AN INTRO FROM THE CHIEF

As we dive into another fabulous issue of GNI MAG, it’s clear that summer isn’t the only thing heating up, this edition is packed to the brim with music, community, travel, and stories that will make you laugh, cry, and maybe even book a one of my recommendations.

We kick things off with Irish heartthrob Cian Ducrot, who opens up about his new album and UK Tour. I genuinely adore this guy, he is humble, talented, and definitely one to watch. Lucy Spraggan is also back with a new single and album, while Devon Sedrick, Prettiboiroq, and Colby Jaxxx add some sparkle with their artistry. And keep an eye on Midori Monet, she’s the queen we never knew we needed.

We also mark a special moment with GNI Appreciation Day — a little celebration we held in conjunction with 2Taps, the current recipient of the Restaurant Of The Year Award. It was so lovely celebrating those who won a GNI Award in November, 2Taps overdone themselves and we also raised £1000 for Mermaids - read all about it on Page 25.

On the advocacy front, we shine a spotlight on Mermaids, Positive Life, and stories from incredible individuals like Ashley Fulton. We also delve into faith and identity with Toni Matosevic and Seamus O’Neill, proving that our community’s strength lies in its diversity.

The stage is buzzing too! There’s a look ahead to the Family

Festival at the Grand Opera House, the cast announcement for The Bodyguard, and a nostalgic chat with Wheatus — yes, Teenage Dirtbag is now officially a classic.

Need a break? We’ve got you. Discover luxe stays at the Four Seasons Carlingford, feast your eyes (and bellies) on the Gourmet Boys’ picks, and check out our reviews of Fish City, the Belfast Cheesecake Company, and more. Feeling boujee? Head to the Balmoral Hotel, the food, freestanding bath and attention to detail was unreal. Feeling adventurous? Let Gavyn tempt you with his Madrid review

Finally, if you fancy a glow-up, Jo O’Neill tells us all about The Energy of True Beauty, and I headed to try out a skin peel with Dr Bryan at Cathedral Dermatology and Peter Irvine shares the must-have Summer trends to make your space as fierce as you are.

We also have fashion from Primark and much more

So grab a coffee, a cocktail, or something sparkly — this issue is one big queer hug, and I hope you love every page.

Until next time,

Daniel May Editor

Irish singer-songwriter Cian Ducrot has quietly become one of the most heartfelt voices of his generation. Known for his emotional honesty, soaring melodies, and piano-driven pop ballads, he first captured hearts with viral videos and breakout singles. Now a platinum-selling artist and international touring star, Cian continues to connect deeply with fans through his vulnerable storytelling, raw vocals, and down-to-earth charm — and he’s only just getting started.

Lets Jump In...

Your new album is out July 11 – how are you feeling as the release date gets closer?

I kind of keep forgetting that it is getting closer and closer because I am just so caught up with everything else now that happens as soon as the music is done.

However, I am super excited, it’s such an exciting body of work and it is going to be amazing to have it and play shows and go on tours, it is going to be really special. I just can’t wait to bring that part of me, and that part of my artistry to life, and for people to have that album and associate it with me as an artist. I feel like it is more of a mature step and just more of an evolved direction since the first album, and it feels very me, so I am really excited for that.

Is there pressure on you, from anyone else or for yourself, in terms of, is it going to be more like the last album or is it more of what you wanted to put out?

Obviously, everybody wants things to be successful and commercial success is always the pressure from everyone around you, but I don’t think you can really value art on commercial success, so I try to detach myself as much as I can from that. Obviously not enough to the point that I’m not trying to promote it and not trying to make it successful. I think it’s often more the people around you who make you feel that it needs to do something as much as the first album or whatever, when for myself it’s like I’ve just made the best album that I can make and the music that I love and it is kind of out of my control then. I also don’t feel the pressure anymore, as it used to be your second album had to be successful or more successful or you’re done, you know. Now I feel like it can be your third or fourth album, or you could be Sabrina Carpenter and it could be your seventh so there is no timeline of pressure anymore, especially if you have had success before. I am not in a rush to have success so that I can survive and live and feed myself, so I just focus on making good music that I love and that is the most important thing. But I really love this album and I think it’s amazing and I think the music is amazing, so for me it will speak for itself and it will do what it needs to do. If people connect with it or not that is outside of my control but it will find the right people and the right people will like it and hopefully the fans will love it because that is one of the most important things, that my fans will like the music as well, but I have to make sure that I am also making it for myself and what I truly identify with musically as well.

I am addicted to “Little Dreaming” and honestly listen multiple times a day – can you tell us what it means to you and how it came to life? That song was born from the musical desire to do something like, whatever happens, and not to be judgemental of whether I can or can’t do something sonically and then it was born from this idea of wanting to be more self expressive - to do whatever I want to do, dress how I want to dress, sing how I want to sing, and act how I want to act - basically just that, and how good you feel when you are just being yourself and letting going and not worrying about what other people think of you, so it is kind of an amalgamation of all of these things together.

Were there any songs that were particularly tough or emotional to write or record?

For me on the album my best friend was the most emotional process probably and very vulnerable. I wrote it by myself one morning and by the time I had finished writing it, the friends that I was working with at the studio came in, as we were staying, sleeping and living there, and we immediately set up two microphonesone for my vocal and one for my guitar - and then recorded it straight away after I had finished writing it. It was just one take of the song live, so that is what it is on the record, so it was just capturing that emotion. But yes, I was very emotional writing that, I was crying as it was super intense and real, but it was also just a beautiful moment and it is nice to feel those things sometimes as well.

Is that the normal process for you to write songs spontaneously or do you have to set aside time to be creative?

Well this was during a writing camp, so I was in a studio for a week or so, just every day writing with friends. I was just waking up every morning and we could be working every night until 4 in the morning, go to bed, then I would be up again at about 8 or 9. I was just so excited, I would grab a coffee and go straight into the studio again. This particular song, I was sitting in the countryside on the steps on a beautiful morning by myself, and I just started writing and that is the song that I wrote.

If someone could only listen to one song on the album to understand who you are as an artist right now, which would it be and why?

I don’t know, that’s a hard one. I think maybe something like ‘Your Eyes’ or ‘Who Is Making You Feel It’ because they are a good amalgamation of the whole album in one song. They have got a bit of the classic 1970’s thing, of all of the inspiration in one song. It is a good mix of everything. So, maybe that, but I’m not sure, but if I was trying to find a good reason then that would be it. they have got the folk thing, they have got some crazy stuff going on, they have got the songwriter thing, so it’s like a real mix and pool

You’re heading out on tour again – what can fans expect from this run of shows? Any surprises in store?

I have got my headline tour which will be after the Teddy Swims tour in the summer which I am really excited about. There maybe some other shows that we will be able to add in there as well, we are just planning something really special for the next tour. I think it is going to be very different from the first tour and I want to make something really incredible. It is going to be quite a unique experience for people who come to the show, just trying to make it not as generic as possible, make it real to me and a unique show to me, my personality and my music, which is going to allow us to do some very fun and creative things. I am building an amazing band, so it is going to be very musical, it is going to be really, really cool.

We have to talk about “I’ll Be Waiting” – everyone knows this song. Is it the gift that keeps on giving, or has the love of performing it faded?

I love it! As long as people still love it I will still love it and it is definitely a gift that keeps on giving. So many great things have happened in my career from that song and where it has opened up doors and connected me to so many things. It is really crazy because it is just another song that I wrote randomly, I just got lucky I guess. I probably have better songs but you can’t control what way the wind blows sometimes. Somebody said to me you can write great songs and make great music and then if something works it is just like drawing a lottery card, it is just completely random. It just happened that ‘I’ll Be Waiting’ was a lottery card that I won and it now just has this life, and I am very glad that I got to do some creative and amazing things because of that song, so I will keep singing it forever. Every time I hear the crowds reaction when the song starts - that feeling never gets old.

How do you feel when you hear stats like 1.4 billion streams, 2.5 million Spotify listeners, 1.3 million Instagram followers –does it feel real?

It is really weird, because as a teenager you imagine, dream and aspire for that so it is pretty nuts! It is very hard to understand that so many people actually know who you are, it is pretty crazy and very weird to have that but I am so honoured that that many people care enough to click follow and hopefully I can live up to that expectation.

The pinnacle of someone’s career is usually winning a Grammy – is it wild that you’re already there, and where do you set your sights now in terms of accolades?

I guess I just want another Grammy or something else. I don’t know, a Grammy for a different reason maybe? However I do have different goals. I think winning a Grammy is so crazy, I would love to get more for my own music and albums, I guess there are so many other things that I would like to achieve and I am working hard towards. I think every goal like that is amazing and building a bigger fanbase and bigger shows, those goals are just as exciting.

Where is your Grammy on display?

I am actually pretty sure it is arriving today as it comes in the post a few months later because it is all made by one person. I received a notification that it is out for delivery today, so you will probably see me dancing around my kitchen on social media later on today!

Your music is known for its raw honesty –have you ever hesitated to release a song because it felt too personal?

Definitely. It can be really hard sometimes because it can be very like stand there naked. However, I feel that it is very important to do that because that’s the point of art, so I rip the bandaid off and I just do it anyway.

You’ve built a truly loyal fanbase – what’s been the most touching message or moment you’ve had with a listener?

To be honest, every time you meet fans it is just so crazy. I think I find it really hard to understand that people are fans, I actually struggle with that information and almost don’t believe them. Sometimes I think people are just saying they are a fan but they are not actually a fan, it can just be really difficult to fully register. When people are at a show, I just feel like how do I register that this is not a joke? I am really working on this now and taking in that the fans are ‘real’ and they are not just being paid to say that they are fans, they have chosen to be. When you meet some of them and they tell you a personal story and how they have connected with my music it is an amazing feeling. I think really, really, really early on in my career I remember, I didn’t even have an album out yet I had an EP and a mix tape, and I played my first ever show in Dublin after the pandemic to around 80 people. After the show my mum came and asked me to meet a girl who had come to the show so I went and spoke to her. She had been working as a nurse during the pandemic and she said that she had discovered my music and would listen to it every single day after work. She said she was working the longest hours and shifts and it was the hardest time of her life and she was being treated so badly and every night she would just get in her, put on my music and just cry the whole way home every night, for two or three years. I was just like “Wow, I don’t even know who you are” and that blew my mind that I was so much part of this persons life. I was just meeting this person for the first time but she had listened to every word that I had sang, and I remember just thinking this is so powerful and emotional and it made me realise how important music is, however, it is still hard to register this. I struggle with the idea of ego, because you almost need to have some sort of ego to almost take that in and realise that I am something to people. I don’t know if I have tried too hard not to have an ego and be humble, which is obviously super important and we all should be, and then sometimes I think I lose the understanding that I am important to people, and so its is like where is the balance? How do you give people what they want from you and live up to their expectations if you are also trying to be as normal as possible, which I am. I think I am still trying to figure out that dynamic.

Fan Questions...

Gary Campion and many others have reached out with this one I saw you in Ulster Hall, you were amazing, why aren’t you playing Belfast again, and any plans to?

The honest answer is, agents won’t let me play multiple shows in Ireland at the same time and that is basically it.

Cara McMahon - Who would you duet with that is releasing music now and given the opportunity to sing with someone no longer with us who would it be?

If I had to do a duet with someone right now, that would probably be Teddy Swims because I love him and he is such a dear friend and is just incredible. We have also had the opportunity to sing together on stage and it has just worked really well so it would make sense musically which I think is always really important.

With someone who has passed away, I would probably have to say Michael Jackson, just because of how much of an inspiration he was to me growing up and how his music is just the best ever made, hands down. I love his duet with Paul McCartney, I think it is one of the most iconic pieces of music and duets ever, so that would be really cool.

Would You Rather...

Coffee or tea? Coffee

Cats or dogs? Cats

Boxers or Briefs? Boxers

City or countryside? Countryside, probably Text, Call or voice note? Voice Note

Early mornings or late nights? Late nights

Netflix or night out? Netflix

Beach holiday or snowy escape? Snowy

Escape - I snowboard

Pizza or pasta? Pasta

Be invisible or read minds? Be invisible

SNOG MARRY AVOID...

This may be challenging , Ella Henderson, Teddy Swims and Ed Sheeran

I would have to marry Ed, because he is already like a husband, so is good husband material.

This is tricky... I guess I would snog Ella, marry Ed and avoid Teddy which would be hard to do as I am going on tour with him, but in my mindset that would be easy to do because he lives in another country. so avoiding Teddy would be the easiest one to avoid but actually as I am going on tour with hime maybe that’s a bad idea. Lol.

Interview with Daniel May

With his highly anticipated new album dropping on July 11 and a major tour on the horizon, Cian Ducrot is stepping into a bold new era. Pouring his soul into every lyric and performance, this record promises to be his most personal and powerful work yet. Whether you’re discovering him for the first time or have followed his journey from the beginning, one thing’s clear — Cian is making music that truly matters.

Pre Order now and get Tour Tickets via www.cianducrot.com

Celebrated singer-songwriter Lucy Spraggan confirms the release of her highly-anticipated new album Other Sides of the Moon, landing 20th June. The record features reimagined fan favourites from her seven-album catalogue alongside brand-new tracks, including the Robbie Williams collaboration “Sober” and surprise hit “Unsinkable.” Spraggan also unveils the emotional new version of “Butterflies” and shares insights into her creative rebirth, guided by industry legend Simon

Lucy Spraggan has recently announced the release date for her highly-anticipated album, Other Sides Of The Moon, will be 20th June. Available to pre-order now,, Lucy’s 8th studio album is a collection of reimagined, reworked classics from her 7 previous records, plus brand-new songs; a brilliant mix of old and new Lucy.

The album includes her stunning song Sober featuring icon Robbie Williams, her debut hit Tea & Toast, plus the recently released Unsinkable, which received an incredible and unexpected sync on a recent episode of Britain’s Got Talent. Lucy rushed to release the track, delighting and surprising her fans. Unsinkable was featured as part of the montage following the audition by the choir made up of those affected by the Post Office Scandal.

On Other Sides of the Moon, Lucy has worked closely with friend and mentor, Simon Cowell, who personally A&R’d and guided this album from a creative perspective, lending his 40+ years experience in the industry.

Lucy has said of the album release, “It’s always been a dream of mine to re-work songs from my back catalogue. As I have gotten older, I have developed this sense of self that I just didn’t have as a young person; this sense of identity and confirmation of who I am. I feel that way about my music now too. My voice has changed, I know where it sits now, I know where it belongs. When I listen back, I hear where I could have made it a more comfortable sound, or I could have leaned in a slightly different sonic direction. Well, that’s the joy of this record (and the joy of growing older, I suppose). I am able to reflect and use what I have learnt to create something different. To take the older songs and breathe a new life into them, to give them a maturity that I didn’t know existed when I first recorded them. An evolution, if you like. There’s something very poetic about being able to look back at the songs that I created as a young person and transform them with a bit of experience, love and wisdom. This album is a bit of that! I feel incredibly grateful to have been in a position to do this project.”

Alongside the album date announcement, Lucy also released a brand new version of fan favourite and most requested song for the album, Butterflies. Originally appearing on 2013 album, Join The Club, this reworked version hears a whole new stunning instrumentation, which perfectly complements Lucy’s captivating vocals. She has explained of the track, “I don’t know why but it has always been a song that resonated a lot with many of the fanbase. I wrote this song somewhere in my late teens and it’s a simple description about one of the most complex emotions; love. Looking back, I can see how young I was when I wrote this from the lyrics alone; there is a really endearing naivety to the words.”

Lucy’s UK headline tour is currently in full swing. The 18-date tour which saw her play London’s Union Chapel last month, will wrap in Bakewell on 27th April. Showing no signs of slowing down, the singer-songwriter will also play a slew of further live UK dates throughout the Spring and Summer, visit her website for full dates and information

Lucy Spraggan started her journey as a music artist when she was very young, performing and wowing crowds with her self-penned tracks at every open mic and acoustic night in her hometown. In 2012, she entered the X Factor and went onto be the first contestant in history to score a Top 40 single and album before the live shows aired. She has reached over 150 million streams on Spotify alone with over 400k monthly listeners and sold over 150,000 albums. She is proudly an independent artist, in charge of her career and in control of every aspect of the recording and creative process. 2023 saw Lucy release her memoir Process, an instant Sunday Times bestseller that entered the chart at #2 and has gone on to sell over 15,000 copies. The book saw her reflect on her life till now, opening up about some of the biggest and most raw moments she’s experienced and detailing her journey from childhood to X Factor to finding her balance in her 30s.