If you grew up queer, odds are that you know a thing or two about creating an alternative reality, one where you are not bullied for being different but embraced, loved and supported – your own private safe space…perhaps even a land where you hung out and rode ponies with Mariah Carey. Or is that just us?
Over the last twelve months, many of us have been revisiting those havens as we grappled with 2020. Australian singer, DJ & artist, Tanzer has been having her own sweet escape and getting lost in 80s Eurovision, bottomless bottles of Prosecco and er…Montenegro! All these influences have come together for her brand new single, the camp, fun & extremely festive ‘Deep Fried Disco’.
Tanzer tells Loverboy about how the track came together, introduces us to Melbourne’s queer performers and reveals her favourite Mariah Carey track.
Tanzer – this is a joyous moment! After speaking and embarking on the adventure of getting a Loverboy t-shirt sent to you from Spain to the UK and then to Australia…
Yes, thank you so much for that adventure! An iconic design delivered with love.
Our pleasure! It’s great to finally sit down and talk about your music! Before we get to that, give us an intro to yourself!
She/her, pansexual, 6 ft 2 in heels, 28 in the shade, Gemini Sun, Scorpio Rising, Aquarius Moon. I’m known first and foremost as a disco cowgirl with a voice like a theremin, but I also make art, films and parties.
Is Tanzer an alias?
Tanzer is my mother’s family name – a tribute to the remarkable women who sacrificed so much for me to have the life I had. Their lives were affected by war, violence and tragedy – and they continue to tirelessly uplift and support their weird queer daughter without breaking a sweat. My ultimate inspiration.
The word escapism features highly in your bio. Where has your brain been escaping to over the last 16 months or so?
Brain holidays are my favourite coping mechanism! During the pandemic I’ve been escaping into art and movies, rewatching 80s Eurovision and – during one desperate episode, strolling around Montenegro on Google Maps with a bottle of Prosecco. The main objective of all my art is to provide a glamorous escape in the same way – to activate the parts of our brain that seek hope, play and ideas by harnessing the power of nostalgia, and the simpler place our minds may have been when connecting with art for the first time.
What have you been working on recently and what’s in the pipeline? What’s been inspiring you?
I just had my debut showing of Disco Instamatic – a room-sized video installation starring 20 queer creatives from Naarm (Melbourne). I can’t wait to tour it! I have one more single release in the pipeline right now and a whole lot of videos. And a 2022 calendar. And – in my dreams – some live shows overseas!
Is Deep Fried Disco a real place?
Deep Fried Disco was a term I used to describe the strange, no-hit-wonder dance singles I love hunting down and DJing. Disco that has a WTF factor, and is difficult to place in a genre, time period or country. Think Cicciolina, Don Ray and Remedios Amaya’s nul-points Eurovision entry. The term then became the perfect name for my OTT disco parties – which in turn inspired my song. The song is intended to evoke a sense of nostalgia and home, with the magic and abandon of the disco era, a sprinkle of Italian soundtrack arrangement, and the gloss of 90s dance. I grew up in Rome, Italy, and these were all pop culture elements swirling in my consciousness as a child – which makes it such a joy and comfort to me to synthesise this DNA into a new place.
The video is very 90s and gives us a total Eurotrash moment. JPG realness. Was this on your moodboard? Did the show reach Australia in the 90s?
JPG was absolutely on my mood board, as was Army of Lovers and Pierre Et Gilles – some of my all-time heroes. But I hadn’t heard of Eurotrash until people in Europe started reacting to my videos, particularly my last clip for Tango. You best believe I’ll be tracking down some episodes.
Give us the low-down on your friends in the video! Who do we need to start following?
Absolutely every single one of them, with urgency! I can’t believe how lucky I was to have such a talented and gorgeous section of queer Naarm (Melbourne) as part of this fantasy. I can’t play favourites, so I have tagged the whole cast in the video’s caption so you don’t miss a single one.
Any plans to come perform in Europe?
I will be there the second I can! So desperate to come visit, as all of us are. I’m manifesting a Roisin Murphy/Kylie Minogue tour support as we speak.
As an Australian, what has the general consensus been of Drag Race Down Under? Are you friends with any of the queens? Who were you rooting for?
Karen From Finance is a dear friend and collaborator of mine. There’s a lot of excitement here due to our incredible drag talent getting an international platform, but the lack of diversity in the casting and one queen’s history of offensive performances has overshadowed the enthusiasm, understandably. I’m very excited and happy for the queens on the season though, and know they’ll do us very proud. I really hope they have a season two – so I can watch Aysha Buffet win it. You read it here first!
Lastly we are named after the biggest selling single of 2001, so we always ask what is your favourite Mariah song?
‘Vision of Love’ – it’s so sexy and dramatic. Cue it up for when I come visit!
‘Deep Fried Disco’ is out now
Tanzer – Facebook / Instagram / YouTube
