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Red Hot Org Releases TRAИƧA, an Epic Collection of Work Celebrating Trans and Non-Binary Artists
Limited edition 6 LP set features ISC favorites including Mary Lattimore, Laraaji, Hand Habits, More Ease, Asher White, Sade, claire rousey, Eli Winter, Arthur Baker (feat. Pharoah Sanders), Gia Margaret, and dozens more.
The Red Hot Organization has been a guiding light in music philanthropy for more than 35 years. Founded by John Carlin and Leigh Blake, the nonprofit was born out of the AIDS crisis, aiming to combat stigma and raise money for HIV/AIDS, which at the time was an untreatable disease devastating gay communities around the world. Their approach was simple but brilliant: gather a mix of incredible artists, let them collaborate on themed albums and donate the proceeds to organizations doing the work.
The project started with Red Hot + Blue (1990), a tribute to Cole Porter featuring artists including Neneh Cherry, Sinéad O’Connor, and Jungle Brothers, and kept evolving with projects like Red Hot + Dance (1992), a mix of club-ready tracks from George Michael, Madonna and Crystal Waters that brought the fight against HIV/AIDS to the dancefloor. They celebrated Brazilian music with Red Hot + Rio (1996), featuring Caetano Veloso, Stereolab, David Byrne and others and tapped into the indie scene with Dark Was the Night (2009), which included contributions from Dirty Projectors, Sparklehorse and Antony and the Johnsons.
In 2014, Master Mix: Red Hot + Arthur Russell honored the experimental composer with reinterpretations of his work by José González, Lonnie Holley and Devendra Banhart. Most recently, Red Hot + Ra: Nuclear War (2023) reimagined Sun Ra’s music — and part of a three volume project — with essential contributions from artists including Georgia Anne Muldrow, Irreversible Entanglements and Angel Bat Dawid.
Its latest project, TRAИƧA, came out on November 22nd and continues Red Hot’s legacy of activism. More than 100 artists contributed, marking what the org describes “one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken by Red Hot – a spiritual journey across 8 chapters and 46 songs, spotlighting the gifts of many of the most daring, imaginative trans and non-binary artists working today.” It was produced by LA-based artist and activist Massima Bell and Dust Reid, who oversaw produced Red Hot’s Arthur Russell tribute.
“The stakes have never been higher,” Bell told writer Sasha Geffen in release notes for TRAИƧA. “We’re seeing a rise in anti-trans hate and vitriol that is particularly being spewed in the United States. I am a trans person from Iowa, one of the states that signed into law a bill that prohibits access to gender-affirming care. It is clearly, materially, a terrifying time.” The set was born after the tragic 2021 passing of SOPHIE.
Added Reid, “We started talking about all the gifts that trans artists have been giving to the world, and wanted to create a Red Hot project that centered and celebrated those gifts.” He added that the hope was to create a narrative that positions trans and non-binary people as leaders in our society insofar as the deep inner work they do to affirm who they are in our current climate.”
TRAИƧA is a jaw-dropping array of artists and allies, one that feels monumental when viewed as a whole:
Sade Adu, Sam Smith, Beverly Glenn-Copeland, Moses Sumney, ANOHNI, Devendra Banhart, Blake Mills, Jeff Tweedy, claire rousay, Heart Shaped, Christian Lee Hutson, Ana Roxanne, Nsámbu Za Suékama, Lightning Bug, Benét, Faye Webster, Julien Baker, Calvin Lauber, SOAK, Quinn Christopherson, Soft Rōnin, Frankie Cosmos, Hand Habits, Bill Callahan, Hunter Schafer, Cole Pulice, Grouper, Lucy Liyou, Anajah, Gary Gunn, Niecy Blues, Joy Guidry, André 3000, Nina Keith, Julie Byrne, Taryn Blake Miller, Rachika Nayar, Julianna Barwick, Cassandra Croft, Arthur Baker, Pharoah Sanders, L’Rain, Jlin, Moor Mother, Kara Jackson, Ahya Simone, Dave Longstreth, Perfume Genius, Alan Sparhawk, Lomelda, More Eaze, Teddy Geiger, Yaeji, Yaya Bey, Helado Negro, Eileen Myles, Sharon Van Etten, Ezra Furman, Gia Margaret, Adrianne Lenker, Allison Russell, Asher White, Eli Winter, Caroline Rose, Fleet Foxes, Lynn Avery, AV María, SKY, Belina Rose, Green-House, Kelela, Cassandra Jenkins, Bloomsday, Babehoven, Clarity, Clairo, Sparkle Division, Pepper MaShay, Nico Georis, KB Brookins, Bartees Strange, Anjimile, Laura Jane Grace, Lee Ranaldo, Jayne County, Kathi Wilcox, Jay Dee Daugherty, Am Taylor, Lauren Auder, Wendy & Lisa, Time Wharp, Elizabeth, and Beverly Glenn-Copeland.
“Transa,” as defined by Bell, is a verb or action that means “to love without limits” and also “that you are more than you know.”
Got 26 minutes to spare? You should go all-in on “Something Is Happening And I May Not Fully Understand But I’m Happy To Stand For The Understanding,” the track by Andre 3000 included in the set. It features any number of brilliant LA players. Per the notes:
André 3000 – Flutes, Electric Wind Instruments, Pedals, Voice
Carlos Niño – Drums, Percussion, Voice
Deantoni Parks – Computer, Drum Set, Midi Keyboard, Technoself Synthesis
Nate Mercereau – Guitar, Guitar Synth, Pedals, Sampler
Diego Gaeta – Piano
Maia – Voice
Matthewdavid – Mycelial Electronics
Shabaka – Clarinet
V.C.R – Violin with Effects, Voice
This piece is comprised of two separate, overlaying, intertwining recordings. The main piece that is running throughout was a Quartet of André, Carlos, Deantoni, and Nate, recorded at Groove Masters in Santa Monica. The piece that comes in and out was a Sextet recording of André, Carlos, Diego, Matthewdavid, Shabaka, and V.C.R, recorded at Shangri-La, with Maia added later, during one of the mixing sessions.
The limited edition TRANƧA 6LP box set, crafted from tinted acrylic, features the complete 46-track narrative across eight chapters. (Because Red Hot is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt U.S. charity, $100 of the $150 purchase price is potentially tax-deductible.) Scheduled to ship in spring 2025, the set includes a 32-page color booklet featuring photographs, liner notes, essays, and lyrics; the full 46-track TRANƧA album on vinyl, plus a mystery bonus side; a digital download card; and six LP jackets and record sleeves adorned with original work by Evangeline AdaLioryn, Female Pentimento, Osinachi, Tosh Basco, Greer Lankton, Michael Bailey-Gates, and Pippa Garner.
