August 22, 2025 • 49 mins
Utica is more than just a Drag Race alum — she’s rewriting the rules of fashion, spirituality, and queerness. On this week’s HIGHKEY!, hosts Ryan Mitchell and Yvie Oddly sit down with Utica (aka Ethan from Project Runway) for a conversation that’s equal parts hilarious and heartfelt. From growing up religious in the Midwest to becoming a “slutty little party girl” in Chicago, Utica opens up about her journey to self-expression and how drag inspires mainstream fashion. The trio get real about Law Roach’s critiques, the politics of drag, the wild crossover between Drag Race and Project Runway, and why queerness is both natural and revolutionary. Plus: the ladies get HighKey! about music, fashion, and shutting the f*** up.
If you’re HIGHKEY! vibing with us, come hang on Patreon! We’re dropping bonus content, behind-the-scenes tea, exclusive group hangs — basically, the HighKiKi.
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HIGHKEY! is a production of iHeartPodcasts, as part of the Outspoken network. The show is created and executive produced by Ryan Mitchell, Yvie Oddly, and Spoke Media.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
And then with law he's terrified with dreg queens, whereas designers.
I think he could feel like he can push us around.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Why do you feel that way? Girl?
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Drag cleans area are crazy and sometimes they have better headlines.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Oh my god, you leave us. They're life alone.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Thank you?
Speaker 2 (00:20):
What's up? By Cones. Welcome to High Key.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
I'm Ryan Mitchell and I'm Eviy Oddly and today we're
bringing you a chat with the wonderfully weird and wildly
creative Utica.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Ooh, I liked all those debuties. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
We get into everything from like drag Race and how
it shaped her. I mean Project Runway literally what it
means to like blend all of these worlds that she's
existing in. It's kind of wild because the world's just
never seen it before.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Plus we talk about how she's a slutty little party
girl obsessed. Of course, here's a little housekeeping note.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
If you want to access bonus content and behind the scenes,
t join us for the acties on payon Patreon dot.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Com slash hikey. We love to see you there. But
first things first, let's get to the High Key Key.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Where is your stress level or excitement level? Because you
have a lot going on this week. By the time
this episode is out, it is literally your birthday.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
I'm saying this whole week is your birthday. I mean
clearly the look.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
But where where's your On the scale of one to ten,
how much are you stressing out around this whole yard
sale drag sale thing that you're doing and inviting we're
into people to your household?
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Right now? I want to say I'm at like a
seven because I've been in the ten. Like I've been
in the ten honestly before this week, Like last week
when I was panicking thinking about like how much I
need to have done and being like, oh no, it's impossible.
There's too many things. Yeah, like that was a ten.
I was losing sleepover ten. Right now I'm out a
(01:52):
seven because for some reason, I like tapped in to
be the most like focused together person I've ever been
my life.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Bitch.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
I literally spent all night last night making spreadsheets. I
made spreadsheets.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
First of all, I didn't even know Evie Adley knew
what a Google doc are. Sheets are a spreads. I
had no clue that was evening. You're vine, I.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Still don't girl, to be honest, the only spreading I
do is my legs? Girl?
Speaker 3 (02:24):
Oh my god, no, Because I mean this goes back
to what I was saying like last week and when
we were talking and just being like adulting is at
a new high, and I am just constantly like trying
to figure out what my life is trying to give
and I want to go on a vacation, but I'm
trying to be like, well, am I financially like responsible?
(02:44):
Like I'm trying to make these tough decisions where I
wish I was just like nineteen year old Ryan and
would be like, who cares if my you know, my
bank's accounts are in the negative.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
I'm going to PV. I'm going to this trip.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
But no, now, thirty two year old Ryan, I'm like,
I want to be financial responsible and who cares if
I get a whole invite to a branded trip, I'm
not going if I'm not prepared.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
I don't know, girl, Okay, Because that's also the thing
is you still deserve to trip. Like a part of
a part of what should be my stress right now
is that I spent all weekend literally tripping, like I
went to Hancho for the first time. Oh, what's han show?
It's this big queer camp out somewhere in Pennsylvania where.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
In the middle of nowhere, probably where get Out took
place exactly.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Well no, no, no, because get Out get Out they
had mode lawns and shit out here. It was like wild.
It was literally just a bunch of queers in the
woods and like for like three or four days, I
just spent every day like baking in the sun, like
baking and Mother Nature's mushrooms, completely naked. And so to
(03:57):
come back to society immediately after that, I like, I
don't know, I snapped into right brain mode, but I
am celebrating. I thought, was So was this also like
a festival thing?
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Because I could have sworn when I was like stalking
your your stories.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
You were on stage too, So what is that a
part of this whole thing? No? Okay, so that's what's
wild is the only reason. Uh I left being a
queer naked in the woods with my dick out like
in the drugs in was I got booked to open
for this band. Have you ever heard of King Gizzard
and the Lizard Wizard. That's their entire Nay, yeah, okay, what.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
You were just like actually just adding words and that
ry because you know you are a rapper, you beat
you got the bars right day.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Well, I mean apparently so are they too. It's just
like this Australian jam band that's got like a cult following.
I've like heard my hipster friends talking about them since
I was in high school. Were so they've been out
that long.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
So this is kind of like a dream that you
got to open up for them in some ways.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
They asked you. Yeah, it was really dope, And I
think the strangest thing about it though, was that was
also in nature, so bitch, I like was a queer
in nature, camping in the woods, no rules, Willy out
and then immediately had to go back into society, like
for one day, the Willie had to go back in.
But literally the I was crying putting pants on, being
(05:46):
like I'm going to the airport and I'm still on mushrooms.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
Oh my god, that's so wild. Well, I mean it
sounds like you had a good time. I feel like
my like weekend was actually so busy. I don't know
what got into me, but like I am really someone
that is really bad at saying no, I can't, can't.
I will always be like yeah, I'll try to come
like I'll make it, and I ended up getting myself
stuck into like going to like three technically it was
(06:14):
four events back to back. A friend of mine had
a rose fest where literally everyone had to bring a
rose bottle and just get drunk in the pool.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
It was basically a pool day. Okay, that's kind of cute.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
I was gonna say I would skip that, but pool
day on mine actually start. I started that the day
with that, and then I ended up going to I
was like, okay, I gotta make it to my other
friends event that was kind of like a day party
in my neighborhood, and it was like the first time
she was doing something like this, and she was selling cocktails,
like frozen drinks, and so I was like, Okay, I'm
gonna come and come and support and like you know,
(06:44):
show the vibes. And that ended up being really fun
because I went from like relaxing by the pool to
black people throwing ass to ying Yan twins. I ended
the night at Sam Sanders podcaster or at Shred and Air.
I ended the night at his Wonderful party, which I
ended up meeting people from our team. Shout out to Bow,
shout out to John I end up meeting folks from
(07:07):
our team there in real life. I saw Boat and
was like, I know, I don't know a white man
that looks like that.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Is that Boat?
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Wait?
Speaker 2 (07:14):
How tall is he? How tall is he?
Speaker 3 (07:16):
Because I know we're both tall? Great questions? I think
I may was I a little bit taller than Bo?
I had on a loafer?
Speaker 2 (07:26):
I feel like maybe we were like same height, but
Bo doesn't give.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
Like short king energy. John, However, is we are the
same high for sure?
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Yeah? I was kind of shocked by that. Well we are.
We are just a podcast full of tall people, which
is actually kind of perfect because even our guest today,
our guest today, I was expecting to be around our hyaight,
and then when I met them for the first time,
it was like the first time I ever had to
look up in my life for a reason that wasn't sucking. Dick.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Wait, so she's taller than you because you're taller than me.
I'm I mean, I know we're all like tall, but like,
you're for sure taller than me. That means she has
to be a good like six five six seven. Yeah,
she she definitely is.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
She like at least comes up to RuPaul's kneecaps level.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
Which is crazy because that's my Dave and Goliath level. Well,
I'm actually I'm so excited to bring in our guests
on the show today. Now y'all might know her as
Utica In, you know, from RuPaul's Drag Race, or you
maybe getting to know her as Ethan from Project Runway.
Can we please bring the icon the legend utica In.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Is going on?
Speaker 2 (08:35):
Baby? Oh my god, hi you. First of all, you
don't look as tall right in Hill. I was gonna
say you look great, but that's only because I can't
see you, bitch, Okay, mama out right way. Utica, It's
(08:57):
so nice to meet you.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
I know you and Eve have like met, of course
because y'all are Drag Race sisters. But I am such
a fan. I want to get that out there. You
are just so talented and so incredible. And I think
for me when I was like, what am I going
to ask Unica first? And I was like, id of,
just want to get to know you know, Ethan or Utica,
you know whoever. I think the names will be interchangeable
(09:18):
in this conversation for sure. But Utica, how would your
best friend describe you?
Speaker 1 (09:24):
I would say, that my entity is very safe, it's
very warm, it's very like, you know, a place where
you can come to that is just cozy, but it's
fun and like you know, it's it's fun.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
But but also if you tell if you you touch,
you might get burned.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Oh get up, get you know the other side of you.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
I could be I could be spicy.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
I knew you grew up and especially I remember on
drag Race a sort of being a part of your storyline.
How have you balanced strong sense of faith with you know,
this fine joyful energy that comes with like partying and
who you are now? Like are you still spiritual in
a way?
Speaker 1 (10:11):
So when I went on the show, I was balancing
like having a really positive religious experience, good people, good community.
You know, of course it has its naivete of how
the world really works, and I think I really wanted
to be able to like start to mix the two together.
(10:31):
I'm a very I'm a Gemini, I'm like very like
the dichotomy I think is there and it can be powerful.
The faith got me through really difficult times, and I
found that I didn't want to quite give up my religion,
but I wanted to adopt my new religion of drag
and like being queer and like it's like what I
(10:53):
believe in because it's what I've made. It is my truth,
it is my guiding light, and it's helping me express
myself in a way that religion ever could. And I
wanted to just keep this love, these good morals that
I got growing up. And as I got into the
real world and I experienced drag race and I guess
(11:16):
to go all the way around the world, I realized
that my world's view was really closed. Yeah, what I
believed of the world was wrong. It is so eclectic.
There is not just one way to believe. There's so many,
and like, you can be your own spirituality, And so
(11:42):
I wouldn't say that I am like an Adventist anymore,
but I will say that I become my own spirituality
where I don't really take the pillars of the religion
with me anymore. Because I was born into it, I
didn't have like a choice growing up, And so as
(12:02):
I grew up and I become my own, I get
that choice. Now. I don't have to bend to something
that was spoon fed to me for my whole life.
I want to believe in something more, and yeah, I'm
obsessed with like learning everything and like taking it all
(12:23):
in and realizing that there isn't just one way anymore.
I think that is a completely closed way to think
about life, and it closes you off from so many
beautiful people in the world. So why would I limit
myself when I am infinite?
Speaker 2 (12:39):
Oh she's done, Mushrooms.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
You don't know when some faggot is going to come
into your life and change it for the better.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
You know, like, if you're going to exclude these queer people,
they're the best people. They have literally unlocked the matrix, Harriet.
I feel like queer people are like have woken up
on a.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Different like sound wave like sort of thing. That's what
I was feeling all weekend in the woods, just like
running around and being like why why are we like
wearing this makeup and like like uh, like just expressing
ourselves and having fun and connecting and being sexual and
being deviant. And I was like, oh, yeah, that's right,
(13:21):
because we realized that we're allowed to do all of
this shit, and that the matrix itself is like the
society we've built is all the rules that told us
we weren't allowed to be these things.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
And not getting caught up in the matrix and like
replicating it in our own queerness, right. I think sometimes
we see that and it was like, like, WHOA queerness
is supposed to be a freedom? Why are we trying
to like continue the buying area or continue all of
these things that just feel so restrictive to everything that
we ran away from or decided we were no longer
(13:56):
going to take part in. And so yeah, it's just
it's it's really really interesting. And I have always loved
seeing the way that you have I guess, navigated through
your queerness and your spirituality because it often feels like,
you know, the thing that you shouldn't.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
Talk about, it really does.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
What's crazy is I think that queer people are what
the world has said is unnatural. We are proving that
it is natural and that it has always been natural,
But somehow the world got this idea that we are
demonized for being unnatural. It's cool to be able to
(14:39):
take back that power, you.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
Know, let the freaks reign, because there are eight billion
of us on this planet, even if half of us
don't realize it yet. I can't what kind of made
you even go back to TV?
Speaker 3 (14:56):
Like, were you just needing to were you just hungry
to get back into the Yeah?
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Do you just hate yourself? What made you say? Yes?
Speaker 1 (15:07):
Listen? So you know, I was in like the COVID
season of Drag Race. So it was its own like entity,
its own like a little bit of crazy and we
had to like quarantine for two weeks. It was insane.
It was so strict, and I think it was like
a really special no. It just it felt a really
(15:29):
unique season, you know. And so I got my jump
on this business like in COVID, which is insane. But
after the show, I still got connected with being involved
with the show by making stuff and the girls of
being involved. And you know, before doing drag I was
(15:51):
always like behind the scenes, you know, making stuffer theater
and like, and I noticed that I was us getting
a lot of attention for the stuff I was making, right,
and then my that my my whole, my whole, my
scene on the internet.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
Yeah, let's talk about your whole first second.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
It's equally talented, maybe, but you know, my I just
kept getting so many like lovely words and getting lots
of this positivity over this stuff. And I think that
Project Runway was you know, on my has been on
our radars for a long time. It's like that we
are a part of the queer TV show of the world,
(16:37):
and this is the fashion TV show of the world,
like it's the one, right, So I am trying to
set myself up for the rest of my life of
being a really I'm a maker like a And I
realized that I think that this bridge needs to happen,
and I'm gagged that this has not happened before. Protac
(17:00):
crommey have of course, like season five had RuPaul come
on it with a bunch of queens, and like.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
Don't discount mother Ru's crunchiest daytime face ever, that was iconic.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
Girl a white shirt, red red beads in a plastid way.
Let's go.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
That couldn't have been her a first crunchy like look,
I mean she was on the back joy Behart.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
No, it's just like one of my favorite But yes,
please continue to talk about how you're actually bridging the gap.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
If RuPaul can sit in a chair and tell if
things look good or look bad, and that is bridging
the gap. But then I can fucking go on this
show and tear it up as a contestant absolutely and
so doing.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
So you have been so far. I don't know how
how this goes. I didn't get on the Reddit.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
I'm going to toot my own horn, but I feel
like I'm doing an amazing job on the show. It
thinks that I am a really good representation for drag
and the bridge between drag and fashion, because at the
end of the day, drag inspires fashion. I know I'm
there to put a fresh spin on everything, and I
(18:13):
think that this is finally the chance for like these
shows to open up the doors incredible fashion drag people
in the world, like not only queens that make beautiful things,
but also the people that work behind the scenes for
Drag Race Girl, like some of the like for living
through Project Groma. I know that some of these, like
(18:37):
mainstage fashion designers could fucking tear up this competition.
Speaker 3 (18:42):
Tear it up right.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
Let's let's make Project Rama less about like the boring
fashion and like more loud and crazy and like.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
But that's the thing.
Speaker 3 (18:53):
There's always been tension, and I think you being on
the show this season, we're actually seeing that a little
bit more, where it's there some tension between what the
line between drag and traditional fashion and mainstream fashion, right,
And I wonder going into that space, especially when they've
I'm assuming producers had you show up at Unicus as times,
(19:14):
I'm wondering did you Were you expecting that tension between
drag and what is perceived as traditional or mainstream fashion?
Speaker 2 (19:22):
Were you expecting that?
Speaker 1 (19:23):
Of course, of course they cast a drag queen, and
that is the talking point. Like, but I think I've
been doing a good job and finding that sophistication, the grandness,
but also have a sense of ease to it. I
think it like if I if all that I have
to do is dumb it down to be their sentiments,
(19:46):
then I'm in a really good spot. But I'm used
to creating things that are really loud and have like
an impact, right, And because that's what you know, Drag
race is solve out in Drag, it's all about that
show and this like these pieces live in this world
where they're telling a very pointed story and a very
(20:07):
short amount of time. Right. So with Project Roamway, it's
about how do you create pieces that have not only
lungevity but a sense of ease for the consumer. For sure.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
I think that's like why it's been really really delicious
to watch you on this though, not not to toot
your horn too much, but I really I appreciate that
you're following a lot of like what the path of
the universe just has for you, because drag as an
art form itself is something that I feel like a
lot of a lot of us queers who get into
(20:40):
it really get into because we are artists and creatives
in so many other ways and like maybe struggle to
find a place where we're allowed to put ourselves first
or our vision first in that world. But just being
a drag queen does not does not limit what you
are able to express out the world. So like, for real,
(21:02):
thank you for like chipping away at this barrier. As
like a fan of both your work on Drag Race
and so far your work on Project Runway. Like it's
kind of amazing to see another another queer out there
living childhood dreams I was way too lazy to achieve.
Speaker 3 (21:21):
And that's what I love about you. You are real
about the shit You're like, I'm very much self aware
of my laziness.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
Yeah, I will so one amazing outfit once and then
be like that should count forever. Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (21:37):
What's the difference between a Drag Race critique and a
Project Runway critique.
Speaker 1 (21:42):
Ooh oh. I think the main difference is that we
get this discourse a lot with drag Race. Is a
lot of the prep for drag Race is done beforehand, right,
so they are critiquing what they're seeing, and they are
being you can change for the next runway when reality
(22:03):
that's not possible. The only thing that I think we
could really change is like or makeup or like, you know,
they don't give us time to evolve throughout the competition.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
I mean, okay, this is where I'm totally gonna disagree
with you though, because I don't know, maybe they like
change the rules or some shit. But on our season
they let us like take things home, and literally the
entire time I was not in that workroom, I was
still going through my own little Project Runway in my
hotel room, like sitting there watching naked and afraid being like, wow,
(22:36):
I'm also surviving, just like stoning a caftan that may
or may not be worn on this show ever. But
but I that is mostly I agree with what you're
saying about the fact that they are mostly judging you
on what you've brought to the competition before. What would
you say is, I guess the most challenging thing about
Project Runways critiquing is then.
Speaker 3 (22:59):
Besides Law road to being what it seems like names
meaner but also juicier.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
I mean because he's on he's on drag Race, and
I feel like he's kind of nicer on drag right.
Speaker 3 (23:10):
I was not excepting that, which I kind of live for,
but like it's just interesting.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
Yeah, I think that the difference is, like, you know,
you do a substantial amount of prep work for Drag Race,
whereas with Project Roway, you could literally just like a
sewing bag some patterns and go and then the magic
is happening. They're like you're spending hours and hours and
(23:36):
hours an hour and it's and hours they're sewing and
they're critiquing what they're seeing, and you can even you
can actively shift the work every single week, like there's
more room to like physically play right. And then with Law,
I think he's terrified of drag queens, whereas designers, I
think he could feel like he can moush us around.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
Really, why do you feel why do you feel that way?
Speaker 1 (24:00):
Are or fold or crazy? And sometimes they have fitter
heirdlines also here.
Speaker 2 (24:03):
Oh my god, you live a fair life alone. It's real.
We had Lena waithon last week and she said something
that was interesting to me, like where she felt kind
of like an outsider as a guest judge, you know,
because you don't really you're just speaking on some shit
you're seeing. So it's not saying he's not qualified to
(24:24):
judge drag Grace because he's actually one of my favorite
additions to the panel. But you know, he he's not
going to go as in on what these queens are
doing because he's been working in the fashion industry specifically,
so you know, he can have a sassy opinion about
my stupid cupcake butt outfit or something, but he has
(24:46):
a lot more authority to be a cunt in the
fashion world.
Speaker 3 (24:51):
What especially if it seems like you you would go
on Project Runway because you are not trying to and
I don't want to put words to your man, but
it seems like there's a there's a the next entry
point r It's a possible entry point into more mainstream
fashioned spaces, and so law is someone that occupies those
spaces and has that changed your decision going through this
(25:13):
process has it changed your decision on how you want
to show up.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
In mainstream fashion spaces.
Speaker 3 (25:18):
Is that something you're looking towards, like are you wanting
to make more things for consumers?
Speaker 2 (25:23):
Like where's your where do you land now?
Speaker 3 (25:26):
When you're trying to figure out what am I a
drag designer? Are am I this Ethan? In this space
in fashion? I think going into the show, I have
had you Tica inform the clothes where she is my armor,
my like, my muse, my everything right, and her sensibilities
(25:47):
and her tastes inform beautiful clothes right, And so it
was mostly for as little select moments my entity. But
moving into this space of more ready to wear, more
accessible clothing, more worldly like fast and presentation, I want
to still bring her with me in that way because
(26:09):
I think she's the reason why the clothes are cool
and the clothes are interesting and the clothes have a story,
Like I'm bringing her narrative throughout everything, because like, she's
my everything, why would I leave her behind? Of course,
I evolve and the work evolves over time. I think
it's really special for a queen to have clothes that
(26:32):
people can wear, because people our take our entity and
they take our creaturism and they put it into a
world of other and they want to aspire to be
as other as we live our daily lives. Right, And
if there is a way that I can take our
our as creatures and put it into something tangible and
(26:55):
physical and things that they can wear, then we're already
bridging the gap just with stuff.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
No, that's the goal.
Speaker 2 (27:04):
Yeah, honestly, honestly, that's that's very legit because especially post
Drag Race, for me, in like that first year of
getting used to how people are going to interact with
me in the world, I will say it was very
difficult to hear a lot of people come up and
be like, oh my gosh, like you you're so cool,
(27:25):
You're so weird, You're so whatever, this or that abject adjective.
I wish I could be that. I was always so
frustrated with the I wish because I was like, drag
at least for me, is what showed me that I
have the power to do all the eye wishes I
ever wanted. And I my goal in getting on Drag
(27:46):
Race like was really trying to show people specifically in Denver,
but show people that like you can push boundaries, you
can go hard, you can like chase things, and you
can literally make the world more beautiful, interesting, weird, freaky,
fucked up place. I just want to say, like, thank you,
(28:06):
thank you for taking taking that power to do it elsewhere.
And also in person, you are a very weird human.
Speaker 1 (28:16):
I am girl.
Speaker 2 (28:18):
I think that's why we get along so well.
Speaker 1 (28:21):
Like I feel like I'm very well spoken, but I'm
like popcorn that has skittles and chili Cupperson.
Speaker 3 (28:29):
You know, it always reminds me anytime your name is
brought up. I always think of Bob when he's like
making the utica ooh pooh, I'm weird booo like that
that means that's kind of been everywhere, Like it's so
true because it's so fabulous to see you. It kind
of exists, and even watching you in interviews recently as
you've been doing more press for the show, I'm like, wow,
(28:49):
she feels very like demure and like just very kind
of like poised and sophisticated when really you're like I've
seen you on shows are like however, you perform and
you show up in the world and it's just like, wait,
you're actually a weirdo and it's it's sort of everything
because I feel like you have to sort of be
a weirdo growing up in the Midwest. Yeah, it's the
(29:14):
best option. I'm also thinking about how you said, like
drag inspires fashion, But I know there's always like this critique,
especially when we're when I'm thinking about drag Race around
like queens who often recreate like fashion looks are inspired
(29:35):
by like the Scaparelli's are like the like the larger
fashion houses. And I always wonder from someone like you,
who is actually a you create originals? Are we seeing
too much of the recreating of other things instead of
the originality that drag Race was like all about at
one point? Hell, yes, bitch, I know it wasn't for
me your turn, I mean for both of you. Are
you are both queens that have gone on that show,
(29:57):
you know, I mean, like, especially from a designer, what
the hell are you thinking?
Speaker 1 (30:01):
Yeah? I think it's tough because you know, I have
clients coming up to me and be like, I love this,
it exists in the world. Would you recreate it? Or
can we do something? And I think that it is
respectful to take inspiration but also make it something new
and different and to let the person know who is
commissioning or you know who you're working for. That it's
(30:23):
not right to copy something in entirety. And I don't
think you're being a true artist if you just copy it,
you know, like and without like bringing on or to
what you like. I don't think there's a problem with like,
I recreated this thing and this is what is inspired by,
you know. I think that's respectful.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
It's the equivalent of tracing something and like it is
still beautiful. That is a gorgeous tracing. I'm glad you
took the time to do that, and all the details
are right, but like, what would it be like if
you put even an like one more eye out of
your perspective on? And that's what I really appree shade
about you, because like when you made your iconic sleeping
(31:04):
bag dress and I got the call to go back
on drag Race, I was like, I want to steal
some of that silhouette, but I'm going to change it
enough that nobody will ever know that this was also
inspired by Utica's dress until I said it to this
day on this podcast, and I'll let you fox find
out which one of those dresses was it. I actually
(31:25):
really wanted out. Oh my god, I can't wait. Just
just just look at my All Stars package and there
will be one dress that's like, oh, that's actually kind
of pretty? Is that one? And it's when I made?
Those are your hints?
Speaker 1 (31:40):
You know. What's crazy about this whole thing is like
we're inspired by our peers, which I think is like
one of the powers of the drag community, the queer community,
the makers that create you know, it's really it's really cool,
like in order to inspire you, you inspire me to,
you know, be naked in the woods and I I, no, no, no,
(32:05):
there's like there's a sense of ease that we we
have with our work. And I think that it's amazing
that our text, the things we speak, the things we
make are you know, causing ripples in the community. And
I think that we have tapped into our artistic flow
as artists, which I think is really valuable. That is
(32:27):
like the one piece of advice I give to aspiring
artists is that you feel it, you want, like you
get it in your body and there's like a flow
that happens through your body. If you can cultivate that,
keep it safe, read it with care, and not let
people take advantage of that because it's so precious. I
think that that is like us as artists, that is
(32:48):
our superpowers, Like as little kids, us wanting to be superheroes.
The flow that happens, the things that come out of
our hands and our mouth, and the things we perform.
We've cultivated ourselves to be the superheroes that we've always
wanted to see. When your kids or what we want
to see as adults, what do you.
Speaker 3 (33:06):
Think is actually like missing from fashion currently?
Speaker 1 (33:12):
I would say me personally, I think that what's missing
is like when we look online and we see fashion,
there are things that are completely unaccessible, Like you look
at these incredible pieces and it's like a show. It's
our like super unaccessible unless you are like absurdly rich, right,
(33:32):
and then fast fashion is fine. But the stuff that
is accessible is you know, there's a sense of ease
to it. But I wouldn't say that it's inherently interesting.
You know, it has a price range because because that
it's not interesting.
Speaker 4 (33:51):
Yeah now legit literally And I think that there is
a just too big of a gap right like that,
just when I think of like building for drug race,
for example, this stuff is growing an expense over time,
and it is one.
Speaker 2 (34:07):
Of the most unaccessible.
Speaker 3 (34:09):
At this point, the things that are on drag Race
runways just feels completely inaccessible, of.
Speaker 1 (34:13):
Course, and there's that you know, we had. We could
talk for hours on that conversation of like young queens
just feeling like drag Race is not even in the
cards for them because it's such an expensive TV show.
I think one of the blessings of going on Project
Roamway is you can build your story if you can
do it with your hands, right.
Speaker 2 (34:30):
If you can do it with six hundred dollars a
mood or whatever.
Speaker 1 (34:37):
Expension. But I think that if there is a way
to bridge the gap between really truly expressing yourself and
you know, what you can dream of that is unaccessible,
if there's like a middle I think that that's what's
really missing in fashion. This like middle ground, this like
(35:00):
being able to create your plug into your energy through
the clothes. But it's there, is it is accessible.
Speaker 2 (35:08):
And you don't have to spend like eight trillion on it.
Speaker 1 (35:11):
Exactly like I've I've never been rich. I still like
it's always paycheck to paycheck, but unhappy, you know, And
you know, I thought myself to create to make because
I just have never had a lot of money, and
I think I created the best version of myself I
(35:33):
could imagine with the resources I have and continue to cultivate.
But I never want to lose that sense of like
I can't have something because I don't have the money.
Speaker 2 (35:44):
But you know, yeah, well, I think I think I
really am vibrating a lot with what you're saying, because
it's like, it's why I really enjoyed seeing you go
back on Drag Race. It's why when I saw you
are seeing you go on drag Race, And that's why
I'm really enjoying watching you on Project Runway, Like it's
(36:05):
kind of magical to watch somebody single handedly get Team
Every fagot in the world out here really excited to
see our representation on a show that had our representation
from the jump.
Speaker 3 (36:27):
My thing is, I hope you show it. I hope
this leads to you actually having like a full on
fashion show in New York Fashion Week. I think that
would be so fab would you do that that?
Speaker 2 (36:38):
Oh yeah, look at her, look at her. I'm not
breaking any nda eyebrows.
Speaker 1 (36:45):
I would love that. It would be so fun.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
What are you highkey about.
Speaker 3 (36:56):
It could be a positive, can be a negative, it
can literally be anything that you're feeling right now.
Speaker 1 (37:00):
I would say I'm high key about I live in
Chicago and I'm obsessed with it here and it is
one of the originators of house music, and something that
(37:21):
I think that we do really well here is continue
the cultivation of good music and good house music techno.
And we have these amazing creators here that are continuing
the continuing the creation by spinning every week and just
like continuing to experiment. So I'm a big music fan
(37:44):
and so I will just dive in. We have this
party called Queen here in Chicago, which is incredible, and
I just hosted the party on Sunday. It's every Sunday
night amazing Queen's amazing people. It's a big, big family
just coming in and like just coming together to an
(38:05):
incredible music experience. And this is the month of like
great music like arc Lollapalooza, like insane stuff.
Speaker 3 (38:15):
Chicago is such a hub for the music scene. When
you even like the festivals and everything that kind of
happens there, you never I never, I guess I never
put two and two together. But that's so bab yeah,
and some Chicago summer. If I'm being quite honest, like
I need to do Chicago this summer. She's actually really
nice when it's not eighty three degrees below freezing. My
(38:36):
brother and his girlfriend is like, please come out here
because they live there, and I'm like, I gotta figure
that out, because.
Speaker 2 (38:43):
I feel like they would. I would turn it in boys, now,
I would turn it.
Speaker 1 (38:54):
And we would treat you so right here.
Speaker 2 (38:55):
Being Oh it's true. Oh my god, well you to good.
Speaker 3 (38:58):
Thank you so much for being on hi key, Seriously,
you are so everything, and we're so excited to see
how your Project Runway journey you know, continues, and hopefully
you'll come back on the show anytime, anytime you literally
want to.
Speaker 2 (39:13):
You're more than welcome coming out with us. Good luck
on Project Runway, and thank you thanks for joining us.
Like you've made my birthday so special and so weird.
I wouldn't have it any other way.
Speaker 1 (39:25):
Oh I knew you were aging and it looks cut
on you.
Speaker 2 (39:35):
Offs.
Speaker 3 (39:38):
No.
Speaker 1 (39:38):
I love you guys so much, and thank you for
having me such a treat. I would love to come
on anytime, and thank you for following along with the journey.
I really hope that this really opens up the doors
for all of us. Like I don't take this for granted.
This is really a really special special moment for us,
(40:00):
and so I'm gonna take it and I'm gonna run
with it. And I love you all so much, and
thank you for positive energy.
Speaker 2 (40:08):
So nice to meet you.
Speaker 1 (40:10):
Yes, you too, I love you all.
Speaker 3 (40:13):
Hike you Welcome back everybody. It is, of course time
for our high key. But first, Utica everything she.
Speaker 2 (40:20):
Really is, she is everything more and like legitimately probably
one of the best people on the planet.
Speaker 3 (40:27):
So sorry, no, I mean, like literally, I'm like, I
don't know anyone better. Honestly, she made me feel like
I wasn't even as best as I could.
Speaker 2 (40:35):
Be, And you know what that's inspired.
Speaker 3 (40:37):
I'm obsessed with her, and so we got to know
what her hig key is. But of course, you know
it's time for us. What are you hikey about? What's
your hikey of the week.
Speaker 2 (40:44):
So, in case you haven't heard me say it, like
four times on this episode already, I was in nature
all weekend and the thing I'm the most hikey about
is nudity. It was amazing being reminded that, oh yeah,
we are all born naked and then the rest is drags.
So like, bitch, why am I doing drag everywhere every
(41:06):
moment of my life. It took me being in the
in the woods around all these willies to be like, oh, yeah,
it's totally cool if I'm naked around other people, even
if they're not, you know, and it's totally cool if
I accidentally get a boner, because it's human, it's it's
normal and this shared space. Is that the most famous thing.
Speaker 3 (41:28):
That Rupau's ever said, you know, the we're all born
naked and the rest is drag.
Speaker 2 (41:33):
Listen, You're born naked and the rest is drag. Everybody
everybody is playing a role. I feel like at least
that's the one I quote the most because I love
to just love to say we're all born naked and
then finish it however you want, because it is also true,
Like the fact that you're starting with we're all born
naked is like you could argue anything after that. We're
(41:56):
all born naked. So what is a woman?
Speaker 3 (42:00):
Right? Right, right, There's so much more that it can
it can get into. I love that I'm obsessed with that. Okay,
what are you high key? About this week. You know,
a lot of people have not been talking about it
like I need them to. I think she got into
number one album, but Renee Rap hasn't necessarily like hit
the next level of her career, like if you were
to compare her to like a Sabrina Carpenter, who is
(42:21):
like in next level superstardom. But Bite Me is such
a great album because it's like rocker esque, it's pop,
and like, also she has these really interesting ways of
incorporating like of course things about her real life from
like her breakup with her team and you know, dragging
people that she stayed in the past and like alluding
(42:42):
to friendships that have been rumored to kind of have
fallen off from sex lives with college girls.
Speaker 2 (42:47):
And so that that album is just so so good.
Speaker 3 (42:50):
It's been constantly on repeat even And also I am
also high key over the fact that there is this
(43:12):
fake ass.
Speaker 2 (43:13):
Hate train towards Tyla.
Speaker 3 (43:15):
I'm sorry, there's a there's a bit a disconnect for
Tyler the artists. He's a South African artist who has
kind of been trying to like break in the States.
And I think she's done a really great job at
what she's been able to do, however, Comma because of.
Speaker 2 (43:32):
Some diaspora sort of wars.
Speaker 3 (43:34):
That have gone on around the fact that she's like
identified as colored and because of where she comes from
that is just like the language that they use, it
hasn't translated obviously here in the States, and so black
people are upset around like her kind of like not
changing that are identifying as black, even though like it's
(43:55):
just a cultural thing and it's a part of the
history that has informed the reason why she and everyone
else from her country used that language. And it started
all complete hat train. She literally dropped an EP called
WWP and it had such low like sales. I think
(44:23):
it had like three thousand sales, and people were like, well,
it's because she doesn't identify as black and she's trying
to break out into a black market to a black audiences.
I'm like, please, can y'all like tell me you've never
read a book or took a history class ever.
Speaker 2 (44:38):
Especially because like twenty years ago we were called African Americans, bitch,
Like the name the name I'm allowed to identify us
has changed like three times in my lifetime, Like I
get white. Colored is not a popular option for colored people.
He no, No, it just doesn't feel right. No, says now,
(45:00):
it doesn't.
Speaker 3 (45:01):
And actually that's the thing I understand, Like I understand
the disconnect on like the reason why she uses it
and the reason why it makes us uncomfortable because we
have a history around that, and there is something to
be said around her as an artist trying to break
out here that there is a there needs to be
an understanding of the history that black Americans are black
folks in this country have gone through. And that's the
(45:23):
reason why that feels very like itchy. But I also
do both feel like at times that we are just
literally trying to make a thing happen when we don't
need to.
Speaker 2 (45:33):
And the music is good.
Speaker 3 (45:35):
And to be honest, she is like the only like
black girl out there that is like having high levels
of low key success, and people have deemed her to
be like the next Rihanna, even though I don't know
if that's actually going to be the case, because people
have to like you to be the next Rihanna.
Speaker 2 (45:50):
But I think I think her music is good.
Speaker 3 (45:54):
She's always on rotation in this house, and I just
have been kind of annoyed by the discourse. I've actually
been kind of burnt out on discourse all together.
Speaker 2 (46:04):
I think it's it's been a lot. Yeah, you know what,
no more discourse. How about this, y'all shut the fuck up? Okay, y'all.
Speaker 3 (46:13):
So I think that is it for High Key. What
a fab week, what a fab episode. Stick around there.
Next week we got George M. Johnson joining us at
the author activist, author of the memoir All Boys Are Blue, which,
if you did not know is was one of the
most banned books in America last year. So that's going
(46:36):
to be wild and of course it's going to be
something that we talk about, of course, and I'm very
excited because I think, you know, George is gonna really
enjoy our energy and they always are so smart and
so wonderful, but also they're just a big key, So
I'm very very excited for them to be on the show.
Speaker 2 (46:54):
Yeah, you know, we're gonna bring all the loves and
spill all of the uh huh piping English Gray Tea Mama, don't.
Speaker 3 (47:08):
Also in the meantime this we please you off, we
continue to ask if you can drop us glowing five
star reviews on Apple Podcasts or really anywhere where you
get your show and wherever you're listening. You know it
would be so chic and so cute if you wrote
a few words about how much you really love us
(47:29):
in this show.
Speaker 2 (47:30):
It's always really nice.
Speaker 3 (47:31):
It helps people find the show more if you are
just like helping us with reviews. So if you're a
friend of mine, if you're a friend of EV's, if
you're a fan of ours, please please please leave.
Speaker 2 (47:41):
A five star review. Yeah, starting next week, we're gonna
be dropping on Mondays, but if you're on Patreon, you'll
get the episode early plus exclusive content every week.
Speaker 3 (47:53):
Literally, it's the reason why I subscribe to so many
Patreons now, because I love being in and getting something
like quicker than I'm supposed to.
Speaker 2 (48:02):
It's so satisfying and it's so.
Speaker 3 (48:03):
Good, and there's such a community that's being built on
our patriot So patreon dot com slash hi key, come
on through, grab yourself a snack and a drink, and
come hang out with us at the AFT's Bye bye.
Speaker 2 (48:18):
If you're hikey obsessed with our show, take a second
to follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode,
and while you're at it, rate us, drop a review
and tell your friends if you want to keep the
High Key Key Going.
Speaker 3 (48:32):
Join us on Instagram and TikTok at high Key Here,
See You There gotp Hikey is a production of iHeart
Podcasts as a part.
Speaker 2 (48:40):
Of the Outspoken Network.
Speaker 3 (48:41):
This show is created and executive produced by Ryan Mitchell,
E Badley and Spoke Media.
Speaker 2 (48:46):
Our showrunner is Tyler Green. Our producers are Jonasanti, Jenna Burnett,
and Tess Ryan. Our video lead is Louise Pana and
our audio engineer is Sammy Seirett.
Speaker 3 (48:56):
Executive producers for Spoke Media our Travis Lamont Balinger and
Aliah ta A.
Speaker 2 (49:00):
Our iHeart team is just Crime Chich and Sierra Kaiser,
and
Speaker 3 (49:04):
Our theme music is by the one and only Kayan
Hersey and our show art is by Work by Work,
with photography by Eric Carter.
And then with law he's terrified with dreg queens, whereas designers.
I think he could feel like he can push us around.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Why do you feel that way? Girl?
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Drag cleans area are crazy and sometimes they have better headlines.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Oh my god, you leave us. They're life alone.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Thank you?
Speaker 2 (00:20):
What's up? By Cones. Welcome to High Key.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
I'm Ryan Mitchell and I'm Eviy Oddly and today we're
bringing you a chat with the wonderfully weird and wildly
creative Utica.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Ooh, I liked all those debuties. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
We get into everything from like drag Race and how
it shaped her. I mean Project Runway literally what it
means to like blend all of these worlds that she's
existing in. It's kind of wild because the world's just
never seen it before.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Plus we talk about how she's a slutty little party
girl obsessed. Of course, here's a little housekeeping note.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
If you want to access bonus content and behind the scenes,
t join us for the acties on payon Patreon dot.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Com slash hikey. We love to see you there. But
first things first, let's get to the High Key Key.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Where is your stress level or excitement level? Because you
have a lot going on this week. By the time
this episode is out, it is literally your birthday.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
I'm saying this whole week is your birthday. I mean
clearly the look.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
But where where's your On the scale of one to ten,
how much are you stressing out around this whole yard
sale drag sale thing that you're doing and inviting we're
into people to your household?
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Right now? I want to say I'm at like a
seven because I've been in the ten. Like I've been
in the ten honestly before this week, Like last week
when I was panicking thinking about like how much I
need to have done and being like, oh no, it's impossible.
There's too many things. Yeah, like that was a ten.
I was losing sleepover ten. Right now I'm out a
(01:52):
seven because for some reason, I like tapped in to
be the most like focused together person I've ever been
my life.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Bitch.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
I literally spent all night last night making spreadsheets. I
made spreadsheets.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
First of all, I didn't even know Evie Adley knew
what a Google doc are. Sheets are a spreads. I
had no clue that was evening. You're vine, I.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Still don't girl, to be honest, the only spreading I
do is my legs? Girl?
Speaker 3 (02:24):
Oh my god, no, Because I mean this goes back
to what I was saying like last week and when
we were talking and just being like adulting is at
a new high, and I am just constantly like trying
to figure out what my life is trying to give
and I want to go on a vacation, but I'm
trying to be like, well, am I financially like responsible?
(02:44):
Like I'm trying to make these tough decisions where I
wish I was just like nineteen year old Ryan and
would be like, who cares if my you know, my
bank's accounts are in the negative.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
I'm going to PV. I'm going to this trip.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
But no, now, thirty two year old Ryan, I'm like,
I want to be financial responsible and who cares if
I get a whole invite to a branded trip, I'm
not going if I'm not prepared.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
I don't know, girl, Okay, Because that's also the thing
is you still deserve to trip. Like a part of
a part of what should be my stress right now
is that I spent all weekend literally tripping, like I
went to Hancho for the first time. Oh, what's han show?
It's this big queer camp out somewhere in Pennsylvania where.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
In the middle of nowhere, probably where get Out took
place exactly.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Well no, no, no, because get Out get Out they
had mode lawns and shit out here. It was like wild.
It was literally just a bunch of queers in the
woods and like for like three or four days, I
just spent every day like baking in the sun, like
baking and Mother Nature's mushrooms, completely naked. And so to
(03:57):
come back to society immediately after that, I like, I
don't know, I snapped into right brain mode, but I
am celebrating. I thought, was So was this also like
a festival thing?
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Because I could have sworn when I was like stalking
your your stories.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
You were on stage too, So what is that a
part of this whole thing? No? Okay, so that's what's
wild is the only reason. Uh I left being a
queer naked in the woods with my dick out like
in the drugs in was I got booked to open
for this band. Have you ever heard of King Gizzard
and the Lizard Wizard. That's their entire Nay, yeah, okay, what.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
You were just like actually just adding words and that
ry because you know you are a rapper, you beat
you got the bars right day.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Well, I mean apparently so are they too. It's just
like this Australian jam band that's got like a cult following.
I've like heard my hipster friends talking about them since
I was in high school. Were so they've been out
that long.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
So this is kind of like a dream that you
got to open up for them in some ways.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
They asked you. Yeah, it was really dope, And I
think the strangest thing about it though, was that was
also in nature, so bitch, I like was a queer
in nature, camping in the woods, no rules, Willy out
and then immediately had to go back into society, like
for one day, the Willie had to go back in.
But literally the I was crying putting pants on, being
(05:46):
like I'm going to the airport and I'm still on mushrooms.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
Oh my god, that's so wild. Well, I mean it
sounds like you had a good time. I feel like
my like weekend was actually so busy. I don't know
what got into me, but like I am really someone
that is really bad at saying no, I can't, can't.
I will always be like yeah, I'll try to come
like I'll make it, and I ended up getting myself
stuck into like going to like three technically it was
(06:14):
four events back to back. A friend of mine had
a rose fest where literally everyone had to bring a
rose bottle and just get drunk in the pool.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
It was basically a pool day. Okay, that's kind of cute.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
I was gonna say I would skip that, but pool
day on mine actually start. I started that the day
with that, and then I ended up going to I
was like, okay, I gotta make it to my other
friends event that was kind of like a day party
in my neighborhood, and it was like the first time
she was doing something like this, and she was selling cocktails,
like frozen drinks, and so I was like, Okay, I'm
gonna come and come and support and like you know,
(06:44):
show the vibes. And that ended up being really fun
because I went from like relaxing by the pool to
black people throwing ass to ying Yan twins. I ended
the night at Sam Sanders podcaster or at Shred and Air.
I ended the night at his Wonderful party, which I
ended up meeting people from our team. Shout out to Bow,
shout out to John I end up meeting folks from
(07:07):
our team there in real life. I saw Boat and
was like, I know, I don't know a white man
that looks like that.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Is that Boat?
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Wait?
Speaker 2 (07:14):
How tall is he? How tall is he?
Speaker 3 (07:16):
Because I know we're both tall? Great questions? I think
I may was I a little bit taller than Bo?
I had on a loafer?
Speaker 2 (07:26):
I feel like maybe we were like same height, but
Bo doesn't give.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
Like short king energy. John, However, is we are the
same high for sure?
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Yeah? I was kind of shocked by that. Well we are.
We are just a podcast full of tall people, which
is actually kind of perfect because even our guest today,
our guest today, I was expecting to be around our hyaight,
and then when I met them for the first time,
it was like the first time I ever had to
look up in my life for a reason that wasn't sucking. Dick.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Wait, so she's taller than you because you're taller than me.
I'm I mean, I know we're all like tall, but like,
you're for sure taller than me. That means she has
to be a good like six five six seven. Yeah,
she she definitely is.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
She like at least comes up to RuPaul's kneecaps level.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
Which is crazy because that's my Dave and Goliath level. Well,
I'm actually I'm so excited to bring in our guests
on the show today. Now y'all might know her as
Utica In, you know, from RuPaul's Drag Race, or you
maybe getting to know her as Ethan from Project Runway.
Can we please bring the icon the legend utica In.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Is going on?
Speaker 2 (08:35):
Baby? Oh my god, hi you. First of all, you
don't look as tall right in Hill. I was gonna
say you look great, but that's only because I can't
see you, bitch, Okay, mama out right way. Utica, It's
(08:57):
so nice to meet you.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
I know you and Eve have like met, of course
because y'all are Drag Race sisters. But I am such
a fan. I want to get that out there. You
are just so talented and so incredible. And I think
for me when I was like, what am I going
to ask Unica first? And I was like, id of,
just want to get to know you know, Ethan or Utica,
you know whoever. I think the names will be interchangeable
(09:18):
in this conversation for sure. But Utica, how would your
best friend describe you?
Speaker 1 (09:24):
I would say, that my entity is very safe, it's
very warm, it's very like, you know, a place where
you can come to that is just cozy, but it's
fun and like you know, it's it's fun.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
But but also if you tell if you you touch,
you might get burned.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Oh get up, get you know the other side of you.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
I could be I could be spicy.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
I knew you grew up and especially I remember on
drag Race a sort of being a part of your storyline.
How have you balanced strong sense of faith with you know,
this fine joyful energy that comes with like partying and
who you are now? Like are you still spiritual in
a way?
Speaker 1 (10:11):
So when I went on the show, I was balancing
like having a really positive religious experience, good people, good community.
You know, of course it has its naivete of how
the world really works, and I think I really wanted
to be able to like start to mix the two together.
(10:31):
I'm a very I'm a Gemini, I'm like very like
the dichotomy I think is there and it can be powerful.
The faith got me through really difficult times, and I
found that I didn't want to quite give up my religion,
but I wanted to adopt my new religion of drag
and like being queer and like it's like what I
(10:53):
believe in because it's what I've made. It is my truth,
it is my guiding light, and it's helping me express
myself in a way that religion ever could. And I
wanted to just keep this love, these good morals that
I got growing up. And as I got into the
real world and I experienced drag race and I guess
(11:16):
to go all the way around the world, I realized
that my world's view was really closed. Yeah, what I
believed of the world was wrong. It is so eclectic.
There is not just one way to believe. There's so many,
and like, you can be your own spirituality, And so
(11:42):
I wouldn't say that I am like an Adventist anymore,
but I will say that I become my own spirituality
where I don't really take the pillars of the religion
with me anymore. Because I was born into it, I
didn't have like a choice growing up, And so as
(12:02):
I grew up and I become my own, I get
that choice. Now. I don't have to bend to something
that was spoon fed to me for my whole life.
I want to believe in something more, and yeah, I'm
obsessed with like learning everything and like taking it all
(12:23):
in and realizing that there isn't just one way anymore.
I think that is a completely closed way to think
about life, and it closes you off from so many
beautiful people in the world. So why would I limit
myself when I am infinite?
Speaker 2 (12:39):
Oh she's done, Mushrooms.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
You don't know when some faggot is going to come
into your life and change it for the better.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
You know, like, if you're going to exclude these queer people,
they're the best people. They have literally unlocked the matrix, Harriet.
I feel like queer people are like have woken up
on a.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Different like sound wave like sort of thing. That's what
I was feeling all weekend in the woods, just like
running around and being like why why are we like
wearing this makeup and like like uh, like just expressing
ourselves and having fun and connecting and being sexual and
being deviant. And I was like, oh, yeah, that's right,
(13:21):
because we realized that we're allowed to do all of
this shit, and that the matrix itself is like the
society we've built is all the rules that told us
we weren't allowed to be these things.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
And not getting caught up in the matrix and like
replicating it in our own queerness, right. I think sometimes
we see that and it was like, like, WHOA queerness
is supposed to be a freedom? Why are we trying
to like continue the buying area or continue all of
these things that just feel so restrictive to everything that
we ran away from or decided we were no longer
(13:56):
going to take part in. And so yeah, it's just
it's it's really really interesting. And I have always loved
seeing the way that you have I guess, navigated through
your queerness and your spirituality because it often feels like,
you know, the thing that you shouldn't.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
Talk about, it really does.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
What's crazy is I think that queer people are what
the world has said is unnatural. We are proving that
it is natural and that it has always been natural,
But somehow the world got this idea that we are
demonized for being unnatural. It's cool to be able to
(14:39):
take back that power, you.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
Know, let the freaks reign, because there are eight billion
of us on this planet, even if half of us
don't realize it yet. I can't what kind of made
you even go back to TV?
Speaker 3 (14:56):
Like, were you just needing to were you just hungry
to get back into the Yeah?
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Do you just hate yourself? What made you say? Yes?
Speaker 1 (15:07):
Listen? So you know, I was in like the COVID
season of Drag Race. So it was its own like entity,
its own like a little bit of crazy and we
had to like quarantine for two weeks. It was insane.
It was so strict, and I think it was like
a really special no. It just it felt a really
(15:29):
unique season, you know. And so I got my jump
on this business like in COVID, which is insane. But
after the show, I still got connected with being involved
with the show by making stuff and the girls of
being involved. And you know, before doing drag I was
(15:51):
always like behind the scenes, you know, making stuffer theater
and like, and I noticed that I was us getting
a lot of attention for the stuff I was making, right,
and then my that my my whole, my whole, my
scene on the internet.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
Yeah, let's talk about your whole first second.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
It's equally talented, maybe, but you know, my I just
kept getting so many like lovely words and getting lots
of this positivity over this stuff. And I think that
Project Runway was you know, on my has been on
our radars for a long time. It's like that we
are a part of the queer TV show of the world,
(16:37):
and this is the fashion TV show of the world,
like it's the one, right, So I am trying to
set myself up for the rest of my life of
being a really I'm a maker like a And I
realized that I think that this bridge needs to happen,
and I'm gagged that this has not happened before. Protac
(17:00):
crommey have of course, like season five had RuPaul come
on it with a bunch of queens, and like.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
Don't discount mother Ru's crunchiest daytime face ever, that was iconic.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
Girl a white shirt, red red beads in a plastid way.
Let's go.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
That couldn't have been her a first crunchy like look,
I mean she was on the back joy Behart.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
No, it's just like one of my favorite But yes,
please continue to talk about how you're actually bridging the gap.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
If RuPaul can sit in a chair and tell if
things look good or look bad, and that is bridging
the gap. But then I can fucking go on this
show and tear it up as a contestant absolutely and
so doing.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
So you have been so far. I don't know how
how this goes. I didn't get on the Reddit.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
I'm going to toot my own horn, but I feel
like I'm doing an amazing job on the show. It
thinks that I am a really good representation for drag
and the bridge between drag and fashion, because at the
end of the day, drag inspires fashion. I know I'm
there to put a fresh spin on everything, and I
(18:13):
think that this is finally the chance for like these
shows to open up the doors incredible fashion drag people
in the world, like not only queens that make beautiful things,
but also the people that work behind the scenes for
Drag Race Girl, like some of the like for living
through Project Groma. I know that some of these, like
(18:37):
mainstage fashion designers could fucking tear up this competition.
Speaker 3 (18:42):
Tear it up right.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
Let's let's make Project Rama less about like the boring
fashion and like more loud and crazy and like.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
But that's the thing.
Speaker 3 (18:53):
There's always been tension, and I think you being on
the show this season, we're actually seeing that a little
bit more, where it's there some tension between what the
line between drag and traditional fashion and mainstream fashion, right,
And I wonder going into that space, especially when they've
I'm assuming producers had you show up at Unicus as times,
(19:14):
I'm wondering did you Were you expecting that tension between
drag and what is perceived as traditional or mainstream fashion?
Speaker 2 (19:22):
Were you expecting that?
Speaker 1 (19:23):
Of course, of course they cast a drag queen, and
that is the talking point. Like, but I think I've
been doing a good job and finding that sophistication, the grandness,
but also have a sense of ease to it. I
think it like if I if all that I have
to do is dumb it down to be their sentiments,
(19:46):
then I'm in a really good spot. But I'm used
to creating things that are really loud and have like
an impact, right, And because that's what you know, Drag
race is solve out in Drag, it's all about that
show and this like these pieces live in this world
where they're telling a very pointed story and a very
(20:07):
short amount of time. Right. So with Project Roamway, it's
about how do you create pieces that have not only
lungevity but a sense of ease for the consumer. For sure.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
I think that's like why it's been really really delicious
to watch you on this though, not not to toot
your horn too much, but I really I appreciate that
you're following a lot of like what the path of
the universe just has for you, because drag as an
art form itself is something that I feel like a
lot of a lot of us queers who get into
(20:40):
it really get into because we are artists and creatives
in so many other ways and like maybe struggle to
find a place where we're allowed to put ourselves first
or our vision first in that world. But just being
a drag queen does not does not limit what you
are able to express out the world. So like, for real,
(21:02):
thank you for like chipping away at this barrier. As
like a fan of both your work on Drag Race
and so far your work on Project Runway. Like it's
kind of amazing to see another another queer out there
living childhood dreams I was way too lazy to achieve.
Speaker 3 (21:21):
And that's what I love about you. You are real
about the shit You're like, I'm very much self aware
of my laziness.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
Yeah, I will so one amazing outfit once and then
be like that should count forever. Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (21:37):
What's the difference between a Drag Race critique and a
Project Runway critique.
Speaker 1 (21:42):
Ooh oh. I think the main difference is that we
get this discourse a lot with drag Race. Is a
lot of the prep for drag Race is done beforehand, right,
so they are critiquing what they're seeing, and they are
being you can change for the next runway when reality
(22:03):
that's not possible. The only thing that I think we
could really change is like or makeup or like, you know,
they don't give us time to evolve throughout the competition.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
I mean, okay, this is where I'm totally gonna disagree
with you though, because I don't know, maybe they like
change the rules or some shit. But on our season
they let us like take things home, and literally the
entire time I was not in that workroom, I was
still going through my own little Project Runway in my
hotel room, like sitting there watching naked and afraid being like, wow,
(22:36):
I'm also surviving, just like stoning a caftan that may
or may not be worn on this show ever. But
but I that is mostly I agree with what you're
saying about the fact that they are mostly judging you
on what you've brought to the competition before. What would
you say is, I guess the most challenging thing about
Project Runways critiquing is then.
Speaker 3 (22:59):
Besides Law road to being what it seems like names
meaner but also juicier.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
I mean because he's on he's on drag Race, and
I feel like he's kind of nicer on drag right.
Speaker 3 (23:10):
I was not excepting that, which I kind of live for,
but like it's just interesting.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
Yeah, I think that the difference is, like, you know,
you do a substantial amount of prep work for Drag Race,
whereas with Project Roway, you could literally just like a
sewing bag some patterns and go and then the magic
is happening. They're like you're spending hours and hours and
(23:36):
hours an hour and it's and hours they're sewing and
they're critiquing what they're seeing, and you can even you
can actively shift the work every single week, like there's
more room to like physically play right. And then with Law,
I think he's terrified of drag queens, whereas designers, I
think he could feel like he can moush us around.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
Really, why do you feel why do you feel that way?
Speaker 1 (24:00):
Are or fold or crazy? And sometimes they have fitter
heirdlines also here.
Speaker 2 (24:03):
Oh my god, you live a fair life alone. It's real.
We had Lena waithon last week and she said something
that was interesting to me, like where she felt kind
of like an outsider as a guest judge, you know,
because you don't really you're just speaking on some shit
you're seeing. So it's not saying he's not qualified to
(24:24):
judge drag Grace because he's actually one of my favorite
additions to the panel. But you know, he he's not
going to go as in on what these queens are
doing because he's been working in the fashion industry specifically,
so you know, he can have a sassy opinion about
my stupid cupcake butt outfit or something, but he has
(24:46):
a lot more authority to be a cunt in the
fashion world.
Speaker 3 (24:51):
What especially if it seems like you you would go
on Project Runway because you are not trying to and
I don't want to put words to your man, but
it seems like there's a there's a the next entry
point r It's a possible entry point into more mainstream
fashioned spaces, and so law is someone that occupies those
spaces and has that changed your decision going through this
(25:13):
process has it changed your decision on how you want
to show up.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
In mainstream fashion spaces.
Speaker 3 (25:18):
Is that something you're looking towards, like are you wanting
to make more things for consumers?
Speaker 2 (25:23):
Like where's your where do you land now?
Speaker 3 (25:26):
When you're trying to figure out what am I a
drag designer? Are am I this Ethan? In this space
in fashion? I think going into the show, I have
had you Tica inform the clothes where she is my armor,
my like, my muse, my everything right, and her sensibilities
(25:47):
and her tastes inform beautiful clothes right, And so it
was mostly for as little select moments my entity. But
moving into this space of more ready to wear, more
accessible clothing, more worldly like fast and presentation, I want
to still bring her with me in that way because
(26:09):
I think she's the reason why the clothes are cool
and the clothes are interesting and the clothes have a story,
Like I'm bringing her narrative throughout everything, because like, she's
my everything, why would I leave her behind? Of course,
I evolve and the work evolves over time. I think
it's really special for a queen to have clothes that
(26:32):
people can wear, because people our take our entity and
they take our creaturism and they put it into a
world of other and they want to aspire to be
as other as we live our daily lives. Right, And
if there is a way that I can take our
our as creatures and put it into something tangible and
(26:55):
physical and things that they can wear, then we're already
bridging the gap just with stuff.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
No, that's the goal.
Speaker 2 (27:04):
Yeah, honestly, honestly, that's that's very legit because especially post
Drag Race, for me, in like that first year of
getting used to how people are going to interact with
me in the world, I will say it was very
difficult to hear a lot of people come up and
be like, oh my gosh, like you you're so cool,
(27:25):
You're so weird, You're so whatever, this or that abject adjective.
I wish I could be that. I was always so
frustrated with the I wish because I was like, drag
at least for me, is what showed me that I
have the power to do all the eye wishes I
ever wanted. And I my goal in getting on Drag
(27:46):
Race like was really trying to show people specifically in Denver,
but show people that like you can push boundaries, you
can go hard, you can like chase things, and you
can literally make the world more beautiful, interesting, weird, freaky,
fucked up place. I just want to say, like, thank you,
(28:06):
thank you for taking taking that power to do it elsewhere.
And also in person, you are a very weird human.
Speaker 1 (28:16):
I am girl.
Speaker 2 (28:18):
I think that's why we get along so well.
Speaker 1 (28:21):
Like I feel like I'm very well spoken, but I'm
like popcorn that has skittles and chili Cupperson.
Speaker 3 (28:29):
You know, it always reminds me anytime your name is
brought up. I always think of Bob when he's like
making the utica ooh pooh, I'm weird booo like that
that means that's kind of been everywhere, Like it's so
true because it's so fabulous to see you. It kind
of exists, and even watching you in interviews recently as
you've been doing more press for the show, I'm like, wow,
(28:49):
she feels very like demure and like just very kind
of like poised and sophisticated when really you're like I've
seen you on shows are like however, you perform and
you show up in the world and it's just like, wait,
you're actually a weirdo and it's it's sort of everything
because I feel like you have to sort of be
a weirdo growing up in the Midwest. Yeah, it's the
(29:14):
best option. I'm also thinking about how you said, like
drag inspires fashion, But I know there's always like this critique,
especially when we're when I'm thinking about drag Race around
like queens who often recreate like fashion looks are inspired
(29:35):
by like the Scaparelli's are like the like the larger
fashion houses. And I always wonder from someone like you,
who is actually a you create originals? Are we seeing
too much of the recreating of other things instead of
the originality that drag Race was like all about at
one point? Hell, yes, bitch, I know it wasn't for
me your turn, I mean for both of you. Are
you are both queens that have gone on that show,
(29:57):
you know, I mean, like, especially from a designer, what
the hell are you thinking?
Speaker 1 (30:01):
Yeah? I think it's tough because you know, I have
clients coming up to me and be like, I love this,
it exists in the world. Would you recreate it? Or
can we do something? And I think that it is
respectful to take inspiration but also make it something new
and different and to let the person know who is
commissioning or you know who you're working for. That it's
(30:23):
not right to copy something in entirety. And I don't
think you're being a true artist if you just copy it,
you know, like and without like bringing on or to
what you like. I don't think there's a problem with like,
I recreated this thing and this is what is inspired by,
you know. I think that's respectful.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
It's the equivalent of tracing something and like it is
still beautiful. That is a gorgeous tracing. I'm glad you
took the time to do that, and all the details
are right, but like, what would it be like if
you put even an like one more eye out of
your perspective on? And that's what I really appree shade
about you, because like when you made your iconic sleeping
(31:04):
bag dress and I got the call to go back
on drag Race, I was like, I want to steal
some of that silhouette, but I'm going to change it
enough that nobody will ever know that this was also
inspired by Utica's dress until I said it to this
day on this podcast, and I'll let you fox find
out which one of those dresses was it. I actually
(31:25):
really wanted out. Oh my god, I can't wait. Just
just just look at my All Stars package and there
will be one dress that's like, oh, that's actually kind
of pretty? Is that one? And it's when I made?
Those are your hints?
Speaker 1 (31:40):
You know. What's crazy about this whole thing is like
we're inspired by our peers, which I think is like
one of the powers of the drag community, the queer community,
the makers that create you know, it's really it's really cool,
like in order to inspire you, you inspire me to,
you know, be naked in the woods and I I, no, no, no,
(32:05):
there's like there's a sense of ease that we we
have with our work. And I think that it's amazing
that our text, the things we speak, the things we
make are you know, causing ripples in the community. And
I think that we have tapped into our artistic flow
as artists, which I think is really valuable. That is
(32:27):
like the one piece of advice I give to aspiring
artists is that you feel it, you want, like you
get it in your body and there's like a flow
that happens through your body. If you can cultivate that,
keep it safe, read it with care, and not let
people take advantage of that because it's so precious. I
think that that is like us as artists, that is
(32:48):
our superpowers, Like as little kids, us wanting to be superheroes.
The flow that happens, the things that come out of
our hands and our mouth, and the things we perform.
We've cultivated ourselves to be the superheroes that we've always
wanted to see. When your kids or what we want
to see as adults, what do you.
Speaker 3 (33:06):
Think is actually like missing from fashion currently?
Speaker 1 (33:12):
I would say me personally, I think that what's missing
is like when we look online and we see fashion,
there are things that are completely unaccessible, Like you look
at these incredible pieces and it's like a show. It's
our like super unaccessible unless you are like absurdly rich, right,
(33:32):
and then fast fashion is fine. But the stuff that
is accessible is you know, there's a sense of ease
to it. But I wouldn't say that it's inherently interesting.
You know, it has a price range because because that
it's not interesting.
Speaker 4 (33:51):
Yeah now legit literally And I think that there is
a just too big of a gap right like that,
just when I think of like building for drug race,
for example, this stuff is growing an expense over time,
and it is one.
Speaker 2 (34:07):
Of the most unaccessible.
Speaker 3 (34:09):
At this point, the things that are on drag Race
runways just feels completely inaccessible, of.
Speaker 1 (34:13):
Course, and there's that you know, we had. We could
talk for hours on that conversation of like young queens
just feeling like drag Race is not even in the
cards for them because it's such an expensive TV show.
I think one of the blessings of going on Project
Roamway is you can build your story if you can
do it with your hands, right.
Speaker 2 (34:30):
If you can do it with six hundred dollars a
mood or whatever.
Speaker 1 (34:37):
Expension. But I think that if there is a way
to bridge the gap between really truly expressing yourself and
you know, what you can dream of that is unaccessible,
if there's like a middle I think that that's what's
really missing in fashion. This like middle ground, this like
(35:00):
being able to create your plug into your energy through
the clothes. But it's there, is it is accessible.
Speaker 2 (35:08):
And you don't have to spend like eight trillion on it.
Speaker 1 (35:11):
Exactly like I've I've never been rich. I still like
it's always paycheck to paycheck, but unhappy, you know, And
you know, I thought myself to create to make because
I just have never had a lot of money, and
I think I created the best version of myself I
(35:33):
could imagine with the resources I have and continue to cultivate.
But I never want to lose that sense of like
I can't have something because I don't have the money.
Speaker 2 (35:44):
But you know, yeah, well, I think I think I
really am vibrating a lot with what you're saying, because
it's like, it's why I really enjoyed seeing you go
back on Drag Race. It's why when I saw you
are seeing you go on drag Race, And that's why
I'm really enjoying watching you on Project Runway, Like it's
(36:05):
kind of magical to watch somebody single handedly get Team
Every fagot in the world out here really excited to
see our representation on a show that had our representation
from the jump.
Speaker 3 (36:27):
My thing is, I hope you show it. I hope
this leads to you actually having like a full on
fashion show in New York Fashion Week. I think that
would be so fab would you do that that?
Speaker 2 (36:38):
Oh yeah, look at her, look at her. I'm not
breaking any nda eyebrows.
Speaker 1 (36:45):
I would love that. It would be so fun.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
What are you highkey about.
Speaker 3 (36:56):
It could be a positive, can be a negative, it
can literally be anything that you're feeling right now.
Speaker 1 (37:00):
I would say I'm high key about I live in
Chicago and I'm obsessed with it here and it is
one of the originators of house music, and something that
(37:21):
I think that we do really well here is continue
the cultivation of good music and good house music techno.
And we have these amazing creators here that are continuing
the continuing the creation by spinning every week and just
like continuing to experiment. So I'm a big music fan
(37:44):
and so I will just dive in. We have this
party called Queen here in Chicago, which is incredible, and
I just hosted the party on Sunday. It's every Sunday
night amazing Queen's amazing people. It's a big, big family
just coming in and like just coming together to an
(38:05):
incredible music experience. And this is the month of like
great music like arc Lollapalooza, like insane stuff.
Speaker 3 (38:15):
Chicago is such a hub for the music scene. When
you even like the festivals and everything that kind of
happens there, you never I never, I guess I never
put two and two together. But that's so bab yeah,
and some Chicago summer. If I'm being quite honest, like
I need to do Chicago this summer. She's actually really
nice when it's not eighty three degrees below freezing. My
(38:36):
brother and his girlfriend is like, please come out here
because they live there, and I'm like, I gotta figure
that out, because.
Speaker 2 (38:43):
I feel like they would. I would turn it in boys, now,
I would turn it.
Speaker 1 (38:54):
And we would treat you so right here.
Speaker 2 (38:55):
Being Oh it's true. Oh my god, well you to good.
Speaker 3 (38:58):
Thank you so much for being on hi key, Seriously,
you are so everything, and we're so excited to see
how your Project Runway journey you know, continues, and hopefully
you'll come back on the show anytime, anytime you literally
want to.
Speaker 2 (39:13):
You're more than welcome coming out with us. Good luck
on Project Runway, and thank you thanks for joining us.
Like you've made my birthday so special and so weird.
I wouldn't have it any other way.
Speaker 1 (39:25):
Oh I knew you were aging and it looks cut
on you.
Speaker 2 (39:35):
Offs.
Speaker 3 (39:38):
No.
Speaker 1 (39:38):
I love you guys so much, and thank you for
having me such a treat. I would love to come
on anytime, and thank you for following along with the journey.
I really hope that this really opens up the doors
for all of us. Like I don't take this for granted.
This is really a really special special moment for us,
(40:00):
and so I'm gonna take it and I'm gonna run
with it. And I love you all so much, and
thank you for positive energy.
Speaker 2 (40:08):
So nice to meet you.
Speaker 1 (40:10):
Yes, you too, I love you all.
Speaker 3 (40:13):
Hike you Welcome back everybody. It is, of course time
for our high key. But first, Utica everything she.
Speaker 2 (40:20):
Really is, she is everything more and like legitimately probably
one of the best people on the planet.
Speaker 3 (40:27):
So sorry, no, I mean, like literally, I'm like, I
don't know anyone better. Honestly, she made me feel like
I wasn't even as best as I could.
Speaker 2 (40:35):
Be, And you know what that's inspired.
Speaker 3 (40:37):
I'm obsessed with her, and so we got to know
what her hig key is. But of course, you know
it's time for us. What are you hikey about? What's
your hikey of the week.
Speaker 2 (40:44):
So, in case you haven't heard me say it, like
four times on this episode already, I was in nature
all weekend and the thing I'm the most hikey about
is nudity. It was amazing being reminded that, oh yeah,
we are all born naked and then the rest is drags.
So like, bitch, why am I doing drag everywhere every
(41:06):
moment of my life. It took me being in the
in the woods around all these willies to be like, oh, yeah,
it's totally cool if I'm naked around other people, even
if they're not, you know, and it's totally cool if
I accidentally get a boner, because it's human, it's it's
normal and this shared space. Is that the most famous thing.
Speaker 3 (41:28):
That Rupau's ever said, you know, the we're all born
naked and the rest is drag.
Speaker 2 (41:33):
Listen, You're born naked and the rest is drag. Everybody
everybody is playing a role. I feel like at least
that's the one I quote the most because I love
to just love to say we're all born naked and
then finish it however you want, because it is also true,
Like the fact that you're starting with we're all born
naked is like you could argue anything after that. We're
(41:56):
all born naked. So what is a woman?
Speaker 3 (42:00):
Right? Right, right, There's so much more that it can
it can get into. I love that I'm obsessed with that. Okay,
what are you high key? About this week. You know,
a lot of people have not been talking about it
like I need them to. I think she got into
number one album, but Renee Rap hasn't necessarily like hit
the next level of her career, like if you were
to compare her to like a Sabrina Carpenter, who is
(42:21):
like in next level superstardom. But Bite Me is such
a great album because it's like rocker esque, it's pop,
and like, also she has these really interesting ways of
incorporating like of course things about her real life from
like her breakup with her team and you know, dragging
people that she stayed in the past and like alluding
(42:42):
to friendships that have been rumored to kind of have
fallen off from sex lives with college girls.
Speaker 2 (42:47):
And so that that album is just so so good.
Speaker 3 (42:50):
It's been constantly on repeat even And also I am
also high key over the fact that there is this
(43:12):
fake ass.
Speaker 2 (43:13):
Hate train towards Tyla.
Speaker 3 (43:15):
I'm sorry, there's a there's a bit a disconnect for
Tyler the artists. He's a South African artist who has
kind of been trying to like break in the States.
And I think she's done a really great job at
what she's been able to do, however, Comma because of.
Speaker 2 (43:32):
Some diaspora sort of wars.
Speaker 3 (43:34):
That have gone on around the fact that she's like
identified as colored and because of where she comes from
that is just like the language that they use, it
hasn't translated obviously here in the States, and so black
people are upset around like her kind of like not
changing that are identifying as black, even though like it's
(43:55):
just a cultural thing and it's a part of the
history that has informed the reason why she and everyone
else from her country used that language. And it started
all complete hat train. She literally dropped an EP called
WWP and it had such low like sales. I think
(44:23):
it had like three thousand sales, and people were like, well,
it's because she doesn't identify as black and she's trying
to break out into a black market to a black audiences.
I'm like, please, can y'all like tell me you've never
read a book or took a history class ever.
Speaker 2 (44:38):
Especially because like twenty years ago we were called African Americans, bitch,
Like the name the name I'm allowed to identify us
has changed like three times in my lifetime, Like I
get white. Colored is not a popular option for colored people.
He no, No, it just doesn't feel right. No, says now,
(45:00):
it doesn't.
Speaker 3 (45:01):
And actually that's the thing I understand, Like I understand
the disconnect on like the reason why she uses it
and the reason why it makes us uncomfortable because we
have a history around that, and there is something to
be said around her as an artist trying to break
out here that there is a there needs to be
an understanding of the history that black Americans are black
folks in this country have gone through. And that's the
(45:23):
reason why that feels very like itchy. But I also
do both feel like at times that we are just
literally trying to make a thing happen when we don't
need to.
Speaker 2 (45:33):
And the music is good.
Speaker 3 (45:35):
And to be honest, she is like the only like
black girl out there that is like having high levels
of low key success, and people have deemed her to
be like the next Rihanna, even though I don't know
if that's actually going to be the case, because people
have to like you to be the next Rihanna.
Speaker 2 (45:50):
But I think I think her music is good.
Speaker 3 (45:54):
She's always on rotation in this house, and I just
have been kind of annoyed by the discourse. I've actually
been kind of burnt out on discourse all together.
Speaker 2 (46:04):
I think it's it's been a lot. Yeah, you know what,
no more discourse. How about this, y'all shut the fuck up? Okay, y'all.
Speaker 3 (46:13):
So I think that is it for High Key. What
a fab week, what a fab episode. Stick around there.
Next week we got George M. Johnson joining us at
the author activist, author of the memoir All Boys Are Blue, which,
if you did not know is was one of the
most banned books in America last year. So that's going
(46:36):
to be wild and of course it's going to be
something that we talk about, of course, and I'm very
excited because I think, you know, George is gonna really
enjoy our energy and they always are so smart and
so wonderful, but also they're just a big key, So
I'm very very excited for them to be on the show.
Speaker 2 (46:54):
Yeah, you know, we're gonna bring all the loves and
spill all of the uh huh piping English Gray Tea Mama, don't.
Speaker 3 (47:08):
Also in the meantime this we please you off, we
continue to ask if you can drop us glowing five
star reviews on Apple Podcasts or really anywhere where you
get your show and wherever you're listening. You know it
would be so chic and so cute if you wrote
a few words about how much you really love us
(47:29):
in this show.
Speaker 2 (47:30):
It's always really nice.
Speaker 3 (47:31):
It helps people find the show more if you are
just like helping us with reviews. So if you're a
friend of mine, if you're a friend of EV's, if
you're a fan of ours, please please please leave.
Speaker 2 (47:41):
A five star review. Yeah, starting next week, we're gonna
be dropping on Mondays, but if you're on Patreon, you'll
get the episode early plus exclusive content every week.
Speaker 3 (47:53):
Literally, it's the reason why I subscribe to so many
Patreons now, because I love being in and getting something
like quicker than I'm supposed to.
Speaker 2 (48:02):
It's so satisfying and it's so.
Speaker 3 (48:03):
Good, and there's such a community that's being built on
our patriot So patreon dot com slash hi key, come
on through, grab yourself a snack and a drink, and
come hang out with us at the AFT's Bye bye.
Speaker 2 (48:18):
If you're hikey obsessed with our show, take a second
to follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode,
and while you're at it, rate us, drop a review
and tell your friends if you want to keep the
High Key Key Going.
Speaker 3 (48:32):
Join us on Instagram and TikTok at high Key Here,
See You There gotp Hikey is a production of iHeart
Podcasts as a part.
Speaker 2 (48:40):
Of the Outspoken Network.
Speaker 3 (48:41):
This show is created and executive produced by Ryan Mitchell,
E Badley and Spoke Media.
Speaker 2 (48:46):
Our showrunner is Tyler Green. Our producers are Jonasanti, Jenna Burnett,
and Tess Ryan. Our video lead is Louise Pana and
our audio engineer is Sammy Seirett.
Speaker 3 (48:56):
Executive producers for Spoke Media our Travis Lamont Balinger and
Aliah ta A.
Speaker 2 (49:00):
Our iHeart team is just Crime Chich and Sierra Kaiser,
and
Speaker 3 (49:04):
Our theme music is by the one and only Kayan
Hersey and our show art is by Work by Work,
with photography by Eric Carter.
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