n°1 | In Conversation
King Princess on Queerness, Representation, and Loving Lady Gaga
King Princess burst onto the scene with 2018’s “1950,” a melodious anthem to queer love based on Patricia Highsmith’s seminal 1952 novel, The Price of Salt. Since then, she has secured herself as one of the leading voices in queer pop, penning personal and intimate tracks such as “Homegirl,” “Trust Nobody,” and “If You Think It’s Love.”
MØ on Vulnerability, Political Activism, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs
I was nineteen when I first heard MØ’s “Waste of Time,” its thumping bass, liquid guitar riffs, and towering vocals frenetically soothing my young broken heart. “Lean On,” her relentlessly catchy, record-shattering track with Major Lazer, pulsed over the New York airwaves seemingly every twenty minutes.
Omahyra Mota on Her Career, New York, and Being Unapologetically Yourself
Wielding striking looks, piercings, tattoos, and an unmistakable attitude, Omahyra Mota blazed a trail for non-conformers within an industry of traditionalism.
Sandra Bernhard on Her Illustrious Career, Unwavering Self-Confidence, and the Election
Sandra Bernhard lives by her own rules. It was her biting and groundbreaking stand-up that rose her from relative obscurity to international levels of acclaim, pioneering her way through the late 1970s and 80s. Before searing performances and numerous iconic late-night appearances, she was cast by Martin Scorcese in 1983 to appear in his black comedy drama flick, The King of Comedy.
Chelsea Wolfe on Transformation, Spirituality, and Her Enduring Authenticity
Haunting, alluring, and perennially enchanting, Chelsea Wolfe’s latest album, She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She, weaves a web of reverie around its listeners. As its swelling synths rise like shadows in the dark, crashing against captivating vocals that fluctuate from whispers to cries, Wolfe’s latest work of genius personifies emotional catharsis, punctuating a new era of “self-preservation, self-love, and self-worth.”
El Perro del Mar on Metamorphosis, Motherhood, and Aging Fearlessly
Deeply rooted in introspection and authenticity, Sarah Assbring’s sonic journey as El Perro del Mar channels melancholia as a space for healing and contemplation. The Gothenburg native’s latest release, Big Anonymous, profoundly explores bringing secrets into light – “the things that often go unsaid” – requiring us, the listeners, to confront our vulnerabilities and acknowledge the touching beauty of human frailties.
Katy O’Brian on Confidence, Self-Defense, and Love Lies Bleeding
Tunneling through violence, vulnerability, endurance, and erotic encounters, Katy O’Brian tailors emotional torrents with a decided, confident strength, dazzling audiences in Love Lies Bleeding. Yet it is her life off the screen that is arguably as captivating – an unorthodox career path and challenging personal struggles have cemented her as a canon of reinvention, reclamation, and resilience.
Aubri Ibrag on Period Dramas, Inner Strength, and The Buccaneers
Through the exploration of gender roles and power dynamics, The Buccaneers has both redefined and revitalized the importance of the period drama. Portrayed by the shining Aubri Ibrag, Lizzy Elmsworth finds herself within the crosshairs of Lord Seadown’s abuse of power within the hit show’s first season, prompting her inspiring and modern response to the perennial injustice that is exploitation.
quinnie on Intuition, Vulnerability, and Her Meteoric Rise
quinnie’s brilliant masterpiece, “touch tank,” took the digital world by storm in the summer of 2022. The brazen, candid, and tender track, as sweet as it is blunt, is a perennial tale of infatuation that enchantingly wove its way onto the playlists of millions around the globe. But quinnie is uneasy – if not completely reluctant – to consider that her magnum opus. In fact, that’s only the beginning.
Jennifer Morrison on Directing, Dr. Death, and Owning What You Love
From her landmark roles on illustrious shows such as House and Once Upon a Time to her directorial debuts on Euphoria and Dr. Death, Jennifer Morrison is the fully-realized embodiment of multi-dimensionality.
Gaye Advert on The Adverts, Art, and Being a Pioneering Female in Punk
Often touted as the first female rock star of the punk movement, Gaye Black (Gaye Advert) stood as the kohl-rimmed eyed and jet-black haired beacon in a storm of chaos. Embodying fearless attitude and striking confidence, Gaye formed The Adverts alongside TV Smith in 1976.
Dita Von Teese on Self-Confidence, Old Hollywood, and Her Historic Las Vegas Revue
Seductive, vampy, and intoxicatingly enigmatic, Dita Von Teese has innovated an intriguingly transgressive world of vintage glamour, class, opulence, and timeless beauty. Bursting onto the scene in the early 1990s, Von Teese transformed from a “dishwater blonde from a farming town in Michigan” to a raven-haired, red lipstick-swathed siren, becoming a beacon of empowering reinvention and self-confidence for women all over the world.
Taylor Momsen on Provocation, Musicianship, and being a Female in Rock
Taylor Momsen has firmly commanded her own destiny. In 2012, the former Gossip Girl alum boldly cut ties with an exceedingly successful acting career to pursue music full time. Since then, she has become one of the leading women in contemporary rock by fronting and founding her own outfit, The Pretty Reckless.
Linda Perry on Producing, Embracing Change, and Living Your Truth
Linda Perry is a prospering beacon of reinvention. Joining the seminal alt rock band 4 Non Blondes in 1989, Linda laid the vocals and played guitar on iconic tracks such as “What’s Up?” and “Dear Mr. President.” After leaving the band in 1994, she recorded a solo album, In Flight, and established her own record label, Rockstar Records.
Roxane Gay on Marriage, Lesbian Icons, and the Importance of Marginalized Voices
American writer, editor, professor, cultural critic, and social commentator Roxane Gay believes that women are at their best when they are bad, difficult, and heard. The writer outlined the ways that she, and by extension all women, can (and should) contradict themselves as they form their personhood and embrace their badness in her 2014 bestselling collection of essays, Bad Feminist.
Nikki Reed on Sustainability, Thirteen, and Women Creating Their Own Opportunities
Whether it’s through her oft-groundbreaking and shapeshifting film roles or her eco-conscious brand, Nikki Reed affects change. In 2003, Reed blasted onto the scene by co-writing and starring in the seminal teen drama, Thirteen, opposite Evan Rachel Wood. It was her groundbreaking performance in the Catherine Hardwicke-directed debut that led to numerous other roles, including Kathy Alva in 2005’s Lords of Dogtown and Rosalie Hale in Twilight.
Tatiana Maslany on Visibility, Perry Mason, and Provocative Women
Emmy Award-winning actress Tatiana Maslany doesn’t back down from a challenge. It was her portrayal of over a dozen roles in Orphan Black that won her the prestigious award, showcasing a range of talent on screen unlike many had ever seen. Moving on from her shapeshifting, groundbreaking role on Orphan Black, Tatiana is now portraying the fiery, impassioned evangelist, Sister Alice McKeegan, on HBO’s captivating new series, Perry Mason.
Lea DeLaria on Butch Representation, Orange Is the New Black, and Being the First to Ever Do It
In 1993, Lea DeLaria became the first openly gay comic to perform on American television with her groundbreaking performance on The Arsenio Hall Show. That landmark appearance, in which she mentioned the words “dyke,” “fag,” or “queer” 47 times in 9½ minutes, remains one of the most revolutionary moments in modern television. Now 27 years later with a bevy of iconic roles behind her, from Orange Is the New Black to Broadway, Lea DeLaria is still changing perceptions. Kristin Prim and Alexandra Julienne spoke to the enduring icon about being butch, playing Big Boo, and loving the Yankees.
Maisie Richardson-Sellers on Inclusivity, Identity, and Accepting Your Truest Self
Maisie Richardson-Sellers is leading the charge for the representation of young queer women of color. After landing her first role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2015, she was cast as Rebekah Mikaelson in the hit fantasy drama, The Originals. It was in 2016 that she played her breakout television role of Vixen in the CW series, Legends of Tomorrow. Most recently, she portrayed Chloe Winthrop in Netflix’s hit rom-com, The Kissing Booth 2.
Joy Crookes on Influences, Songwriting, and the Strength in Vulnerability
Joy Crookes forges her own path. The 22-year-old London-based crooner released her debut single “New Manhattan” in 2016 at the age of 17, paving the way for a bright and illustrious career in the world of neo soul. Born to a Bangladeshi mother and an Irish father in Lambeth, Crookes’ music, activism, and lyricism explore the injustices of practices such as racism, xenophobia, misogyny, and gentrification, concurrently melding her passions and talents in a silky, compelling, and pioneering blend.