Toronto singer Danny Dymond explores an unexpected toxic relationship in his latest release<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are you high or drunk and listening to some sad break-up song? I might be. There is no shame in admitting to one, both or even all three of these possibilities. If you\u2019ve been doing them on a regular basis, especially during this pandemic, welcome to the world of at least one in five gay men<\/a>. Between 20 to 30 percent of the LGBTQ2S+ community struggles with some form of substance use disorder, which, according to groups like the Canadian Mental Health Association<\/a>, <\/a>is significantly higher than among straight people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When I logged on to Spotify to listen to the new single \u201cLovingly, Letting You Go\u201d by Toronto electro-pop house music artist Danny Dymond, I was sure, after my first of many listens, that he was singing of a love gone sour. Perhaps it was the title, the lyrics or the down tempo electro beat that made me picture him calmly saying goodbye to someone he once loved\u2014or maybe I was just used to listening to break-up songs. Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift and Adele are just a few of the artists who\u2019s sad songs I\u2019ve happily turned to. But Dymond\u2019s split was different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s actually a breakup with a lot of my bad habits,\u201d Dymond says over the phone one frigid winter afternoon. \u201cDrug use, bad decisions, shame and guilt from being a hot mess,\u201d he continues. \u201cWhen I was first coming into the gay community, I drank way too much and did a lot of drugs to mask my social anxiety. I thought I couldn\u2019t handle going out and being around a lot of strong personalities without getting intoxicated and getting those nerves gone. It\u2019s a break up about that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The intro to \u201cLovingly, Letting You Go\u201d is slow and thoughtful, leading into a sexy, atmospheric beat reminiscent of a sweaty warehouse party that carries through the rest of the track. It is in the quiet moments we hear Dymond\u2019s seemingly emotionless explanation of a decision that is yet to come. There is no anger or sadness in his delivery. It\u2019s as if he\u2019s had a while to process his substance use and understand its hold over him, and he\u2019s clearly over it. It\u2019s not a tumultuous ending of what was once a fun ride; the ride has simply come to an end and he wants off. <\/p>\n\n\n\n