INTERVIEW: Adore Delano — Music Musings & Such

INTERVIEW:

Adore Delano

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IT is understandable one would get some snappy answers and cheeky chat…

from Adore Delano. In an unexpected and refreshing side-step for my blog; I chat to the U.S. drag artist/songwriter - who has won legions of fans because of her success on American Idol and appearances on RuPaul’s Drag Race. She gives me an insight into coming-out – how ‘Danny Noriega’ became ‘Adore Delano’ – and whether there was a lack of understanding and acceptance.

I find out about an intriguing and fascinating soul whose music has elements of legends like Marilyn Manson within – although, as I find out in the interview, Adore Delano is keen to forge her own identity. She discusses the single, Negative Nancy and the album, Whatever.

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Hi, Adore. How are you? How has your week been?

It's been chill so far. Just got back from Vegas.

For those new to your work/music, can you introduce yourself, please?

'Sup; I'm Adore.

Many might know you as a semi-finalist from Season Seven of American Idol. What has the attention been like since you appeared on that show?

It's been chill.

I mean; it's ten years later: cancelled, then picked back up - and we still talk about it; so I say, “slay”!

RuPaul’s Drag Race was another show you were in. What was it like appearing on that and what is RuPaul like?

It launched my career, man – so, obviously, it was awesome.

Ru is cool-as-f*ck: she gives the best advice.

When did ‘Danny Noriega’ become ‘Adore Delano’? Was it - apologies if you get asked this a lot - when you were coming out and revealing your sexuality to the world?

Nah.

I came out at twelve and started performing as ‘Adore’ when I was twenty-one.

Do you think there is discrimination in music when it comes to gay artists? Have you felt any discrimination because of your sexuality?

I came out of my mom being discriminated, so it's almost like birds chirping now. You just don't notice sometimes.

We've got a lot of amazing L.G.B.T.Q. artists out there, though.

Does being a drag artist give you a sense of freedom and identity? What is it like being Adore Delano?

Definitely.

I can get away with more sh*t when I'm ‘hot’.

I want to know about your music. The single, Negative Nancy, is one of your new ones. Can you tell me a bit about the song?

It's loud, fun and raw: I wanted to scare the peeps.

It is from the new album, Whatever. What were the events and stories that went into the album? Was it a hard record to make, emotionally, would you say?

It's never hard for me to tap into my emotions...so not really. I have a manic brain and I can write pretty quickly.

People might look at you and think “She’s going to sing Pop and be quite boring”, perhaps. You do, in actuality, create a sound that has embers of Marilyn Manson. Was it hard making the kind of music you want – and not what, in a way, other people wanted you to perform?

First off, thank you for that, so much.

But, I must say I get scared being a little queer from Azusa - when being compared to a legend.

It's definitely liberating to perform these songs, now.

I guess, intrinsically, the message you promote is: be yourself and do not live a lie. This extends beyond image and sexuality. How important is it for people to connect and understand the importance of that mantra?

It's…“Whatever”.

I want them to really just be themselves: stop following your favorite artist; stop listening to T.V. Be ‘you’, for sure.

Can you reveal the kind of music you grew up listening to? What kind of artists did you respond to as a child? Have those tastes changed now you are older?

I listen to the same sh*t, really.

I LOVE POP MUSIC. I really do. It's shaped me as the person I am today. I love listening to Manson a lot, though.

His album, The Pale Emperor, was so good.