Gigi Gaston directed her first documentary, “The Cream Will Rise”, in 1998 about Sophie B. Hawkins. Gaston is Sophie’s manager and they are also in a long-term relationship and have a son together, who was born in 2008.
Sophie and Gigi were mainly talking about LGBT celebrities in the media and how their coming out is affecting them. Are they forced to do it for some reasons or is it much easier to come out now than it was before? Sophie said that some celebrities don’t come out because they afraid to lose their fans or audience but the most important thing is as “an artist you already took on the responsibility to be honest” and they will follow you. Ellen DeGeneres is a great example of that. She also mentioned Chely Wright who came out and made a documentary about it, which made her more popular and famous than she ever was in Nashville, which is a pretty conservative place.
Sophie was notably absent in the last few years, recording her latest album, “The Crossing”, pitching a musical with Kristin Chenoweth and working on a play about Janis Joplin where Sophie Hawkins will play Janis, starting October 4. Sophie said that no matter what Janis was doing in her personal life, when she got on the stage she was powerful and her story is pretty fascinating.
The question was asked about her sexuality because she’s been pretty ambiguous about it in the past and Sophie said that she calls herself omni-sexual. She explained by saying that if she had ended up on the deserted island with a man she won’t deny herself her sexual needs. It’s not about being a lesbian or a bi, it’s not about labels but relationships and commitments are important.
To Sophie, the creativity is what matters the most and the fame and fortune is an enemy of the art. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do. You have the same values as a writer or as a bus driver. Another important thing is to never give up on your dreams. You can be discovered at anytime or any age. Never give up on yourself.
fyi says
FYI, Chely has stated many times that she has lost many fans because she came out. But she has gained so much more, including her wife.