Colton Ford Is Here To “Stay”

Colton Ford has been out of the spotlight for the last several years. Although still known for his brief stint in the adult film world in the 2000s, he has not been categorized by it. At his core, he is an artist with a passion for music that has been his escape and his opportunity to share his story – the good, the bad, and the challenging. Colton is back and he is here to “Stay” with an upcoming EP and latest single.  And though we have seen him naked before, we have never seen him so vulnerable.

This 40-year music veteran has released four full length albums, two Eps, and various Billboard charting singles. He’s collaborated with top names in the biz and was named in AfterEllen.com’s Top 5O Gay Male Musicians. He also appeared in Cyndi Lauper’s video for her hit “Into the Nightlife,” and performed on her True Colors tour. As an actor, he appeared in HereTV’s saucy take on vampires in The Lair, the films Another Gay Sequel and The Next Best Thing, and off-Broadway in Little House on the Ferry. His transition from the adult film world to the music industry was documented in the acclaimed “The Naked Truth.”

His new single “Stay” explores the power of vulnerability in an erotic yet plaintive way.  Despite an entire library of music to his credit, this time the music is all his.  He has used these past years of quiet to reflect and to grow and is no longer compromising his vision or doing music that doesn’t represent him. We see a different Colton, at age 58, embracing the duality of his career. In the uncensored version of “Stay,” we see a physically naked Colton with a voice both stripped and naked in its own right, both raw and intimate. “Stay” is about vulnerability, how opening yourself to someone can trigger your fears but is also essential in having a real relationship with someone. The root of the theme comes from his feeling of abandonment stemming from his childhood that formed how we would experience any future relationships. In his new voice, Colton proves that he is here to “Stay.”

You have this dual success in both the adult and music world. How have you juggled both careers?  

Well, thank you, although it hasn’t felt like a juggle really. Being provocative is in my nature, so I’ve just been doing me and what feels right. I stopped doing porn in July of 2002, and I’ve been focused on my mainstream music and entertainment endeavors ever since. Now with the launching of my Only Fans page (onlyfans.com/coltonford), I’m stepping back into the erotic and blending it with my music. It feels right and certainly something that we’re seeing more of in the mainstream.

When did you first start your music career? What sparked your interest in working professionally in the industry?  

Right out of high school. I just knew that being a singer-songwriter and entertainer was what I wanted to do. My family wasn’t too keen on it, so went to college in tandem to appease them. That lasted 3 years.

You have been in and out of the public eye throughout your career…how have you weathered those downtimes? What is your advice for someone going through a rough patch?  

Being in the public eye comes with a lot, and I think it’s a good thing not to live your life from that place. Taking breaks from being in the thick of it is healthy in my opinion, whether intentional or not. The challenge really is the financial ups and downs. I would recommend to any artist going through a rough patch, which most artists experience along their journey, to go to the creative. Go to the place that gives you joy and is the reason you do what you do, and for me, that is creating music. Writing and recording. During the Covid lock down my creative partners, Ron Schrader, and Spin Sista (collectively we are known as Woop Woop Productions), and I wrote our asses off. It was a very productive time for us and kept us tapping into our joy during a very difficult and challenging time.

Do you ever feel the focus on you being a sexual icon overshadowed your music?  

Sexual imagery is powerful and stays long after you’ve put that work out there. It’s impactful and super dynamic, and we all respond to it in whatever direction it takes us. The reality is that we use sex to sell everything, especially music. Think of all the female artists that use their sexuality and provocativeness to sell their music. I think there is a double standard when it comes to men. The answer to the question is yes; I think for some the way that I have exposed myself prevents them from seeing past it. That is the limitation they put on it (and more than likely on themselves) and has nothing to do with me. I continue to speak to those people who can see past that part of me and recognize that I am more than just that one thing. We are all multifaceted.

You have collaborated with several big names in the industry…what are the biggest factors to a successful collaboration?

Creating a free and safe space to create. Respecting the craft, the special gifts your collaborators bring to the table, and working free from judgment. Thinking about things too much can kill creativity, which comes from your soul. Get out of the way and let the creative energy channel through you. Take risks to find the gems. I love an environment where that is welcomed and embraced, not restricted or regulated. 

How has the music industry changed the most from your first single?  

The biggest change, in my opinion, is that artists now have the means with which to get their music out there without having to find a label to do it for them. Anyone can release their music to the world.

In your opinion, what are the biggest obstacles for an independent artist?  

The challenge now that has been created with the freedom of self-releasing, is punching through a very saturated market. I had read that approximately 24,000 songs are released every day, 1 million every six weeks. Crazy!

Was it a difficult choice to leave the adult film industry?  

Not at all. After 10 months I felt like I got everything I needed from the experience at that point and wanted to focus back on my music. I also had the opportunity to be a part of a documentary, “Naked Fame,” chronicling my exit from porn and releasing new music.

How is Colton Ford the person most different than the Colton Ford we see?  

Colton Ford is my persona, whereas the person behind that is Glenn. I am multifaceted beyond just the art that I put out there.

I LOVED your appearance in The Lair…can we expect more acting from you in the future?  

Thank you. I love to act. It’s an extension of my creativity. I’ve done theatre, off-Broadway, film, and TV, and I have enjoyed all of it. As things start opening back up, I hope to have greater opportunities in that arena.

Your latest single “Stay” is powerful, with a lot of meaning.  Tell me about the abandonment you felt in your childhood.

Firstly, thank you! My mother and father divorced when I was around 2 ½ years old. My dad kept coming around and visiting for a bit, which I absolutely loved. He was my hero. My mom eventually remarried when I was around 4, and shortly thereafter my dad stopped coming. Didn’t see him again until I was 16 years old. My stepdad and I never got along really, and I always wondered what happened to the cool man that was my father. I had several difficult years but eventually came out of my haze around 3^rd grade. Thanks to therapy, I addressed that trauma – thank goodness – that can mess a kid’s head up big time.

What is your advice to LGBTQ youth feeling abandoned by their family?  

Well, first, shame on those parents. Shame, shame, shame! The reality is that we can create our families, and that is not driven by blood. Surround yourself with people who see you and accept you for who you are. Like-minded individuals who support you and your choices. People who treat you with love, kindness, and respect. Make those individuals your family of choice. I would also urge these beautiful young people to get into therapy. You must find a great therapist of course, but do the self-work and get in there and deal with those feelings. I’ve talked to many people who were shunned and abandoned by their families when they came out, and consistently have found that most blame themselves. Like they did something wrong or that they weren’t good enough. So deeply painful, and so wrong. You have to get down in the trenches and deal with it, otherwise, it will influence you in your adult relationships in a direction that you don’t want. Don’t let the shortcomings of your parents continue to plague you in your adult life. You deserve so much more. I’d give them a big hug too.

In “Stay,” you present being vulnerable in a relationship as scary but also vital for a relationship.  Why do you think it is so difficult for gay men to be totally open to someone else?  

I think it’s difficult for most people, gay and straight. We talk about wanting unconditional love, but that comes with great responsibility, first and foremost to oneself. You need to be good with you and love yourself unconditionally first, feeling entitled to and giving yourself permission to be who you are. You then must share all of that with your partner and make yourself vulnerable, which is scary. The fear of rejection, abandonment, and judgment is alive and very well in our world, and it’s the thing that can prevent us from living the life we truly want. You can’t love someone more than loving yourself enough to show him or her all of you. I think it is the biggest challenge we face as humans.

What mistakes did you make in your early relationships?  

Not knowing myself enough to show myself completely to my partner. Secrets are little demons that can wreak havoc on a relationship. Again, unconditionally loving someone is giving him or her all of you, even your mistakes and shortcomings.

What is your creative process when writing a new song?  

I like going into a writing session free from being in my head in any way. I may have an idea of a narrative, but I really like to listen to the track (the instrumentals) and let it inspire what comes out. My two creative partners provide the tracks that I then write the toplines to (melody and lyrics). When I first start listening to the music, melodies start popping through. Most of the time what I’m singing as I’m developing the melody is gibberish, but words find their way, popping through and revealing themselves in the process. I expand from there.

You have started an OnlyFans – what sparked your interest in showing us ALL of Colton Ford again?  

As my partners, our publicists, and I were talking about releasing “Stay,” the consensus was to do something visual that was more provocative, leaning back into the erotic part of my brand. We discussed creating two edits of the video, one of which would show everything between the couple. The next question was how to deliver that uncensored edit. Platforms like Only Fans allow for that kind of adult content and have become more mainstream as time goes on. The thought was for me to use all aspects of my brand including the erotic, and I felt comfortable doing it. It’s taken on a different energy and spirit with me being 58. I find more people cheering me on, representing that things don’t just stop when you enter your 50’s. That being in your 50’s looks different today than it did in the past. That we don’t have to subscribe to the notion that we can’t be sexual or take risks and continue pursuing our dreams. It seems that me giving myself permission to go there unapologetically is speaking to others to do the same for themselves, which is awesome.

Did you have any trepidation about dipping your toes back into the adult world?  

Not really. I’ve been provocative for quite some time now and have been doing what I’ve wanted to do for years. I’m just continuing to do what I’ve always done and embrace my choices. There’s an exhibitionist in me of course and it’s something that I’ve explored and continue to explore. If that critical voice comes in to try and mess with me, I shut it down.

You look better at 58 them most of us ever will.  What’s the key to aging so well?  

I’ve stayed consistent with my fitness regimen and that’s key. I’ve also committed to the same consistency with my therapy and self-work. Taking care of my mental and emotional health as well as the physical. It’s a balance that really works. Also, having very conscious, loving, empathetic relationships with the group of people that I have in my life.

Do you think ageism has become less of an issue in the LGBTQ community?

I think ageism is an issue for us humans in general. That and all the other ways that we try and compartmentalize people and limit them because of what they look like or who they are. No one wants to be told that they cannot be who they want to be, or who they’re born to be, and yet we live in a world where we must fight that every day. Enough already.   

What is your message to your fans?   

Thank you for all your support through the years. I do not take it for granted and I am very grateful for it.

You can follow Colton Ford at: https://linktr.ee/ColtonFord.