October 26, 2007 | Celeb Watch

Jason and deMarco: making beautiful music

Meet our two latest man crushes, Jason and deMarco. These wholesome Christian cuties have been making beautiful music, both onstage and off, for over six years now, but it wasn't until a recent documentary, We're All Angels, that many of us even knew they existed. Now we can't seem to get them out of our heads!

Filmmaker Robert Nunez felt the same way when he first read about the couple in the Advocate. “I saw their photo and assumed they were two more straight models on the cover of a gay magazine who were going to tell us how cool they were with gay people. I was relieved to read that that they were gay. And they were spiritual. And they were a couple. ... they seemed proud, in love and ready to take on the Christian right.”

It was perfect timing as Nunez was hoping to find a gay-positive story for his new production company. This certainly fit the bill. "Jason and deMarco are trailblazers and their story is an important one, especially for gay teens from traditionally religious families who are so at risk for drug and alcohol abuse, depression and suicide."

The boys took the bait, and a documentary was born. Making the rounds in gay film festivals throughout North America, the film has certainly bolstered an already growing fan base. [more]

So that's what Adam and Steve would look like!

Though openly queer, and comfortably Christian, don't go calling their music religious. Or gay. As Jason says, "We've had to work at clarifying that although we are both gay and men of faith, our music is not religious, nor is it gay. Our music has a message, and if I had to call it anything, it would be "uplifting." We want it to speak to everyone, not only people of one particular faith."

Jason is the older of the two, born in 1975. He grew up in Maryland to an entertainment obsessed family. His mother quickly introduced him to music ministry, where song was used to share God's love.

Twenty years later he was touring with contemporary Christian recording groups, such as Truth, and The Sound, before creating his own record label. "Although the foundation of my morals, spirituality, and ideals were a result of my strict Pentacostal upbringing," Jason says, "my spiritual beliefs have broadened along with my musical style. I've always pushed myself to break down barriers and cross boundaries in order to reach people from all walks of life because I believe that music is the universal language of the soul and has the ability to bring people together."

We want to say something dirty, but they're just too... too... wholesome.
What's a blogger to do?

deMarco, on the other hand, grew up in Canada and was taught to sing nursery rhymes by Catholic nuns. He studied at the Etobicoke School for the Performing Arts before embarking on a B.A. degree in Music and Languages from Toronto's York University. His first album, "Melodie" was a collection of Italian love songs. But feeling the need to explore greater musical possibilities, he decided to relocate to Los Angeles in 1999. He went on to perform in the theater, and several national commercials.

The two young men finally met in Hollywood in 2001 at Vermont Restaurant where deMarco was working as a host. "The owner of the restaurant played Jason's solo album for me one night after work and I was caught off guard by his beautiful voice and the feelings that his music evoked in me," remembers deMarco. However, when Jason came into the restaurant a few weeks later, deMarco felt completely ignored. "I had this moment when I thought to myself, I hate him - I must have him."

And though deMarco had a girlfriend at the time -- "What can I say? I was keeping my options open," deMarco claims -- the two started e-mailing one another. And before they knew it, they were dating.

Which one's the top? Which one's the bottom?
Oh come on... you were all thinking the same thing!

Because they both felt strongly about their spiritual backgrounds, and with their experience with and love of music, Jason decided they should collaborate. Their first album, "The Spirit of Christmas," was released in 2002. Other albums followed, including their most recent production, "Till the End Of Time." 

Of course, how can you be a pop star and not experience a little controversy? Singapore officials actually cancelled an AIDS fundraising concert because Jason and deMarco were scheduled to perform. The government released a statement stating, "Based on the duo’s website and reports of their performances in the United States, it is assessed that their performance will promote a gay lifestyle which would be against the public interest."

Sigh. It's nice to read a good news story now and then, don't you think! Keep on keepin' on, guys! 

• Jason and deMarco [myspace]
• Jason and deMarco [homepage]
• spiritpop [spiritpop.com]