HAVEN

Babe Haven's rise to prominence is a testament to their unwavering commitment to their craft, their authentic expression, and their refusal to be silenced. Through their music, they channel the spirit of riot grrrl, challenging societal norms, amplifying marginalized voices, and empowering individuals to embrace their true selves.

Babe Haven is the embodiment of the riot grrrl spirit, forging their own path and inspiring others to do the same. With their unyielding determination and undeniable talent, they are poised to leave an indelible mark on the music industry and continue the legacy of the riot grrrl movement. Stay tuned for more from this fierce and unstoppable band as they continue to make waves with their unique blend of feminism, punk music, and unapologetic activism.

Interview and Write-Up by Aliya Bloom

Can you share an introduction to who Twink Trash is and how she started?

Hi! I’m Twink Trash. I’ve been doing drag since I was 15, I’m 23 now, so just over 7 years. I specialize in creating garments and looks that are experiences, take up an entire room, and are interactive. I also present looks through a lens of classical music.

I like to picture Twink Trash as presenting the crossroads of camp and glamor. I like to think of simple concepts and expand on them and blow them up into one piece. I am inspired by vintage. I think that it informs so much of what we do now. Instead of taking information from what’s been informed, I want to take my information from the source. It allows my work to be less homogenized and compared to other things.

What inspired you to get into drag initially?

I was introduced to drag through RuPaul’s Drag Race, like everyone was. I was 14, and to be entirely honest, was frightened by it.

At first, I was opposed to watching the show. Then once I got my guard down and I got into it, that’s when I was like “oh I can probably do this”. I began trying it out in my bedroom. I was a child in high school and was butt ugly- I was so bad. Everyone is when they begin drag! But I think I was especially ugly…

Beginning drag, I thought I was a comedy queen. That’s why I chose the name Twink Trash. I thought I would be up on the stage like, “woka woka woka, hi here I am with my stupid name”, but now, I present myself as “a classical artist and also my name’s really stupid”. My name allows me to be drawn back to the roots of drag. I do a very specific type of drag and have created a very specific avenue for myself, but I love the roots of drag. I love when drag is gross, gritty, and stupid. I don’t think I present that as much, but I think the name brings me back to there.

When you started getting into drag, did you have a support system?

I grew up homeschooled from age 10-15. Those are core years for realizing who you are. For me, that was great. I always had very supportive parents. There was a period when they didn’t have the vocabulary for it and did not completely understand it. But once I sat them down and explained the power of expressing through drag, and the need that I felt to express and have an outlet for that, they understood. I have always had an incredible support system. My grandma taught me how to sew and the technique and history behind it. I’ve always been very blessed with my family.

Why do you do drag?

There is a long history of drag being used as a character or to be other characters. I totally respect and understand that, but for me,

I guess this could come off selfish, but

Is there a drag queen who inspires the work you do?

I think it is important for drag artists to find their own voice and influence. It is so important to not “eat the tale” of drag. I think everyone is looking to the same point of reference and that’s why drag is becoming more homogenized. I try not to pull references from other drag artists. I try to pull references from vintage pieces. With all that being said, Naomi Smalls is the one to me, forever and always.

What does drag mean to you?

Drag is “queer expression”

To elaborate, I grew up always performing. I went to my first opera when I was 8. I was like, “woah” I love opera. I was the first person in my family who had ever been to the opera or has been in the music scene in any way. I pursued that from eight to now. When I was eleven, I got my debut at Lyric Opera of Chicago. I had a child opera career and went to my undergrad for opera. I’ve been in these rooms filled with classical musicians as a drag queen where I needed to explain drag and queer arts to my professors who were all old. I did my capstone project which was a recital last year and did that through drag in a three piece collection. I expressed the themes of the recital through the pieces of the clothing and through the music. I had to explain to older people many times the difference between drag and being trans.

That is an unnuanced take of it.

If we are going into what drag is to me. I find myself in between that. It’s not just I do drag because it’s fun and it’s nice to have this outlook, this expression.

if that makes sense. I think we are allotted this perspective as queer people, that people try to put a name onto as “camp”, “flamboyant”, and all that. I think drag is my way of giving that gift respect. I am dedicated to forming tangible things around this feeling and expression.

What are your feelings on the drag bans happening in the south?

It’s important for us to be vocal about it, especially with platforms. I only speak to myself. I have been so affected by it. It’s so hard, as a queer person, to be experiencing these things. I want to post and share about it, but it feels like I’m just speaking to the people who already support me and I feel all of us feel that. It’s so hard to be in the oppressed group but also be expected to be the educator of what’s going on.

At the root of it,

The bills are so broadly passed with such specifical language not included that a “drag queen” can be anything they want. They can kick out a trans person if they want and “think they are a drag queen”. Then I say all that and don’t feel I’m educating someone. It’s hard because I really want to do something, but what do we do?

I’m a big believer in practicing gratitude and going about my life with love and it’s really just the opposite of my perspective and experience of what’s going on. It’s hard to be an optimist right now, which I like to actively practice. I’ve been so sad. We’ve all taken tons of hits in the past few years and it’s been really hard and I can only hope that the feeling of nihilism can turn to anger, not that that’s incredibly healthy. But I would love for us to feel and enact the emotions we are going through and put them through something productive.

Do you have advice for people who want to join the drag community

I think it’s so important to remember patience. In every artform, in every business, there is so much emphasis put on the youth. With the structure of Drag Race, everyone wants to be the Gigi Goode or Aquaria. Everyone wants to be 21 on the show, completely done, a star. The reality is you probably will not be that and will be a lot happier if you realize that. I don’t think that sounds very inspiring but I think it’s helpful.

To go into drag, it’s important to look at your outlook starting it. There are people who start drag to be on Drag Race and be successful. But I think it goes back to what I see the importance of drag is which is an outlet expression of queerness. If your intent is not pure, I do not know if what you will reap from it will be very positive. I like to give an emphasis on patience because you think you are at a certain point with your art, but you actually are not quite there yet. Be confident in the work you do before you platform yourself in a giant way. I would say, be happy with the work you do and be conscious of your flaws.

What does success mean to you:

I have been pursuing drag for 7 years. I have always been online pursuing being an influencer, but more so pursuing an audience. As of the past year, I have come to a spot where I have the platform I have worked for and the success I have wanted. Now what do I do with that? I feel like a lot of our output with artists is not what we want to be showing people, it’s more a way to get people’s attention. My online presence is not an avenue of presenting my work in a very genuine way. I have taken a step back since January 2023 and haven’t created much online content. I have been working as an artist the whole time, just not posting everything.