Zarley admits the subject of boyfriends-as-song-material is nothing new.
“It’s been a joke before,” Zarley says. “One of my exes told a new guy I was seeing to be careful, that if he broke up with me I would write a song about him. He was joking, but I guess it’s kind of true. Every songwriter writes from their own experience. It’s all about what you know, and when you do that it’s the most authentic you can be. People can relate to that; there’s something genuine there, it’s something real.”
Zarley says songwriting can be very therapeutic. He’s even gone so far as to personally thank the ex that inspired hopefulROMANTIC.
“What’s helped me to move forward with a positive attitude is that I really believe that the person who came into my life and broke my heart was also there so I could create this film,” Zarley confides. “I told him thank you, because without him I wouldn’t have had this experience and wouldn’t have grown in so many ways.”
In the two years since the breakup that inspired the hopefulROMANTIC project Zarley has remained single.
This year Zarley also appeared in an episode of Where the Bears Are singing his song “Somebody 4 Everybody,” with fellow bear-enthusiast performer Tom Goss. Zarley says that participating in that project was one of his first exposures to the various niche communities within the overall LGBT family.
“I hadn’t ever really thought about it before. I still don’t really see myself (as a bear), but I guess my facial hair kind of puts me there!”
hopefulROMANTIC (the short film and recording) is available on iTunes and other digital outlets starting today, Friday Oct. 16. For information visit hopefulROMANTICmovie.com.
Matt Zarley appears during Bear Bust at the Parliament House pool stage late Saturday, Oct. 17 (Sunday morning) at 12:45 a.m. For information visit BearBust.org.
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