New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Today, Red Hot + Free is fully "here to save your summer" (Entertainment Weekly). Out now, the liberating compilation of dance music marks the first brand new benefit album that the Red Hot organization has released in five years, continuing the non-profit's decades-strong mission to fight HIV/AIDS, uplift the LGBTQ community and support fellow humanitarian groups through the power of pop culture and global anthems. From Billy Porter's "blazing vocals" (Rolling Stone) on "
Caught In The Middle" to SOFI TUKKER and Amadou & Mariam's "calling for togetherness in love" (NY Times) on "Mon Cheri," to over a dozen more songs featuring contributions from Allie X, Cakes da Killa, Casey Spooner, CRICKETS, Felix da Housecat, Foster The People,
Gloria Gaynor,
Honey Dijon, Louis The Child, Pamcy, Ultra Naté, Vagabon and more, Red Hot + Free is "a perfect soundtrack for summer...a queer-club fantasia where the tempos are at a constant pulse, and the revelry is non-stop" (PopMatters).
Listen to Red Hot + Free, which also includes Sam Sparro's brand new "
Pressure" (RedTop Mix), Bright Light Bright Light's exclusive version of "These Dreams" (feat. The Illustrious Blacks), and Tituss Burgess' Red Hot extended mix of "Dance M.F." (feat. Imani Coppola).
Keep the party going even longer with Red Hot + Free's continuous, full-album mixfrom DJ
Angelo Pepe.
Red Hot + Free was produced and curated by perennial tastemaker Bill Coleman, and in a career-spanning new profile Wax Poetics says, "It's hard to imagine a more natural union of project and producer...Here's a long-standing, though largely unheralded, ambassador of New York City club and music culture whose work has energized both mass and underground, now stepping up with a mixtape he envisioned and compiled to benefit music's oldest AIDS awareness organization."
Watch Coleman's conversation with Red Hot + Free artists Allie X, Ultra Naté and
Sam Sparro for the GRAMMY Museum, a discussion with Sparro and Bright Light Bright Light for GLAAD, and an in-depth one-on-one with Billy Porter, filmed during the recording session for Porter's Red Hot + Free cover of
Juliet Roberts' "Caught In The Middle."
Red Hot will be sharing additional Red Hot + Free material throughout the summer, with proceeds from the album benefitting the Ally Coalition, Trevor Project and SAGE, three groups dedicated to LGBTQ equality, suicide prevention in LGBTQ youth, and the elderly LGBTQ generation affected by HIV/AIDS and more.
"Dancing is universal, and it really can bring anyone together," says Bill Coleman. "We all need relief - and release. I'm happy that Red Hot can provide a new soundtrack for a bit of that. Many of the songs and mixes here embody the energy and levity of being free, finding one's freedom or simply rising above the daily trials and tribulations of the world and treasuring moments of solace and hope. Wherever you wanna drop the needle, that's where the party begins. playLOUD."
Praise for Red Hot + Free
"When
Amadou & Mariam arrive for the choruses, calling for togetherness in love, a 4/4 thump kicks in, steering the song directly to the dance floor" - New York Times, on "
Mon Cheri"
"Euphoric...blazing vocals with a soaring chorus, pounding piano, slinky guitar and a delirious kick drum beat" - Rolling Stone, on "
Caught In The Middle"
"With diva-house rave-ups, glittering electropop, and a new remix of 'I Will Survive,' the 18-track HIV/AIDS benefit album is here to save your summer" - Top40-Charts.com
"A true sonic melting pot...fusing African percussion, Brazilian rhythms and good old Florida synth into a sophisticated, joyfully energized vibe" - Billboard, on "
Mon Cheri"
"Red Hot + Free ticks all the boxes, often gloriously" - Wax Poetics
"Red Hot + Free gives a much-needed release: the primal, grandiose prize earned after being on our best self-isolating behavior" - PopMatters
"We've been blessed by the music gods once again" - Plus
"You'd best be vaccinated because the July 2 release of Red Hot + Free will make you want to hit the crowded dance floor this summer" - POZ
Red Hot + Free Tracklist:
Disc 1:
"
Mon Cheri" - SOFI TUKKER and Amadou & Mariam
"U Try Livin' (Pressure)" -
Black Guy White Guy x 808 BEACH
"Elastic" (808 BEACH Dangerous Power Mix) - CRICKETS
"Start It Up" (Red Hot Extended) - Body Language
"Super Duper Party People" (Alan Braxe Extended Mix) - Allie X
"
Pressure" (RedTop Mix) - Sam Sparro
"Free (Live Your Life)" (Felix Da Housecat x Chris Trucher Remix) - Ultra Naté
"
Caught In The Middle" - Billy Porter
"Every Color" (Dombresky Remix) - Louis The Child & Foster The People
Disc 2:
"
Daydream" (Snakehips Remix) - The Aces
"Don Dada" (Honey Dijon & Luke Solomon Extended
Alcazar Remix) - Cakes da Killa & Proper Villains
"It's Ovah" - Kiwi Dreams
"Dance M.F." (Red Hot Extended Mix) - Tituss Burgess feat. Imani Coppola
"Water Me Down" (Pamcy Remix) - Vagabon
"I Love My Problems" (Boys' Shorts Dancefloor Remix) - Casey Spooner
"
I Will Survive" (Eric Kupper Dub Mix) -
Gloria Gaynor
"
Queen" (Club Mix) - Dubesque feat.
Amanda Lepore
"These Dreams" (Red Hot Extended Mix) - Bright Light Bright Light feat. The Illustrious Blacks.
