“Queer Aesthetics is The Wave” K$ Drops Some Gems on the #BeTrue Live in Conversation with Lelo Meslani
“I didn’t wait for anyone to give me permission. I made it my business to be on any lineup that I felt I belonged” K$ is adamant on carving out his own space in the music industry, which becomes increasingly clear as he sits down with writer, DJ and cultural curator Lelo Meslani.
The discussion forms part of Nikes #BeTrue campaign, which “started in 2012 as a grassroots effort led by Nike employees in the PRIDE Network seeking to build a community diverse in orientation, identity and expression focused on community initiatives to advance equality in sport.”
Kalo and Lelo delve into the intricacies of being queer and creative in South Africa, how the two intersect and why creating spaces that cultivate growth for their peers is so important. One of those spaces are Vogue Nights Jozi, a queer-centric (often sold out) event founded by Lelo. “I still get so emotional just speaking about Vogue Nights because its a space that we needed for such a long time..I’m so proud of how far we’ve come and I hope that it continues to grow” He says when speaking on bypassing the culture of gatekeeping to pioneer spaces where queer bodies wont have to “beg for a booking”.
Speaking on the exclusionary and violent nightlife culture in South Africa, K$ shares that his been “beat up in places where I was booked to perform-simply for being Trans”. The two go back and forth about the way in which queer culture is appropriated in the same spaces that are violent for the very same people who pioneered this sound and aesthetic.
At the end of the day, both are about putting your money where your mouth is: “If you want to support the queer community, open your purse” says K$. He continues, “We are so much more than pride month, and we exist in every space and industry beyond creative-so pay us what we are worth”.
You can keep an eye on Lelo’s Instagram for more to follow in this series.
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