Bonnie lass, Vanity von Glow is amongst a select wave of multi-talented new, young cabaret performers to hit the London scene recently. A proficient musician who’s been tinkling away since the age of six and a lover of all things Lana Del Rey, the man behind Vanity speaks to Jason Reid…
Jason: You moved down from Scotland just nine months ago. Did the bright lights and opportunities lure you away from your homeland?
Yeah, pretty much. I’ve always been very clear about wanting to entertain people and to be the best. I felt like I’d entertained everyone in Scotland, so it was time to spread it around [laughs]. But seriously, everyone wants to perform here and I came to London because I really want to grow as a performer.
What was the biggest difference, you noticed, between the two cabaret scenes?
Apart from the size, I think back home I found myself performing to a lot of young people. That may be due to the type of material I use and the image I portray. The clientele on the more established London cabaret circuit seem to be older and much more discerning.
Tell us about Vanity. Am I right in thinking that the character you’ve created is a parody on the modern day female ‘celebrity’?
Yes, to an extent. I think of women who I love, like Elizabeth Hurley and the Duchess of Cambridge, and a great deal of their charisma comes from how they look. Charisma of any kind is a good thing and I’m all up for that. I do think it’s interesting to parody the ‘glamour is power’ ethos.
Where did the name come from?
‘Vanity’ is named after the deadly sin itself, because that’s the number one preoccupation of the character. I also wanted her to sound Eastern European so that’s where the ‘von’ came from and the ‘Glow’ part is an old nickname.
And she’s from somewhere called Vulgaria?
Well, Vanity was unfortunately raised by wolves in Scotland, but she very much believes that she is Eastern European royalty. And even though people can’t find Vulgaria on a conventional map, she wholeheartedly believes it exists. We kind of have to take her word for it.
She calls her fans ‘Glow Worms’. Is this a prod at Lady Gaga calling hers Little Monsters?
Absolutely! It’s all tongue in cheek, but I did that very consciously. It kind of annoys me that artists have names for their fans. It’s like an extension of their branding. I love that Kathy Griffin calls her fans ‘Kathy-ters’, as in catheters [laughs].
Vanity has a very Lana Del Rey feel to her. What draws you to her in particular?
Yes, she does. I really like Lana’s music and just love the way she is styled. She’s quite a ridiculous woman, as they’ve marketed her as this tragic, modern day, daddy’s girl. I usually sing a couple of her songs every week. It’s good to explore some more melancholy stuff musically, whilst in the Vanity character. It gives her a full set of emotions. I always want to keep Vanity looking cutting edge and avant-garde so I’m happy to emulate her style because she looks great.
You have a residency at the Green Carnation every Sunday night. What would you say you’re doing that’s different?
I like to think that what I’m doing is more down the dance hall, vaudeville route, where live music was always a big part of any performance. My nights at the Green Carnation are like ‘open mic’, with myself on the piano, but you’ll find people singing all the modern stuff as well as the traditional songs. There are some great similar nights out there, such as Glam Jam, and I like to think that what I bring to the table is a different sensibility.
You love to throw in the odd parody song too, don’t you?
Yes, I do. I think that’s kind of a nod to traditional drag. And I love the bawdiness of it. The audience hear the song, the melody and then all of a sudden, bang, when your lyrics kick in it’s a song about oral sex.
Which other cabaret acts do you enjoy?
I love Sandra. She was one of the first acts I saw when I moved to London and I laughed my head off at her. I’m a big fan of Myra Dubois and Bette Rinse too. As for image, it has to be the Supreme Fabulettes. They look amazing. If they ever need a fourth Fabulette, I’d be up for it.
• Don’t miss Vanity Von Glow, every Thursday and Sunday from 9pm at Green Carnation (4-5 Greek Street, Soho, W1D 4DD).
