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thotyssey · 5 years

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On Point With: Hannah Lou

Tumblr deleted the original post of this interview from August 20, 2017 without warning or reason. Here is a crude reproduction.

Thotyssey: Miss Hannah Lou, hello! How are you today? Hannah Lou: Hi babes, I'm well just been super busy, summer has been keeping me busy! How are you?

I'm good! Sad to see summer o its way out though. So I talked to and Ter a little bit about Valentina at Metro, and he said she was pretty nice. What was your take, as you were performing with her?

Not so much performing but was homered to be her DJ for that night along side my mother Horrorchata and Frankie Sharp. I didn't get to personally converse with her but what I did see was a genuine and sincere person especially when she asked to speak with the crowd as soon as she arrived and before and after her performance. Very sweet and very professional.

Her fans would be glad to hear that! So, these days you are DJing A LOT, all over Brooklyn, and I see you even did a set at Henrietta recently. Much like Horrorchata, you're probably DJing a lot more than you are performing these days. Is that a good thing, a bad thing, or whatevs?

It's all a good thing. I'm so #BLESSED to be able to work and really transform these passions into a career. I get so much joy in seeing my fellow party goers have a great time. Being able to DJ as a drag queen has also opened up more time to be able to think about my performances a lot more. I have noticed when I do preform there is a elevation I have brought to the stage and that makes me so happy.

That's a cool thing! So, you've been performing and DJing in NYC/BK now for, like, 2 years now?

I've been doing drag for 3 years and have been DJing for 1 year. This month would be my DJ anniversary.

Happy anniversary! Where's your hometown?

I'm originally from Santa Barbara, California.

Werk! Was music and performance always your thing?

No, not at all. I went to school for fashion design and ended up with a bachelors in Business Management. I've always had an interest in music but didn't think it would turn into something.

Did you discover Drag performing when I got to NYC?

Yes. I had already been living in NYC for a year and I convinced a friend from California to move here because it was much more FABULOUS than LA. He actually gave me my first start as a queen. The first week he was here we jetted down Knickerbocker for the longest lace front shake and go wigs money could buy. Not to mention I also go my hands on some of the shortest club dressed I could find.

Sounds like a winning start! So how did you cross paths with Horrorchata and crew?

When I started drag I was invincible, i still think I am 😉. That combined with not having a job lead me to focus on getting into drag 4-5 times a week and hitting the town to ever social function and gay bars there were. Those were really fun times. I first met (my now aunt) Merrie Cherry at her drag event DragNet. It wasn't at first a pleasant experience but a, "oh look at that mess". But I wasn't really out to impress anyone but to have a good time. Fast forward to a year later I was asked by Merrie to be the resident drag queen at her new party called Skittles at Happy Fun Hideaway where Horrorchata bartends every Friday night. That's how I really got involved with that crew. I would say though that merrie taught me a lot about performance but Horrorchata is my mother and taught me how to DJ.

That's a great origin story! How did you drag name yourself?

Well I had a few names before I settled on Hannah Lou. To be honest my name came from my favorite lipstick from Nars Honolulu honey, with a little adjustments to avoid copyright infringement I changed it to Hannah Lou Lou Honey.

And you were trying out "Hannah Lit" for awhile, but I guess that didn't stick!

Hahaha I have a few nicknames that a few friends have given me. Hannah lit, Hurricane Hannah, Daddy Lou.... just to name a few.

Werk! What are your DJ sets usually like? What are you into playing?

Preferably I prefer to play Latin, house and disco. Those are my favorite. I will however incorporate any taste of music clients want me to play without loosing integrity in my own taste.

I bet that can be a tricky balance sometimes! Do you find that there are too many Js out there just being kinda generic and not taking risks?

I do. It works for them if they don't want to take those risks for their career. It's hard as a DJ to branch out especially when we are constantly being told by party producers and party goers to play certain music or requesting songs.

I bet! Well kudos to you for keeping true to yourself. What have been some huge highlights for you as a queen and/or a DJ?

Well my favorite highlights are from Anastasia of Beverly Hills, hahaha jk, but in all honesty some of my highlights have included traveling as a DJ for Bushwig LA and New Orleans. Also, being able to have started reoccurring weekly parties where I can recruit other talent.

Lots talk about some of those now! There's a LOT! First off, on Sundays you DJ The Red Room at Macri, with Ms. Ter & Merrie cherry! Boys in underpants are fun, right?

Haha yes. It's a cute little night where we watch boys in xxx videos a well as tip our gogos in jockstraps.

And Friday nights, you're spinning "Bitch Nasty" with Ickarus at the Rosemont! That's the cool new place in town... how are you liking it?

Yes! We have Friday night and Saturday day time at The Rosemont. It's a really cute bar. I'm liking it a lot. Having a new bar like The Rosemont allows a new group of talented queens and parties to flourish also It's nice to have another gay bar in walking distance to Metropolitan and Macri Park.

Speaking of which, you still often do Skittles at Happyfun Hideaway with Merrie on first Fridays monthly! And it seems like you are "double-booked" a lot... is it insane running between gigs like that?

So insane. Actually this month was my last Skittles. It takes a lot to be between bars on any night. Especially if both gigs are at the same time. Speaking of new talent. Mini Horrorwitz will be taking the residency at Skittles and I absolutely love it.

And speaking of boys in underpants, boys out of underpants are fun too, like for the ass contest at the Cakes party, which you DJ with Horrorchata & Liz James at Metro on Wednesdays! You don't get to, like, smack them, do you?

Hahahaha I think Liz gets to do most of the ass smacking. I often put it on instagram live. Follow me on instagram @djhannahlou where I can fill you in every week. I love the ass contest because we are so open to any gender/race/bodies to be part of the contest.

Inclusion is a virtue that you're probably more likely to find in BK these days, right? As opposed to the other gayborhoods.

Absolutely!

Here's an epic thing coming up... two Saturday parties where we can usually find you: the Rosemont's weekly day party Tanlines and a Latin monthly at C'Mon Everybody called Yas Mama that Horrorchata runs... are going to join forces for an epic bash at Secret Project Robot: Amor Prohibido y la Fava! That will be Sat the 26th! That must be really exciting for you, right?

It's super exciting. Both myself and ickarus have very specific visions when we think of having a fabulous event. We aim for everyone to have fun showcasing amazing talent. Joining our visions with Horrorchata is going to make for, what I would say the most current highlight of my career is going to be SPECTACULAR!

Can't wait! An I almost forgot, once a month for 5th Friday or Saturday is GIrl I'm Shoock, Alotta & Miz Jade's show that you DJ for at Macri! I love those two, are they fun performing together?

Yes those two are a blast to work with and are so professional.

No worries anything else coming up for you? I'll be traveling to Mexico City in November to DJ and in January to Los Angeles 8/19/17.

Safe and happy travels! Okay, last question: if you could name right now your next weekly or monthly party, what would the name be?

Hahahaha I joke about this all the time. I'd definitely call is "slurp" but the phonetic spelling. The sound that you make when you slurp. Hahahaha.

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