Tag Archives: The Dinah

Karmin brings the heat to The Dinah

Posted: April 4th, 2013 | Author: | Filed under: LGBT Blog | Tags: , , , , , , , ,
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Amy Heidemann and Nick Noonan of Karmin. Submitted photo

Do you feel it: the buzz, the energy of women who are primed to party arriving in Palm Springs?

The Dinah, a celebrated annual lesbian party and music festival, is under way. Thousands of women have converged in the desert from across the U.S. and beyond for poolside fun and games, comedy and musical performances by Havana Brown, Diana King, Katy Tiz, Karmin and more.

The pop duo Karmin, whose single “Hello” is getting play on the radio and video shows, is slated to perform Saturday night at the Palm Springs Convention Center (details at TheDinah.com). Performers Amy Heidemann and Nick Noonan recently chatted with Desert Outlook about  their LGBT fans, covering rap songs, and visiting Palm Springs. Here’s a sneak peek:

How did you choose the songs you covered?

Nick Noonan: We looked at the charts, what people were talking about, what was new, and if we could “Karminize” it.

Are you planning to do more covers?

Amy Heidemann: It’s been so focused on the new music. We’re sort of full speed ahead with the new album that’s coming out later in the year.

Tell us about the new album.

Noonan: There’s a lot more me on it, a lot of me singing, a lot of live instruments, a lot more organic indie-sounding songs.

What advice do you have for unknown artists who want to break into the music business through social media, as you did?

Heidemann: Whatever you do make sure it’s something that you’re super passionate about. You have to put in more work than you can possibly imagine. Make sure you have those really deep roots with your audience, keep putting stuff out on a consistent basis, and listen to your audience.

Did either of you ever audition for “American Idol” or any other music competition show?
Noonan: It’s actually really funny. The same week we uploaded the “Look At Me Now” cover we were planning to go that day to audition for “The X Factor. “ We didn’t make it; the video went viral.

Early on there was some confusion about your group name, with some fans thinking Karmin was Amy’s name. What were some of the other group names you considered?

Noonan: We considered a bunch, man, trying to find something that meant something. Carmen in Latin meant song. We added karma to it.

Read the full Karmin interview and features on the re-emergence of artist Alex Koleszar, the history of The Racquet Club, and Palm Springs’ “green gays” in the April issue of Desert Outlook.

Pick up your free copy at the following locations:

PALM SPRINGS

True Value/Ace Hardware, 1785 E. Palm Canyon Drive

Ace Hotel & Swim Club 701 East Palm Canyon Drive

Albertsons Sunrise & Vista Chino (Gay Section) 1751 N. Sunrise Way

All Worlds Resort 526 Warm Sands

Azul Tapas Lounge 369 N Palm Canyon Dr.

Brien O’Brien Hair Salon, 515 N. Palm Canyon Drive

Camelot Theatres 2300 E Barristo Rd.

Skylark Hotel, 1466 N. Palm Cyn.

Casitas Laquita (Women’s hotel) 450 East Palm Canyon Drive

Espress Cielo 245 S. Palm Canyon Drive

Desert Aids 1695 N. Sunrise

Desert Hand Car Wash, 645 S. Palm Canyon Drive

Desert Regional Medical Ctr 1150 N. Indian Canyon Drive

Desert Women for Equality 555 S. Sunrise Way, Suite 209

Estate Sales Company 4185 E. Palm Canyon

Gay Mart 305 Arenas

Gideon Fine Art Gallery, 2682 S. Cherokee Way

Golds Gym 4070 Airport Center Drive

Hacienda Resort 586 Warm Sands

Hilton Palm Springs 400 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way

Hotel Zoso 150 S. Indian Canyon Drive

Hunters,  302 Arenas Road

Inn Dulge Resort 601 Grenfall Rd.

Inn Exile Resort 545 Warm Sands

Just Fabulous, 515 N. Palm Canyon Drive

Koffi Café 515 N. Palm Cyn.

Koffi Café 1450 E. Palm Canyon

LGBT Community Ctr. Of the Desert 611 S Palm Canyon Dr., Ste. 201

LULUs 200 S. Palm Canyon Drive

Mail Boxes Ect. 611 S. Palm Cyn.

Palm Springs City Hall 3200 E Tahquitz Canyon Way

Palm Springs Coffee 123 N. Palm Canyon

Palm Springs International Airport

Palm Springs Visitor Center 2909 N. Palm Canyon Drive

Palm Springs Public Library 300 S. Sunrise Way

Palm Springs Fitness, 170 S. Sunrise Way

Pinocchio’s, 134 E. Tahquitz Canyon Drive

Q Trading 606 E. Sunny Dunes

Ralphs 425 Sunrise

Ralphs 1733 E. Palm Canyon

Read Brown Hair Salon

Renaissance Hotel 888 Tahquitz Canyon Way

Revivals 611 S. Palm Cyn.

Riviera Hotel 1600 N. Indian Canyon Drive

Saguaro 1800 E. Palm Canyon Drive

Santiago Resort 650 San Lorenzo

Shermans 401 Tahquitz

Spurline 200 Arenas

Street Bar 224 Arenas

Toucans Lounge 2100 N. Palm Cyn.

Triangle Inn Resort 555 San Lorenzo

UPS Store near Revivals, 611 S. Palm Canyon Drive

Wang’s in the Desert 424 S Indian Canyon Dr.

World Gym 1751 N. Sunrise #F1

PALM DESERT

College of the Desert 43500 Monterey Avenue

Jensens Palm Desert 73601 Highway 111

McCallum Theatre 73000 Fred Waring Drive

Palm d’or Theater 72-840 Monterey

Plummers, 72-767 Dinah Shore

Sun City Palm Desert 38180 Del Webb Blvd.

Trader Joe’s 44250 Town Center Way

UC Riverside 75080 Frank Sinatra Drive

RANCHO MIRAGE

Rancho Mirage Public Library 71100 Highway 111

Shame on the Moon restaurant in RM 69950 Frank Sinatra Drive

The River @ Starbuck’s Coffee 71-800 Highway 111

 

CATHEDRAL CITY

Auto Dealerships in CC? (Subaru) Perez Road and Highway 111

Studio 111 67555 E. Palm Canyon Drive

Cathedral City Boys Club 68-369 Sunair

Cathedral City Hall 68-700 Avenida Lalo Guerrero

Cathedral City Public Library 33520 Date Palm Drive

Cello’s Restaurant 35943 Date Palm Drive

DiGS 36-737 Cathedral Canyon

Don & Sweet Sue’s 68955 Ramon Road

Palm Springs Lanes 68-051 Ramon Road

Revivals 68-401 E Highway 111

Sunshine Cafe, 36815 Cathedral Canyon Drive

Trader Joe’s Cathedral City 67720 East Palm Canyon Drive

UPS Store In Target Area

LA QUINTA

Old Town Coffee Company 78-100 Main Street, Suite 102

Trader Joe’s La Quinta 46400 Washington Street

 

 

Tucky Williams: from scream queen to ‘Girl/Girl Scene’

Posted: July 10th, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: LGBT Blog | Tags: , , , ,
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Tucky Williams

If the trailer for the lesbian web series “Girl/Girl Scene” is an accurate peek at its second season, viewers can expect plenty of provocative storylines and steamy encounters.

The clip opens with series creator and star Tucky Williams sharing why a potential girlfriend didn’t work out, with a hot blonde who’s lying on a bed, then writhing on it, then undressing — with Williams’ help. It’s followed by equally charged snippets of other girl/girl scenes as “Overexposure” by Sick of Sarah plays.

With new episodes of the web series expected to drop this month and season three of “The Real L Word” premiering July 12, some might question if the multitalented Williams is approaching overexposure this summer. She also appears in the Showtime reality TV show, which is being shot in LA and New York City this year.

Desert Outlook recently chatted with Williams about juggling two shows, her recent Dinah experience in Palm Springs and why she’d love to shake things up on “Dancing with the Stars.”

How do you describe “Girl/Girl Scene,” the online series you created, when people ask what you do?

I tell them that it’s like “Sex and the City,” except all the characters are lesbians. It’s an hour-long drama/comedy that centers around five young, attractive gay girls who lead ever-changing and confusing sex and love lives.

What were you doing before you started the series?

I was a scream queen in horror movies. Before that I was a meteorologist. I loved both, though neither made me totally happy. I call myself an actor, but I consider myself a writer at heart. I write “Girl/Girl Scene,” so wrap that up with acting in the show, and it’s the perfect combination.

What prompted you to start “Girl/Girl Scene”?

I knew what kind of show I wanted to watch, and I knew it wasn’t out there. My friend Nic told me to write a pilot, and from that humble beginning, we’re now going into season two. I’m thrilled that my work has been enjoyed by countless others all over the world.

What new developments can viewers expect to see during the new season?

New characters and even sexier storylines. I’m thrilled to have Kayden Kross and Abisha Uhl as members of the cast. The first season was dark, and this second season goes to even further extremes. There are more comic moments as well. For a show to be funny, it has to come from a place of truth and harsh honesty. This season’s stories are unearthed from the trenches of my psyche.

How did you get involved with the Showtime series, “The Real L Word”?

I basically just showed up. I’m pretty laid back, so when they wanted to mike me and point a camera at me, I just went along with it. I wasn’t going to be a jerk and refuse to participate. I didn’t know if I would like it, but I found it to be tremendous fun.

Your online series is scripted, “The Real L Word” is not. What are your concerns going into an unscripted reality TV show?

My concern was that there is always the possibility that they would portray me in an unfavorable light. But I had a blast. I just went with it.

Is there anyone in reality TV, any show, you’ve looked at and thought that person is doing it right?

Anyone on “Dancing with the Stars” is smart because they are having fun and everybody is rooting for them. There are no bad guys. It’s a happy and healthy good time for the participants and viewers alike.

What more needs to happen for you to be living your dream life?

Success is an internal thing, so I suppose I already am. But if you’re asking for specifics, I’d really like to have an awesome girlfriend. I’d like my mom to meet President Obama, because that would make her happier than anything. And it goes without saying that the thing I want most is to be on “Dancing with the Stars.”

Was your Dinah Shore Weekend appearance your first visit to Palm Springs?

It was my second, the first being a year earlier at The Dinah 2011. I’ve grown very fond of Palm Springs. There have been many kind cab drivers who have shown me the sights. I love the relaxed atmosphere, not to mention that it’s one of the most beautiful cities in North America.

What’s your best memory of being in Palm Springs?

There are two: 1) Meeting Kayden on The Dinah red carpet. We became friends right away, and now she is one of the main cast members on “Girl/Girl Scene.” 2) The last night I spent there, lounging peacefully on my balcony, gazing at the mountains and being kissed by a gentle desert breeze.

TUNE IN

The new season of “The Real L Word” begins July 12 on Showtime. See local TV listings for the time. The second season of “Girl/Girl Scene” is planned for this month. Check http://girlgirlscene.com for updates.