What do you get when you blend hip-hop, pop and soul with a queer dynamic duo? You get the Midwest-bred God Des & She. The eclectic pair bridged the gap between these three genres to bring a new sound and relevant message to the masses.
Not many artists make music that speaks for multitudes of people who find themselves without voice. But these artists have taken on that responsibility with pride. Some people may remember God Des & She from their featured spot on the L Word during season three. Or you may have caught one of their shows, as they currently perform for packed audiences around the country. They stand out as the creators of songs that reinforce the fact that being gay or different can, and should, be celebrated.
"The reason I started rapping is because I felt our community was completely invisible and we didn't have a voice and I almost felt like it was my calling—my duty to be a voice for the invisible," said God Des.
Their message and dedication to their fans didn't go unnoticed by tello Films' writer/director team of Julie Keck and Jessica King. According to tello, the four-part series "Never Give Up" is a tell-all that showcases the beginnings of God Des & She's partnership, dedication to their fans and what they do on a regular basis to make society better for members of the LGBT community.
The docuseries gives viewers a glimpse into the lives of the artist by interviewing family members, and the artists themselves, to showcase who they are, where they come from and where they learned to love what they do.
"We wanted to showcase God Des & She because they are so dedicated to their fans," said Julie Keck, Chief Creative Officer and writer for tello Films. "This duo tirelessly tours, puts out new music and interacts on social media… you can see in "Never Give Up" how much their performances mean to their fans."
In the four-part Web docuseries, the crowd goes wild for the group as it gets everyone involved in their interactive performance. With releases such as "Love You Betta," a soulful hip-hop song about unrequited love and "Lick It," an instructional tune for those interested in learning how to please folks of the female persuasion, this duo covers the gambit of subject matter while maintaining a freshness that seemingly keeps listeners coming back for more.
"They don't make music for the money or the fame," said Keck. "They do it for the people who love their music and this fuels everything they do."
There are other artists who express appreciation for the fans. However, the act God Des & She takes it a step further when performing or being out and about among fans.
"Doing music for my job has always been my dream. The fact that, the reason that I have this job is because these people pay money to come and see me, buy my stuff, support me, I'm gonna take the time to sit and meet every single one of those people. … They do mean a lot to us, genuinely mean a lot to us," said She.
The duo has released four albums that can be found at www.god-desandshe.com . On the latest album, United States of God Des and She, they continue to promote a message of acceptance and empowerment with the songs like "God, I Know You Love Me."
The song's chorus, "Please change the hearts of those who judge me in your name…" isn't something commonly heard in mainstream music, but it stands as a message to those who spread hate instead of love. The poignant lyrics are an ode to the need for LGBT people to understand their own worth and value.
Filmmakers at tello are waiting to see how "Never Give Up" is accepted by viewers before they will consider extending the series. In the meantime, they're always on the lookout for work from artists that are on the radical side of self and community empowerment.
"[There are] no plans for more music-based shows just yet, but we're always talking with Riot Grrl Ink about a documentary series featuring their artists. We love their radical capitalism ethic and their passionate support of queer artists," said Keck.
To view the series Never Give Up and other LGBT-themed shows, visit www.onemorelesbian.com/tello ./webseries.
