"I’m always on a mission to learn more about queer women that came before me, so I think it's so important now that lesbians in music are being championed in a way they weren't before."
Ladies and gentleman, theys and thems, welcome to the Brighton & Hove residents' community corner series celebrating our city’s bold drag artists and boundary breaking performers! I wanted to create a series that goes beyond the glam with our legendary and local queer performers so we can all get to know them more because erm, why not?!
This week, we’re joined by international cabaret performer and vocal sensation, Billie Gold.
If this is only the first interview of this centrestage series that you've stumbled across and you want to catch up on the others don't panic! You can catch up HERE and next week I'll be having a chin wag with award winning singer, songwriter and performer: Paul Diello.
But today, it’s all eyes on Billie Gold so let’s dive in head first!
Hello! I’m Billie Gold, she/her in and out of drag, and I’m Brighton’s friendly neighbourhood drag lesbian. If you’ve never seen me before then firstly how dare you!
And secondly if you were to find me in possession of a microphone chances are I’d either be jumping up and down belting out a classic somewhere between Gaga and Robin.S, or I’d be telling the punchline of a gag that I forgot in the first half of the show. I’m about high energy, avant garde outfits, and a little touch of classic drag. Occasionally I write full length theatre shows too!
I'd always performed as a kid, and I was absolutely obsessed with anything on stage. Whenever my mum would take me to shows whether it was the circus, the panto or on the odd occasion we would go and see a full scale production, I'd just get so overwhelmed with the smells and the lights and the sounds of it that I knew it was somewhere I'd want to be.
I remember seeing We Will Rock You (the musical) at 12 years old and hearing the cast warm up. Ironically, they were singing somewhere over the rainbow. I fell in love immediately. I don't think I ever thought I would be happy doing anything else, of course life gets in the way. About 8 years ago I was lucky enough to stumble into a queer open mic night. I'd stopped performing years prior in order to get a “proper job”.
Performing at queer open mics coincided with my coming out, so it felt like I’d stepped into something that finally made sense. Gradually I got a little more confident each time and I met the people of the scene who thankfully have become good friends, and found performers and mentors who were willing to share information here and there about how to get better. It kind of snowballed into a career that I’ve been fortunate enough to do for seven years now.
I think most neurodiverse people seek "alternative employment".
Meaning I'm about as helpful in an office as a chocolate teapot. Packing my suitcase, and putting on a face and a show is how I'm meant to be.
Ooof that's a really huge question. I think being raised by a single mum I always had really strong female influences, but gayness however wasn't really ever mentioned especially not in a conservative working class place in the early 90’s.
I think the closest I got to lesbian representation was that fake lesbian duo t.A.T.u. (a banger, nonetheless)! I feel like I’m always on a mission to learn more about queer women that came before me, so I think it's so important now that lesbians in music are being championed in a way they weren't before. There's still a long way to go though, a gay bar even opened called The Pink Pony Club named after Chappell Roan’s big hit but it was made explicitly clear it was not for lesbians. Rather than fix that, they have simply changed the name of the bar. We’ll get there.
I’m really proud to be a gay woman on and off stage. I think the more representation we have the better, not just in the media but our day to day lives, lesbians, trans people, gay people, bisexual people, we've always been here. Perhaps if it was allowed to be talked about that my science teacher was a lesbian I would've come out sooner you know?
I did! It was a really huge moment for me as I was a relatively new performer at the time. It taught me loads about our own community. And I was really proud to write for a publication that means so much to all of us. So thank you for having me!
My style jumps around but kind of centres around weird fashion, cartoons and silhouettes that are either hyper masculine, hyper feminine or a mixture of both. I like pushing myself creatively so sometimes that can lead to a special outfit or sometimes it just goes in the bin!
I get inspired and then I wait for a moment where ADHD hyperfocus kicks in and I can lock myself in my house and sew. I've always been particularly enamored with real life meets cartoon films. The way they drew the garments on the women made it actually impossible for them to stay on, but I like the challenge of working out an optical illusion. I design and make everything I wear, primarily because I'm a control freak but maybe in the future I’ll collaborate! There are some fantastic makers in Brighton.
The Queens Arms will always be home to me. John gave me my start there, he was the first person to let me try a lesbian night. And if you knew John please feel free to read this in his voice, “Go on then bring me the lesbians on a Tuesday and we’ll see how you do”.
It's where I met so many people I just adore and would be without. As well as many many MANY blurry memories of fantastic nights. It continues to be a bright spot in my diary today. Another special one of course is whenever we all get together for a good old charity event. We never get to work together as performers so those times are always loads of fun.
I will never get tired of Whats Up? by the 4 Non Blondes. My Mum asked me to learn it so that one’s for her. A song I wish I could retire forever is I Want to Dance With Somebody, I have a few close friends who consider it cursed and I agree, sorry Whitney!
Thank you! I don't actually write anything to sing as I haven't managed to be that clever yet. Apart from making up songs to sing at my girlfriend's dog.
Once I had a couple of priests jump on stage with a limbo stick. It’s St James Street where we usually perform in Brighton, so you can always count on something truly weird occurring.
My favourite coffee shop is Granny’s Café, the absolute best if you're a matcha wanker like me! I was gatekeeping Shaanxi on Preston Street for their noodles but the word has got out now, damn it.
No crushes today except Sandra of course, but the lesbian news of the day is that Angelina Jolie and Charlize Theron are FINALLY dating women. Hooray!
You can catch me on my socials (@billie_gold) to see where I'm at week by week! I’m between Brighton and London so there are plenty of opportunities to catch a show. I also have a new fringe show coming out in May so watch this space!
