“Disco is not dead. I hear a lot of music on the radio today that is very clearly disco derivative, inspired by classics like ABBA’s “The Visitors,” Yello’s “Vicious Games” or Grace Jones’ “Feel Up,” declares the king of disco himself – Barton.

The out singer aims to add a few of his own songs to the list of tracks that will endure on gay dance floors. Two of his singles have already become staples: the dark extended mix of “Take Me Up” (featured on the soundtrack of the film Boy Culture) and his ascendant dub of “To Call My Own.”

This summer, Barton will release his next full-length album, Lessons Learned. The first single will be “On the Beach,” a song that artfully blends metaphors of nature with unforgettable lyrics. It’s a deep track; one that may not play on Top 40 radio but that’s OK with Barton.

“I am not and never intend to be a Madonna or a Depeche Mode” he says. “I’m incredibly lucky to be able to make music that I love. I will be known and appreciated well by some people – not all – and that is exactly right for me.”

Gay & Lesbian Times: What lessons have you learned as an openly gay artist?

Barton: You have to take the risk to truly be yourself in order to find what’s worthwhile.

GLT: Is it still difficult for an out-artist to break into mainstream?

B: Gay or straight, there’s a lot of competition for a musician. A friend who works for a major record label calls part of what he does for a living “pushing people through the looking glass.” That’s not what I wanted when I set out to do music. Doing things on my own terms is important for me.

GLT: How does the new album compare with your 2008 release, Formative?

B: Hearing the two albums next to each other is a little like watching a flower open up. The production values and vocal arrangements are far richer and more complex in the new album. Also, it was a more collaborative effort. I co-wrote many of the new songs with some exceptional artists. You start to hear with other people’s ears when you work with other talent.

GLT: Who influences you as an artist?

B: Vocalists like Linda Ronstadt, David Sylvian, Annie Lennox and Neil Young are strong influences for me; also late ’70s disco.

GLT: What was the inspiration behind your first single, “On The Beach?”

B: I was in Provincetown, walking alone on the beach with the waves crashing and the sun beating down. I looked up, and I noticed the moon was in the sky! It made me reflect on all the elements around me – the water, the sand, the sky, the sun and moon, and how they were all connected on the beach.

GLT: The first line is “on the beach I see you”... who are you referring to?

B: While soaking in the wonders around me, I started thinking about a man I loved, who I missed, and longed to be with. I imagined seeing him on the beach in front of me. The song is about being in love and how love can sometimes feel like drowning in an ocean.

GLT: What’s your favorite track on the album?

B: The one that speaks to me the most “Nothing Lasts Forever.” It’s about how our lives are finite and the importance of capturing the beauty in each experience.

GLT: The notion of celebration seems to be a common theme in most of your songs. Why is celebration important to you?

B: That’s due to the influence of late ’70s disco, which was all about celebrating being yourself. Artists like Sylvester, who made music in San Francisco where Lessons Learned was recorded, used his music to take people to a higher place. That is something I aspire to do in my music.

GLT: Does the gay community have reason to celebrate in 2009?

B: We certainly do. The gay community is finally uniting as a group to battle important civil rights issues.

GLT: What do you feel we need to pay more attention to in our fight for civil rights?

B: The passing of California’s Proposition 8 has made it much clearer what we are facing in terms of discrimination. How we respond, how we live our lives, how we act in the world is what we need to pay attention to.

GLT: What do you say to those who want to label you as a dance artist?

B: I am a dance artist. I also make pop music. I don’t mind labels; I think it is human to categorize things and label them. But there is always something behind the label, if you care to look.

GLT: Is there anything your fans might be surprised to learn about you?

B: I don’t think so. I lay myself out pretty bare on my album.

GLT: What words do you live by?

B: Listen to your own voice.