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Toronto Star
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Star
Trans musician Bells Larsen recorded a stunning new album. But he won't be able to tour the U.S.: ‘We're being scapegoated'
'Leap, and the net will appear.' For months, these words were scrawled on a piece of paper affixed to musician Bells Larsen's mirror. It was the pandemic, and Larsen had pulled the phrase from a popular guidebook called 'The Artist's Way' by Julia Cameron, which was designed to help people tap into their creativity and has been praised by the likes of Alicia Keys, Elizabeth Gilbert and Doechii. For many, the book's spiritual grounding and daily journaling practice enable a deeper level of insight. 'It's one of the most important things I've ever done in my life,' Larsen told the Star, explaining how the book factored into his decision to transition. 'You can only write 'I am not comfortable in who I am' so many times in your journal and sit with that before you feel compelled to explore it.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW This exploration is documented on the 27-year-old's just-released sophomore album, 'Blurring Time.' When he first put pen to paper in 2021, Larsen was flooded with questions that became the seeds of its nine tracks: Who am I? ('Blurring Time.') Who am I in relation to the people I love? ('514-415.') Once I change, what gets left behind? ('Questions.') Bells Larsen has a series of Canadian tour dates scheduled and will be opening shows for Dan Mangan in the fall. Lawrence Fafard By the time he wrote the album's last track, 'Might,' Larsen had decided to start taking testosterone. He knew that his voice would change, but rather than recording the entire album in one register or the other, he opted for both. In 2022, he used his higher voice. After beginning testosterone, he recorded the vocals again, harmonizing with himself. The result is a richly layered, folk-forward album whose approach feels peerless. Larsen imagines a listener in a café hearing one of his songs, thinking 'this girl-boy duo bangs,' only to Shazam it and realize it was recorded by one person. But just as important as the inclusion of both voices on 'Blurring Time' is noticing when, and how, they're being used. 'Might' considers the changes that may result from his transition, so he chose to rely mostly on his high voice. 'Questions' is written from the point of view of someone who already changed, so the song leans more on his low voice. On other tracks, both voices are woven together. 'I felt like I hadn't seen a whole lot of trans representation that included parts of one's past and parts of one's future,' he explained. 'I understand why that is. It is so valid for trans people to want to place their old self to the side so that the new self can shine. However, I think that is partially why it took so long for me to figure out that I was trans, because my old self is still very much with me. I still am that person. I just needed to make some changes so that I could be comfortable in my own skin.' Growth is often measured by the distance we can put between different versions of ourselves. For some, this distance is not only helpful, it's essential. But for Larsen, 'both/and' felt more honest than 'either/or.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Minutes after taking a seat in an Annex café, the musician was already acknowledging the many dichotomies in his life. He had just come out of a weekend celebrating both Easter and Passover, for his dad's and mom's sides, respectively. He splits his time between Montreal and Toronto, toggling between a joual-speaking Quebecer and a born-and-raised west-ender. He views his album's duet approach as yet another dichotomy — one that embraced his multitudes. 'It's not at all that my transition has been an art project,' he said. 'But if I knew that I was going to transition no matter what, I figured that I want to offer this album to myself as a parting gift, and I also want to offer this album to myself as a housewarming gift, too.' In these ways, 'Blurring Time' communicates a sort of homecoming — an arrival-to-self that can only be mined from periods of great uncertainty, which can result in what Larsen refers to as 'good grief.' 'It's about taking something hard and trying to make it good, not by virtue of toxic positivity, but through art,' he says. 'I think it's OK for there to be grief in transitioning. It's OK for me to miss parts of my old self. Now that I have changed and I'm different than I was three or four years ago, I'm still grieving past versions of myself. But I don't think that's unique to being trans.' Bells Larsen divides his time between Montreal and Toronto Lawrence Fafard As Larsen embarked on his physical transition, the 'leap' maxim remained affixed to his mirror in plain sight — a hopeful buoy among the unknowns. 'I understood what the leap was,' he said. 'I hoped that the net would appear, and I understand today that it has.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW New questions posed While many of the questions that Larsen poses on 'Blurring Time' are deeply personal, their relevance is far more expansive. On 'My Brother & Me,' when he considers what it means to be a good man, it isn't only about one person's renegotiation with masculinity, but the rigid concepts of gender isolating so many young men from themselves and others. 'Pretty soon I'll go through puberty again / Will I be an asshole or gentleman?' Larsen sings, reflecting on his then teen brother's draw to personalities like Jordan Peterson — an interest sparked by the loneliness of being a high schooler stuck at home during the pandemic. 'He turned to thinkers that contradict my existence,' Larsen said. In the last few years, Larsen's brother has moved on from these harmful ideologies and thinkers. The musician lights up describing the 'beautiful ally' his sibling has become — a sentiment recently echoed in an Instagram post: 'I am verklempt to have my masculinity be informed by his.' But as much as he has been influenced by the men in his life, Larsen acknowledges his own ability to now do the same. 'I almost see it as a sort of superpower that I can be kind and be thoughtful, and people who don't know that I'm trans can just read me as a kind and thoughtful guy,' he said. 'That can make a bit of a positive dent in the world.' Larsen was looking forward to making an even bigger dent with his 'Blurring Time' tour this spring. He had six U.S. shows scheduled, as well as a series of Canadian dates. But two weeks ahead of his album release, Larsen's reality was shaken. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Canada Explainer Can U.S. border officials detain Canadians? Check your phone? Here's everything you need to know about crossing the 49th parallel Reagan McSwain On April 2, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services updated its policies to specify that it 'only recognizes two biological sexes, male and female,' and that it considers a person's sex as that which they were assigned at birth. As a result, Larsen, whose passport has an 'M' gender marker, was told by the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada that he would not be able to apply for a visa. There were already risks to crossing the border as a trans person in 2025, and Larsen had taken the necessary steps to ensure that he would be as safe as possible: he was travelling with his guitarist, a cisgender man; he was crossing borders via plane; and he was performing exclusively in blue states. But in the end, the decision was made for him. 'It was a very surreal moment of understanding that I am, in some ways, part of the group that's first in the firing line of these new policies,' he said. 'This is the first time in my adult life that I have been personally implicated.' He took to Instagram to announce the cancellation of his U.S. dates. 'This new policy has crushed my dreams,' he wrote. 'I am more and more gutted with every day that passes by the (seeming) dissonance between the world in which I created this project and the world into which I am releasing it.' Larsen is not the only Canadian artist experiencing the impact of these anti-trans policies. Halifax singer-songwriter T. Thomason recently cancelled an appearance at Maine's All Roads Music Festival because he didn't feel safe crossing the border as a trans man. Comedian Ava Val pulled the plug on her U.S. dates because of her own visa issues. The policy changes also implicate non-binary Canadians. In declaring that 'only two biological sexes' would be recognized by the U.S. government, the roughly 3,600 Canadians with 'X' gender markers on their passports are left in a precarious position. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW These developments have led LGBTQ advocacy groups to raise alarms with the Canadian government. 'Trans and gender-diverse Canadians are continuing to face real fear and uncertainty when it comes to crossing the U.S. border,' Helen Kennedy, executive director of Egale Canada, told the Star. 'This uncertainty makes it incredibly difficult to assess whether it's even safe to travel.' Egale Canada have cancelled their own plans to travel to the U.S. to 'safeguard (their) trans and non-binary staff,' and have also called on Canada to update its travel advisory for the U.S. In Larsen's case, 'visagate' has also eclipsed his album promotion cycle. Stories in the Hollywood Reporter and the Guardian have certainly helped him raise awareness around the realities of being a trans person in 2025, but they also emphasize how simply existing at this intersection of identity can be perceived as a political act. It's a duality that Larsen continues to struggle with. 'Today is my T-day,' he said. 'So at some point, I'm going to go home, I'm going to unzip the little pencil case that I bought at Dollarama and inject myself with testosterone. It's a five-minute process — a 10-minute process, depending on how nervous I am. I put a Band-Aid on, I go about my life, and that's it. Because I have access to that kind of care, it allows me to look a certain way, feel a certain way, have a certain je ne sais quoi in my step. That's it. I have a bit of trouble with the politicization of my identity, because it doesn't actually involve anyone but me. 'But if we zoom out and look at transness on a global level, my community is being profoundly dehumanized. We're being scapegoated right now. So I totally get why this is political, too.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Where to now? Larsen's warmth is as contagious as it is calming, but he frequently uses the word 'anxious' to describe himself. Throughout our conversation, I noticed him playing with something in his right hand. As we started talking about what keeps him grounded, he opened his fingers to reveal a smooth, heart-shaped white rock. Placing it on the counter, he explained that it was given to him by a friend as a token of support following the events of the last few weeks. He then reached into his left pocket and pulled out a single Polaroid — of his partner, standing in a forest in Sainte-Adèle, Que. 'I'm grounding myself in my friendships and in the love that I feel,' he said. 'Romantic, yes, but another part of queerness is community and the love that isn't romantic. If there's one thing that I'm sure of after the last couple of weeks, it's that I am very loved.' 'These two things,' he gestured to the rock and photograph, 'are a real testament to that.' In the coming months, he'll focus on playing shows in Canada. He'll also be opening for Canadian indie rocker Dan Mangan this fall. Larsen said he might explore touring overseas as an alternative to the U.S. But as he observes peers announcing their American dates without issue, he plans to carve out time to grieve the significance of what has been decided for him before deciding what's next. 'I want to keep the momentum going because I can feel the ways in which this album is going to, and has already, changed my life,' he said. 'But I also want to live my life a little bit.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW On Thursday, he'll play a packed show at the Great Hall on Queen Street. The last time he performed at the west end venue, he was part of someone else's band and was so nervous that he had to look down at the floor. But this night will be different. Larsen's friend Lane Webber, a Toronto-based trans musician, as well as non-binary artist Your Hunni will be accompanying him on vocals. For Larsen, having this shared lived experience on stage was critical. The rest of his band are men who Larsen said have helped inform his sense of masculinity in some way. On this night, he'll look up — at his peers on stage and to his community of fans — and in more ways than one, he'll be home.
Malay Mail
24-04-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Mosti: Malaysia retains spot as world's ninth-largest high-tech exporter, hits RM557b in 2023
CYBERJAYA, April 24 — Malaysia successfully maintained its position as the ninth-largest exporter of high-technology goods out of 143 countries worldwide in 2023, the highest recognition it has achieved in the past decade. Datuk Seri Hasnol Zam Zam Ahmad, secretary-general of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti), said that Malaysia's high-tech exports increased by US$2 billion (RM8.77 billion) to reach US$127 billion (RM556.7 billion) in 2023. He said high-tech exports comprised 58.69 per cent of total manufacturing exports in 2023, up from 52.48 per cent recorded in 2022. He also noted that the country recorded its highest trade surplus in a decade, totalling US$51.5 billion. 'Measuring the value of Malaysia's high-tech exports is not an easy task. First and foremost, the definition of 'high technology' must comply with international standards, including those set by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the World Bank. 'For a long time, the Malaysia Industry–Government Group for High Technology (Might) has been responsible for calculating and tracking Malaysia's high-tech export performance and will continue to carry out this important role moving forward,' he said during the launch of the Malaysia High Technology Performance Report 2023 here today. The report's launch briefing was also attended by Might co-chair (industry) Tan Sri Ahmad Tajuddin Ali, co-chair (government) Tan Sri Zakri Abdul Hamid, and president and chief executive officer Rushdi Abdul Rahim. Hasnol Zam Zam emphasised Mosti's commitment to expanding and strengthening the national innovation ecosystem to ensure sustained competitiveness across all development sectors, especially in high technology. In addition to Might, he mentioned that several international institutions also use high-tech export indicators as a key measure to assess a country's competitiveness and innovation capacity. Meanwhile, Rushdi noted that although the telecommunications electronics product group remained the largest contributor with US$36 billion, accounting for 80.58 per cent of total high-tech goods exports across nine subgroups, there remains significant growth potential in other categories such as scientific equipment, office machinery, electrical machinery, and aerospace surplus. However, he highlighted that these categories must be supported by a robust innovation ecosystem and effective market penetration strategies. 'Beyond directly contributing to the nation's aspiration to become a high-income, technology-based economy, this dynamic innovation ecosystem also strengthens Malaysia's position in achieving technological sovereignty, ensuring the country is not only capable of utilising but also mastering and controlling these strategic technologies,' he added. — Bernama
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bells Larsen Says He Can't Get a Visa to Tour the U.S. as a Trans Man: ‘Crushed My Dreams'
Canadian singer-songwriter Bells Larsen is cancelling his forthcoming U.S. tour after the Trump administration made it impossible for him to travel in the country as a trans man. In a lengthy post to his Instagram on Friday (April 11), Larsen revealed that, according to an email from the American Federation of Musicians (AFM), he would not be able to apply for a travel visa to the United States since his Canadian passport designates his gender rather than his biological sex. More from Billboard Elton John AIDS Foundation Says Russia's Ban on Its Services Will 'Undoubtedly Endanger Lives' Jennie Launches Official Merch Shop on Amazon: Here Are 7 Things We're Buying From It 10 Korean Beauty Brands Endorsed by K-Pop Stars and Skincare Junkies Alike 'To put it super plainly, because I'm trans (and have an M on my passport), I can't tour in the States,' Larsen wrote. 'I hesitate to include a 'right now' or an 'anymore' at the end of my previous sentence, because — in this sociopolitical climate — I truly don't know which phrasing holds more truth.' Billboard has reached out to the AFM for comment. U.S. Citizenship and Immigrant Services (USCIS) announced at the beginning of April that they had updated their policy at the outset of April to only recognize biological sex on immigration forms, in accordance with the Trump administration's executive order requiring travel documents (including passports and visas) to designate a person's sex as assigned at birth. In his post, Larsen admits that he was already feeling trepidatious about touring the U.S. amidst an onslaught of anti-trans initiatives being pursued by the current administration, especially when it came to the administration's treatment of trans people crossing the border. 'If random people are getting randomly questioned/stopped/detained at borders, how can I — as someone wanting to make money abroad by exhibiting my lived experience as a trans person — expect to pass go and get out of jail free?' he asked. 'My plan was to tour with harm reduction in mind.' Larsen said that after speaking with two separate immigration lawyers and the AFM, he decided that there was 'no way to move forward' with his scheduled tour, despite his eagerness to see his U.S. fans. 'This new policy has crushed my dreams,' he wrote. 'I'm cradling a very broken heart and the realization that I don't know if or when I will be able to tour in the States again.' The singer-songwriter was set to bring his forthcoming new album Blurring Time stateside this June, with dates in Boston, New York City and Los Angeles throughout the month. The new LP deals extensively with Larsen's experience transitioning while using vocal recordings from both before and after his transition (his 'high' and 'low' voices, as he calls them in a statement) to create harmonies between his former and current self. The latest single from that album, 'Might,' was released on Wednesday (April 9). 'I was hoping that the album would help me break into the US music market and connect with cool, likeminded American musicians,' he wrote. 'More than anything, thought, I just really wanted to perform my album for queer and trans people in the US who saw their stories reflected in my own.' Bells Larsen's new album Blurring Time drops on April 25 via Royal Mountain Records. Read his full statement on his cancelled U.S. tour below: Best of Billboard Kelly Clarkson, Michael Buble, Pentatonix & Train Will Bring Their Holiday Hits to iHeart Christmas Concert Fox Plans NFT Debut With $20 'Masked Singer' Collectibles 14 Things That Changed (or Didn't) at Farm Aid 2021
