Bear World Playlist Featured Artist: Karate School Dropout

8th November 2021 BWM Staff

The week’s Bear World Playlist Featured Artist is Chicago’s own Karate School Dropout!

Song on the Bear World Playlist: “My Heart Is Racing”

Current City: Chicago

Hometown: Chicago

Bear World Magazine: What can you tell us about this song?

Karate School Dropout: “My Heart is Racing” is a complex song, but I’ll try to keep it to the point. A lot of people assume that this song is about the cliche break up with a guy, but it’s really about an end to a 20-year-long friendship with my former best friend and bandmate.

During the height of the pandemic, the friendship tried to be repaired, but condescending and belittling words, narcissistic verbal attacks through text and social media, did not help the situation. Her disloyalty and her right wing conservative views just made her a different and mean person. You just know when enough is enough. With all that negativity, I had to cut ties and go our separate ways… but I also had to write a song about it.

My great friend, Jerry K., co-wrote the lyrics and since it was pretty hard for me to express everything in a 3-and-a-half-minute song, Jerry helped sum up the experience of my emotions and heartache perfectly. Love you Jerry! I’ll be honest, I do get very emotional when I hear the song because I don’t have my best friend by my side anymore and loneliness settles in, but I know that it’ll be alright, and I know that it’ll be OK, because love can heal you from this pain.

BWM: What is a personal turn-on in a guy?

KSD: A muscular butt… I mean, a sense of humor! With a side of grit.

BWM: What’s a dealbreaker?

KSD: Being inconsiderate and having no manners.

BWM: What other queer artists are you digging now?

KSD: I loved PWR BTTM, but some scandal happened and they were cancelled. But I’m also digging Pale Waves, Limp Wrist, Partner, Aye Nako, Dazey and The Scouts, The Gullibles, The Knees, Homer Marrs, and Hunx and his Punx!

BWM: Any upcoming shows or plans for KSD?

KSD: No upcoming shows yet, but in 2022 KSD will collaborate with Homer Marrs and the Excellent Adventure with a new song, and Karate School Dropout plans to put out a duet EP with my friend Mel J. called The Dojo Experience.