In the heart of Germany’s vibrant music scene emerges an iconoclast of tenderness: Gigolo Tears, the queer soft rock beacon and the solo venture of the non-binary artist Chris Schalko. I must confess, I’ve found myself utterly infatuated with the emotional resonance in their music.
Emotions aren’t merely felt—they are harnessed as a superpower with Gigolo Tears. Today they unveiled the queer soft rock ballad “Vanilla Kiss.” The track evokes an innocent, queer-fueled impulse flashback, reminiscent of Drake’s “Hotline Bling,” but with a twist that’s all their own.
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Header photo by @taya.kalu
Initiated by Schalko in 2019, Gigolo Tears first serenaded the indie landscape with their English-language LP, “Kill Your Darlings.” After venturing into a fierce burst of Riot-Pop with their second band, “Zucker,” in 2022, the decision to return to German lyrics manifests a full-circle moment for Gigolo Tears.
The release of their radical, yet delicately constructed soft weep-pop EP “Crybaby” in 2023 under Audiolith Records tunes into the zeitgeist. It resonates with queer feminist mantras, assertively playful guitars, and an empowering soft-spoken ethos. With the EP featuring the menstrual anthem “Cramps,” Gigolo Tears carves a niche straight into our hearts through the summer of 2023.
Anticipation builds for 2024, as Gigolo Tears promises to grace us with a second EP, also slated to be released by Audiolith. Catch the emotional exuberance live at these upcoming shows:
- 07.03.2024 SO36, Berlin
- 09.03.2024 Schauspielhaus, Bochum
- 08.04.2024 Kosmoskonzerte, Potsdam
- 26.05.2024 Britney X Festival, Köln
- 22.06.2024 TBA, München
Let yourself be swept away by the heart-rending melodies of Gigolo Tears, where vulnerability meets rock in a soft embrace that speaks to the soul.
