Editor’s Note: “Boston Thriving” is an ongoing series from Vanyaland highlighting and honoring the national and global success of Boston- and New England-based bands and artists.
At Apple Music’s “Pride Roundtable,” Izzy Heltai isn’t afraid to get candid.
The streaming service tapped the Boston-raised folk musician as a guest for the newest episode of Proud Radio, which dropped this past weekend (June 3). The episode — aptly titled “Pride Roundtable” — uncorks a vital discussion about queerness, visibility, and solidarity among Heltai, show host Hunter Kelly, and fellow transgender and nonbinary artists Brody Ray and Autumn Nicholas.
All three guests share ties to Nashville (where Heltai now resides) and have performed at benefit concerts that rally against Tennessee’s anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation. The forward momentum continued during their roundtable, as each artist reflected on their individual journeys as queer artists. Heltai in particular emphasized validating trans youth, recalling the importance of his sister’s early support in a clip posted to Instagram.
“She was a very big part of me being okay as a teenager,” Heltai said. “She was the very first one that told me she believed me. As a kid, that’s a huge thing. When you are a trans kid, and you’re 14, and everyone wants to tell you ‘you do not know what you are talking about,’ my sister just told me she believed me.”
Added Kelly on his own account: “I’ve invited these immensely talented transgender and nonbinary artists to share their stories and their music. I hope their stories and visibility inspire other queer youth who are STILL under attack and facing even more hate in 2024. For our allies, I hope Autumn, Brody and Izzy’s vulnerability and strength will inspire you to keep speaking up and using your voice to not give one solitary inch to the bigots working to eradicate (their exact word) queer lives.”
Catch clips of the episode below, and listen to it in full here.