Known for her luscious facial hair, live vocals and cosmic spirituality, the House of Thee’s SOL is about to unleash an all new Astoria drag experience upon us! [Cover photo: D.J. Lehrhaupt]
Thotyssey: Hello SOL, Happy April Fools Day! Are you into pranks and dumb social media jokes, or is this just another day?
SOL: It is April Fools, isn’t it? I’m definitely into pranks. No social media jokes this year for me, though.
That’s probably for the best! You’re busy enough being a content and music creator, a tarot reader and a drag queen among other things! Time management must be a carry!
Chile, it is! But as mystical multi-hyphenate, sometimes you must carry!
You have divine facial hair, by the way… was that always part of your look?
Yes! When I started drag in 2016, I felt super-pressured to shave my facial hair because it was what I understood a drag queen to be. I almost did it, too… but then one day, I saw a photo of Lucy Stoole and I said “Hold up! Queens do this? Well, I’m keeping my beard then!” And from there, I grew this mustache… and now it’s part of my brand. I’ll chalk it up to my Aquarius rising…I’m such a rebel.
Where are you from originally, and what were your early creative interests growing up?
I’m a Harlem girl, born and raised. Singing and performing have always been it for me; I was a middle child calling in all the attention! I was in choirs and school plays since I started school. Then got into vocal program at PPAS, and haven’t stopped since!
Last year you recorded a cute bop called “I’ll Tell You What I Want,” which can be downloaded and streamed on all the things! Was that your first recording… and what was your inspiration behind that particular song?
It’s not the first recording I’ve ever done, but it was the first I’ve ever put out myself. I’ve done lots of background vocals and writing for friends and other artists, but “I’ll Tell You What I Want” was something I wrote at a time in my life where I felt like so much of the world was telling the Trans community to accept what we are given and never ask for more, fight for more. So I wrote this in the studio with [producer] 808 Annie after he played this amazing beat he produced, and after 10 minutes “ITYWIW” was born. It was my manifestation prayer to the universe: I will have it all!
Can you tell us a bit about how you entered the world of New York nightlife, and what kind of queen SOL is today?
Chile, my memory is not the same post pandemmy… but I will do my best to remember. I started out in Hell’s Kitchen at Bar Nine, and my drag sis Glow Job started her own queer clown circus show at House of Yes called “Boing! “And from there, I started my emergence in Brooklyn nightlife.
I eventually started incorporating my spirituality into my work, so I started reading tarot around Brooklyn bars like House of Yes, Brooklyn Mirage, and The Witching Hour. However, most recently since I’ve joined the Haus of Thee–a live-singing, musically forward drag house created by Thee Suburbia–I’ve also performed at Mary’s BK and even Good Judy alongside my drag fam Tuna Melt and Ella Fartzgerald.
And for those who don’t know who I am: I guess the best way I can describe SOL the Drag Queen would be the Vitamin D you never thought you needed. I light up a room, and walk into every place with my heart open and ready to embrace, inspire, and acknowledge every beautiful soul I see.
And Chile… my memory came back, lol! I performed at Bushwig twice, which completely propelled me and my drag career to a whole different level. So shout out to [Bushwig co-creator and producer] Horrorchata for allowing me to grace the Bushwig stage. I would’ve never been interviewed by InStyle Magazine and brought my artistic vision to life. That’s my fondest drag memory… when I remember it!
You’ll be forging new fond memories soon! On April 3rd at Astoria’s Grove 34, you’ll be hosting a show called “Smokin’ Sounds” with Hassan and Paris L’Hommie.
OMG yes! I am so excited about this show. There’s no live-singing drag show in NYC that allows its patrons to smoke cannabis, so I’m a trailblazer here. It’s the first of its kind in NYC, so to be able to host my own show in Astoria at Grove 34 is a blessing. And I’m so grateful for it, because this is a growing moment for me. And shoutout to Thee Surburbia and Tuna Melt and all of the support they’ve given me to be able to make this show a reality.
Essentially “Smokin’ Sounds” is a development stage for the Haus of Thee–so the aim is to not only create community, perform, and enjoy a show, but it’s a space for drag family to try new things in a supportive environment. I’m really excited to have Hassan and Paris for the inaugural “Smokin’ Sounds” show, because they are so talented and fierce!
You recorded some episodes of a podcast last summer… might we be hearing more of that soon?
“Big Mouths, Big Guts” is on hold right now until my co-host P and I can both can fully jump back in. P is doing big things in her professional career and I’m creating, so we’re being supportive besties to one another.
What else is coming up for you?
Well right now, I’m prepping for “Smokin’ Sounds” for April 3rd and May 1st, and from there the expectation is to have either a bi-weekly / monthly spot. I also have some upcoming things that aren’t cemented yet, so please make sure you follow and turn on those notifications so you don’t miss it. I am also looking to perform in new spaces, and places so book me!
Anything else to tell the children?
Book more Black Trans Folx! And more drag kings! There’s enough abundance and opportunity to go around for everyone.
Indeed! Thanks, SOL!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for SOL’s upcoming appearances, and follow her on Instagram and SoundCloud. Stream her music here.
Thotyssey 