ON THE RECORD
A CHAT WITH BIG FREEDIA INTERVIEW BY PABLO ARAUZ Big Freedia is the fabulous Queen Diva of bounce music, a booty-shaking genre with its origins in New Orleans and southern rap. The Louisiana native has played the club music circuit for more than a decade, putting out hit after hit of the fun-thumping hustle that is so distinctive of bounce. She’s spent the summer touring the continent, playing venues from Los Angeles to Montreal. Freedia, who last performed in Denton at 35 Conferette in 2011, is returning Sept. 1 for 35 Denton’s Hot Wet Mess at the North Texas Fairgrounds.
Q: A:
How’s the tour been? The tour’s been really amazing. I’ve been playing shows with all types of different people and mixed crowds. Really high energy and it’s really been picking up and going well lately.
Q: A:
Why is crowd participation so important to your music? Well, to connect to my fans, most definitely to make them feel a part, you know. To gravitate them to the stage and make them feel connected to me, as well as what I’m feeling. So, you know, letting them have crowd participation is very important to Big Freedia’s set because, you know, that’s what gets the crowd riled up.
Q: A:
How do crowds react to your provocative lyrics? You know, it gets a little raunchy and raw in some songs, but you know the people really love the participation, they love the raunchiness. It’s a really exciting highenergy show, but for the most part it’s not provocative to where people are not satisfied, they’re not disgusted – It’s not too nasty or anything like that. No, it’s not a big freak show. It’s all about bringing people together
FILE PHOTO BY JAMES COREAS
Q: A: Q: A:
Your music can be empowering for women and those in the LGBTQ community. Do you do that on purpose? Well, in the beginning I didn’t do that on purpose. But when I did realize that I was bringing all different walks of life of people together, I started to make it a point to keep all of the people together, you know, into my show, together all on stage. It’s just like a big fun party where we all get together and have a good time.
Do you have anything else to say for Denton? Just be looking forward for a really exciting time from the Queen Diva. I’m going to be bringing some really hot, sweaty, noise, and I’m really excited to be coming to Denton once again.
VISIT NTDAILY.COM TO READ THE FULL INTERVIEW
AUGUST2012
19