QX Interviews Jeangu Macrooy: From Eurovision to Activism

Independent Girls & Nasty Evil Gays is a satirical protest song against sexism and queerphobia that uses humour and anger to dissect the patriarchy: danceable resistance against scared little men with fragile egos. It’s a fun, catchy bop with an important message. We caught up with Jeangu to discuss the song and the importance of being active in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. 

Can you tell us about the new single?

It’s called Independent Girls & Nasty Evil Gays – it’s a funny, sarcastic, and satirical protest anthem for the girls and the gays. I wrote it from the perspective of people who blame feminism and queerness for everything that’s “wrong” in the world — just to highlight how ridiculous and outdated that mindset really is. I’ve never used humour in a song quite like this before, and I had the best time discovering how powerful comedy can be when it comes to making a point.

What made you want to release a queer protest song?

While working on my upcoming album, I realised I’ve written a few protest songs in the past — but never one that directly addresses queer rights. And honestly, the time feels right. The world’s grown increasingly hostile towards LGBTQ+ people, and the rights we’ve fought so hard for are being challenged in real and terrifying ways. The song is also feminist, because women’s rights are under attack too. It felt urgent, it felt necessary — and it felt like the right moment to make some noise.

What message do you hope to convey with the track?

I want queer people to feel empowered to live even louder. In the face of hate, we shouldn’t shrink ourselves. We deserve nothing less than full freedom to be our authentic selves — without apology, without compromise. I also hope it inspires allies to speak up, show up, and join the fight for equality. Because silence is not neutral.

Do you think we still have a long way to go with LGBTQ+ rights?

Absolutely. When you zoom out and look at the world, the number of places where queer people can live safely, freely, and fully is still shockingly small. Even in places that seem progressive, there’s a lot of work left to do — especially when it comes to trans rights, intersectionality, and dismantling systemic hate. So yes, we’ve come far, but we’ve still got a long road ahead.

Can you tell us about the video?

This might’ve been the most fun I’ve ever had on set. For the first time, I got to fully step into characters that are the total opposite of who I am — caricatures of right-wing figures who blame queers for everything from the weather to the economy. It’s a very tongue-in-cheek, over-the-top satire, and we leaned all the way in. It’s camp, it’s chaos, and it’s got a message.

And what’s your favourite thing about Pride?

That, for a few glorious weeks, I don’t feel like a minority. Seeing queer people out, loud, and unapologetic is so empowering. Pride feels like a glimpse of the utopia we could be living in year-round. I wish we could bottle that energy and carry it through the rest of the year, because honestly? Everyone would benefit from a world that doesn’t police how we express our gender or sexuality.

Independent Girls & Nasty Evil Gays is out now.