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AE: What can you tell me about the thinking behind making The Remixes disc available only with the recently published Ari Gold photo book?
AG:  Well, the CD idea came at the same time as I had the idea for the book. I like going out to the clubs and listening to house music. People always want me to do remixes of my stuff, and I thought it would be great to get played in the big dance clubs. So, I quickly—and I mean quickly—gave a cappellas to some remixers that I've always wanted to work with and they turned it out (because the CD had to be ready in time with the book). The lead single, “Love Will Take Over,” actually became my very first song to get on the American Billboard Dance charts. And I've been reading Billboard since I was 12 years old, so it was very exciting to me.

AE: What is the genesis of the Ari Gold book itself?
AG:  For me, it's a great opportunity because Bruno Gmünder has distribution in stores in over 25 countries and distribution is probably the most difficult part as an independent artist.  I thought since I've done so many photo shoots, with so many great photographers, why not put it all together in a book? I mean, the book is as much about the work of these artists and how they can all take one subject (that would be me) and interpret that same subject in their own way.

Of course, photography is a collaborative process and what I gave to each shoot makes a difference, too.  But then I also wanted the book to be more than just a collection of photos and I wanted to make sure my personality and who I am as an artist came through.  So I had the idea to do a remix album that comes with the book and to include the lyrics in the book as well.  And then I got a few people, such as RuPaul and Kevin Aviance, who I am big fans of, but who have also been very supportive of my work as well, to contribute.  There are also some great shots of me performing live in New York at Joe's Pub and XL.

AE: In the “thank you's” you write that the book would not have happened without illustrator Joe Phillips.
AG: Joe Phillips did all his illustrated books with Bruno Gmünder because they do really high quality productions. So he just led me in the right direction and told me who to speak to over there. I knew Joe would also contribute to my book because he's done some amazing illustrations and cartoons of me. He's a great friend and we inspire each other.

AE: The book contains the work of a number of well-known photographers, as well as photos by Boy George. How did you come to work with Boy George?
AG:  Boy George and I met because he was writing a piece on me for AXM. He is a true renaissance man! He did the interview, wrote the piece, took the photos, and put me in his original designs that he made especially for me! Can you even imagine? (laughs)  Here it is, you are going to meet one of your childhood idols and he tells you that he designed an outfit for you? The shorts had a Jewish star on them and the shirt said “Solid Gold.”

When I told him that I would like to use some of the photos for my book he was like, “We have to do another shoot because I've gotten so much better and you have such gorgeous photos and mine have to be just as good!” Of course I was thrilled to do another shoot with him because I loved the first one we did. But I loooove the new shots. One he calls, “Butch Military Drag” and the others I call “Clockwork Orange meets Cabaret meets Boy George.” (laughs)

AE: Did he take the photos before or after you covered “Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?”
AG:  After—which was, of course, hugely validating. Especially after one music critic of a very popular gay magazine ripped my cover of that song to shreds. It was a dream come true. I never imagined that we'd work together after covering his song! We even started working on a couple of new songs together after we met.

AE: Do you have a personal favorite or two among the photos?
AG:  Oh god, I don't know. My boyfriend's favorite is one of Joe Oppedisano's, which was taken on the set of the “Wave Of You” video on Fire Island, where I'm on the beach laughing. I can more easily tell you which ones make me feel slightly embarrassed!  But nobody believes me when I explain that someone who can be an exhibitionist can also be shy.

AE: In the introduction to the book you wrote “I want the world to know that Jews can rock!” From Bob Dylan to David Draiman of Disturbed, I think we had a pretty good idea of Jews' ability to rock, but who knew they could have a body like yours? Can you say something about your process of developing your physical appearance?
AG:  Actually, I got that line from the title of a book that Madonna's manager Guy Oseary wrote, Jews Who Rock. Like it says in that book, we don't usually tend to think of Jews as rockers, even though there have been many great ones. Aside from telling me I shouldn't be out, people in the industry have also told me to change my name because it's too Jewish and doesn't sound like a pop star name. And then this HBO character comes out named “Ari Gold” (played by Jeremy Piven on Entourage) who is exactly that stereotype of the sleazy, behind the scenes Jewish agent and all my efforts to prove that Jews can be sexy pop stars go down the drain! (laughs)

So, I'm just trying to remind people who we can be! And that goes for my physical appearance as well. Because as much as I think I look Jewish, people are always like, “You don't look Jewish” and I'm like, “What do Jews looks like?”  When I was a little kid in show business I never got any on-camera work because I was considered too ethnic—and I was a cute kid! (laughs) I guess this book is my great revenge. We are a hot people!  

As far as “developing” my appearance, I work out and try to eat healthy, but still enjoy life. I call my look “shtetl fabulous.”  I thank my parents for the good Jewish genes! You know, we are at a very interesting point in gay history and politics and really the history of human rights in general. Right now, we need to give ourselves the license and permission to be as fabulous as we are in the face of homophobia and conservatism. The more people we have doing that, whether it's in film, music, books, whatever, the better off we are.  

Learn more about Gold at arigold.com

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