All this week the legend, the icon, the eternal club queen of NYC, Susanne Bartsch is taking over Berlin-based techno podcast series BCCO to celebrate Pride. All July BCCO will be showcasing mixes from the queerest clubs all over the world including Bartsch’s ON TOP, London’s Feel It and Berlin’s Buttons.

BCCO works with queer artists year-round, and in 2025, visible allyship is more urgent than ever. Minority rights, especially those of Black, queer, and trans communities, are under attack by a wave of right-wing populism worldwide. Corporate Pride support has also dropped 40%, reflecting growing political pressure and fear.

To celebrate this Pride’s takeover, Loverboy was lucky enough to be granted time with the world’s busiest woman as she plans her upcoming ON TOP party, oversees ‘Transformation‘, the current exhibition in her honour at Zurich’s Museum für Gestaltung and guest judges on good judy RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars.

Susanne, you are all about creating the right vibe, the right ambience. How do you prepare for a day of press?
Oh, it depends. I have three types of looks. Day drag which is sunglasses and some kind of a twist. Maybe a fake pony or something. I have semi-drag which is make up, a wig and a dress. Then I have full drag which is a head to toe outfit, the whole thing, all the way. So for interviews it’s mostly semi-drag.
I don’t really have a plan but I like to make an effort. I am all about transformation. A way to express yourself. I do always wear Manfred Mugler’s perfume Angel. If I don’t have a spritz of Mugler’s Angel before I leave the house it’s a bad omen.

We’re here to discuss On Top taking over BCCO’s podcast series this week. How did On Top start?
It has now been running for twelve years. The florist Robert Isabell always did flowers for any of the cool events, like co-founder of Studio 54, Ian Schrager’s events. He has passed away but he was incredibly talented. He used to do stuff at The White House as well. He was telling me about this place they were building and said, ‘You’ve got to go and work there.’ He was actually talking about the Boom Boom room and also Le Bain which is an amazing space. So I heard about it from him but I didn’t do anything about it. Then shortly after they opened, they actually approached me and said, ‘Would you like to come and do something here?’ I was like, ‘It’s funny that I’ve been told I should and here you are calling me. It must be meant to be.’ I went over and I just loved it. It’s very fashion cocktail meets dancefloor.
Le Bain is on top of The Standard and I decided to do a Tuesday night event there for the summer because the roof top is really important. I saw the jacuzzi and thought, ‘This is perfect, we can do an installation of jacuzzi art.’ Once I made it very goth and had all these people in ball gowns in the pool. It was pretty surreal.

How has it changed since then?
It’s become more and more about the music. I like to switch it up. For a while I had Amanda doing cabaret shows at like 9pm. Then at 11pm it would turn into the dance party. Last year was the first year I started to focus more on DJs, putting on three a night instead of two. This year I am doing a lot of performances from new musicians like Frankie Grande. I have Rose Grey doing two shows on the 22nd of July. Instead of doing campy shows the club has sort of become more music focused. Maybe that’s why Glenn [Elliot, BCCO curator] came over, I don’t know where he found me. But he asked me to do the series for this year. I like it. It’s great because it is focused on music rather than a drag queen doing a lip sync show.

Corporate sponsorship for Pride has now decreased by 40%. How this affected you as a businesswoman?
I never really relied on corporate sponsorship. The Standard is behind me. They are very liberal and into all communities. They will not bow to whatever is going on. My mission is to keep going because that is my only way to fight back. Bring the community together in a space where people feel safe and accepted. A place where there is love and compassion and we unite together.

How did you choose your DJs for the BCCO takeover. Newer DJs? Ones you have worked with for a while?
They are more permanent DJs really. Amber and Jeremy have been with me all along and I still work with them. Skywalker is on the newer side. boyyyish too. He is very involved in the music with me and helps me schedule the DJs. I rely on him a lot. Through him I met Dana Montana who I love.
Listen, I wouldn’t say no to them but I’ve never really been about the big name DJs. I just like the underground. In everything I do I like to give a platform to people who don’t necessarily have one.
One other DJ I wanted to involve was Severino from Horsemeat Disco. I brought them to New York for their first trip. He just played for me at my exhibition opening in Zurich. He’s so great. I wanted him in this too but he’s so big, he doesn’t need any more exposure!

I’ve been listening to these mixes running in the streets in 32 degree heat. It’s been sweaty. Where do you listen to music?
Mostly I listen in the gym or the club. At home I go through phases where I just need silence. Then I go through a phase where I don’t feel alive if I don’t play music. I have a car and I love blasting music while I drive. Driving off into the middle of nowhere without having to be anywhere.

If you were to make a mini mix of three songs, which would you choose?
I have no fucking idea. I like such a mix. I still love that song, ‘I wanna give you devotion’ by Nomad. Whenever I come on to the stage I always play that song. I like David Bowie. I listen to Kraftwerk. I’m not a fan of this…what’s her name. Sarah Carpenter?

Sabrina Carpenter?
I’m not into it. It’s just boring. Taylor Swift I get. At least she has a whole storyline. An affiliation with these young girls who are going through the same things she sings about. For the dance floor I like to hear things I am familiar with but I also like to hear new stuff. I went to Charli XCX’s show. Someone had a box at Madison Square Gardens. I really liked that. I like that she’s not trying to say ‘Look I am a total genius.’

Here in Barcelona we recently had Charli, Sabrina and also Chappell headlining Primavera Sound festival.
I love Chappell. She’s really great.

I saw you share the same makeup artist?
Yes. Andrew often does my makeup and he does hers as well. Genesis is her stylist and is a genius giving her these great looks. Genesis is a big fan of mine and I am a big fan of hers. I feel affiliated with them all. I like Chappell’s music and her approach. She feels very real. She’s not like, ‘Oh I had better do this because this is what’s trending.’ Business makes people do things which aren’t necessarily authentic. But she is real.

Have you and Chappell ever clashed and needed Andrew at the same time?
I actually work with Deney more than Andrew. I have worked with Deney for about eighteen years. He is getting very busy too. Andrew will always make time for me. I did have a couple of instances with him where I had him booked then they said they needed him for a job. But I said, ‘You can’t not do the job. Go! I can figure it out!’ It’s been a great thing for Andrew. So yes, I love Chappell. I was on Drag Race an episode before her. Her look with the blow up doll was so cool.

I thought you did well to say so many nice things about Nicole Paige Brooks’ look paying homage to you.
Listen, they did do some editing there because I don’t know where that came from! I never said, ‘Mugler would love this.’ I said that Mugler would love that she took something like a star and made a thing out of it. I’m not upset or anything, don’t get me wrong. Haha…But it was edited to that soundbite where I was saying that Manfred would have loved the look. But that was an arts and crafts project! But I liked her effort and that she tried, as badly as it was done.

Lastly we are named after the biggest selling single of 2001 and always ask, what is your favourite Mariah Carey song?
I don’t really have anything to say about her. I know her hair and makeup team. But I don’t really have a story about her. A favourite song? One thing about me is I am slightly dysfunctional. I have a terrible memory for names. But I do remember when she came out with that amazing voice. Everyone was gagging. I mean I do love her Christmas song. I play it every Christmas. What’s it called again?

Susanne Bartsch‘s ON TOP takes over BCCO’s Podcast series all this week.
ON TOP happens on Tuesday nights at Le Bain, The Standard, NYC.