QX Meets…Rhys’ Pieces

Rhys' Pieces
Photos by Gabriel Mokake - Words by Dylan B Jones - Makeup by Darren Evans

Rhys’ Pieces, known to the Muggle world as Rhys Hollis, is a sparkling, big-booted tour-de-force.

Full of power and panache, with an impressive back catalogue of performances – including snatching the top prize at this year’s Lipsync1000 – Rhys has so much energy that just LOOKING at them makes us want a biscuit and a lie down.

It’s a worryingly warm mid-October day, and we’re storming around Trafalgar Square with a photographer and a good few feet of glittery gold velour. As the light from Rhys’ gold leaf eyebrow catches the sun and ricochets off one of the iconic lions, tourists turn to gawp.

But once they get a good glimpse, they’re not as amazed (or as aggressive) as the general public used to be towards diverting creatures like Rhys. Our world is changing, as concepts like drag and gender are being pushed to the front of national conversation.

Between snaps by acclaimed photographer and Hamilton cast member (!) Gabriel Mokake, we chat modern life, race, and more. 

So you won Lipsync1000!

Yeah, that was a thing.

What did you do with the money?

Paid my rent. For about two months. It was gorgeous!

Did that free your brain up for other creative stuff?

Well yeah! The money I would’ve spent on rent, I then spent on travel, being able to go up to Edinburgh Fringe, stuff like that.

We really forget how much things like that weigh down on us. And then when it’s gone, we’re free!

Well yeah, especially because my mum passed last year, so I’ve just inherited the house.

That’s huge.

Yeah, it’s weird. It’s been the best summer of my life though, without a doubt. It’s a testament to her raising me well; that I can harbour the joy of successes, but also not let it affect me being able to grieve.

That’s great. Is it nice being in charge of your own space? Or is it weird?

I mean, I’m not in charge – I live with my little sister! So let’s get that straight.

 

So is she in charge?

Well, let’s just say it’s nice to have her support. I dunno, that’s a funny question though. It’s nice to have the security of my house. It’s nice to have my home. For now…we’ve got to try and see about buying it because the council wants us to leave. But anyway, it’s nice feel like a grown-up. But it’s a funny circumstance to feel like a grown-up in.

So drag. Everyone’s talking about drag. Let’s talk about drag.

Drag! Yeah ok.

We interviewed Panti Bliss a few weeks back and she said she thinks drag will be over in a couple of years. What do you think?

Oh god. I dunno. Things come and go in and out of fashion all the time. I feel like we’re all a bit in a bubble, because we’re constantly around it. I’ve been doing it for two or three years, but there are people who have always been around it – for decades. That shows it’s not a craze. The RVT’s always been there. But if you’re talking about things like, the fact that there’s so much drag representation in the media now, then maybe.

Well of course, Drag Race.

I mean yeah, I imagine Drag Race will run out of steam eventually. I’d hope drag doesn’t die out, but just changes. I hope representation of queerness and trans people in drag, is something that becomes normalised. So it won’t go out of vogue, it’ll just become something where you don’t question it. I was in Portland doing a gig – and before me on stage, this amazing eleven-year-old child did an amazing lipsync to Cardi B and I was gagged. I forgot to do my dance moves. It was the first time I felt obsolete. I was like ‘this little SHIT is gonna push me to my grave.’ Eleven years old and KILLING it.

What was school like for you?

I went to Stoke Newington School. I was with Eddie Barnes, who was one of the first teachers to teach LGBTQ issues. They now teach other teachers how to do that.

So how was it growing up in London as a queer kid?

Like I say, I was lucky to go to a good school. I had an amazing mum who made me confident. I had a lot of shit when I was a lot younger from other kids. Hackney’s changed a lot now – I’ll have a flat white please! I mean, I’m the one who’s saying it so I’m part of the problem. But it used to be rough. There were muggings. And people would be like “who do you know?” That’s the question you’d be asked. “Who do you know?”

It’s Black History Month this month. Do you get good feelings from that?

Not really. I don’t like the idea of Black History Month being just one month. And I think that’s a very common feeling. It’s indicative of the dominance of white culture, the idea that there’s a Black History MONTH. It screams it in your face, and it’s hiding in plain sight. I’m a mixed race individual, brought up by a white mum – so as a kid I didn’t really have that much connection. And then Black History Month in school, all you get taught is ‘your ancestors were slaves’ – and that’s basically what your culture amounts to.

It’s a bit patronising isn’t it. Saying ‘aw poor you – here, have a special week.’

Yeah. I mean, it IS good that blackness and POC bodies are brought to the forefront. It can’t be a bad thing. But it also shouldn’t NEED to be that way.

How do you feel about things at the moment then? Is there loads of work still to be done?

Well I can’t tell you what needs to be done. Jesus Christ, who do you think I am? Travis Alabanza? Don’t put that in. That’s my good sister [laughs]. No but that’s the thing, people are doing amazing things – people LIKE Travis Alabanza…Sadie Sinner! We just did Cocoa Butter Club at the Underbelly Festival, and that was a phenomenal show. It was amazing. The KOC Initiative, by Zayn Phallic. But that’s just on the cabaret scene. Things need to happen on a larger scale but also on an individual scale. There are so many tiers of racism, and that’s what people need to get their heads around.

Rhys’ Pieces hosts the K-Factor, a karaoke competition every Wednesday at The Karaoke Hole. They’re also performing as part of The Un-Royal Variety Show this Friday & Saturday at Hackney Empire. Follow them on Instagram @RhyssPieces

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