Archive for the ‘Interviews’ Category
Interview | Jeffree Star
Last week, I caught up with androgynous model, actor and singer Jeffree Star at Glasgow’s O2 ABC Acadamy before his sell-out international tour performance.
Sitting on a couch surrounded by Jack Daniels and Oreos, we discussed his debut album, “Beauty Killer”, his progression as an indie artist and the misconceptions that surround his persona. Titled the Queen of the Beautifuls and a self proclaimed “mannequin”, I wondered if I would be leaving in a Louis Vuitton body bag, or if he’d show a glimpse of what’s behind the MAC cosmetics and haute couture.
After two E.P. s and your download-only releases, you finally released your first album, “Beauty Killer”. To compare your newer works to your older tracks, what would you say the main differences are?
I think in the beginning I was just kinda like joking around and just making shit up – y’know, for fun. I wasn’t taking anything really seriously. So for Beauty Killer, I’d toured for two years and worked with a lot of different people. I knew what I wanted to sound like and I had way more production and spent more time on the lyrics too.
You allegedly said in an interview that you had “never really made music that [you’ve] been 100% proud of”. If you had to choose one track, which one gives you warm fuzzy feelings inside?
I think – when I said that – I meant, like, that I wasn’t very happy with it. I love “Beauty Killer” the song. But “Prisoner” was the first song that I actually did for the album, so it was a good way to launch into it all.
You announced on your Facebook and Twitter that you would release your third E.P. this summer, yeah?
I was going to but now I think I’m just going to do a whole new album, so maybe for the end of the year or early 2011. I did three songs before I flew over here, so..
Can you give me any info on them or…? I hear that Ke$ha and Blood on the Dancefloor are going to collaborate with you?
Um, the songs are really high-energy dance music. Oh, I did 3 songs for the new BOTD record so… – and I was gonna be on Ke$ha’s record but I got taken off – [laughs] yeah, I know! – A&R people and all their drama.
Considering your recent iTunes chart success, the recording of the “Get Away with Murder” music video and your sell-out tour, what would you say to people that branded you as generic and mediocre in the beginning?
I’m sure a lot of people didn’t think I’d last this long. They thought I was just this internet thing. But then when it progressed to all my clothing in stores, selling out and all the music – it kinda just shows for itself y’know? So I just laugh at people that talk shit.
– Which brings me to what I’m next about to say: what do you think the biggest misconception of you is – as a performer, as a singer, but most of all as a person?
I think people don’t think that I can sing live because I use backing tracks, too. That’s always what people always talk shit about but I actually do know how to sing. And as a person, everyone just sees what’s on the internet and obviously they don’t know me. Everyone just thinks I’m a bitch, I think. I just get “oh wow, you actually weren’t mean” – people always have misconceptions.
People see you as a bitch and the Ice Queen…But it’s nice to know that there’s someone so successful as yourself and still be human.
Exactly! If people really listen to my lyrics or saw my funny videos, I’m always sarcastic.
So you say you’re sarcastic and that you put on a show. There’re artists, for example, Beyoncé who says she transforms into Sasha Fierce when she performs –
– I think her people tell her to say that. But I love her though, yeah –
– Would you say there’s an element of that to you? Like, there’s Jeffree Star and then there’s Jeffrey Steininger?
I got my name legally changed, yeah, but I’m me 24/7 but when there’s cameras around then I turn up the volume and I act all crazy. And yeah, obviously when I’m filming myself I’m not going to sit there bored.
Everything doesn’t have to be so serious all the time [in the indie music scene].
At the end of the day, it’s all about entertainment and I think a lot of people forget that.
How long have you been singing? What made you want to start and what made you want to do it as a career?
Well the rap group Hollywood Undead, I originally started out with them. I rapped over some of their songs as a joke and I was like – ooh, I really like recording – so some of my earlier stuff is more rappy…but I wanted to be a singer more. I just got singing lessons and – I’m no Mariah Carey – but I can hold my own, y’know? I mean, I’m more of a performer than a singer anyway, so I don’t care.
Now you’ve created a new genre. I don’t know what to call it – sexpop or something. Would you be happy or pissed off if, say other artists started doing what you’re doing?
It’s just annoying when I’ve been doing something for way longer and someone comes out and they do something “different” . It’s just frustrating when other artists have way bigger budgets. Lady Gaga has like $7,000,000 to do a video and they just created her. It’s just so contrived. But her music is great, she’s made number one because she’s got a good team behind her.
What do you think about artists that don’t engage with their fans? You use your own Facebook, your own MySpace, others just get their managers or whatever.
Yeah, I mean, if they were “too famous” maybe they don’t have time but I think that everyone should have time. At least Lady Gaga writes her own Twitter, but Usher – his manager writes his and it’s never anything personal. If they know it’s not you then it’s kinda disappointing.
On the topic of fans, what is your opinion on people that try to imitate your style?
I just think that anyone who wants to be different is great. Obviously it takes a lot of guts to be who you are. I think when people do my exact make-up… Well, I think it’s funny, but I just think they should be themselves.
– But I look at most of your fans out there and they all look the same. They’re trying to be you, they’re trying to be someone that they’re not. What’s your opinion on this subculture? Tough question, sorry.
[laughs] …I know! Oh… it’s like my little army out there though!
Do you enjoy the people that go “oh my god! It’s Jeffree Star!” or do you prefer those that treat you as a person?
I think that some forget that I’m a human being, know what I mean? Or like some people – if I’m out just buying food or something and I have no makeup and I don’t feel well – I’ll be like “ooh sorry, no pictures” and they’ll get bitchy ‘cause they can’t get what they want.
Last thing – three words to sum up how you’re feeling before you go on stage?
Pregnant. Wet. And excited. [laughs]
Star then left me with “lipstick and love”, soon appearing on stage to perform a set consisting of new and re-vamped classic favourites (photos above). As a fan, I’ve always loved his music – but I have rarely found any videos of him live too impressive. Nevertheless, Star’s self-confessed singing lessons rightly paid off, as he delivered an electrically iridescent performance.
Choosing to ignore the standard looks, sounds and outlooks, he injects a new type of life into the independent music scene – like many in the indie world, he too only had passion and a drive for success.
From high school student, to makeup artist, to model, to singer, Star shows that – if you have enough attitude – you can go far. Despite his ultra-vanity and femme fatale persona, Jeffree Star is one of the most human of all celebrities, in every sense of the word: for his narcissism, for his honesty and for his ambition.
