Since launching his new era, the New York-based pop star Bentley Robles has been manhandled by radio host and über daddy John Hill, earned a co-sign from Jade Thirlwall and done the “Lush Life” dance on stage with Zara Larsson.
Now he’s releasing his long-awaited debut album, Olympus. The album, out May 21, is the culmination of Bentley’s years in the underground queer pop scene and his play at becoming a main pop boy—or, in his case, a main pop papi. The Latinx singer and songwriter has been building a vibrant world with the promo cycle for his album, from traipsing around Los Angeles flanked by a squad of men dressed just like him in schoolboy fits to releasing a deeply personal and political music video for his song “Baby God” and bringing that same collegiate clique to a New York club with his collaborator Frankie Grande. And next month, he’ll bring the show—and perhaps his mysterious schoolboy crew—to his hometown as he headlines Sunday night at L.A. Pride.
Ahead of the release of Olympus, Bentley spoke to Xtra about collaborating with other gay pop stars, Zara Larsson’s glittery blue eyes and what it’s like dating when you’re gay-famous.
We first connected when you hosted an event for my podcast, Pop Pantheon. Did you have fun at our party?
It was such a fun time. DJ Louie XIV has the most exquisite taste. I went with a bunch of my girls and we danced to every single song.
You’ve been wearing a schoolboy outfit with a yellow tie that matches your hair for this whole era. What’s the meaning behind the look?
I really kind of dreamed up this vibe of the POC outcast scholarship kid in a school of rich, elite upper-echelon students. I feel like the institution kind of represents the music industry.
Have you always had such vibrant, natural yellow hair?
Always! Truly, I was born with it. I got made fun of in school. It was a big deal.
You open the video for “Baby God” with the words “No one is illegal on stolen land.” Why did you choose to share that message and how does it fit into the themes of the song and the video?
I’m first-generation American: my parents are Mexican immigrants. They migrated here economy class with everything that they had so that me and my sister, who are both queer, could have a better life. I owe everything to them. I owe everything to my Mexican community, but also my POC queer and trans community. The outliers of this nation and the people who are constantly under attack.
That’s your parents in the video, right?
Yeah, my mom, Pilar, and my dad, Jesus.
Were your parents always supportive of your art and queerness?
They weren’t super supportive in the beginning. They definitely came from Machismo culture. My parents are both from very small villages in Mexico. It was hard for them to wrap their head around the gay thing, but once I came out, after a couple of years, my parents became really big advocates for the gay community. My sister is a lesbian. It was a slow growth for them.
The music thing took them a bit longer. They really wanted me to be a doctor or a lawyer or something more stable. Eventually it just became undeniable for myself and for them that this is what I’m meant to do.
You have some pretty horny songs on this album, like “Edge.” What’s it like dating when you’re gay-famous?
My career is just big enough that some people know who I am and for the most part everybody likes me. There’s not that much going around about me. You know, when you get to a certain level, people are like, “Oh, he’s overrated” or “He’s annoying” or there’s some sort of rumour about you. I’m kind of in the place where it’s all good still.
Is “Hercules” really about having a big dick?
You know what, I’m going to keep it real now. It was not about that. The lyric is “Look at me, I’m hulked like Hercules,” but the fans have made it “hung like Hercules.”
What was it like opening for Zara Larsson with Zee Machine during Grammy Week? I saw you guys did the “Lush Life” dance with her!
She was a fucking icon. So beautiful! Hit every single note. Let me just put on record, we got to see Zara Larsson sound check. She is such a professional, so kind, communicating her needs in an eloquent, beautiful way.
We got to do the “Lush Life” dance with her, it was amazing. After I sang my song, I was backstage and she was gearing up and ready to go and she came up backstage behind me and put her hand on my arm and said, “You have such an amazing voice, me and my team backstage were gagging over your song, you’re so wonderful, you’re so great.”
Truly, eye contact, glittery blue eyes and fucking blond locks. She’s not real! She’s such an angel.
The album features Frankie Grande and the gay rapper Kyle Payne. And last year you did an EP with Zee Machine. Is there a brotherhood gay pop stars?
There isn’t. And I think that really needs to change! Zee Machine, that beautiful man with that vocal talent, that is my best friend on and off the stage. He has changed my life, we talk every single day. We’ve crashed out to each other, we’ve plotted for world takeover together. It really feels good to have real friends in the community.
Frankie Grande is another one of those people. He could not be nicer. For someone who is so famous and has been in the limelight for so long, he’s so real and wants to make a change. It really felt magical working with him.
And Kyle Payne? I’ve taken that boy under my wing! He’s got so much potential, he’s so undeniably talented.
We’ve seen breakthroughs for queer women like Chappell Roan and Boygenius. Are Sapphic folks better at supporting their own than gay guys?
Yeah. Naturally women are better and smarter. And that’s just that!
You are heading into your album’s release moment. How will you celebrate?
I’ve been thinking a lot about this. I think I really just want to eat spaghetti with the people who made the album and my best friends.
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