Billy Porter Releases Disco-Infused Single ‘Children’

Are you ready to go dancing?

On October 15, Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award-winning actor, singer, director, and designer Billy Porter released a new single, titled “Children.” The track marks his debut under his newly minted joint partnership with Island UK and Republic Records.

Co-written by Grammy Award-nominated songwriter MNEK and Little Mix’s Jade Thirwell, the high-energy dance floor anthem was inspired by Porter’s unapologetic approach to life.

“‘Children’ is a song that is inspired by my life and everything I’ve gone through to get here,” he says. “For the first time, my music is what I want it to be, what I want it to say, which is hope, love. We have to choose it every day so we can fight the evil that is so pervasive. We can only fight it with love, and I am so excited for my music to do that.”

A beat drop follows, kicking into a propulsive disco groove as Porter triumphantly promises: A change starts today, better wipe those tears away. The track follows his feature on Jessie J’s “I Want Love (twocolors Remix)” earlier this year.

According to Porter, music is his first love.

“I grew up singing in the church,” he says. “When I first put out commercial music in 1997, the industry was not ready for all this Black Boy Joy! But luckily, the world has caught up. I could not be more thrilled to entrust this next chapter of my music career to the Island/Republic team. Make way children! Daddy’s back.”

Porter began his music career with the release of his self-titled (aka Untitled) debut album, which spawned the Top 10 “Bubbling Under” single, “Show Me,” and the monster ballad, “Love Is On the Way, which also appeared at a pivotal moment in the film First Wives Club. He went on to release “At the Corner of Broadway + Soul” in 2005, “Billy’s Back on Broadway” in 2014, and “The Soul of Richard Rodgers” in 2017, which features Pentatonix, India.Arie, Leslie Odom Jr., and Cynthia Erivo, among others.

After scoring his first number one with “Love Yourself” in 2019 on the U.S. Dance Club Songs Chart, he followed that up with his 2020 reimagining of the legendary Buffalo Springfield anthem, “For What It’s Worth,” and a fierce collaboration with The Shapeshifters on “Finally Ready.” In 2021, Porter covered the Juliet Roberts club classic “Caught in the Middle” for Red Hot + Free, which supports underserved communities affected by HIV/AIDS.

Porter will kick off his next chapter in music with a new album coming soon.

“Children” is now available to stream on Spotify and all other digital streaming platforms. Connect and stay up-to-date with Porter by following him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.

Photos courtesy of Meredith Truax and social media