Recently GLAM nominated for Best Scene Queen and new category Best Party Host, Bronx-born Brooklyn nightlifer SAWC is ending 2024 on a particularly tasty note. Also, meet his alter ego Shibi! [Cover photo: Mambiché]
Thotyssey: Hello SAWC! How was your Thanksgiving?
SAWC: Pretty great! I got to spend time with my blood family and my chosen family afterwards.
A perfect combination! You are an in-demand party host in this town… when you are not booked for a gig, do you generally like to hang out and kiki in the same types of parties you’d normally work?
100%! I spend a lot of time at my mother Janelle No. 5’s parties. Whether I’m booked or not, you can almost always catch me hanging out at “The Zoo” at Rosemont or “Sexx Dreams” at Metropolitan. They’re my favorite parties to go to; she has a great eye for talent, and the lineups are always worthy of a good night.
Janelle is set to co-host the Glam Awards in January. Congrats on your own recent Glam nominations “Best Scene Queen” and the new category “Best Party Host!” How does it feel to be recognized that way for your work in New York nightlife?
It’s heartwarming; being nominated in any regard is humbling. Being nominated for Scene Queen for the second year in a row is special because to me, I take it as being seen for just being out in the town and having a good time, supporting the divas, and showing face whether or not I’m receiving a check for it. However, for Best Party Host, that is what I do! It’s what I get paid for, and I treat all of my gigs with the same respect and regard. whether I love the theme of the night or not (because sometimes it happens), if SAWC is booked, SAWC is giving it his all. The recognition for that speaks volumes, because I genuinely love hosting and always have so much fun doing it!
What are the traits that make for a good nightlife event host, in your opinion?
To start: being kind. You are being booked to amplify the vibe of said gig; if you’re rude, it’s not going to work. Have personality, be outgoing. you can be a host and have a guest list of X amount of people with you, but you also have to mingle and kiki with the partygoers. One of my favorite things to do at a gig is when I offer drinks or drink tickets to people who I don’t even know–simply because they look like they are having a good time–and they’re always, like, completely shocked. Drinks are expensive! Share your drink tickets with people outside your friend group.
Can you tell us a bit of your origin story? Where are you from originally, and how did you come to find yourself in this city’s nightlife scene, and Janelle’s family?
I am one of the very few and rare people in nightlife who were actually born and raised here in New York! I have lived in the Bronx all my life, and still do. And yes, most of my time is spent in Brooklyn… the commute is crazy!
I found out about nightlife, I guess I can say, through Drag Race; it’s a long pipeline, but bear with me! So I was obviously introduced to Aja on Season 9 of Drag Race, and with following her I was introduced to the Haus of Aja. I loved Aja because I felt like I knew her; she was raw and unfiltered, and that was the type of person I was raised around here in the Bronx.
With that, I began supporting the girls on socials and throughout Covid. I spoke a lot with Xunami Muse. One time randomly she asked me to come to her show, and I got my first taste of nightlife. From there, I started coming out more and getting closer with Janelle as I frequented “Dial 559” (which is now “Sexx Dreams”), and I remember vividly one conversation Janelle and I had early on where she said, “you need to come out more and hang with the girls, be part of the scene, be a scene queen… like, girl, give it… absolutely.” And that I did. I started coming out more and spending time with Janelle outside of the club, and some time later she asked me to be her child.
Following that, I would always come out to her gigs to support, and I’d always bring friends. And being the observant person that I was, I started noticing that as the productions she threw got bigger, the more people I’d invite and show up with. so I told her I wanted to get into hosting, and she gave me a look and said “okay” and spoke to me about it. Basically, it was something like you’re my child, you represent me, and if you’re going to do this, you’re going to be serious about it–at least in my eyes, that’s what it gave.
Some time after that, she gave me my first hosting opportunity at her party “Tres Golpes,” and two years of hosting later I think I can say I’ve done a damn pretty good job and that she’s proud of me, lol.
Can you talk about how your personal style has evolved? Do you try to be cohesive to that brand or a theme, or do you do you your own thing now?
I think since joining nightlife my style has been particularly the same, but my confidence and willingness to be “risky” has grown immensely. Being Dominican raised in the Bronx while coming to terms with myself wasn’t the easiest. Even after coming out, I would say I played it safe when it came to what I would wear. I’d overthink and have so much anxiety about wearing a mesh tank–and it wasn’t because of my body, but more so because of what people in my neighborhood would say or the looks I would get. Until I realized that it really didn’t fucking matter… people were gonna talk regardless, so I might as well carry and wear whatever I wanna wear whether it’s coming from a “men’s” or “women’s” section. Mesh tanks, shirts, and dresses supremacy! We love mesh around these parts, okay!?
We can mesh with that! So where can the kids usually find you weekly or monthly… and what are some big things coming up for you in December or beyond?
I’m a scene queen darling, you can find me any and everywhere! LMAO! No, but in all seriousness, I’ve started dabbling in the art of drag and have my second performance in drag at Janelle No. 5’s “Shut Up, Bitch! Brunch,” (but I’m calling it the “Shibi, Bitch! Brunch”) happening December 7th at Aura Cocina. Maybe we’ll have to cook up a Shibi interview in the future.
As for my party gigs: it’s nightlife, it’s all a secret until it isn’t. But if you follow my Instagram, I think I do a pretty stellar job at promoting my gigs when they’re in the near future, so you can catch anything coming up there. And lastly, the Glam Awards! I’ll surely be in attendance, and hopefully snagging a win or two–who knows!
Glorious! Have you seen Wicked by the way?
Baybee! I am an Arianator down! I saw it on Thursday, so obsessed! already planning the rewatch.
Yaz! Okay lastly: what do you want for Christmas?
Honestly, it’s nothing anybody can buy–but it’s a new job. I have an interview for some days before Christmas, and I want it bad! That is such a lame answer, but it’s my truth at the moment… and I’m okay with that!
Truth to power! Get on ZipRecruiter, Santa! Thanks, SAWC!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for SAWC / Shibi’s upcoming appearances, and follow them on Instagram.
Thotyssey 