Get ready to be Proud with the fabulous Karel

Monday 10th August 2026

Entertainment Trailblazer Karel Scores Top 10 UK Hit with “I Dance Because” and  Follows Up With A New Single and Video  “You Have to Be Proud” for WORLD PRIDE in July 2026 on Swishcraft Music. 

“The new single ‘YOU HAVE TO BE PROUD” is a message to all  marginalized  communities:  Don’t give up” say Karel of his new anthem dropping today complete with celebratory, Hands-In-The-Air remixes by Matt Consola & Andy Allder, House of Frappier, Silver Bluff, and DADDIES HOME!

“Pride Month 2026 was one of the worst of recent history,” Karel commented from his Las Vegas home. “The Trump regime has set rights back for every letter of the LGBTQ community,” he explained. “There’s an all out war on trans people, and now even members of our own community are trying to isolate and break up our little alphabet. I won’t have it. I once sang we are ‘stronger together’ and I meant it. And now, I feel we all need a reminder, this is not the time to retreat, it’s the time to stand strong, show our Pride and demand more.”

Karel wrote the new single “You Have to be Proud” and turned to Leo Frappier, House of Frappier, for the production. Frappier created a lush choral arrangement and once again Karel was blessed to have Dance Icon Thea Austin add her enormous talents to the backgrounds.

“You Have to be Proud” is set to provide a soundtrack for the rest of the year as well as World Pride in July of 2026; and it comes at a much-needed time in the world as Pride is under constant attack from bigoted US Presidents, cabinet members, seated members of US Congress and other right wing zealots in lands far and wide. With all the noise, Karel wants to counter it with a rallying cry to stand proud, stand strong, and fight.

For a more in-depth look behind “You Have Too Be Proud” and artist Karel, visit https://bit.ly/4yDb22K or www.swishcraftmusic.com

Posted by Craig Jones