In our next band spotlight, we chat to Queen Zee of Queen Zee and The Sasstones about music and inspirations.
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Talk us through the inspirations and ideas that inform the band outside of music – specific people, places and things?
What’s great about The Sasstones is how we’re all from different backgrounds and places and at different points in our lives. When I started this band my politics would have been considered a lot more radical but post-Brexit, post-trump, post-Orlando massacre, views about equality and protecting minority groups like Trans and LGBTQ+ are becoming more mainstream. I feel everyone should know the name Marsha P Johnson, she was an incredible and strong Trans woman. Her and Sylvia Rivera were key during Stonewall and key in the protests that have led to so much progress in LGBT+ rights. We should remember that LGBT+ pride started as a riot! But for me it’s everyday Trans people in my life, like the amazing people who run Action for Trans Health, or the women running Safe Gigs for Women, who are my inspiration. Get out there and make the difference you want to see!
What’s been a career highlight so far?
Any day is a huge highlight for me, I can’t believe we’re actually doing this! But we played a show in Liverpool for Pride earlier in the year, it was a circle pit from start to finish, front row to back of the room. Everyone got involved it was beautiful!
What is your biggest challenge as a band?
There are loads, but money is an obvious problem. We’re all skint – playing shows is expensive and doesn’t pay well, you lose money on every show you do. You do it for the passion not the money, but that doesn’t feed you!
What would you say the mission statement of the band is?
It’s time to make music visceral and engaging again. We’ve been sold bland, boring, radio friendly for too long. It’s time to add colour, noise, energy. Blur the boundaries and push the limits!
What would you say is the running theme through your forthcoming EP, ‘Eat My Sass’, and why?
I don’t know if there is theme as such, the song writing spans over a long period of time, some are pretty old, some are really knew. At the heart of everything, The Sasstones is meant to be fun, engaging and honest, so I hope that runs through everything we do!
