RuPaul’s Drag Race star Monét X Change will be performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for the first time this summer, with her brand-new show ‘Life Be Lifein’’ from 2nd to 15th August.
With sex, Siri, and the familiar mundane at top of mind, operatic bass-baritone and comedienne Monét X Change shares her anecdotal intrusive thoughts and opinions on life and how it continues to perplex her at every turn.
Born and bred in New York City, Monét X Change is an entertainment spitfire and the first double crown winner from RuPaul’s Drag Race having earned the title miss congeniality on season 10 and becoming the first queen of colour inducted into the hall of fame after winning all-stars 4.
Known for delivering energetic and show-stopping performances, Monét’s showmanship is a reflection of a tireless work ethic to cultivate and perfect her immaculate lip-syncing skills, comedic chops, and (mostly) pitch-perfect live singing skills.
Combining her passion for the art of drag with her uniquely fresh spin on it, Monét has travelled the globe with her one-woman show, Call Me By Monét, as well as hosting and performing in the Werq The World Tour. Monét also released her first ep, Unapologetically, co-writing the project and conceiving the accompanying visual album.
Monét is currently focusing her hilarious and often times socio-political humour as the host of her own talk show, The X Change Rate, airing on build series by Yahoo and co-hosting The Sibling Rivalry podcast and tour with Bob The Drag Queen.
How do you feel that you will be performing for the first time in Edinburgh Fringe this summer with your brand new show ‘Life Be Lifein’’ ?
My show is going to be fabulous. I know that Edinburgh Fringe has a reputation of fostering really dope, interesting, hilarious, top notch shows and, my show ticks all the boxes. I consider myself a little British! The British people believe that Americans for some reason have a problem with it and that’s their problem. So it feels like being at home with my people doing comedy and being fierce. It’s going be fabulous.
How is the British audience different to the American one?
I think the British audience is generally more irreverent. I think that the Brits, you guys, like comedy and, also, you like things that may be a little more tongue in cheek, a little more rhapsodious. And so I’m excited to come and be unapologetic and irreverent and a little messy and greedy and just want to have fun.
What is your show ‘Life Be Lifein’’ about and what shall we expect from your performance?
My show is about the missed opportunities surrounding my voice, a commentary on the mundane aspects about growing and learning and experiencing things in the world as a fully formed adult. You guys are going to learn a lot about my growth and my journey towards discovering my fierce voice, but also talking about and making social commentary about the other choices that I didn’t make that could have been really fierce had I gone down those paths, but they are not. I went down the path that I did and I’m happy that I did.
Apart from being a famous drag queen, a charming comedienne, you are also a professional operatic bass-baritone! Are we going to see all of these skills being unfolded in front of our eyes during the show?
If I’m gonna tell you right now in this interview then why would you come to the show? Just know that this show is going to include everything that involves Monet X Change. That’s comedy, that’s glamour, that’s humour, that’s vocal prowess. All those things that make that make me who I am are combined into a fabulous new one-woman show.
Is it true that your anecdotal intrusive thoughts and opinions on life keep perplexing your life at every turn?
It is true. There’s just so many things I find myself wandering and I get irritated by them, but also fascinated by them. And I hate them, but I also love them. And I think that this is something that a lot of us experience, like a lot of us experience stupid, silly, anecdotal things all throughout the day, and we make comments about them in our heads. I’m just saying them out loud. And putting a few jokes in there too.
How’s your life changed after RuPaul’s Drag Race?
My life is bigger, better, more fabulous. I get to headline at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, like “Hello”? Like I really, I mean, again, maybe I would have gotten there Had I not ever gone on RuPaul’s Drag Race, but my reality is that I did go on the show and I did win and I have afforded so many fabulous opportunities. Because of that I’m forever grateful forever changed.
You are the first double crown winner from RuPaul’s Drag Race having earned the title Miss Congeniality on season 10 and becoming the first queen of colour inducted into the hall of fame after winning all-stars 4. How do you feel about that?
I feel correct. I can’t think of anyone else who this should have happened to. And it didn’t happen to anyone else, it happened to me.
You are known for delivering energetic and show-stopping performances. Where does this energy and inspiration come from?
A lot of cocaine. Haha. I just think it comes from the fact that I’ve always been a very energetic, loud, boisterous kid. I was always doing something, I was always begging my parents to teach me something else. And, I think that also a lot of it comes from just a deep desire to be an artist. I have always wanted to be an artist. As kids, some of us make the conscious decision not to go into art for whatever reason. But the ones of us who make the decision, we love that shit so fucking much!
Your humour is often described socio-political humour as a host of your own talk show, The X Change Rate, and on The Sibling Rivalry podcast as a co-hostess with Bob The Drag Queen. How important is it to express our political opinions and have our voices heard during these times?
You know, I think it’s up to you. I don’t think there’s a blanket rule that if you’re a public figure, you must talk about social issues. That’s like none of my business. I know what I am used to doing with my platform, my voice and I don’t think that everyone needs to do so, because not everyone is good at it. Right? Just because you have a platform doesn’t mean you have to use it socially or politically. I just use it that way. And I don’t want to push that on anyone else.
What are your future plans?
My future plans are to successfully do the show in Edinburgh. My plans are to hopefully tour this show outside of Edinburgh after the Fringe and bring it to the American audience. Because you know, you’re gonna get it first and the Americans gonna be begging for it. So we’re gonna make them wait a little bit, but my goal was to travel the show after Fringe Festival and give it some more Life.
Listings Information
Show: Monét X Change: Life Be Lifein’
Dates: 2nd – 15th August
Time: 9:15pm
Venue Underbelly: McEwan Hall
Address: Teviot Pl, Edinburgh EH8 9AG
Price: £12 – £17.50
Box Office: www.edfringe.com / www.underbellyedinburgh.co.uk
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