We spoke to recording artist and bondage boi Dorian Reland about his new single ‘Life is Hard’, London, genderfuck, fetish and MORE. Gosh!
Hi Dorian. Got pics?
Yep, check out the next page…can you accom?
Where are you from? Are you a London boy?
I’m originally from Geneva in Switzerland, the land of money and chocolate. I moved here almost two years ago to pursue music. It’s pretty hard but I’m having a blast. That’s the theme of my latest video…with a little kinky twist!
Do you like it here? What do you think of the gay scene?
It’s fabulous! Coming from a smaller town where there are just a couple of gay bars, London’s like a candy warehouse. I love the diversity, there’s something for everyone! Drag, fetish, queer, genderfuck, you name it! Just let the night take you away…
We are LOVING your new music video. Talk us through the premise and inspiration and stuff.
One day, someone told me “just write about what you know”, and it really hit home. I don’t do miserable well, so I decided to create an uplifting anthem to life’s hardships and crushed dreams, as there seem to be quite a few here in London. There’s this perception that fun music is stupid and vapid, and I wanted to question that. After all, isn’t it harder to be happy? It’s too easy to give in to sadness and that’s something I just refused to do. Music is powerful and can lift your mood up in a second. We shot it at The Bunker in London, a subterranean alternative space, and it was directed by Darryl O’Donovan and Maciek (www.maciek.co). Overall it’s pretty reflective of who I am. It’s goofy, funny, empowering, kinky and sexy. Ain’t no pity party where I’m walking!
Where did you get all that naughty gear?
Well, some of it is from my private collection, but most of it is from Regulation, a gay fetish shop near Angel. They provided much of the gear, and made my custom triangle rubber shirt, which I wore in the video and on Trafalgar Square. They’re specialised in rubber and leather gear, which they make themselves, so if you’ve got those kind of urges that keep you up at night… you should definitely go around for a visit!
Who would you say you relate to, musically?
When I explain to people what I do, I tell them I want to blur the lines between mainstream and alternative culture. I’m obsessed with that. I grew up on the mainstream, (Britney, Xtina, you name it!) but at some point I slowly woke up and realised there’s a whole array of possibilities, aesthetics, art…I want to make these different worlds collide. Someone who’s done it recently is Miley Cyrus. From the Disney child star to the queer genderfuck artist she’s becoming, She’s contributing to the rise of alternative culture. To answer your question though, I’d say my favourite artist however is Lady Gaga, because she’s the most versatile pop star out there. I love that she knows how to be completely ridiculous and yet can belt out a piano ballad and be incredibly touching.
What’s next for you?
Well you can catch me at West 5 this Saturday 28th doing a charity event for The Food Chain. I’m also soon releasing a Christmas single in typical queer fashion with my good friend Hollie Would (one of the 20 finalist from the RuPaul Drag Race UK Ambassador), who is the fabulous queen in my video. Go check her audition tape! It’s hilarious! The song’s revisiting Robbie and Nicole’s “Somethin’ Stupid” and it’s about stuffing… turkey of course! Filthy mind you have there. We’ll be talking about it this Friday 27th on her radio show for Wandsworth radio at 8pm. Tune in! I’ll also be dropping an EP early next year, but I’m letting Adele own the next 6 months, no point doing it now!
What’s the best gig you’ve ever played?
Definitely London Pride on Trafalgar Square two years in a row after being the first Pride’s got talent ever. The show’s directed by my friend Ian Massa-Harris and I had a full team of amazing dancers led by the sultry Kimberley Collins from Infinity 8. The crowd was fucking wild, go check the stage selfie I made on Instragram this year! Epic!
If you had to invite four celebrities to a fetish party in a dungeon, who would it be and why?
I’d throw a tea party like in my music video. I’d invite Lady Gaga, Sarah Michelle Gellar (my teenage crush), Alaska Thunderfuck and finally, Channing Tatum. Or some porn star because it’d be a shame not to make use of all that gear and space at all, wouldn’t it?
FINALLY, some quick fire gay questions! Bombay mix or Little Mix?
Little Mix… it’s like being back in the 90’s!
EricVideos or Treasure Island Media?
Oh, exotic studio names, are they the ones doing Zoolander 2?
Old Compton Street or Stoke Newington Road?
Old Compton, because for a small town boy like me, it feels like Disney.
Nicola or Nadine?
Nicola. Quirky ginger beauty beats blonde bimbo anytime in my book (plus she got me dancing to the beat of her drum!).
Bear or twink?
Depends. There’s a guy for every mood!
• Dorian is performing at West 5’s Masquerade Ball on 28th November. Dorian’s new music video for “Life Is Hard” is streamable on youtube or on www.dorianreland.com
