The drag daughter of one of nightlife’s most prolific queens now working in said queen’s actual family business of sorts, Delylah Wylde has the perfect platform to display her unique talents… and create a whole new scene on Stone Street!
Thotyssey: Hey there, Delylah! Did you catch that whole eclipse business?
Delylah Wylde: Ugh, barely! I was at work, and everyone and their mother was standing outside the window of my day job looking at the sky… and I was inside twiddling my thumbs with no eclipse glasses!
Bummer! Are you gonna do moon-themed drag numbers this week, or will everyone be over it by then?
I’m sure people will be not only over it, but already onto the next random psychotic nature thingy by that point. I’ve already seen like three drag artists online doing earthquake numbers, and I’m sure a million and a half drag artists performed “Total Eclipse of the Heart” last night. I was thinking I might get on the mic at either or both of my weeklies, ask about the eclipse, and then pull my tights down to flash my hairy ass to the audience.
That’s Old School! How might you overall describe your drag today, both aesthetically and performance-wise?
I’d say my drag aesthetic is pretty eclectic. My two constants are the star nose and blue hair. I like to say that Delylah is a natural “Bluenette.” As far as performing goes, I’m kind of like a one lady roulette every time I have the opportunity to perform. You never really know what you’re gonna get, and most of the time I don’t either! I think of myself as something of a controlled chaos.
Can you tell us a bit about where you’re from, and how you began as an artist and overall performer?
I can tell you a lot about that stuff! I’m originally from Connecticut. I started doing drag when I was around 14 or 15. I got my start on the internet; I used to compete in a whole bunch of online competitions on Instagram and YouTube. I was lucky enough to have an all ages drag show that let me perform every once in a while. It was a three hour drive from where I lived, but it was a stage! That was a long time ago, though. So now I’m kind of getting a fresh start here in NYC.
BibleGirl, Drag Queen Merch foundress and Brooklyn-turned-LA drag star in her own right, is your drag mom!
She is indeed! I have the internet to thank for that life-changing connection as well. She and I had a lot of mutual connections on Twitter due to us both being permanent residents of the world wide web, and I was lucky enough to fall into her timeline and luckier to have forged one of the most important interpersonal connections of my life with her. The rest is ancient history! Two chronically online crossdressers came together thorough the webiverse to maximize their joint slay! Haus of Girl ™ 354ever.
How often have you two been able to spend time together in person?
Not enough! She’s been doing microdose trips from LA to NYC before she moves here permanently by October of this year. I met her September of last year, and every trip since then we have been attached at the hip. She is truly the best person I have ever met.
I understand that Lilly’s Bordello in Lower Manhattan, the former site of The Cauldron (which has moved to Flatiron) and the site of your current weekly, is a BibleGirl Real Life Family Business!
It sure is! Lilly’s Bordello at 47 Stone Street has been like a home away from home for us. Bible has a lot of history in the Financial District, so having a home bar there is equally special to her as it is for me. Our weekly show on Thursdays at 9, “The Girl Show,” is the first weekly gig I’ve ever had in my life. It’s really special for me to have that too, as it’s something Bible and I really worked hard to build together. She and I busted our asses and wrote up some show pitches for a handful of different clubs and bars. Even though we faced rejection, everything fell into place with Lilly’s Bordello!
Prima Love and Jada Honey Diamondz join you every Thursday for “The Girl Show” there… what can you tell us about that show and your cohosts?
I can tell you that those girls are fucking superstars… the pair of ’em. They are so polished and so professional, and so easy to work with. Prima’s charisma on the microphone is what pulled me out of my shell when I’m addressing the audience. I’ve learned so much from Jada’s consistent ability to blow me away with her captivating performances. “The Girl Show” is never the same show twice. There’s always something new and exciting and hilarious to see when the three of us are there together. It’s got live singing, top notch drag dance and performance, incredible drinks, and gut busting hilarity.
I was there one week, it was super fun! A nice mixed audience… is there a huge difference between queer and straight audiences, from your point of view?
The only thing that matters to me is, if they’re there for a show, they will get it. Whether they’re straight allies or queer siblings, I personally love to perform for anybody that wants to be there. The audience is always very mixed at Lilly’s! Especially between the Thursday night “Girl Show” and the Friday night Drag Race viewing parties. Lilly’s Bordello has the potential to be a real hot spot for all the queer folks in Lower Manhattan to not have to travel far to find a safe space. Bible and I really want to curate that.
You host that Friday RuPaul’s Drag Race viewing party with Hanukah Lewinsky! We are quite close to the finale now, and the Top 3 has been selected. Who should win, and who will win, in your opinion?
I think Sapphira Cristál should win Rumple’s Drumple and I think she will win Rhubarb’s Drum Raids. In 2017 I watched a video of Sapphira performing a scat singing number on Instagram, and to this day I have had it bookmarked and have studied that video. She has no idea how much she has inspired me… not only with that video, but just in general. Mother Cristál better take it.
And I see that on May 4th you and Bible will be at Opal Essence’s show at Waterworks Pub in Albany!
Opal is a close sister to me. I met her through the online competition circuit, and actually competed and won a competition that she hosted very early on into my drag career!
What else does the world need to know about Delylah?
I think the world needs to know that Delylah takes “not taking anything too seriously” very seriously.
Lol, noted! Okay, lastly… what should Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s next life / career move be, if you’re following her complex narrative?
Okay, I’ve actually thought a lot about this! I think she needs to release a single, and then guest judge on Drag Race and the bottom two lip sync to her song in front of her. And also, that episode is the Gypsy Rose Blanchard unauthorized Rusical with music by Fred Velvette and Leland.
I think you may be on to something there! Thanks, Delylah!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Delylah Wylde’s upcoming appearances, and follow her on Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
Thotyssey 