EDGE Interview: Newlyweds Dion Yorkie & Sebb Argo Talk Relationships, Pride & New Music

It would take almost a decade before Dion Yorkie and Sebb Argo would tie the knot. They met in 2015 and managed to make their long-distance relationship work. Sebb flew back and forth to Canada for a while until he transferred there for school. "We got married last October in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico'" he tells EDGE.

The couple has managed to become not only an example of a lasting gay relationship but making it happen while pursuing their individual careers. Granted they do make social media posts together and have become very good at it, accruing over three million fans in the process. Still, Dion is a musician trying to build a catalog.

Communication is key in making it work for them. Also not being self-centered to the point where the other's accomplishments becomes a bone of contention. "I think the best way we've made our relationship last is by treating each other with genuine care and respect," says Dion. "Instead of using our relationship as a tool to gain social capital, we put protecting our peace and love at the forefront of our priority list. This allows creating content and art to be a natural extension of ourselves so nothing feels forced, toxic or manipulative."

The couple have been traveling for their extended honeymoon. At the time of this interview, they were in Greece basking in the Mediterranean sun. It's a long way from home where Pride parades, parties, and other celebrations have just wrapped up. However just because they are out of the country doesn't mean they don't forget what it means.

"Pride to me is about claiming your space in this world," says Sebb via email. "It is about celebrating every single aspect of who you are without caring what anybody thinks. We live in an era where a lot of people give rules and regulations to queer people. They accept us but they expect us to align to what they think is socially acceptable. Pride is claiming the same respect and energy as every other human in the world. Claiming your own happiness and knowing you are valid just the way you are."

Dion mirrors those remarks about Pride being a middle finger to heteronormative norms but also thinks that prejudice isn't something practiced outside the community. He is passionate about the community recognizing its own judgments that frequently poison the waters of acceptance.

"I recognize the trauma and hardships I've had to face as a queer person but I see firsthand how others in my community judge the worth of LGBTQIA+ people based on how closely they fit heteronormative norms," says Dion. "It's a little disheartening to see the divide even within our own community. And I actively think it's important to question those conversations when they come up and challenge the toxic masculinity and binary ideals that pollute minds, and only work to divide a community that should be supporting one another and cheering each other on."

"Pride is claiming the same respect and energy as every other human in the world," Sebb adds. "Claiming your own happiness and knowing you are valid just the way you are."

Even as hard as we try to be tolerant of other's shortcomings, there are minor annoyances in every relationship that might not be as damaging as social hypocrisy, but still get under our skin. Dion and Sebb have their own pet peeves with each other which aren't necessarily bad habits as they are annoying routines.

"His vocal warmups!" Sebb laughs textually. "I know he has to do them every day but right now we are traveling lots and staying in small hotel rooms so every day at around nine or ten [in the morning] he starts doing his vocal warm-ups full volume. I'm a bit used to it now and I even join in sometimes. I'm kidding though, his dedication and commitment inspires me a lot."

For Dion it's coffee. Sebb regularly tries to get him to drink coffee. It's an ongoing light-hearted troll that's more bit than bitter. "I have to tell him, babe, I love you, but I'm not going to partake in your coffee addiction. In which he always replies, 'I'm not addicted, I don't ever have more than one a day.' In which I reply, caffeine is a drug, because it is, and that's not a read. It's perfectly legal to consume coffee to your heart's content, but it's a fact that caffeine is a drug and I do not want to have that in my system for my own personal reasons. I explore this personal experience in my album's track, 'Don't Feel Sorry for Yourself' which confronts my addictive personality head-on."

That album titled, "The Mess of it All," was released just last month. Dion says it is a love letter to the community. It was born from, and explores, some of his personal epiphanies. "I wrote it in a time of healing where I processed many of my experiences as a gay man who's been out since he was 17."

Breathy vocalizations backed by electro rhythms and new-age instrumentals generate intriguing melodic storytelling making it moody but absorbing. The album is filed under "pop" but there is so much more to it than that. It feels like listening to Dion's inner dialog set to auditory brainwaves.

"Making my album took a version of myself that felt defeated, and allowed me to be reborn as a producer, with more potential than ever before. I've proved that restarting, just like a flower has to when it's chopped, can push you in the direction you need to go to thrive more than you thought possible," he explains. "Self-teaching piano, music theory, song form, lyric writing, production techniques, and how to mix and master music allowed me to take my skills as a vocalist and lyricist and streamline them into art I am proud of."

Remembering his husband's mental state during the making of the album, Sebb says it was therapeutic for them both. "I witnessed him grow in so many ways thanks to this album and saw how his confidence and smile were built back up. The whole process inspired me so much because of how raw and honest his lyrics and production are. As soon as he showed me the full album my mind started flowing with so many visuals for each track. Now, two years later, witnessing how the album connects with people all around the world fills my heart with so much queer joy. I think the messages in every song hit really close to the LGBTQ+ community in a way that I haven't heard other albums do."

To turn a phrase, once the honeymoon is over and the couple go back to their regular lives, they have lots of things planned including writing a gay romance book, "We're going to be shopping around for an agent or publisher to get it out by the end of the year," says Sebb. "Also, maybe a few more music videos for Dion's new album. And now that he knows how to produce, maybe he can help me get a little EP together. I'm definitely ready to start making music again!"

For Dion, he wants to continue to push the boundaries as a producer and music composer. He wrote several songs on his honeymoon and is exploring the logistics of touring to promote "The Mess of it All." He also says they are featured in some upcoming movies and would love to pursue more in that medium –- to be at the forefront of gay actors cast in lead roles.

"You know, to change the tired and played out narrative that straight actors should be the ones playing gay roles and gay actors should only play stereotypical side character roles. It's only up from here when you are as creative and driven as us The gay sky is the landing zone and we know no limits."