We Speak Music

Ike Avelli Guests On TriVersity Talk With Host Wendy Stuart 7 PM ET Wednesday, May 13th, 2026

Published

2 months ago

May 8, 2026

Wendy Stuart will be hosting TriVersity Talk! this Wednesday at 7 PM ET with featured guest Ike Avelli.

TriVersity Talk! is a weekly web series with featured guests discussing their lives, activism and pressing issues in the LGBTQ Community. With TriVersity Talk!, the goal is to laugh and learn.

TriVersity Talk! Is part of TriVersity’s ICARE Initiative. ICARE stands for Increasing Community Awareness through Relevant Education. ICARE Programs are generously funded by The Greater Pike Community.

Ike Avelli is a powerhouse comedian, writer, and producer whose high-octane career has transformed him into a definitive staple of the LGBTQ+ comedy circuit. Since his 2009 debut—stepping in as a last-minute replacement at a holiday event—Avelli has leveraged his sharp wit and theatrical flair to become one of the most sought-after creators in the industry.

Known for a “deliciously dirty” and flamboyant style, Avelli has written and produced over 17 original stage productions, including critically acclaimed plays and parody musicals. His crown jewel,“50 Shades of Gay,” premiered in 2015 and has since evolved into a global phenomenon. From the boards of Atlantic City and San Diego to the high seas with Royal Caribbean, the production has consistently played to sold-out audiences, earning the title of “the performance of the summer” by The Huffington Post.

Avelli’s comedic DNA is a vibrant homage to his idols, including Joan Rivers, Sandra Bernhard, and Mario Cantone. This influence is evident in his current 2025-2026 tour, a neon-soaked, feather-boa-clad celebration of 1980s pop culture that showcases his signature high-energy storytelling.

Beyond the stage, Avelli is an accomplished author and media personality:

Literary Success: His 2017 diary, A Year In The Life Of Ike Avelli…And It Ain’t Pretty, peaked in the Top 20 of Amazon’s New Releases.
Podcasting: He serves as the co-host of the hit podcast Loose Lips, which recently earned a nomination at the 19th Annual People’s Choice Podcast Awards.
Award-Winning Talent: A multi-year recipient of the Get Out Magazine LGBTQ Comedian of the Year award (2014, 2023) and the Providence Fringe Award (2018). His most recent production, “50 Shades of Gay: A Christmas Cabaret,” earned a prestigious Broadway World Award nomination in 2025.

While his stage presence is unapologetically bold, Avelli’s off-stage commitment to advocacy is equally impactful. He remains a dedicated supporter of the community, lending his talents to benefit organizations such as The Trevor Project, The Ali Forney Center, and LIFEbeat.

Combining camp, class, and incomparable comedic timing, Ike Avelli continues to prove why he is the reigning “mastermind of creativity” in modern variety entertainment.

Watch TriVersity Talk! Live on Wednesday at 7 PM ET on Youtube here:

https://www.youtube.com/@TriVersityCenter

The official website for the TriVersity Center may be found at https://www.triversitycenter.org

We Speak Music

The Songs of Butler & Cupples Prioritise Craft on Intimate New Single ‘Better off Lost’

Published

4 days ago

July 3, 2026

Brett Wylie

Following the momentum of their first three breakout releases earlier this year, genre-fluid project The Songs of Butler & Cupples have returned with ‘Better off Lost’. A stripped-back, intimate offering that further sharpens their songcraft-first ethos, the release reinforces the duo’s position as one of the most forward-thinking, emerging songwriting projects operating outside the traditional band framework.

Conceived entirely as a vehicle where pure songcraft remains the central focus, The Songs of Butler & Cupples was formed in direct response to a contemporary music landscape increasingly shaped by image, algorithms, and visual perception rather than musical composition.

Led by two highly experienced industry songwriters, the project is intentionally fluid. It allows musical ideas to dictate their own final form without being restricted by rigid genre conventions or commercial chart expectations. With ‘Better off Lost’, the pair turn inward, embracing an acoustic-led direction underpinned by Americana-leaning textures and delicate, emotive vocal arrangements.

Sonically, the track marks a further evolution in their rapidly expanding creative palette. Built around a gentle acoustic guitar foundation, ‘Better off Lost’ foregrounds vulnerability and vocal performance above all else. The raw emotional delivery is elevated by subtle, layered harmonies and understated pop sensibilities that give the track its modern, polished edge.

The duo’s stylistic range has already drawn comparisons to boundary-pushing artists such as Miley Cyrus and Kacey Musgraves, whose recent celebrated works have helped reframe contemporary Americana within the broader pop landscape. Like those icons, Butler & Cupples demonstrate a versatile range that fiercely resists easy categorization.

Across their 2026 discography, they have proven comfortable shifting between entirely different sonic worlds, including: Electronic-Leaning Production: Utilising sleek, modern digital textures. Experimental & Rock Influence: Embracing grittier, guitar-driven edge and unpredictable structures. Acoustic Minimalism: As heard on the new single, proving that a strong emotional through-line remains intact regardless of the instrumentation.

Rather than chasing viral TikTok trends or tailoring their masters for playlist algorithms, the project remains deeply rooted in strong structural songwriting, genuine emotional resonance, and absolute creative freedom.

At its core, The Songs of Butler & Cupples functions as an open creative framework without built-in limitations or outside expectations. ‘Better off Lost’ stands as another clear statement of intent from the duo: that well-crafted songs, when given proper breathing room and unfiltered honesty, still possess the power to cut through the modern noise.