Songs in Drag: Connecting to the Music

There's a relief you feel at the familiarity of that song. The one that transports you to a time and place that feels safe and warm. Or maybe the one that releases all your pent-up frustration, channeling it into fuel for the headbanging, air drum solo, mental rap battle, what have you. Whatever the emotion is, a single song, a single chorus, or even melody, can magically heal, reveal, and conceal. 

No one may quite understand this like drag queens and kings. They transform before and once they hit the stage. Like many entertainers, some adopt their stage personas to go all out, others say they feel like they are fully themselves. The makeup, wigs, and outfits are what most people think of when they think of drag performers, but what can make a real difference are their song choices. 

As drag continues to evolve, the performers have experimented more and more with their acts. Incorporating spoken word, film and tv scenes, and mixed media, have become mainstays for those looking to do something different. Drag performers don't have to be glam, they can be terrifying, like the contestants on the Boulet Brothers Dragula; Austin's own Louisiana Purchase competed in season 3 of the competition. Regardless of all that, what can still bring the house down is that song. Performers who connect with the material, delivering powerhouse lip-sync performances, can outperform the original artist. Kennedy Davenport can take you to church with Gladys Knight's "If You Don't Know Me By Now," and Trinity K. Bonet will have you feeling like you're at a Queen Bey show during "Formation." While they perform for the applause, and those dollars, there are times the songs seem just for them. 

With the average person unaware Drag Kings exist, Drag Kings are somewhat of a rare find. But everything is bigger in Texas, so there are a few groups that have made a name for themselves. Boiz of Austin is Austin's premiere Drag King group, including a diverse cast of kings of various backgrounds. Among the group is Channing Ate’Em, a charming man with a lot to offer. After seeing him perform during the Ain't Love a Drag Valentine's Day event earlier this year, we discussed his brand of drag. 

"I like that I can surprise people...when you're Black, people think you have a limited catalog," he explains. Ate’Em stands out not only because of his vampire-like contacts but also because he is a classically trained singer. His first time lip-synching was his performance of "Sexual Healing" during the Ain't Love a Drag show. The crowd appeared to enjoy his first time, especially him stripping down to his underwear. While that’s fun, his passion lies in performing live. 

He took his daughter to see The Greatest Showman, and like millions of people around the world, he fell in love with "This Is Me". The song has become an anthem for the LGBTQIA+ community, he "related to it as a trans, black, white, Mexican" man. "I feel like crying every time...best feeling belting it out...getting to be myself in the rawest sense," Ate’Em expressed. Sometimes a song will hit you so hard, you wonder how the writer knew your story. "This Is Me" is his that song because it's "relevant to [his] existence."

Down the highway, Houston's H-Town Kings has also staked a claim on the Texas drag scene. Co-founded by Drag King Ian Syder-Blake, the H-Town Kings have carved out a place for themselves when it seemed improbable. All about inclusion, this cast features kings, queens, male drag performers, and were voted Houston's Best Drag Show. La'Darius Mirage Jackson is one of the performers who have made the group a must-see. 

Starting seven years ago, Jackson doesn't think "there is a particular song that describes" his drag, as he tries to be "a well rounded" performer by doing all different types of songs, but he would say "Rise Up" by Andra Day describes his Journey — it’s an inspirational song about persevering when you’re down and want to give up. The song that catapulted Day's career, "touches [his] soul" and is an anthem for many in the community. 

Shortly after these discussions, the world began to deal with a pandemic that canceled shows and threatened the livelihood of the performers who give their all in front of a crowd. For many, the ongoing effects of the crisis have been devastating. Organizations and charities dedicated to assisting artists have collected donations to help those who have lost their jobs, and "the show must go on" has transformed into more than a saying — it's now a way of life. 

Entertainers quickly adapted to the realities, trading venues for personal living rooms, and in-person audiences for digital watchers. Drag performers didn't miss a beat. From big names like Shea Coulee and Monique Heart to locals like the H Town Kings, performers are utilizing their social media platforms to maintain connections with their fans and gain new audiences, and viewers are encouraged to tip through apps like Venmo and PayPal. At the start, Jackson found it "a little weird" performing on social media during the H-Town Kings live Instagram shows.

"I just go in my mind and pretend that I am at the club performing for all,” he explained. “It definitely has changed the way I perform cause now I am performing from home, so I have to find creative ways to do it especially cause I live alone but it has made it a little fun too.”

Jackson knows first hand the reality of the pandemic. He was diagnosed with COVID-19, and like the drag community does time and time again, he persevered. 

"Performing with COVID when I first got it was a struggle cause I was always tired and [it was] hard to breathe after, but now that I am farther along it's a lot easier and I am a survivor," he added. While keeping the show going has been life-saving for several viewers, Jackson feels that it is mutually beneficial for viewers and performers. "In a way, during this time, it's helping both parties. It's helping me by giving me something else to do and making people smile and...take people's minds off of what's going on just for a minute." 

Ate’Em has also continued to perform virtually during the quarantine, however, he's had to make some important adjustments.

"As a single parent, virtual performances, require a larger time commitment away from my daughter...as opposed to getting a babysitter for one night," he said. Some performers are doing live performances from their living rooms or other locations, using various methods of live streaming, while others are pre-filming performances for a more polished experience. But pre-filming comes with a lot of responsibility, "planning, recording, cutting tracks, filming, editing," can take hours or days. Unfortunately, that time commitment has prevented Ate’Em from performing frequently.

Whether live or prerecorded, drag is one of the ways people are staying sane during this trying year. That song may have a great deal of depth and meaning for audiences right now; releasing them from worry and anxiety, giving them something to look forward to — you can listen to a song, or you can watch someone bring it to life. Drag performers will always breathe life into music when we need it most, and sometimes when they do too.