Club Kids, The Morning After
LIGHTS ON
We know what it’s like when the party ends. Lights come up. Ravers scatter. Factions split, some looking for a ride home, some looking for the afterparty to the afterparty.
For our annual Pride shoot, we asked the question: What becomes of the club kids the sun comes up?
We met with local club legends Ally Starr, Mars, Luc111e, and Ciggymonsta to talk nightlife, community, drama, inspiration, and the scene. Welcome to the morning after.
ALLY STARR
⭐️ Ally! What inspired your look today?
ALLY STARR: Well, today, I really wanted to give Tokyo Drift. I was really inspired by racing. Fast and Furiousis one of the most iconic movies ever. Suki's that girl.
⭐️ I saw that you describe yourself as the “rave bae from Hell.” How did that persona materialize?
AS: I honestly didn't even know who Ally Star was until like four years into me doing drag. What made me more happy with my aesthetic and my brand is that I've learned to embrace the things that I really enjoy, which are raving, music, EDM, festivals. I take a lot of inspiration from the music and the people I meet there and the club kids I see.
⭐️ So do you see yourself as a drag queen who does club looks or a club kid who does drag?
AS: I honestly do see myself as a club kid now. Like, the club kids are the alternative baddies, no shade. They are basically the blueprint for what girls be doing when they serve crazy looks,
⭐️ After a night out, how does it feel to switch back from the world of Ally Star into your day-to-day life? Is it a difficult transition, or is it something that you are accustomed to?
AS: Honestly, I feel like my drag persona and my out-of-drag persona are lowkey the same person. I just dress up a little bit more when I'm Ally. But sometimes when I'm driving home by myself at the end of the night in full drag and I look at myself in the mirror, I'm like, damn, now I gotta go back to my day job?
⭐️ I’m curious about your sense of community because in both the drag and club kid scene there is collaboration, but also competition. Do you have chosen family?
AS: That is a beautiful and lovely question because I am part of a house, the Haus of Highlight. My mother, Burandy J. Wine, my auntie, Julvira, and then my sisters, Angel Monroe and Amora. And, of course, my daughter, Remm Starr. So it's a small group of six. It's so crazy to me that I literally would not be here and do what I do without my drag family. I'm just really grateful that they've given me the support to live my dreams. Drag family is really important. And this is no shade to people, but people be calling each other “daughter,” “mother,” “mother,” “daughter,” all the time, but I'm like, are you really mother and daughter? Like, honestly, these people have seen me at my lowest and at my highest. It's a very sacred experience for me, especially as a queer person.
⭐️ That's so beautiful. It's nice to see that underneath the cunty exterior you have a lot of heart. It's very sweet.
AS: Isn't that so crazy? How the people who look all evil and nasty and cunt are actually the sweetest people in the world. Ever since I was introduced into raving culture and learned about PLUR, I've followed that, and it has brought me nothing but greatness and good people in my life. And I feel like PLUR should be implemented everywhere. I feel like peace, love, unity, and respect should belong to everybody.
⭐️ Is there anything else that you want to say about club culture or the scene in LA or any messages that you want to put out there?
AS: I do actually. Queer club culture has always been alive. And we'll always continue to be alive because it's one of the only spaces for us to get together and kiki and connect and feel safe. So I'm not worried about queer club culture dying. But in a time where all odds are against us, it is honestly so important to be present and to show up and show out. Like, I need you fags to like, fag out. I need the lesbians to lesbian. I need the dolls to be dolling, because we need to be loud, proud, and present, and show them that we are not going anywhere. We've literally been here since the beginning of fucking time. But we just got to just keep on doing our thing and showing people that we exist. We need to keep on living and partying till we die.
MARS
⭐️ When you’re getting ready to go out, what inspires you? How do you get yourself in the zone?
MARS: I reference fiction a lot in a way that’s less cosplay and more sexy, like fantasy clubwear. And I'm really inspired by my peers and by the people around me. So many people are so colorful and so creative, and I just want to be up there with them.
⭐️ Like, what's gonna gag the girls?
MARS: What's gonna gag them? You don't want to be that twink that came in, like, a t-shirt and jeans. For the girls that do, it's fine. But for me, I want to be one of the characters of the night. I get my ideas from fictional worlds. I've always loved a super villain. Maleficent, Ursula, the Joker.
⭐️ Do you consider your club kid “persona” a persona?
MARS: I kind of do consider it a persona. But a persona that I wish I had access to all the time. Growing up, I was always kind of anxious and shy. And it's just easier to step into boldness when you're not dressed as your normal self, I guess. So that's why I'm out so much.
⭐️ So how do you transition out of that at the end of a night?
MARS: Honestly, sometimes I have to get dragged out of it.
⭐️ How did you get into the nightlife scene?
MARS: I had gotten out of a long-term relationship, and I wasn't even aware of the scene that really existed, and then when we broke up, I didn't really have a lot of my own friends. So I would start going out on my own, and for the most part, just to have a good time, but I found that, once I was in these sort of characters, it was really easy for me to socialize with people.
MARS (cont’d): It's one part people being intrigued by what you're wearing. And another part, if you have this friendly demeanor, it's the best of both worlds. It's like, “I like your look, and also you're really friendly.” I think my approach has always been that I just want everyone to have a good time. That's always been my thing. If I see someone not having a good time, I'm very much, like, “Bro, what's happening? Let's wake it up.” Yes, we're all clubbing and stuff, but this is still supposed to be like a community. We have to treat each other like that. It's not a competition of who's more fierce or anything like that. I mean, it can be, but I'm not a competitor. I want to be in it with people. So that's my vibe.
⭐️ Do you have an idea of where you want Mars to go? Anything you want to manifest in print?
MARS: I certainly have my own vision for my own parties and the kind of spaces I would like. I would love to bring it beyond my physical body and make it into a space with a curated vibe. So set design. stage design, and character creation. Doing makeup for people, doing costumes for people.
⭐️ Is there anything else you want to share with the Parti community?
MARS: Don't dress for whatever you think the occasion is. Dress for yourself. You're always going to look better in what you want to wear, not what you feel like you should be wearing. Maybe you don't want people looking at you, but even if people are looking at you like you're crazy, you could take it as they're looking at you because you're a celebrity or something. Like, you can create that in your head, you know? I think we're all allowed a little bit of delusion. Because you don't know what they're thinking. As far as you know, they're living.
LUC111E
⭐️ Something I find very interesting about you is that you're such a shapeshifter. I know that even in your personal life, you've used several names. And you’ve had different DJ names. What do you get out of switching personas like that?
LUC111E: I think I’m fulfilling a childhood fantasy because growing up, I didn't really like my name. I always wanted to change it. And as I got into DJing, my mom told me, “You need to learn how to separate those lives. Because one moment you will be on stage, and in another moment, you'll be back home. You have to be used to that quiet.” I think, for me, having different names I go by makes it easier for me to separate everything. It's kind of fun and mysterious.
⭐️ How is that transition, though, from all the noise, the excitement, the attention to the quiet when you're back home?
LUC111E: I am still getting used to it, if I’m gonna be completely honest. I love the loudness, mainly because, growing up, I was pretty secluded. I spent most of my time by myself. so I'm pretty used to the quiet, and I'm at a point now where I want to be surrounded by sound and livelihood. That kind of brings me back to earth, kind of grounds me in a way. But I also still like that solitude. After a couple nights of going out, I need that movement of solitude where I'm just sitting at home playing Sims.
⭐️ I feel like people recognize your music style, and they see you when you're up at the DJ booth, but how do you feel before and after your sets?
LUC111E: I'm always nervous before. I'm never not nervous. When I was a kid, I had a lot of confidence in myself, but that got beaten down real quick, so by the time I was in middle school and high school, I was super insecure. And even now, whenever I present my art to somebody, I still feel kind of nervous about it. Sometimes I need that validation. I'll ask multiple people. I think I've asked you as well. I'm like, “How was it? Did it sound okay?”
⭐️ I always love your sets. One thing that really drew me to your sets is not just the music, but also the performance. I feel like you desire to give the audience an experience while they watch you.
LUC111E: Yeah, I feel like it's fun! I feel like a lot of people just don't like to dance, or they're scared to dance. And I get it, especially with cameras being everywhere, there's a fear of being perceived. But it got to a point where I don't give a fuck anymore. I want to be able to be that person that will allow someone to let loose and have fun. I mean, Los Angeles is already filled with flock cameras. Everywhere you're being watched. There's no moment where you're by yourself. So just go at it.
⭐️ Since DJing is typically a solo activity, how do you feel about your nightlife community?
LUC111E: I used to go out to parties all by myself. And it's really fun. I like doing it because you get to talk to so many different people. But now that I have a community that I can go to events with, I have my little troop that I know that I'm safe with. And I really love going to events with all them. Like we went to Godspeed’s last party, and that was so much fun. I was up until like 4 a.m. I remember going home, and my bones were hurting. But it was so much fun.
⭐️ Is there anything else you want to share regarding club kid culture or nightlife?
LUC111E: I feel like people really need to go back to the library and do research about the cultures that they’re entering into. Do full-on research on the club settings that you're entering into. It's really important, not just in a sociopolitical sense, but just to know about the people who started these subcultures and these communities, where it all comes from.
⭐️ That's good advice. Subculture has become synonymous with aesthetic lately, and so many of these subcultures are much deeper than the aesthetic.
LUC111E: They're way deeper than the aesthetic or the lingo. Like, queer culture is not just “tea” and “shade.” It's family. And that's what got me into this environment to begin with. All I can say is, continue to do your research about the communities that you're entering, the spaces that you're entering, and the music that you listen to, because it all has a history.
CIGGYMONSTA
⭐️ Okay, my opening question: In all the recent photos from the last PARTIMNSTR, you are completely mogging everyone. Do you care to comment on that? You look so fucking good in every photo.
CIGGYMONSTA: Well, first of all, thank you. Love that. And honestly, I loved that look. I felt fresh that night.
⭐️ I feel like you have a really distinct aesthetic. What are you pulling from to get your specific look?
CM: I pull a lot from different things. I've always said that I like being a shapeshifter. I love leather and metal. It's a lot of what goes into my looks, you know? Very neutral. Like, if you see me in color, maybe ask if I'm okay.
⭐️ Yeah, I've never seen that.
CM: I like a muted tone. Even the nails that I have on now… I like textures. So just pulling from things around me, you know, like turning something that isn't meant to be even used in that way. But I definitely pull a lot from that indie sleaze vibe, but putting more of me into it.
⭐️ It's very queer. I like it a lot because, especially leather, I associate so much with the history of gay culture, you know? But you're updating it in a way that's very fierce.
CM: Thank you. I do like that. I like the sound of that too because I think everyone here is part of a new generation of club kid, you know? And I think it’s really cool when people draw from the past but bring it into modern times.
⭐️ Correct me if I'm wrong, but I feel like you have a distinct appreciation for the history of Club Kids and the culture around it.
CM: Definitely.
⭐️ When did you start exploring that?
CM: When I first moved to LA, I was 18. I had a fake ID, and I was going out with the girls and everything. And I met a lot of people who were in the community, more of that underground scene. And I kind of just got brought into it.
In last year's interview, Rob had asked me about the difference between being queer during the original Club Kids' era versus now. I thought it was cool how we can be so open nowadays. You can walk down the street and look like this. People are always gonna look, you know, but there's more of an ability to be yourself. I just have a great appreciation for those who came before and paved the way for us to be able to live like this now.
⭐️ What do you look for in a club kid?
CM: I look for uniqueness and individuality. I like seeing things that I’ve never seen before. Don't get me wrong, I love a revival of a look, but when someone can make me turn my head and ask, “How did you do that?”
I want to see everyone turning out. It's so much fun to see what everyone does. I want to see what your talent is. What's your hidden skill? Everyone's so different in the community, but I think that's what makes it really beautiful… that we are still all connected.
⭐️ Is there anything else that you want to share about nightlife or community?
CM: I mostly just want everyone to have fun. I don't like seeing nasty behavior out there. So if anyone's reading this, and you get a little catty out there, cut it out. We’re all family, we're all here to have a good time, so just go into these events with good energy. It'll always be reciprocated. Talk to somebody new; you never know who you're talking to, and you never know who you’ll meet. Keep branching out, and have a good time.
LAST CALL
It was an honor getting to speak with these new-gen club kids about their chosen families, inspirations, and aspirations. Beneath their fierce looks lies deep reverence for community, queerness, and the art of being alive! Ever since I met with them, I notice myself serving cuntier looks and working harder to build the type of communities I want to be a part of. I hope they inspire you to do the same.
Long live the club kids. Love live the Parti.
Happy Pride,
Tomi & the Parti team
CREDITS
Parti <3’s Club Kids Series
Creative Director, Producer: Blake Campbell
Photographer: Sidney Rae
Assistant Director, Producer: Louise Bill
Co-Producer: Rob Nelson
Production Assistant: Trever Kenney
Interviewer, Production Assistant: Tomi Moskowitz
Models: Ally Starr, Mars, Luc111e, Ciggymonsta
