’Slap on the big tits, big hair and make up that’s been applied with a donkey’s dick.’ This was Róisín Murphy‘s response to Loverboy’s opening pitch. Then, after emailing Detox, we received a ‘YES!’ less than two minutes later. Perhaps the fastest response of all time.
For Loverboy, this project has been a dream pairing. One we still cannot believe has come to pass. Bringing together two of our all-time icons, one constantly providing the soundtrack to endless nights out (including Primavera Sound this summer!) and the other being a huge reason of why we will always stan the early seasons of Drag Race. Both continue to appear in any moodboard we create.
But then mix them both with an incredible creative team and you have without doubt one of our all-time favourite Loverboy shoots. Not to mention we had them both discuss their love for our queen Barbra Streisand….
Archive floral headpiece: Noel Stewart / Bell sleeve floral dress: Boo Pala London
THE FIRST TIME
Róisín: The first time I became aware of you….how did I become aware?
Detox: I think because I am obsessed and I stalked you so aggressively online!
Róisín: Yes, online. I realised you were my fan and I was totally bowled over by it.
Detox: The first time I became aware of you was hearing Moloko’s ‘Sing It Back’ in the clubs, when I was young and I was obsessed. The bassline. The vocals. Everything was so amazing. I then got reacquainted with you, with your solo projects, during ‘So You Think You Can Dance?’
Róisín: Yes!
Detox: I was like, ‘I know that voice! How do I know that voice?!’ And it was you singing ‘Ramalama Bang Bang.’ All of my drag sisters are huge huge fans so Mayhem, Morgan and a bunch of our friends came all the way to Ireland to see you!
Róisín: I don’t know what I have in common with all these drag queens?!
Detox: I mean…! Who can tell?!
Layered tulle dress: Tugcan Dökmen / Blue leather hat: Malan Breton / Pleated half sleeve: A-Jane
Detox – White multi strap belt: Jivomir Domoustiev / Emerald and metallic bracelet: Mawi
Lurex logo socks and patent shoes with crystal bow, both: Gucci
Róisín – Layered tulle dress: Tugcan Dökmen / Blue leather hat & thigh-high black silk boots: Malan Breton
Pleated half sleeve: A-Jane
QUEER ICONS
Detox: I have tonnes of queer icons. Divine, Madonna, John Waters. My friends are queer icons. My trans community are queer icons. I think you can find a queer icon anywhere really.
Róisín: For me Grace Jones is an icon. A musical icon, but also she’s an icon of almost every….she spans every sort of thing for me.
Detox: I know you are considered to us a queer icon. Do you consider yourself a queer icon?
Róisín: I don’t know that I ever envisaged it, or planned for it, but I was quite happy when I realised I had a big gay following. I think that happened when I was in Paris one night on the Ruby Blue tour. I walked out onstage and it was just wall to wall men, with their tops off, hanging off the ceiling, sweat everywhere, screaming! I just thought, ‘I’ve come home.’
Gingham coat: Esaú Yori / White bra: Jivomir Domoustiev
White shirt: Malan Breton / Gold-framed glasses: Projekt Produkt
Floral blouse: Malan Breton / Crystal and spike necklace: Mawi / Geometric earring: A-Jane
Detox – Black satin sash and silk skirt: Malan Breton
Róisín – As above
FAMILY
Detox: Well, drag families are very important because they are your chosen family. Unfortunately a lot of the times in the Queer community you are outcast or pushed out of your actual biological family. So you have to find a group of people that will take you in, comfort you, show you the ropes. When I was growing up, I had a supportive sister but the rest of my family wasn’t that supportive, I found my salvation in my drag family. I have a drag mother. I am a drag mother to somebody. But a lot of times Mayhem and I always call you Mom. We’re look, ‘Look at Mother. Look at her.’
Róisín: Thank you very much. In a way I have that in common because I was actually on my own from a very young age as well, in Manchester. We moved from Ireland to Manchester when I was twelve. Then my family broke up when I was fifteen. It imploded…or exploded. But I had friendships with other outsiders by that stage, we called ourselves weirdos. It brought us closer together. So I decided to stay put in Manchester with them. The chosen family thing is another thing I have in common with the drag world.
Detox: Yeah. I think weirdos always flock to weirdos.
Floral bodysuit, metallic head and mouth pieces: Shuting Qiu / Silver metallic bum-bag: Prada
Floral coat: Shuting Qiu / Floral dress: Daniel Pascal Tanner
Róisín – Boots: Shuting Qiu
Detox – Scarlett stockings: Wolford / Scarlett shoes: Christian Louboutin
COSTUMES
Detox: I always loathe the term ‘costume’ because to me it’s not really a costume. I’m not trying to become somebody different, this is just an extension of who I am. A costume to me is hiding who you are.
Róisín: That’s exactly how I feel about it. It’s a bit of a scary thing. I play with masks as well. But it’s important for me now, especially as a woman of a certain age, to also be able to be peeled back, in front of people. To also go out the door without makeup, to also be photographed without makeup, if I am going to play with masks and be able to put it all on, I better be able to take it all off as well.
Detox: It’s not something to hide who you are. It’s an extension. I put on a mask to peel off a layer so you can see more of what is in my head.
Róisín: Exactly. Me too.
Róisín – Custom abstract glass headpiece: Gregory Kara /
Printed ruffle dress and printed corset: Daniel Pascal Tanner / Cocktail rings: Mawi
Detox – Printed silk dress: Teatum Jones / Woven carpet dress: Leanne Callon /
Vintage glasses from the collection of General Eyewear / Drop earrings and cocktail rings: Mawi
Printed Ruffle Dress and Printed Corset: Daniel Pascal Tanner / Cocktail rings: Mawi
BARBRA STREISAND
Róisín: Well, actually, I’ve been editing some of my videos to Barbra Streisand songs as well. I did ‘Memories, ‘People’ and ‘Somewhere’. I think ‘People’ is my favourite song of hers. I just love it. The string arrangement. It’s just amazing.
Detox: How could you not love it? It brings tears to your eyes. One of my favourite Barbra songs is with Celine, ‘Tell Him’ because my mother and I would drive around in her convertible and blast that song and sing it to each other. It’s one of my fondest memories of my time with my mother. She’s probably going to start crying when she watches this.
Róisín: This morning when I was making breakfast with the kids and I was calling upstairs to my partner, ‘Papa can you hear me?’ And my children were like, ‘Papa can you hear us?’ The whole house was singing.
