Gay singer songwriter Derek Bishop released his debut full-length album Resistance is Beautiful in July 2011. Producer Jay Braun, notable for his work with Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, collaborated with Bishop on the twelve tracks. Composed and written by Bishop, the album has hints of Fiona Apple, Ben Folds, and Mika. But like his dichotomic personality, he also swirls in sounds from other eras such as Brill Building, Tin Pan Alley, Beach Boys, and even a bit of old-time Broadway. The extent of his music reaches beyond its toe-tapping, finger-snapping beats. His songs emit both light and darkness, revealing a core of melancholic haunting lyrics within luminous exteriors. Bishop artfully tells his stories with literary panache, creative imagery, and raw honesty. Pulling deep into his personal experiences, one highlight includes Harvey with its saloon-style arrangement and genuine performance. The song speaks to resisting who we are and how that struggle shapes us - in this case, Bishop’s emergence out of the closet. Through relatable and candid songwriting, he reflects on his current musical endeavors in the tune Pass Me By that talks about breaking out of the status quo to refresh and reinvent one’s self. Bishop delves further, taking chances with his music by altering structure and sound as well as integrating vintage keyboards, circus-like electronics, and a suitcase full of percussion. The track See You Free exemplifies this technique with its time and key shifts. The s