I was being interviewed for an upcoming story and when they asked about what I hope people take away from this new record, I said my entire goal this album cycle has been to be so unabashedly queer that even people who thought they were pro-gay before go “Ewww!” whenever they see me, hear the songs, or watch the videos.
With a new video and EP out and plans for much more in the works, 2013 is shaping up to be a busy year for NYC’s black-magic electropopper KOORTWAH. I caught up with him this week to talk about the video for his new single “forty five” (below), how body fluids inform his artistic process, what it means to be a faceless artist in the age of manufactured celebrity, and much more.
(The interview begins after the video. WARNING: The video contains some graphic content. Watch at your own discretion.)
Logan Lynn: Hello, sir. Thanks for chatting with me today. I know you recently removed your face from your artistic identity. Why did you make this decision?
KOORTWAH: I suppose that I’m concerned with, among other things, the difference between personal fame and professional recognition. It’s not so much about hiding my identity, though, as it is about creating a new one. As an artist, I feel that it’s my job to encourage people to ask questions, as opposed to providing them with answers. A mask is really just another question. Read the rest of this entry »