Interview by Lariscious
Images by Chrissy Bulakites & Tinker Coalescing (www.facebook.com/thethinktheater)
Hailing from Allentown, PA, artist and performer Sick Nasty is now a regular on the Brooklyn scene. A Sick Nasty show changes the room with a raw energy you will never find in Manhattan.
Sick Nasty kindly spoke with Posture about her unique take on drag.
How did you get started with drag?
Drag started in high school. My best friend wore makeup literally every day and played with a lot of gender bending appearances. More subtle makeup, barely any wigs. We never performed on stages. Just got drunk, got painted, and went out. We were friends with another queen who performed a lot. Total opposite end in the makeup spectrum. She did makeup on corpses as well. The two of them really got me into the whole world and granted me these hidden freedoms I never knew existed.
What inspired to move from just doing looks to actually doing performance? What was that transition like for you?
I think at one point you say to yourself, “I spent all this time looking fucking awesome and I want people to see this.” Being in the spotlight charges people in a really interesting way. Your inhibitions go out the door most times, and the first time that happens you can get really hooked.
I’d say the best revelation I had about performing is, at first you are up there to make yourself happy and feel alive, but after a while you notice you’re giving life to the audience and making it a moment for them to enjoy as well.
How does your traditional training in the arts influence your performances?
With Illustration and drag, I tend to marry them a lot as of recently. I have a thing with hand gestures. I draw them then blow them up onto the most bland thrift store dress I can find and try to bring it somewhere new. I’m obsessed with paint markers and would draw all over my closet if I could. I have a set of praying hands covered in blood on a Paris green mini dress that tends to make a statement when I sport it on stage. I have another canvas dress with a hand flippin’ the bird on the front and the inverted version on the back. It adds to the welcome mat of chest hair peeping through the neckline.
I have always admired your non-traditional drag musical choices. How do you decide what to perform?
Lonely subway rides are a great way to explore my phone for some songs I’ve imagined myself crowd surfing to. The Dresden Dolls, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Gravy Train!!!!, Bright Eyes, Regina Spektor, The Smiths, Of Montreal, Janis Joplin and Queen are all fair game. I have trouble getting passionate about anything top 40. If a song jolts me and allows me to thrash my arms and head to the beat I will more often than not throw it on at a show. Also, songs that I used to listen to at the bus stop on my way to high school tend to make their way on my song list.
Art, fashion, music….what’s your favorite part about performing and the scene in general?
My favorite part about performing is the scene itself. I don’t wander too often in drag to Manhattan, partly because I live here (Brooklyn), but most importantly I receive endless support from all my fellow queens, queers, artists and grunge enthusiasts. As soon as I get off stage I’m greeted by hugs and booze! I feel one day my body may not be to handle performing, but that does not mean I won’t throw on a wig and come support the people who made me feel alive.
Who are your favorite artists in the scene right now? Who inspires you?
I hate to name favorites but if I had to choose who I really enjoy watching most I’d definitely say Charmin Ultra, Hamm Samwich, Macy Rodman, Untitled Queen, Elle Emenopé, Stevie Zar and the list goes on. Oh yeah and that mess Scarlet Envy. We’re butt buddies. Everyone mentioned really brings their own flavor and can obliterate the stage. Also outside of our Brooklyn scene, Christeene Vale, the queen of stank, hails from Austin, Texas. I do her show posters whenever she comes to the city to perform. You absolutely have to experience it. It’s a foul, liberating display of live music, dancing and bodily fluids. Check out her music and videos at Christeene.org
All stellar performers in their own right. What do you have planned for the rest of 2013? And beyond?
I am actually so excited for Bushwig on the 7th of September. There’s lots of big things planned thank to Matty Beats X Horrorchata and the rest of the Brooklyn queer/drag scene. I’m also working on a series of oil portraits which will be turning into a huge show once the paintings are complete. You’ll be hearing more about it soon. I’ll be performing here and there and if you happen to catch me make sure you scream obscenities at me, throw dollars and give me a huge hug. Beyond… Let me finish out my senior year and snatch my BFA then there will be more to tell.
Where can one go to check out a SIck Nasty show?
The bars I perform at most are This N’ That for Scarlet Fever! every Friday at midnight (really its 12:15, you know how queens roll) and randomly at Sugarland. I’ve also made appearances at Vlada Lounge in Manhattan for Ruby Roo and Hamm Samwich’s show called “Franzia Wednesdays” at 11:30. That means midnight.
As an added bonus, Sick Nasty was kind enough to share some of her illustrations……
