Exclusive: Paul Usher explores faith and sexuality on debut single ‘Jesus Is a Preston Boy’
"Love and queer lives deserve to be celebrated as much as any other."
By Will Stroude
Love, faith and sexuality collide in ‘Jesus Is a Preston Boy’, the profound debut single from British singer-songwriter Paul Usher.
A self-taught pianist from the age of 12, Paul’s honest depiction of same-sex romance against the industrial backdrop of northern England makes for a striking first impression from the Mancunian musician.
The rousing soul-pop track, which Paul says was inspired by meeting his first love in The Thompson’s Arms in Manchester’s gay village, examines the idea of finding spiritual salvation in love.
Imagining a meeting with Jesus as “an awe-inspiring experience mixed with profound contentment, happiness and understanding,” he sings: “I found all those qualities in a Preston boy.”
“It’s paramount to me to have LGBT pride and visibility in my lyrics”, says Paul, who counts a diverse range of figures including Childish Gambino and Oscar Wilde among his inspirations.
“The mainstream doesn’t have to be a monopoly for the status quo. I want to be honest, funny and romantic without censoring myself.
“Love and queer lives deserve to be celebrated and portrayed in a positive light as much as any other.”
Listen to ‘Jesus Is a Preston Boy’ on Spotify below and stream it on all platforms here.