Between appearances on the popular podcast “Gay Pimpin’ with Jonny McGovern” and recording sessions for his next single, singer-songwriter Adam Joseph sat down to discuss growing up gay in the Midwest; why he fled NYC’s famed East Village; and the song that made him a star, “Faggoty Attention.”

Gay & Lesbian Times: Wanna play a game? It’s called “How Many People Did You Have to Sleep With to Land a Singing Role in Casper Andreas’ Romantic Comedy A Four Letter Word”?

Adam Joseph: None. I knew Casper from him using another one of my songs, “Flow with My Soul,” in his first film, Slutty Summer. Casper asked me if I had a song that would be good for a gay-bar scene. I had written “Faggoty Attention,” but I had not produced it yet. So, I went into the studio and basically worked until I was done. I finished it in about two days. Just in time to bring it to the shoot and film the scene.

GLT: That’s where I first heard the song, actually – while watching the movie. But with such subversive verses – which can’t be played on mainstream radio – how do you get the word out about it?

AJ: Well, it was on Logo for quite a while, and the hits are steadily growing on YouTube.

GLT: The track, which is still gaining steam a year and a half after you recorded it, is basically about seducing a straight boy. Clearly you have a story. Spill it.

AJ: That’s why I like writing songs. You can make up your own story. It’s more based in fantasy than reality. I don’t usually waste my time attempting conversion, but it is a fun thought.

GLT: Going back to A Four Letter Word, I recently had a chat with its star, Jesse Archer. Such a nice guy! I hear you two live near each other in Manhattan’s East Village.

AJ: I used to live in the East Village. I’ve since moved on to the even cooler area of New York City – Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It’s the new East Village. The East Village is kinda dead in NYC these days. Too many condos and trust funds.

GLT: That’s how all of this started though, isn’t it? The East Village, I mean. You’re a regular on the popular podcast “Gay Pimpin’ With Jonny McGovern,” which is recorded there. How’d you get that gig?

AJ: It was an East Village “family” for a while – even though most of the kids don’t live there at all. I started working with Jonny on his album, Gays Gone Wild, while living in the East Village. Since then, we have worked on tons of songs for multiple albums together. We are currently working on The East Village Mixtape 2: The Williamsburg Edition.

GLT: I’m told that favorite topics on the show include “filthy escapades with muscle jocks” and “bumps in the DJ booth.” Care to elaborate?

AJ: We just talk about what we do in everyday life and it usually turns out to be hilarious. That show is so much fun. What can I say? I run with a pretty crazy crowd.

GLT: Was it during one of those conversations that you came up with the idea for “Faggoty Attention”?

AJ: Jonny McGovern gave me the idea as a joke when we were making the first East Village Mixtape. It stuck in my head for about three months until I did anything with it.

GLT: But you didn’t put pen to paper until you were on vacation in Ohio, right?

AJ: I was on vacation in Florida driving back to Cincinnati – my hometown – with my family in the car. I was bored, so I wrote it to pass the time.

GLT: Let’s be serious for a minute – how liberating is this whole experience for you? You’re about my age, and I’m guessing it was hard for you growing up gay, especially in the Midwest.

AJ: Actually, I wouldn’t consider growing up gay, hard. I came out to everyone when I was 14 and never lost any friends. I did go to a performing arts high school so I had that in my corner. I have always just tried to be myself and not waste time thinking about what others think. A lot of artists don’t like to talk about their sexuality because they are afraid of blocking out demographics, but I would never hide my sexuality. How can we overcome anything until the shame of being gay is completely erased?

GLT: Now that you’ve drummed up a pretty good buzz – for your career, that is – what’s your next move? How do you keep this thing alive?

AJ: I’m working on my next single right now. You can expect another great music video and lots more to come from me. I’m also steadily producing and writing for other NYC artists and DJing around the city.