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Steven Gray and Shine HorovitsOn Tuesday, Youtube megastar Todrick Hall surprised fans with a deluxe version release of his 2016 visual album, Straight Outta Oz.
Inspired by his “most favorite story” — The Wizard of Oz — Todrick explains why author Frank L. Baum‘s tale about a young girl named Dorothy who finds herself in the wonderful land of Oz is such a huge part of his life and latest artistic creation.
“I wanted to do something that felt more real and felt more raw and authentic, so that people could get to know a different side of me,” Todrick says.
“But also, if I’m being real, The Wizard of Oz is such a close part of my life and something I love so much. So it was very easy for me to compare my life to that because I know that story inside-out.”
Todrick also employed a fresh cast of performers for the deluxe edition of Straight Outta Oz, including Tamar Braxton, Raven-Symoné, Tracie Thoms, RuPaul, Pentatonix, and stage actress Shoshana Bean.
He says that he aimed to show fans a “more mature and a little bit slightly darker” vision for the album, versus the sparkling videos they’re used to seeing on his YouTube channel.
“I’m known for doing really bubbly, fun, musical theater-esque things, that kind of feel in the vein of a Katy Perry or a Pee Wee Herman or Willy Wonka-type thing. If those three people got together and had an African-American child, I would’ve been that child,” Hall says.
Straight Outta Oz and tickets for Todrick’s Straight Outta Oz global tour are both available to purchase now.
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Watch the new DELUXE version of #StraightOuttaOZ w/ 7 new songs!! Available on iTunes NOW!!! https://t.co/f8fKAkI9SE
— Todrick Hall (@todrick) March 21, 2017
