House music icon Honey Dijon discusses her multi-platform project, Honeyverse, and her mission to celebrate the Black queer community in music. She talks about the marginalization of house music and her efforts to give visibility to lost voices. The podcast covers topics such as self-discovery, working with Beyonce on a tribute to Black music, recent recognitions, connections in art, experiences in Berlin and London, and collaborations with Emily Radajowski. Honey Dijon reflects on the impact of the AIDS crisis and shares her future goals.
Honey Dijon's Honeyverse project celebrates the Black queer community and aims to give visibility to voices that were historically lost in the development of house music.
Honey Dijon emphasizes the significance of championing marginalized communities within the house music scene, creating safe spaces and amplifying queer voices.
Honey Dijon uses her platform to break barriers and challenge established norms in the fashion industry, incorporating art and music while exploring the dynamics of race, sexuality, and identity.
Deep dives
Honey Dijon's Journey and Impact in House Music and Queer Culture
Honey Dijon, an iconic figure in the house music scene, discusses her upbringing in Chicago and her connection to the black queer community. She shares her experiences as a DJ, producer, and activist spokesperson for trans rights. Honey Dijon reflects on her most ambitious project to date, Honeyverse, an ode to house music and queer black culture. She also delves into her connection to fashion, art, and self-acceptance. Honey Dijon's work explores the intersection of music, culture, and identity, creating a greater platform for marginalized voices within the industry.
The Importance of Visibility and Representation in House Music
Honey Dijon highlights the significance of championing marginalized communities within the house music scene. She discusses the roots of house music in black queer culture and the art form's role in creating safe spaces and amplifying queer voices. Honeyverse, her multi-platform event, aims to give visibility to voices that were historically lost, and celebrates the unifying spirit of house music. By embracing authenticity and self-expression, she challenges societal norms and promotes acceptance and joy within the community.
Honey Dijon's Impact in Fashion and the Arts
Honey Dijon shares her journey in the fashion industry, collaborating with influential designers and incorporating art and music into her work. She draws inspiration from artists like Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Robert Mapplethorpe, paying homage to their artistic vision and exploring the complex dynamics of race, sexuality, and identity. Honey Dijon's influence spans across multiple creative disciplines, using her platform to break barriers and challenge established norms.
The Evolution of Honey Dijon's Music and Future Projects
Honey Dijon discusses her evolution as a musician and her upcoming album. She embraces a multifaceted approach to music, incorporating diverse influences from jazz and disco to industrial and rock. Honey Dijon also reflects on the ever-changing landscape of the music industry and the importance of staying true to one's own creative vision. She expresses her passion for creating unique experiences and spaces for her audience, aiming to connect through the joy and energy of her music.
Personal Growth, Self-Acceptance, and Community Building
Honey Dijon shares her personal journey of self-acceptance and highlights the importance of cultivating love and joy in one's life. She emphasizes the power of tapping into one's own authenticity and not seeking validation from external sources. Honey Dijon also expresses her commitment to giving back to the community, particularly within the trans culture, and encourages individuals to find their own voice and create the change they want to see.
"I don't complain, I create." The house DJ talks about her new multi-platform project, Honeyverse, and using music as a way to celebrate the Black queer community.
Honey Dijon is a queer house music icon whose reputation precedes her. Originally hailing from Chicago, she grew up experiencing the city's nightlife, eventually beginning to DJ and produce alongside contemporaries like Derrick Carter, Mark Farina and other artists who shaped the Chicago house music canon.
Throughout her career, she's been an active spokesperson for trans rights and a champion for the BIPOC community, and last month she put on her greatest platform for queer Black culture to date: Honeyverse. The multi-platform Honey Dijon experience took place at London's Southbank Centre, bringing club nights, live sets, orchestras and intimate conversations together in a takeover that drew its inspiration from her roots in Chicago's Black queer community.
In this RA Exchange live from Southbank Centre, Honey Dijon talks to Josh Caffé about her connection to house music, an art form made from rejection and thus marginalised in the annals of music history. Her work, she says, is about giving visibility to the voices that were lost in its development and creating a more expansive platform for queer artists from the Black and Latinx diaspora. "This is a celebration of love, joy and acceptance," she says of Honeyverse.
Listen to the episode in full, and watch video snippets of their conversation on Resident Advisor's Instagram and YouTube.
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