(Photo Courtesy: Project Publicity)
By Phil Bessimer
According to club diva Leah Driscoll, there are several stages after a break-up. There’s the sad, weepy stage when you re-read every text message and think back on all the good times. There’s the self-loathing stage when you blame yourself for the split. Then there’s the angry stage when you tear up all the pictures and toss out every remnant of the jerk. Leah calls it the “Angela Bassett in Waiting to Exhale” stage, where the jilted lover gets all pyro.
That’s what her latest track, “If This Is Love”, is about. It’s a girl-done-wrong-who-now-seeks-revenge track. Gay men, of course, are eating it up. After all, who’s more vengeful than a dumped bitter queen?
It also helps that the track comes from the same artist who lit up dance floors last summer with her celebratory anthem “Pride”, a song seemingly made for gay dance floors. The track was so rainbow, it solidified her status as gay clubland’s biggest fag hag. It even led some to wonder if Leah Driscoll was in fact a gay man in a hot wig. Or – more likely- if she is a gay man trapped in a woman’s body.
Did you expect “Pride” would make you gay clubland’s biggest fag hag?
(Laughing) I knew the song would touch more gay fans than straight. It’s a powerful track and I always get the same reaction: “this is totally a gay club anthem!”
Have you always has a lot of gay friends?
I can’t answer this with a more emphatic YES! As early as my teens, I always had gay friends. Of course, they were closeted at the time.
What’s drawn you to the queens?
It’s not that I ever intentionally went out looking for gay guys to be my friends, it just somehow always turned out that way. If I walk into a room with 100 people and there’s one gay man, he’s coming over to talk to me. Even my gay friends joke about it.
You’ve said in interviews that you can relate to the gay mans’ plight. How so?
I’ve always had a huge capacity for empathy, which is good and bad. Sometimes it leads me to get sucked up in other people’s drama, especially my gay friends’ drama!
There is no drama like a gay mans’ drama!
But on the good side, it’s allowed me to understand how difficult life can be for some people. I’ve always had a soft spot for anyone who’s an “underdog” because I am one too. I guess that’s the main connection I feel with gay men. We also seem to cope with life’s difficulties in similar ways, like watching Golden Girls. There is much to be learned from Sicilian fables and St. Olaf stories.
Why is a self-described wall flower seeking the spotlight?
I ask myself that a lot! I love my private time. I love solitude. But I also know that good ideas, good messages, and good music don’t mean very much if no one hears them.
Do you break out of your shell when you perform in front of crowds?
Oh yeah, for sure. I’m definitely a magnified version of myself on stage. I’m able to get over any shyness because I really feel its part of my purpose to be out in front of people, delivering something meaningful. I feel empowered on stage.
What’s the inspiration behind your new single, If This Is Love?
I think there are different stages of ending a relationship. There’s the sad, weepy stage where you re-read every text message and think back on the good times. Then there’s the angry stage where you’ve had enough. I call this the “Angela Bassett in ‘Waiting to Exhale’” stage, where she gets all pyro. That’s what the song is about.
There’s not a woman or a gay man in the world who hasn’t felt the need to go pyro.
(laughs) I certainly have!
What’s your take on love?
I am getting ready to read four different books on love, so I may have a different answer in a few weeks. For now, though, I think love is great as long as it’s an unselfish love. The problem is most people can’t recognize that what they think is love is not love at all.
The gays love their kiss-off songs. Is that why you’re promoting the song so heavily to gay fans?
The single is similar to the ultimate gay anthem, Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive”. So yeah, I’m hoping gay fans will embrace it.
What’s something your fans might be surprised to learn about you?
When I’m feeling stressed out, I like to do my hair. It’s the best therapy.
Many of your gay fans can probably relate to that!
(Laughs) You’re probably right! Another thing that might surprise fans is I once won a geography bee. Also, I like crossword puzzles. I guess I’m a bit of a closet nerd.
Come out of the closet, girl!
OK, I’m a nerd!
What’ s next for you
?
I used to think about the future a lot. I use to try to plan how everything was going to turn out but you know what? It never turned out that way.
So are you now living for the day?
Exactly. My focus right now is on promoting the record and performing.
And in between, you can find me watching Glee and re-runs of The Golden Girls.
You are a gay man.
(Laughs) I guess I am.
Check Leah out at the Stonewall Street Festival on Sunday June 20th. For more info, visit www.leahdriscoll.com.