House of Dangerkat Exclusive

House of Dangerkat is the definition of style. Really, they are. What other group of people can claim to be dominating the dance scene internationally while launching their own fashion house and gaining respect amongst performance artists everywhere? Nope, didn’t think so. Oh, and did I mention they have their roots here in Canada? Kaiti Dangerkat, the founder, choreographer and Mother of the House of Dangerkat is a native of Calgary, Alberta. I got to catch up with this upcoming legend when she was here this month and find out about voguing, waacking, deathdrops, and a day in the life of a Dangerkat!

HOUSE OF DANGERKAT: UPCOMING LEGENDARY CHILDREN
Interview by Cole Johnston

You guys have been keeping very busy this last year. What have been the highlights so far?

Massive highlights have included performing as Barbie and the Rockers for Mattel’s 50th Anniversary Party in Paris during Fashion Week held at Colette with co-exhibitors Karl Lagerfeld and Jeremy Scott; being featured dancers for Diplo, A-Trak and Nick Catchdubs at the Central Park Summerstage in New York City; performing all throughout London Fashion Week in September for designer/stylist Nova Dando; opening up for La Roux and dancing at the Vivienne Westwood party and PPQ fashion show; touring Europe solo to teach workshops, compete and perform for 3 months... I met so many amazing artists that led to collaborations and opportunities to go back for more projects. We also spent time hosting and performing regularly at Mr. Black's nightclub in New York with DJ Kingdom. Also in New York, we created Addicted for one month straight with all my Calgary dancers, co-choreographers and DJ’s, where we premiered it at the Tribeca Grand Hotel. We brought the Addicted show home to Calgary where we took over the Calgary Tower with a massive dance/fashion/film/photography/music exhibit!

What brings you to Vancouver for November?

I’m teaching dance classes throughout the city.

How does it feel coming back to Canada after traveling around the world for the last little while?

It’s really good to come back home after traveling around the world because even though it’s amazing to being abroad, home will always be home! Canada represent!

How is your new work Addicted different from previous works?

I do urban styles, and my co-choreographer, Jenn Doan, does contemporary. We’ve taken two completely different styles and fused them into something that is both visually entertaining and rich with personal meaning.

Can you tell us about the new fashion collection? How did working with designer Hege Edvardsen come about?

The new fashion collection is like an Egytpian sphinx clad in armor, riding in a Back To The Future spaceship haha. I met Hege when I was doing a workshop in Stockholm Sweden, and she was among the spectators who were there. I soon learned that she also shared a passion for dance and wanted me to represent her work. Collaboration felt so right!

House of Dangerkat seems to draw from so many styles and mediums. Do you see dance and fashion as two sides of the same coin?

Definitely. Considering the fact that there is a dance style (voguing) that is derived from the fashion world, it’s easy to see that connection. I believe fashion is just a continuation of the expression. If we as dancers are using our bodies to communicate, why wouldn’t we complete the picture with the clothing we wear? When I create, the costumes affect the choreography, and visa versa. They are always holding hands, and are best friends in my world.

How has the NYC vogue and Ball scene affected your work and style?

It has affected my work immensely as I have great respect for the home of voguing and the masters that created it there. You can see NY in my style in so much as I had to learn and research the New York scene because that’s where this all began! However as an artist its my job to not repeat what has been done before but to expand upon it.

The music you choose seems to fit so perfectly with your style. How do you pick the tracks for your performances?

I don’t, the tracks pick me!

Your 100% of Dissin' You video employed photography and stop-motion animation. Are you interested in getting into different kinds of media like that in the future?

Yes I'm very interested in to further use multimedia to spread our art and that could be through experimental film, animation, photography, graphic design, fashion design and music.

What can Canada and the world expect from the House of Dangerkat?

The House of Dangerkat is completely committed to putting on amazing shows that are multi-sensory and multimedia across the board. We want to suspend reality and create an experience unlike our audience has seen every place we visit.

For more information on the House of Dangerkat, check out www.dangerkat.com. Also, be sure to watch their awe-inspiring videos on YouTube!


100% of Dissin' You - House of Dangerkat


Opulence - House of Dangerkat

Pansy Division Exclusive

In the early 1990s Pansy Division emerged out of the post-punk grunge era and became the poster band for the queercore music scene. The band gained international success and were out loud and proud, representing us gays in a straight-dominated male arena. They inspired many gay rockers around the world and will remain immortal as a part of queer history. V-Rag chatted with Pansy Division frontman Jon Ginoli on Davie Street.

PANSY DIVISION: QUEERCORE LEGENDS
Interview by Michael Venus

You’re here, and you’ve got some really exciting things going on. I mean, you’ve been part of Pansy Division. You’re one of the founding members of the legendary all-gay band who were the poster people for queercore. And now you’ve got three kind of multimedia you’re promoting. Tell us about those.

First, I wrote a book called Deflowered: My Life in Pansy Division. And that’s a memoir I’ve been working on for a while. I started telling a lot of stories to people about things that had happened over the years, and they said “you should write a book”. So I wrote a book. It has some tour diary stuff in there, a lot of Canadian stuff in it. Um, and yeah. Canadian content.

Manada.

It talks about why we formed, the need for having a gay band and what it meant to have one, and what it meant to be really out and try to push the envelope in a milieu which, you know, alternative, punk, rock and roll... is pretty overwhelmingly heterosexual. So to be doing that, from our standpoint, where we’re really in your face, there’s a lot of good stories.

So you’ve been taking stories along the way, and then thought now is the time to put it together?

Yeah, I’d been writing it for a long time... I thought ‘well, I’ll finish it someday’. It didn’t really have an end-date on it. But at a certain point, I thought, it’s time to get it finished. But in the meantime, we got the album done that we had been working on for a while called That’s So Gay. Also during this period, starting a couple years ago, there was a documentary film done on the band called Pansy Division: Life in a Gay Rock Band. And that played festivals all over the place last year, but it did not play Vancouver’s festival, which was disappointing.

That’s wrong, damn it!

It was wrong! I know. But one of the things I’m trying to do on the book tour that I’m doing now is arrange screenings in cities where it hasn’t been shown, and try and get some folks out to see it.

You guys kind of came out of a time when there were no out gay rock-and-rollers at all, and you did the whole rounds of it. What does it feel like to have so many younger people be out and be able to do what they’re doing and look at you guys as icons and legends?

It’s great. I’ve heard other gay musicians say "well, I don’t mind being out, but I don’t want to be a role model". And I’m like, why not? I want to be a role model. Not that I want everybody to act like me, or that I’m perfect or anything, but I did something. And the reason I did it was because it hadn’t been done before. It was something I wanted to see. It was something I wanted to hear. So, if that inspires people, you know, great.

What’s the main difference between coming out now and being a musician to, say in 1991, when you guys first worked together?

Yeah, it’s a lot different, in part because of Pansy Division and other bands who came out from that time who um knocked down some walls, broke some barriers. But also, you know, we really sang about being gay. And that wasn’t something that all gay musicians do. A lot of them didn’t. I don’t think it’s a litmus test; I don’t think people have to, but I think it’s one of the things that makes us interesting. And as time has gone on, we’ve had more songs that I guess would have more universal appeal or at least are less directly about gay stuff. So it became more of a mix. We didn’t want it to all be gay gay gay all the time. Although at first, it was like, okay this? This is something new. Now that we’ve done it a while, we don’t really want to repeat ourselves. The album took a year and a half to put together, because we all live in different places now – two on the east coast, two on the west coast, no one in the same city. And the fact that it... it all seemed to be coming together about the same time, so we thought let’s just take all this stuff, and put it out at the same time to try and get the maximum exposure, because it’s hard to get people’s attention these days. So instead of spreading it out, we tried to condense it, so all three coming out in the same month!

To find out more about Pansy Division's brand new projects, check out www.pansydivision.com


Manada - Pansy Division


Homo Christmas - Pansy Division

V-WEB: Our Weekly Obsession (Nov.19/09)

We just heard this off of Hed Kandi's 2 disc Nu Disco compilation, and we're salivating over it so much we had to share it with you.

In fact, from now on we'll be sharing lots more songs, videos and other time wasters with you through the V-Rag Blog. For OCD issues involving organizing which you can only begin to fathom, we'll tag these internet-only super extra special posts V-WEB. And consider Thursday Our Weekly Obsession day, where we'll post whatever song/video/picture/meaningless internet meme we've been obsessing over for the week prior.

Like this one. Munk first caught our ears years ago with the wickedly fun song "Kick Out The Chairs" (Motherfuckers!) alongside LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy.

Now, they're back making a strong appeal to our love for sensual disco with the Shazam-remixed version of Down In LA with a synth line that has been soaked in catchiness and baked at the exact temperature of hot, passionate sex. It takes everything in our power to not listen to this song at least five times a day. Dance away, faithful readers, dance!


Down In LA (Shazam Remix) - Munk

Barbara Tucker Exclusive

Barbara Tucker is one of the leading voices in house music today—and a legendary diva—who continues to put out succulent sounds with her God-sent gift of a voice. She is at the forefront of dance music and provides her soulful vocals for some of the biggest dance tracks. Vancouver is blessed to have this amazing talent sing live for the very first time, thanks to the genius promoters that are LuVToucH. Barbara answers some of my questions, gives me insight about the current state of dance music, and tells me what she is up to.

BARBARA TUCKER: HOUSE DIVA
Interview by Michael Venus

What are you current projects?

Currently, I have my own record company, and I am in the process of releasing my new tune, “Feeling Like a Superstar”. I am also planning my annual party at the Winter Music Conference called “And Let the Singer Be Heard”, a platform that focuses on the artist.

You are adored by the gay community. Why do you think that is?

I really don’t know what attracts the gay community to various artists. I know that I am free, I love design and style, and I can be crazy on stage. I don’t look for a group; I just do what I do.

You are a superstar in Italy. Do Italians really do it better?

I don’t know what they do, but I know they love soulful sounds!

Europe has always embraced dance music. Why do you think North America doesn’t quite catch on?

North America follows the dollar. If you can sell them something—not necessarily great, but everyone is doing it—the masses follow the illusion. Money is behind the marketing of acts, but it’s not to say the lesser known are not hot. We just don’t have that kind of money, so we go where we are celebrated, and not just tolerated.

What is the “Underground Network”, and how did it come to be? Is there much going on with it today?

The “Underground Network” is a company that I started with partner, Don Welch, in 1992. We supported the dance scene and had over three hundred artists performing, supported by record labels and promoters. We were the avenue for soulful house music; everyone wanted to perform. Many celebrities passed through, from Janet Jackson to Queen Latifah, and so on. It was also a dancers’ hang out; real fierce dancers. For the holidays, we cooked for everyone; we were as family. My partner still does the “Underground Network”, but it’s more of an R&B scene now. When you don’t own a building, it can be pulled from you, and changes happen. But we do specialty parties every now and then.

What is the current climate for house music in New York City?

I think it’s always going to be there, but superstar DJs come to our town, change the sound, and the new generation follows that. But you can still find more than four house parties. In New York, there’s a party for every consciousness.

Who are your inspirations, and what are you currently listening to?

I love Ledisi; I love neo-soul, and gospel. I listen to music of inspiration, because that’s the most important thing to me. I will always love my Chaka Khan, and Jill Scott.

You are such a talented dancer as well. What is your background in dance? How was it dancing with Lady Kier and Deee-Lite?

When I was with Deee-Lite, I was not just a dancer, but a singer/dancer. Working with Bootsy Collins and the rest of the band was simply a fun experience. One of my favourite partners was Zhana Saunders, AKA Da Matrix. I did a lot of various dance classes, and was in a dance company called “Internal Combustions”, under the direction of the late Calvin Matthis.

What can we expect in the future?

You can expect other artists to come under my umbrella, more music, more conferences, and more inspiration. I’m also working on an online TV show, “Barbara Tucker: The Evolution of House”, on Axiom, so look out!

What is your favourite song to perform from your fabulous catalog?

My favourite song to perform would be “One”, and “Beautiful People”. “One” is a song I did with Peter Luts, and “Beautiful People” has so much meaning for the world. Ninety-nine percent of the songs that I write and sing have come from the heart, and they have an impact on my life based on what I see in the world, and what I want to give back: words of empowerment, lifting.

Any words of wisdom?

All our gifts and talents are given to us from on high. We are given these blessing to bless other, to lift them, inspire them, and bring them joy. When you give back in that way, you will always be blessed, so don't be selfish with your talent; share it, and make a difference in the world! Thank you for the love, and I anticipate coming to your town with a heart full of love!

Barbara will be performing live at LuVToucH (Ginger 62). Thursday, November 19.

November "Style Issue"

Since we’ve already churned out a Music Issue and a Film Issue in our short time as Vancouver’s gay arts & culture rag, why not a Style Issue too? We’re very pleased to make November Fashion Month at V-Rag! And it’s another doozy of an issue. We got to speak to Kaiti Dangerkat, the Mother of the House of Dangerkat. This voguing/fashion/performance art group is by far one of our favourite things ever, and guess what? They’ve got their roots her in Canada! On the cover is, of course, two of the most stylish people we know, Tegan & Sara, talking about their brand new album Sainthood. More on the music side of things, we have two Q&A’s this month, both legendary! The queen of soulful house, Barbara Tucker shows us why she’s a diva, and we get down and dirty with homo-punk-grunge pioneers Pansy Division. Nicki Nice of local rockers Pretty Vanilla discusses the emerging glam trend in fashion, while I geek out on Kylie Minogue’s first ever North American tour. Another first, V-Rag introduces Fashion Files, a monthly column focusing on local designers, stylists and merchants. It joins our host of regulars, Joan-E’s Rag, Cotton Around Town, Music:Notes, Film:Notes, Event Listings, V-Map and of course our Calendar of Events. We also have another great photoshoot courtesy of Brandon Gaukel and Valley of the Dolls. Phew! Didn’t think it was possible to top the last issue, but we’re even more full of content this month! Also, check back on the blog this week for exclusive content and a secret contest!