International muso George Perris has been dominating the news all week, after he launched a successful cover of Billie Eilish’s ‘My Future’ amplifying the track with cascading Balkan percussion and soaring Middle Eastern strings.
The single is featured on Mr Perris’ recently released third full-length English-language album No Armor, a glimpse into the songs that have shaped him into an international name, the most widely renowned Greek singer of his generation.
As Mr Perris embraces and honours his Hellenic roots he also chooses to stand true to his identity as a gay man.
“At the start of lockdown, I’d gone through several years of big changes in my life, so I threw myself into psychoanalysis to try to focus on what I needed and wanted,” Mr Perris said.
“As soon as I heard ‘My Future’ I knew I had to create my own version of it: it’s a big part of the puzzle in terms of not just reflecting on the past but looking forward to the future and where I’m going next in my life.”
Days before World Pride Month ended, the Greek muso officialised his coming out with an in-depth interview with People Magazine.
As a teenager, he witnessed the late George Michael come out, marking the first time Mr Perris ever saw a public figure open up about being gay. In his early 20s, he embraced who he was, and while he said there was “a little bit of backlash” from his family, eventually, “they all accepted it.”.
In the feature, Mr Perris also talks about another passion, his humanitarian work. Last week also saw him become the newest member in the family of UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors defending children’s rights worldwide.
Other Goodwill Ambassadors include Audrey Hepburn, David Beckham, Pink, Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom, and Nana Mouskouri; with the later posting a YouTube video welcoming Perris to the UNICEF family.
As a UNICEF ambassador Mr Perris will be focused on addressing child abuse, while working with the scholarship group the Horatio Alger Association advocating for universal acceptance of LGBTQ+ youth.
“I am particularly moved today for assuming my duties as a UNICEF Ambassador of Goodwill for Greece,” the acclaimed voccalist said.
“The title is a great honour but also carries an especially big responsibility. I too have been a defenceless child and I don’t want to see any child weak or alone in the face of violence. Unfortunately, on a daily basis we become witnesses or receptors of many forms of violence, gender based, sexual, family based, in schools and on the internet. When, in the position of the witness or victim is a child, our society has failed. We all share the obligation to work hard for the Children, to secure their safety and prosperity,” the stressed.
Watch Nana Mouskouri welcome Mr Perris to UNICEF below: