A refreshingly thirst quenching, geek-friendly diva of the modern age and the self-described Brooklyn Bizarre Baddie, Aqua D’Wata drips into Red Eye and elsewhere in August!
Thotyssey: Aqua, hello! Thanks for chatting! How was your summer?
Aqua D’Wata: Hey Jim! thanks so much for having me. My first summer in New York has been absolutely wet and wild. and I’m not just talking about the humidity on my coochie.
Lol! I understand you’re traveling to Portland at the moment. Business or pleasure?
As drag performers, isn’t our business in pleasure? I definitely take pleasure in the business. There’s a reason I’m known as an “international sensation.” Or would this be considered “intra-national?” Listen, they pay me to look pretty… not be good at geography.
Money well spent! How might you describe your drag today, as far as looks and numbers go?
I would describe Aqua D’wata as a vividly surreal drag being. Just like water, my aesthetic can take on multiple forms that taps into something we can all relate to as living beings. An Aqua D’wata performance will always be freaky, fun, and freeform. It might leave you a little wet, too.
Where’s is your place of origin, and what sort of art and inspiration did you grow up with?
Great questions. Metaphysically, Aqua arrived to earth from deep space on a crashed meteorite. Or did they come from a dream made long ago? I’m not sure. my drag persona inhabits my mind and body like a phantom.
The first time this happened was in a small town called Eugene, where I was finishing up my studies at the University of Oregon. As a child, I was always surrounding myself by a lot of fantasy novels, sci-fi video games, RnB music, and poetry. I think Aqua was always nestled in my subconscious in those moments I was looking to escape reality. Aqua’s eventual emergence on stage was born from necessity–a natural progression in my life, like figuring out how to breathe or learning to cry.
Cosmic destiny! Are you more of a fan geek for one or a few things in particular, or is it a very wide pool of universes?
I think my ADHD combined with a general fascination of pop culture keeps me from being too tied to just one fandom or universe. Don’t get me started talking about “Magic: the Gathering” or the Throne of Glass book series, though. We’ll be here all day.
How about a favorite look or number that you do, or have done?
“Rainforest” by NONAME is definitely up there for me; it’s a song about finding pieces of joy in a world where capitalism rages a war against the environment and brown bodies. It’s a piece I always come back to, to remind me and others that there are greater battles to fight than with one another.
it seems like the worlds of genre character cosplay and radical gender-based drag are kinda merging into this one thing, across many platforms both digital and in real life. Is that a good thing, a bad thing, or just a thing?
That’s exactly what drag has always been and always will be. Good drag blends the properties of the political zeitgeist with entertainment. Great drag makes the audience forget that’s what’s even going on all along. Whether it’s good or bad? That depends on who’s wielding the knife. We’ve seen countless examples of drag being used as a powerful tool for positive social change.
We’ve also, unfortunately, seen examples of drag that can be used for wrong–perpetuating harmful stereotypes, exploiting our communities, etc. It’s all a matter of education and knowing your history. Do you use the knife to feed, or to harm?
A few rando geeky questions! Are you displeased that gaming platforms are starting to abandon physical analog for streaming and downloading only?
I was absolutely devastated when I couldn’t get a physical copy of Baldur’s Gate 3 a couple months after it released. Maybe I’m old fashioned, but I love filling up my shelves with real game cases. the move to an all digital video game collection makes me worried about the inevitable loss of media that’s housed in some cloud network that could become defunct at any moment. Gimme my little CD, dammit! Bring back little game manuals too, while you’re at it.
The Odyssey, yay or nay?
For me it was…a nay. I love looking at IMEX-ed Tom Holland and Zendaya as much as the next queer, but there was a distinct and inexplicable lack of energy throughout the film. It had a star studded cast that all kinda gave me nothing. Shoutout to Elliot Page though–very cool to see a trans masc actor representation in a summer blockbuster. More of that, please!
Where are you on House of the Dragon? Every character in it is terrible, but who are you rooting for?
To be vulnerable, this is where I flop. Did I watch Game of Thrones? Of course. Did it take me a full six years after the conclusion of the show? Sure did. Sometimes with big tv shows or movies, I don’t always rush to watch it as it’s coming out. Sometimes I let the dust settle on it a bit before I watch, so I can form my own opinion about it. so I’m sorry to say I haven’t seen any of House of the Dragon yet. Would you say it’s worth getting into right now?
I think you’re approach might work for it! The latest season just ended, and there’s one short season left. So, six months or a year from now might be a great time to start, lol! It’s pretty intense and complex, I think a binge watch would work well to help keep track of who everyone is and where they are.
Also, are you familiar with Tomi Adeyemi’s Legacy of Orïsha book series? The trailer for the series’ first book Children of Blood & Bone’s film adaptation looks pretty impressive. However, Adeyemi was very unhappy about either the production process or the final product, and has completely disowned it. This has disappointed a lot of book fans! Should they (and we) steer clear of the film due to her displeasure with it, or try to approach it as its own thing?
i am familiar! I’m excited for more black fantasy media. I’d say there are lots of book adaptations that have taken on their own life. It’s just not possible for movies to capture the same magic that lives in our mind’s eye. An inspired work can create something new and entertaining in a different way. That being said, being critical is both helpful and fun… so I will be seated in the theater and Letterbox’d will be hearing my thoughts.
That brings us to… X-Men ’97! My thoughts on the animated series is, love it or hate it, it just has this solid pop art look and feel to it. It should be projected onto the walls of every dance party venue in the realm.
I will sign that petition. get X-Men across the clubs in NYC!
There is also something so queer coded about their stories and characters. What are your thoughts on the show, and do you have a favorite X-Man… either a show version, a comic version, or otherwise?
I love the new show; it feels like a worthy continuation of the original series with a more contemporary feel. The drama of this season is everything to me. I’ve been obsessed with this family dynamic between Jean, Cyclops, and Cable. Jean is up there with my favorite X-Men, along with Storm and Jubilee. I love me some women who can blow things up.
Shit’s truly getting blown up at Red Eye in Manhattan on Saturday the 15th for “Previously on X-Men: ’97,” hosted by Aud Ball auteur Suddenly Audrey! Followed by a rewatch of the season finale, Audrey and a cast of drag folks including yourself will be serving X-Men inspired shows! What can we expect from the night, and can you spoil anything for us?
Well, you already know Suddenly Audrey knows how to throw a function! There’s a really fabulous cast, including myself, who will be bringing you all the mutated madness you can think of from X-Men ‘97. As for me…I don’t wanna give too too much away. But, be prepared for my number to leave you feeling a little bit…shocked. I’m pulling out all the stops for this one.
What else is coming up for you?
if you’re coming out to [the X-Men show], you can come decompress with me the following afternoon, August 16th, at a fantastic drag brunch produced by Soraya Sis and Anne J. Tifah at Branded Saloon. And if you hated The Odyssey movie but love Greek Mythology like I did, you can also catch me in a Greek Mythology themed drag show at C’mon Everybody on August 31st hosted and produced by the internet icon and newly minted Broadway Baddie, Anania.
Gorge! Okay lastly: What’s your favorite or most essential item in your drag bag?
Absolutely, hands down, my drag essentials go to a hefty glass of water and a joint. Life is about moderation, and we gotta stay hydrated and lifted! Catch me at any function in one of three places: the dance floor, the water (d’wata) station, or outside talking shit in the blunt rotation.
Thanks, Aqua!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Aqua D’Wata’s upcoming appearances, and follow her on Instagram and TikTok.
Thotyssey 