Editor’s LetterTo those of you who picked up a copy of this magazine, and are reading these words right now, there’s probably a question on your mind as you glance at the cover. What is Versatile?

Versatile is an attempt to swim against the tide and present something unique on a market oversaturated by everyday ideologies and beauty standards.

What started out as a magazine focusing on drag culture evolved into something more – a celebration of our abilities as humans to consciously choose what we do and who we are, and transcend the stereotypes expected of us from the society we live in.

In this, our first issue, we take a look at an alternative to the Drag Queens we’re used to seeing on our television screens, and that comes in the form of drab, or for the less informed, the art of Drag Kings.

We took a trip down to The Pheasantry in Kings Road, London, to see Drag Race alumni Courtney Act perform her sold out ‘Boys Like Me’ show, which coincidentally follows our motto about living life on the gender divide.

And finally, we give a rundown of the best singles released over the years by drag artists, to prepare you for the return of Rupaul’s Drag Race this month.

Versatile is primarily a one man show, but thanks must be given to those who offered their advice and time to help it come together. And thanks to you, the readers, for picking up a copy. Every one helps ensure a future for the magazine.

Until a hopeful next time,

Daniel Megarry x

.CONTENTS

.3DRAG IDOL:ROSCOE RIVERS TALKS DRAB

.9WE GO TO SEE COURTNEY ACT’S ‘BOYS LIKE ME’ SHOW

.11THE REVIEW: A LOOK BACK AT THE

MUSIC OF RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE

© David Shankbone

© Hinnk

‘A 90-minute presentation of sex and innuendo all pulled off with a surprising level of elegance.’

‘Listen to it when you’re walking to work; blast it while you’re strutting down the runway; play it while you’re hustling for trade on the streets; it’s up to you.’

“You’d be surprised how many people don’t even bat an eyelid when I’m dressed as a boy, I can be very convincing.”

A S A N E W G O L D E NE R A O F D R A G I S

U S H E R E D I N ,R O S C O E R I V E R S

S P E A K S T O V E R S A T I L E A B O U T I T S O F T O V E R L O O K E D

M A L E A LT E R N A T I V E

Drag has been dabbled in for centuries, from Shakespeare to Dame Edna Everage, and has consistently remained a polarising and contraversial

performance style. But while the boys get all the attention, there’s another form of gender defiance that’s rising from the underground - male drag. We met up with Roscoe Rivers, a genderqueer art student to find out more about the movement.

FIRST OFF, TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELFMy name is Roscoe Rivers, I’m from Kent, but currently living in Worcester, and I’m 21 years old. Out of drag I’m just plain old Rosemarie.

WHERE DOES YOUR DRAG NAME COME FROM?Coming up with names is harder than you think! It took me a while but I settled on Roscoe as it’s ‘50s slang for a handgun or a revolver – very masculine – and honestly I just tacked on Rivers because it sounded poetic. Well, I think it does.

DRAG ISN’T EXACTLY A COMMON PAST TIME, ESPECIALLY FOR WOMEN. WHEN DID YOU START?I did it in my first year of university as a joke, dressing up for Halloween, and I realised I actually really enjoyed it. I’ve been doing it on and off ever since, usually for special occasions. You’d be surprised how many people don’t even bat an eyelid when I’m dressed as a boy, I can be very convincing.

SO WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE IDEA THAT YOU LIKE?

Just getting to step out of myself and be someone different every once in a while. I’ve always thought to challenge the idea of gender stereotypes and norms in society and drag is the perfect platform to do that. Like you said, it’s even less common for a woman, which I think makes me like it even more.

WHERE DOES YOUR INSPIRATION COME FROM?I love all of the old fashioned masculine figures like James Dean, Marlon Brando – those kinds of people are big visual inspirations. I also really like what Gaga did with her alter ego too, I thought that was pretty cool.

YOUR LOOK IS VERY TRADITIONALLY MASCULINE, DO YOU HAVE ANY FAVOURITE BRANDS?Well, being a student there isn’t much room for designer brands in my wardrobe but I love Armani, Burberry, Calvin Klein, those sorts of brands. Honestly, most of the time when I’m not making an effort, I’m happy to just lounge around in jeans and a hoodie from Topman.

I ASSUME YOU’VE HEARD OF THE CLOSURE OF THE BLACK CAP IN SOHO BY NOW?Yes, I follow LGBT new quite closely. It’s a real tragedy.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS KIND OF OCCURENCE MEANS FOR THE GAY COMMUNITY?I never got a chance to visit but still, it feels like we’re losing parts of our history, as a community, when places like that close. It was the same with Madame Jojo’s closing last year.

Words & Photography: Daniel Megarry

DO YOU THINK THERE WOULD EVER BE A CHANCE FOR A DRAG ARTIST TO BECOME MAINSTREAM NOW, AS RUPAUL ALMOST DID BACK IN THE ‘90S?I’m not sure if people are ready for that. We’ve come a long way in terms of acceptance for LGBT people in the UK but people still think drag is weird or wrong. RuPaul was very self-mocking and played on the whole he/she joke, but I try and take it a bit more seriously.

WHAT DO YOU DO OUTSIDE OF DRAG?Well I’m an artist, so anything creative. I love going to museums and exhibitions. I’m studying illustration at university and that allows me to channel my imagination in a less outlandish manner than drag.

IS THERE EVER AN OVERLAP BETWEEN ROSCOE AND ROSEMARIE?Sometimes. Some of the regular, everyday clothes I wear are sold as boys clothes but as long as they’re comfy and look good I don’t care. I have been mistaken for a boy once or twice when I’m not even trying.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR ANYONE WANTING TO TRY MALE DRAG?Just be confident. If you aren’t it will show, and people will think you’re ashamed of it. If you don’t want to buy clothes in store then try shopping online, make sure you know what size to get. If you’re small like me it’s easy for men’s clothing to swamp you. Watch some tutorials online, too.

AND FINALLY, WHO ARE YOU ROOTING FOR ON THIS SEASON OF DRAG RACE?Well I really love Miss Fame’s aesthetic but I feel like she doesn’t have much else to offer other than looks, so I’m rooting for Katya, she’s hilarious!

For more from Roscoe Rivers, including photos and artwork, visit rauillustration.co.uk

“I’ve always thought to challenge the idea

of gender stereotypes and norms in society,

and drag is the perfect platform to do that.”

Courtney Act’s one-woman show ‘Boys Like Me’ is an exploration of boys that like her and boys that are like her, with tales of sexual encounters, romance, and missed connections wrapped up with some wonderfully performed musical numbers.

Opening with a cabaret-style mix of Tom Jones’ ‘Sex Bomb’ and Beyoncé’s ode to fellatio ‘Blow’, the tone was perfectly set for a 90-minute presentation of sex and innuendo all pulled off with a surprising level of elegance.

Courtney herself is a picture of glamour, with her trademark blonde curls and a sheer diamond dress that’s reminiscent of Britney Spears’ famous nude catsuit, her aesthetic is perfectly planned and wonderfully executed, so much so that you’ll often find yourself forgetting that you’re watching a man in drag.

Although at times Courtney appears a little nervous to be on stage – something hard to imagine from such a large and carefully curated personality – and occasionally loses her train of thought, it serves only to make her more human, and likeable as a result.

The underground jazz club, however, was perfectly intimate and while there was admittedly minimal audience interaction, a few fans were treated to an up close and personal view of the star as she weaved through the crowd and ascended a stair case,

performing a fully choreographed routine on the steps and railing.

The biggest crowd pleaser came in the comedy shtick form of Courtney’s own pop single ‘Mean Gays’, which she debuted during her time on Drag Race, and felt like a breath of fresh air amongst the more camp musical numbers of the rest of the night.

Tales of Courtney, tales of Shane, and tales of the nights in between made for an entertaining, and sometimes touching, night, with a poignant look back at a could-have-been relationships extinguished by her life on the gender divide followed up with an emotional and powerful, Broadway-worthy performance of ‘I’m Not That Girl’ from musical Wicked.

As a contestant on Drag Race, Courtney was accused of ‘resting on pretty’ by judges and fans of the show alike, perhaps with reason as her humour and warmth didn’t show through often. But on stage her personality shines, and there’s rarely a minute without laughter.

Courtney Act returns to the UK for two more shows at Proud Cabaret, Brighton, on March 31 and April 1.

Visit www.courtneyact.com for tickets and more information.

Words: Daniel MegarryPhotography: Manfred Werner

Since appearing on reality shows Australian Idol and Rupaul’s Drag Race, Courtney Act has forged her own musical career and embarked on a world tour with her debut stage show, ‘Boys Like Me’. We headed down

to The Pheasantry in London to see the blonde sensation in action.

RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE RETURNS TO TV SCREENS THIS MONTH, SO TO CELEBRATE WE TOOK A LOOK BACK AT SOME OF THE BEST MUSICAL ENDEAVOURS OF PAST CONTESTANTS

THE ReVIEW

MISS FAMERUBBER DOLL / SIDECAR RECORDSAs the only contestant from the most recent season to make it onto the list, Miss Fame wasted no time putting out her first fetish-focused single on the day her elimination aired on TV. The industrial sound that rumbles through the track intertwines perfectly with her harsh vocal performance and gives us a taste of what her recently announced, upcoming album will sound like. Miss Fame is a Queen to watch.

MANILA LUZONHOT COUTURE / LOMLPLEXManila’s debut single may not have as much bang as her contemporaries, but it still serves to be as catchy as a virus in winter. The chorus is a timid auto-tuned affair worthy of a J-POP girl group, with cutesy choreography to boot. Even though Manila caused quite a bit of drama during her time on Drag Race as part of the ‘Heathers’ clique, we’re willing to forgive her for popping out this fun dance track for us to enjoy.

COURTNEY ACTMEAN GAYS / COURTNEY ACTAfter a stint on Australian Idol and multiple television performances, Courtney was in good standing to release music post-Drag Race, so this single hardly surprised anyone. What began as a joke performance on the reality show turned into a fully fleshed single, and with an infectiously catchy bassline and a shouty chorus that begs to be sang in the shower, Courtney earned her place on this list. Her debut EP is due this summer.

YOUR MAKEUP IS TERRIBLE / SIDECAR RECORDSDespite a number of great singles from Miss Alaska over the past year, Your Makeup Is Terrible gets its spot on the list due to its sheer madness. From the inclusion of her signature greeting to her self-aware lyrics, Alaska probably has the most coherent and confident identity out of all Drag Race contestants. The accompanying video is a visual mindfuck full of hooker-couture realness, so make sure you check it out.

ALASKA THUNDERFUCK

Words: Daniel Megarry

DWVBOY IS A BOTTOM / WILLAMMade up of Detox, Willam, and Vicky Vox, no Drag Race list would be complete without a mention of DWV. The group made a name for themselves covering popular songs and injecting their filthy brand of gay humour into the lyrics. Boy Is A Bottom, a cover of Alesha Keys’ Girl On Fire, deals with the gay world’s most pressing issue – is he top or bottom? And while Willam may have taken a leaf out of Beyonce’s book and moved on to bigger and better things, Boy Is A Bottom will continue the legacy of DWV for years to come.

ADORE DELANOD.T.F. / SIDECAR RECORDSA fan favourite from the very start, Adore Delano has plenty of star potential to fill those leather studded boots she so loves to wear, and she proved with her first single - and simultaneous ode to Grindr - DTF. It’s the kind of grimy, drop-it-down-low rap anthem that Iggy Azalea wishes she could do. As the only Queen to feature on America’s Billboard Hot 100 chart, Adore has the best chance of a mainstream crossover, and with a debut album that rivals the likes of Katy Perry and Britney Spears, it’s not unlikely.

RUPAUL

SISSY THAT WALK / RUCO, INC.The Queen of drag himself worked with long-time collaborator Lucian Piane to craft this club-banging, slut-dropping, booty-popping anthem that’s impossible not to groove to. Listen to it when you’re walking to work; blast it while you’re strutting down the runway; play it while you’re hustling for trade on the streets; it’s up to you. While the EDM production and instrumental-driven chorus may sound a little dated two years on, there’s no denying that this has become Ru’s signature song, and is

now a regular in gay clubs and drag shows around the world. The music video sees cameos from season six finalists Darienne Lake, Adore Delano, Courtney Act, and Bianca Del Rio, and has amassed almost three million views on YouTube. Born Naked, the album that features the single, is worth a look too. It’s RuPaul’s highest charting album to date and sees collaborations with LaToya Jackson, Frankmusik and Celebrity Big Brother contestant Michelle Visage. It’s available to buy on iTunes now.