DJ Q&A

NS: Hi! My name is Nick Slater and I live in San Mateo. I grew up in Saint Petersburg, Florida, went to the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, and resided there until moving to the Bay in 2018. Growing up in Florida was definitely a mixed bag. I had caring grandparents who raised me and a very loving family, but I lived in a religious household where understanding and accepting my sexuality was very difficult. Luckily, my now husband of seven years, Yiming, and relocating to the West Coast (best coast), where I could be my most authentic self, have improved my outlook tremendously! We lived in San Mateo County our first couple of years here, moved down to Santa Clara County during the pandemic, and back to San Mateo County in 2021. I currently work as a Clinical Research Manager at Stanford University for LGBTQ+IA health studies. It is very rewarding as I use my research administration skills to help broaden the scope of health care and clinical research for members of my community. I also obtained my master’s in health care administration from Cal State University East Bay. Shout out to their online program, as I didn’t need to cross the San Mateo Bridge every week! I love to travel. My partner and I just came back from a trip to Japan. Other than hopping on planes, exhausting my AMC and Regal memberships at the movies, and trying all the different cuisines all over the Bay, singing in the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus is my main hobby.

DJ: What is your first memory of singing?

NS: My first memory of singing was watching my aunts sing in our church choir. We were members of a Baptist church who sang every Sunday during service and they were strong alto singers who could captivate the congregation. I come from a family of talented choir singers, as my aunts and cousins were regularly casted in solos. Being in the choir was my first taste of singing and I got my first solo near the start of high school. Apart from choir, my most fond memories of listening to singing was in the back seat of my grandfather’s car. We would take long drives across Tampa Bay listening to voices like Luther Vandross, Anita Baker and Sade. A lot of my singing comfort came from hearing smooth jazz and soulful R&B and trying to emulate that style.

DJ: Do you take singing lessons?

NS: I have a friend who is a singing coach, and they give me pointers every once and a while, but I have never received any formal singing lessons. I actually can’t read music very well. But I have a very good ear and I’m able to match pitch. That’s one of the great parts of being in the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus as there are opportunities to learn how to read music as we rehearse but it’s not a strict requirement. All skill levels can join if they can follow along and practice to keep up with the standards of our performances.

DJ: Do you sing on your own?

NS: Yes! I sing on my own whenever a tune enters my head. Karaoke at The LookOut in the Castro, cabaret singing at Martuni’s in S.F., or just walking through my apartment parking garage at home! Basically, anytime I get a free moment! My favorite song to sing to myself is Sade’s “Is It A Crime”

DJ: How did you come to join the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus?

NS: I never sang in a big group like this except for church choirs. This was my first time being a part of a group with such a powerful and distinct sound. I had heard about the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus when I moved to S.F., but I really paid attention after seeing a TikTok in 2021 where they were performing on the roof of a building, socially distanced, singing a song that encouraged vaccinating for COVID-19. That made me follow and look up more videos and their website before deciding to audition.

DJ: Where will The Love Tour perform?

NS: We will be performing in Iowa City, Omaha and Des Moines. The Love Tour is right before our GALA Choruses Festival in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where we will be meeting, socializing and holding performances with GALA choruses from all over the world, so we fly first to Des Moines, take a bus throughout the Midwest, and end the bus tour in Minneapolis. There are around 150 of us on the tour.

DJ: What are you most looking forward to outside of the performances?

NS: This is my first time going on a tour with SFGMC and I’m very excited! I really enjoy singing and performing with the group, but the most special experience here has been the activism, support and community affirming work that we do through song and representation. I look forward to being able to continue fostering that work to anyone and anywhere that will hear us. That has been the best part of being a member of this wonderful organization.

Susan Cohn is a member of the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle and the American Theatre Critics Association. She may be reached at susan@smdailyjournal.com.