BIG WETT avoids a**holes at all costs

Chin strokers are becoming a dying breed. The huge success of dance-pop artists across the globe, including the likes of Australia’s own Confidence Man, have clearly shifted the dial on what is considered to be ‘dance’ music.

BIG WETT is an artist who was, seemingly, born shifting the dial.

The Naarm/Melbourne local has attracted huge attention not only at home, but abroad too, with break out hits like ‘EAT MY ASS’ and ‘NUMBER 1 PUSSY’, as well as performances at this last year’s ADE and Amsterdam Pride, Let Them Eat Cake and Heaps Gay.

A self described ‘pop provocateur’, BIG WETT is cementing herself as the leader in a new generation of hyper-vocal, sexually liberated and incredibly pro-queer music lovers.

Off the back of her latest single ‘PONY (RIDE ME)’ releasing just last week, we sat down with BIG WETT to understand how she fits into the broader musical spectrum, or if she even wants to.

Q: You’ve just come off a series of shows not only here at home, but internationally too. How does it feel to be an ambassador for Australia on the world stage?

BW: I just got back from 6 months in the UK/ Europe and played 17 shows over there. I also set myself a mission of telling everyone I met over there about the project. Every bartender, every Uber I got into I told them about BIG WETT - it was endless self-promotion and some people loved it and some did not! I was kicked out of a few parties and taxis after playing my music and offending people. It was actually a lot of fun! I made a lot of friends - more than I lost! I don’t know if myself or Australia would consider me a worthy ambassador though.

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Q: What were some of your highlights of your international shows?

BW: London and Amsterdam crowds are awesome! Both places have such a special place in my heart - they both feel like home - so to have that relationship with the crowds there is so special. And I was also so happy to get my first shows in Paris and Berlin too! I can see the same relationship happening with me in both places too. I’m about to have a love affair with Europe, you watch! Spain and Italy, you’re on my list next !

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Q: You’ve played a bunch here at home recently, how has the tour gone?

BW: I flew back from Berlin after a 2am show, straight into the tour with ABSOLUTE in Australia. We met in Perth and spent a few days sharing a hotel together and caused chaos in Rottnest Island - we seriously have the best time together. Doing a run of queer shows back home was the perfect way to be welcomed back home.

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Q: We’re in a period where the world appears to be taking a step back into conservatism. How does it feel being so far away from that side of the political spectrum?

BW: I think because I am SO far removed from conservatism that I don’t really ever come across it. I have never felt comfortable in conservative, religious, misogynistic places because I’ve always found it hard to conform or bite my tongue. I’m the sort of person who will speak my mind kinda no matter what, so I’ve just learnt to remove myself from the possibility of those interactions. Aka I avoid assholes!

Q: Dance music is judgemental, especially in Australia where many communities choose to push away from anything popular or fun often for their own safety. How does it feel to be making music that’s so unapologetically cheeky & fun in an environment like that?

BW: I hate serious dance music so I would just never make it. Don’t sing to me about heartbreak over a dance beat ok, keep feelings out of the club. I go to escape my feelings, not think about them more, which is why I like to be so graphic and bold and descriptive - some would say vulgar - but it’s just so far from what everyone else is doing, it just shocks people out of their own heads. It feels good to be able to offer people something different, even if it’s not for everyone.

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Q: On your most recent release you’ve partnered with ABSOLUTE., a well-respected name in UK dance & previously a Mixmag cover artist. Can you give me some background on how you started working together, & what that creative process was like?

BW: We actually met at kickons (how all good stories start) and sat in the corner talking each others ears off for about 5 hours - and that’s pretty much been our relationship ever since. We dance, we yap and we laugh. Its been such a blessing writing and touring with him. As a solo artist it can be lonely, constantly touring alone, so it's always nice to share the exxxperience with someone. There’s going to be plenty more songs and shows and tours and yaps and dances between us both, I can assure you! We actually recently got into the studio with another member of Queer Royalty, Bimini. We had the best day in the studio and wrote 5 banger ideas. Pop, dance, horny vocals, lyrics that are both genius and shockingly dumb, and so much attitude! One of them is a Gay Christmas song……. There’s a lot in the works at the moment and every second has just been the best time creating this silly world.

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Q: What do you think makes a ‘gay icon’?

BW: So much about being queer and being a part of queer culture is just totally being yourself and embracing your individuality. On the flipside of the same coin is accepting everyone exactly as they are, because everyone has the right to express themselves how they want. If you do those two things, while being hot, stylish, smart and funny - then you’re a gay icon.

Q: What do you think of the ‘queer clubbing’ landscape in Australia when compared to overseas?

BW: I do think Australia has a great queer scene! It’s a lot smaller than the EU and UK, but that's to be expected. I think because tall poppy syndrome is particularly prevalent in Australia, the gay scene here can feel a bit more judgmental. That, and the fact that safe spaces in Australia for queerness are limited, it does feel like the queer scene can seem stifled here. In Berlin I played a show and a queer party and the costumes were absurd - full latex with the ass cut out, wearing a butt plug with a tail on the dancefloor, wearing hooves to the rave etc. I want to see more of that in Australia because we have so much gay potential.

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Q: What do you want people to feel when they’re listening & dancing to ‘BOY TOY’ & ‘SHAKE IT’?

BW: Silly, sexy, fun, carefree, totally themselves - I want people to turn their brains off and just dance. We have so much to think about as humans these days, I want my music to be a place people can escape all that.

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Q: You’ve never once struck me as someone who’s censored themselves in their music. Is that a conscious decision you make or something that has just happened naturally?

BW: Not being able to censor myself my whole life (it's gotten me in A LOT of trouble) led me to this moment. From my primary school report cards were always “talks a lot, distracts others, talks back to the teachers”, I was always being sent to detention. In middle school I pierced my nose like 10 times, no joke, because the school kept telling me to take it out and I just kept re-piercing it. My parents would ground me for sneaking out, so I’d sneak out through a different door, and I’d get caught and grounded again. I’ve just always done what I want and there’s no changing it.

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Q: What is next for you?

BW: The rest of my second EP comes out next year I’ll be touring again. Doing headline shows around Australia which I can’t wait for because it’s been so long! And I’ll be heading back to EU/ UK to live it up over summer. You’ll be seeing lots of me, you’re welcome. Can’t wait!

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Jack Colquhoun is Mixmag ANZ’s Managing Editor, find him on Instagram.