Dirty Versachi brings to our planet their debut single, 'Sticky Fingers' – a track exploring feelings of loneliness and a longing for physical connection tinged with ‘90s house and modern pop elements, as well as other-worldly sounds and vocal pitching.
'Sticky Fingers' is a collaboration with co-producer Andrew Huhtanen McEwan (Huntly), mixing engineer Tim Watt (MUTO, Golden Features) and mastering engineer Klaus Hill (Ministry Of Sound, PACES).
Dirty Versachi's goals as an alien creature from outer space are to assimilate on this new planet, own their fem, non-binary energy and inspire a shift in the music industry to celebrate queer artists.
The music video for 'Sticky Fingers' below, was self-directed.
Here, we chat with Dirty Versachi about their arrival on earth and what us humans can expect from them musically.
Who is Dirty Versachi?
Dirty Versachi is an alien superstar who has landed on earth and is assimilating as a human! In other words, my drag persona.
What would you most like people to know about you as they listen to your music?
Interesting question. . . Maybe that I was a music producer for 12 years before launching Dirty Versachi, and even though I focus a lot on my visual aesthetic on Instagram – and love creating visual imagery – my deepest love is music production. I secretly nerd out about music gear. . . Like reading synthesiser manuals in my spare time and watching YouTube videos of people talking or demonstrating music gear. Somehow I find it really cathartic and calming.
How does it feel to have your debut single out in the world?!
Crazy! Amazing! I feel so blessed and happy! Dirty Versachi has been incubating for quite some time, maybe two years since the name first arrived in my head box and maybe a year and a half since I first started experimenting with drag. So, to finally land this first single on earth, it is like taking a sugar pill. It’s a rush!
Tell us a bit about the story behind it – what’s it all about and where did inspiration strike?
Okay, picture yourself in lockdown 2020 (which feels a little too close to home for us angels here in Melbourne). You’re imagining, no. . . Craving (!) a sweaty dance floor, but you’re trapped in your house. That was the world I channelled when I conceived ‘Sticky Fingers’. There was desperation and suppressed desire, all of which I transmuted into the song.
How has your ‘dragformation’ informed your sound as a musician?
Mmm, good question. Previously I made music under the alias of Youthfire and a lot of that calm, smooth, introspective energy still exists as Dirty Versachi – but I’ve taken it to the club! I think I’m pulling a bit more on the ‘moody strings’. Overall I still write from a very personal place and all of my songs are essentially about sharing myself and my experiences as a queer person. I think Dirty Versachi is just my boldest expression of self to date!
Part of Dirty Versachi’s vibe is using fantasy and self-expression to create healing and community. Can you talk about about why this is important to you?
As a queer person, I feel that your community and your chosen family is just so essential to your mental health and creative wellbeing as an artist. Before moving to Melbourne I struggled, as I didn’t have this. I felt very isolated and alone as a queer person trying to navigate the music industry and also just being a person. I felt very alienated. I often still feel this way when I’m away from my community. Pre-COVID we started a club night/dance party called Fem Fantasy which has been essential in growing and nurturing our community of friends who have felt the same way. A BIG element of these shows is about creating your own fantasy AND being free to express that in whatever form that may be. We also try to showcase as many emerging performers or people just starting out doing their thing, which has been very exciting and inspiring to be part of. It’s important for us to focus on bringing fem, queer, non-binary, and BIPOC performers to the front and creating a space where they feel safe to beam out their light, free of judgement. I felt that I lacked this when I first started out on my creative journey so this is something that is really important to me!
At what point in your life did you realise music was something you wanted to create?
From as early as I can remember I always sung. I started writing my first little songs when I was in grade eight! So, I’m going to say since I was conceived? Haha.
What would you tell a young, queer person aspiring to be an artist but not sure where to begin?
Oh god, this brings up a lot of feels. I often feel that I made a few wrong turns earlier on in my journey as I was so consumed with how I thought I was being perceived. I dimmed my light as I thought that could make me ‘cooler’ or whatever. I’m unsure what advice I would give another queer artist, as everyone’s journey is different and beautiful, but to a younger me I would say, “don’t be afraid to just be me”.
What’s next for you?
Spaceship landing = success! Next, world domination? Just kidding! Haha. What’s next for me? I’m allowing myself to grow and evolve and hopefully soon you will see the next chapter in my journey.
Dirty Versachi's 'Sticky Fingers' is out now.
