NYC DJ duo and real life couple The Illustrious Blacks recently dropped their latest single, ‘Cloud 9.’ The single is here to transport us all away from the ever-growing troubles of the world and take us to a higher level! Loverboy caught up with Manchildblack and Monstah Black to find out how Donna Summer will live forever…
I know you are married but for the children, please tell them how/when/where did you come to meet?
We actually met on the dancefloor beneath a disco ball getting our life to House Music in Washington DC. We danced together until the lights came up, exchanged info and set up a first date, which consisted of a long walk through Georgetown, lunch, a movie, dinner, a lot of talking and laughter. It was music that solidified our connection and the spirit of liberation found in dance music is what continues to drive us today.
Your world is described as ‘technegrocoloured.’ Afrofuturism has such a beautiful energy and aesthetic. What is your interpretation of it?
Technegrocolor and AfroFuturism go hand in hand for The Illustrious Blacks. It’s about living unapologetically as Queers of color, despite the limitations that are often sent our way. We aim to live bright and loud in all our majestic glory. Particularly as we reach beyond the restrictions of binary belief systems.
When writing about ‘Cloud 9’ did you have a place(s) in mind that was based in reality as your inspiration? Or where represents Cloud 9 for you, on Earth?
Manchildblack: Cloud 9 is actually more of a mindset and less of a physical place. We’ve witnessed and experienced audiences in various states of Cloud 9 on dance floors, music festivals and venues around the world. What we want people to do is to take that energy of euphoria and apply it in their daily life. If we all do that, we can truly change the world.
When it came to the visuals, the video looks a lot of fun. Do you both have different responsibilities when creating a video or is it a 50/50 collaboration?
Monstah: Creating videos are a 50/50 collaboration. How they are initiated changes regularly in the same way that song initiation changes. We have similar strengths in many areas but we both know when it’s best to step back and let the other take the reigns to accomplish our ultimate goal. Particularly with Cloud 9 we wanted a fun/playful video that wasn’t taking ourselves too seriously. After the past year and a half of quarantine, lightness is what we felt was needed the most.
Lady Miss Kier & Neneh Cherry seem to be timeless in terms of of style and attitude. When/Where were you when you first discovered them?
Monstah: I was living in Washington DC at the time I discovered Lady Miss Kier. My first chance of seeing her with DeeLite was at a club called The Bank. I remember it vividly because I almost got arrested that night. I was wearing a black and white checkered slicker, neon green fishnet hose, John Fluevog heels and a platinum blonde bob. I had to take a pee before going inside and unfortunately the building I chose to take a pee on was the FBI building. I didn’t stop to think that I was taking a piss in front of the cameras. Or did I? Lol. An officer immediately appeared to let me know what I had done. I batted my lashes and thanked him for letting me go.
What makes them both so timeless?
Both Neneh and Lady Miss Kier were ahead of their time in a lot of ways. We’ve had the pleasure of meeting Lady Miss Kier in person and she is still a badass representing timelessness.
Manchildblack: Neneh Cherry’s song entitled ‘Manchild’ is my personal anthem.
I miss the soft, romantic, fantasy visions of Sylvester and Donna Summer. Besides yourselves who do you see carrying their mantle in 2021?
Hmm… Sylvester and Donna are still relevant today and as far as we are concerned no one can fill their high heels.
In reality whether it be physically or mentally we are still in the process of returning to normal post-Covid. What has been your most surreal moment since then, where you are like, ‘I cannot believe we are here doing this!’
June of 2021 was the first month where we felt shot out of canon. Pride month in NYC. Many of the bans had been lifted and it felt as though the entire city had been waiting to kick their front door down to make a dash for the nearest dancefloor. Fortunately the majority of the dancefloors we played for in June of 2021 were beneath the open skies but we still had thoughts of ‘I cannot believe we are here doing this’. We are grateful to be able to experience the interaction with live audiences again.
What else is coming up for you in 2021?
A ton of live shows are on the horizon, a musical that we have in development and we are also hard at work on our debut album.
Will we be seeing you in Europe?
Fingers, legs and eyes crossed.
Lastly we are named after the biggest-selling single of 2001. So we always ask what is your favourite Mariah song?
This is a great question. We have an event called Whitney vs. Mariah at C’mon Everybody in Brooklyn on October 15th. This is where we play Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey all night. It’s a gas!!!
Monstah: My favorite Mariah song is Butterfly (the remix by David Morales). I find it a reminder to continue to strive to be my authentic self. Residing in a constant state of keeping my external appearance in line with how I feel internally. I also love ‘All I Want For Christmas’ (the leaked acapella w/mistakes). It’s a reminder that she is indeed human. I love that and I love her.
Manchildblack: There are too many to pick just one. ‘Anytime You Need A Friend’, ‘Fantasy’ (Sweet Dub mix), ‘Make It Happen’, ‘Do You Think Of Me’. Pretty much all of them except that damn Christmas song.
‘Cloud 9’ is out now!
The Illustrious Blacks Instagram / Spotify
