Mykki Blanco is a self described genderfreaker who’s coming to Perth this Saturday to tear up Circo festival. OUTinPerth’s Graeme Watson was lucky enough to have a Q & A session with this performance artist, rapper and poet.
How’s life on the road? I was following your Instagram images.
Well I would say I’ve really developed a knack for it. I’m gonna have to stop for a few months to really focus on finishing my album but I would say after that’s all wrapped up I’ll be back on it. I’ve still not been to South America or Africa or New Zealand so I have places to see. Its a different way of living, its like the old fashioned rock n roll way of living. You get out here, you play killer shows for the people, you give them everything and in return you have people who appreciate your art and understand how everything comes together what you got.
How was Life Ball?
It was fun, honestly having so many characters under those palaces walls… It was pretty nuts I can’t lie.
Tell me about your new video for ‘She Gutta’, who did you collaborate with to create it?
The video was created by an awesome guy out of Los Angeles Jude MC. I love playing with different aesthetics giving people what they quite wouldn’t expect with each video project I do. I’m excited to be recording a bunch of new music right now so it’s all good.
There’s a lot of gang imagery in the video, has gang culture been a part of your life?
It has in that tangential way of living in very violent neighborhoods at times. In Chicago I saw a boy get shot just 2 apartments away with my friends. It was crazy and one time we did get chased at night by the guys messing with us in cars, but never in a way that I actually to deal with every day.
There seems to be a lot of interesting artists coming out of NYC. How does the city influence your creativity?
I have to say that I’m really not a part of the New York scene anymore per say. I really have made this “life on the road, rock n roll hip hop nomad” thing my thing, I mean i feel like I’m living a dream going all over the world now like I do, so that’s why coming through hardcore with the next music project is so important.
How do you find people view your work when you take it to other countries?
Its unique from place to place but that’s why I enjoy it so much. With so many different cultures you really are seeing the world in a completely different way, each time you’re surrounded with a new set of values, conceptions, political situations.
What are you expecting to experience when you come to Australia?
So far everyone’s been super friendly!
Do you have any plans to write another book?
Oh yes!
You can catch Mykki Blanco at Circo Festival this Saturday, mor information available here.
