{"href":"http://player.captivate.fm/services/oembed?url=http%3A%2F%2Fplayer.captivate.fm%2Fepisode%2Fe8ca8980-8bac-4fda-afed-420a008c4648","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Captivate.FM","provider_url":"https://www.captivate.fm","width":600,"height":200,"type":"rich","html":"","title":"382: Out, Asian, and a Pop Sensation Who\u2019s Life Popped When He Came Out \u2013 Wils","description":"Imagine being a pop sensation. An Asian Pop Star in Korea. You\u2019ve got a rising career, showed off your washboard abs on the cover of Men\u2019s Health Magazine, to become known the Best of the East. Sounds awesome, right? Now the truth steps in. You want to be you. You make a conscious decision to invite the scared little kid to come out of the closet, regardless of the consequences.\r\nFor Singapore pop star Wils, those consequences became a reality when he gave himself to come out. From being dropped by his music label to being disconnected from his 300K followers on Instagram, living his truth freed him and brought him to a crossroads where his authentic life was more important. Through this new journey, Wils is using his music and new life in Los Angeles as a launching pad for helping others step into their truth to be wholly who they are in their own skin.\r\nHe\u2019s using his new song,\u00a0\u201cOpen Up Babe,\u201d to help others break free of their own cages.\r\n\r\nAbout Wils\r\nSingapore pop singing sensation Wils \u2014 whose 2017 Men\u2019s Health Magazine cover revealed his washboard abs and established him as the \u201cBeast of The East\u201d \u2014 boldly comes out as gay in the music video of his new pop track releasing next month. \u201cOpen Up Babe\u201d is an intensely powerful chill track, with Wils\u2019 emotive vocals set against a deep, heavy beat. Wils wrote the song to his young self. \u201cIt was my way to say \u2018bye bish\u2019 to that scared kid hiding in his closet,\u201d he explains. \u201cThe one who suffered sleepless nights, worrying if his parents would still love him, if his bros would still hang out with him, and if his music label would stand by him, when he revealed his deepest, darkest secret.\u201d Wils \u201cOpen Up Babe\u201d was produced by Yianni AP and is being released independently. It is available worldwide on Amazon and all other major retailers, as well as for streaming through Pandora and Spotify. Its video is on Youtube.\r\n\u201cI took a two-year break from music to really dig deep within myself as an artist and a man and I came to the realization that I was tired of wasting my life away,\u201d Wils continues from his LA home. \u201cI didn\u2019t want to be on my death bed and regret missing out on what could have been because I was trying to be the man others expected me to be\r\nWhile LGBTQ acceptance is growing among Singaporeans, section 377a of the penal code makes sexual activities between two consensual men in Singapore illegal and punishable by up to two years\u2019 imprisonment. Gays, lesbians and bisexuals are only allowed to serve in limited positions in the military. Adoption of children by same-sex couples is illegal and no anti-discrimination protections exist for LGBTQ people.\r\nWhen Wils alerted his music label that he intended to come out as gay, they immediately dropped him. They even deleted his Instagram page, disconnecting Wils from his 300K followers on the platform. \u201cI\u2019m not deterred,\u201d says a defiant Wils. \u201cI\u2019ll wear my independent artist badge with pride as a reminder that a label can cover up an artist\u2019s voice, but they can\u2019t cover up an artist\u2019s soul.\u201d\r\nThe music video, shot on Point Dume in Los Angeles, echoes Wils\u2019 sentiments of his newfound freedom. Directed by Sam Cahill, the video stars Wil and his friend Rob Pexton, frolicking like young lovebirds amid spring wildflowers in full bloom. \u201cWe shot outside with tourists all around and in one scene, we were running down a pathway, holding hands. I turned to Rob and laughed because it was the most pda I\u2019d ever done in my life!\u201d\r\n30-year old Wils is best known for his album, WTF, named Best Pop Album of the Year at the Hollywood F.A.M.E Awards. The album also received a Best Album nomination at the Los Angeles Music Awards, as well as Pop Artist of the Year (male), International Artist of the Year and Music Video of the Year for the superb integration of technology, music, fashion and art in his single, \u201cLess is More\u201d.","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/4b9b6c41-474a-4fd0-a374-cbb2a7aa23a4/1400x1400_uncloseted_artwork-01-573.jpg"}