EXCLUSIVE: WATCH: Steve Grand: 'We All Want to Feel Loved'

Steve Grand became an instant phenomenon when his debut music video, "All-American Boy," which boldly depicted a story of unrequited love in the form of a same-sex crush, went viral shortly after he uploaded it to YouTube in 2013.

A few short months later, the out singer launched a crowdfunding campaign to support his first full-length album. It not only surpassed its goal of $81,000, it went on to become the most funded music project never to be affiliated with a major label in Kickstarter history with $326,593 pledged -- proving the world is hungry to hear more music from out artists writing songs from a queer perspective.

With his album All-American Boy now finished and set to be released March 24, Grand has released a new video discussing how the stories fans have shared with him have inspired the singer throughout his journey and why he won't back down from standing tall as an out gay singer.

"While people say this is no big deal anymore. Who cares? You know who cares are the kids that are really struggling with this. The kids who feel like they would still rather be dead than live life as a gay person," Grand says in the video. "I'm thinking about them all the time when I'm doing these things. Because deep down we really all just want to loved, we want to experience love, we want to give love, we want to take in love, and we want to feel valued and understood."

In a 2014 interview with The Advocate, Grand revealed that he feels his success is as much about his music as it is the need for LGBT voices to be heard. "It's not just about the album, it's a movement," he said. "I think a small pocket of people feel like I'm helping the voice [of LGBT people] be heard, and they're making a statement by supporting the record."

Watch the All-American Boy discuss his new album, his journey so far, and his hopes for the future in the video below. For all things Steve Grand, hop over to his official website.