"The Boy Who Loved Pop": An Essay by VINCINT

This Black History Month, Atwood Magazine has invited artists to participate in a series of essays, interviews, reviews, poetry, playlists, and more features in recognition of, and out of respect for the symbolism and significance of this month.

Today, acclaimed LA-based singer and songwriter VINCINT shares his personal essay “The Boy Who Loved Pop” as a part of Atwood Magazine’s Black History Month series. Active throughout the past five years, VINCINT has continually asserted himself as an irresistible, boundary-pushing pop presence while using his platform to support the LGBTQIA community.

Recent singles – from the bustling “Please Don’t Fall in Love” to the soulfully stirring “Save Myself” and the intimate outpouring “Be Me” (written for and featured on “Queer Eye” Season 5) – showcase his soaring vocals and raw, vulnerable lyricism against seductive backdrops that blend dance and R&B influences with electropop elements, to great effect. Following his achingly expressive, buoyant, and finessed six-track debut EP The Feeling, VINCINT ushered in his next chapter with the pulsing passion of summer single “Hard 2 Forget,” a joyous revelry binding love with longing and connection with disconnect.

A pop star on the rise, VINCINT continues his ascent with every successive song. His immersive sound is as delectable as it is utterly intoxicating, and his voice is a thing of pure, radiant beauty. Only time will tell how he makes 2021 another year to remember.

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The Boy Who Loved Pop

by VINCINT

I’ll start this off by saying I adore pop music, I have for as long as I can remember. Hearing Whitney glide over the chords of How Will I know for the first time was like watching my grandmother bake for me. It took skill, care, experience, raw talent and most importantly heart.

I was a goner from the first note.

My love for pop only grew from there, discovering Mariah, Celine, Beyoncé, Madonna, & Robyn the list goes on and on and mostly consist of these legendary artist and some new favorites

Pop music is run by women and honestly it makes me happy to see a place where I feel so comfortable ran by like minded individuals. As much as I adore it at times it can be a lonely place being a black gay male who loves a world and sound that sometimes doesn’t love you back or won’t accept your sound simply based on your appearance. Don’t mistake me for wanting pity I actually live for the fight and the hurdles they keep me nimble and sharp and it’s needed in this business. But it would be nice to envision a world where pop music looked like all of us and was celebrated equally.

I do have a hope … that someday a young black boy sitting in Philadelphia, Texas , Virginia , London who hears me on the radio and something sparks in them and the same fire that made me pursue this life and career will move them to do the same. My hope is that because of me and the things I will do in this life there won’t be an ounce of hesitation on their part for chasing that feeling. I hope that what those Icons did for me, I can someday do for someone new.