You can’t have neutral feelings towards Miss Bashful — either you don’t get her or you go absolutely crazy for her. It’s safe to say that the thousands of False Idols attendees felt the latter. The Bashfulettes, as christened by Miss B herself, sweated through DDBD’s electronic beats and slut techno’s pioneer’s sexy talking and “stripper dance moves” at Drumsheds. Preaching the slut gospel, we join Miss B on an evangelical mission to spread her messages and commandments.
Last Saturday, False Idols took over Drumsheds in London – crafting a new tribe under the lights and lasers of the many dance floors within the notorious venue. Aiming to challenge our beliefs with style, they champion a party built with new energy and creative consciousness hosting a gathering of harmonious hedonism for the queer community and all. Performers ranged from Jessie Ware and Melanie C to Coucou Chloe and, of course, our favourite duo: Miss Bashful and DBBD.
After all, a party this transgressive couldn’t go on without such a polarising icon. Her hyper-Y2K aesthetic embedded exuded strength and individuality, unapologetically channelling feminine energy with conviction and flair. As an ex-stripper, exuding the confidence, resilience, and theatricality of her past into the visual narrative came naturally as she has been performing in spaces that required both vulnerability and power and took the idea of ‘serving cunt’ to more nuanced artistic expressions.
While on stage, Miss B served bratty attitude and high sexual energy, and as soon as we met, an instant bond formed, solidifying how genuine and down to earth this diva really is beyond throwing merch at fans during the show (and gifting us with a BBDB and Miss Bashful fan). In between various skinny Vogue cigarettes, London weather and interruptions, we managed to talk and get through what she called a “really fucking good interview.”
This is your first interview with METAL, thank you for having us. How are you and how is it being in London?
Thank you for having me! I love London, I wanna move here in a year or so. It’s such a good vibe here. I am over Berlin.
How come?
Been there done that.
In a few hours you’ll be bringing your sexy sex-positive bouncy club anthems to the False Idols stage — the Bashfulettes could not be more excited. Do you have any pre or after show rituals?
Yas, the Bashfulettes! Before, sometimes I’ll listen to my own music just to get in the zone, to remind myself who I am (laughs). And then after, I like to smoke a Vogue cigarette [takes a puff out of her Vogue cigarette].
How do you connect with an audience on a festival stage rather than an intimate gig?
I love smaller clubs; I like smaller venues more. I like the intimacy because I feel like I can connect more with the crowd. I think it’s just looking at a person and performing to them. But then on a festival stage, it’s a more a sort of ‘the more the merrier’ vibe which, is also fun.
Being a hot girl is a recurring theme throughout your discography so, tell us, what makes a hot girl?
Oh, that’s a good question, fuck! I think just confidence and faking it till you make it.
What about a slut girl?
Uhhh… just embracing your sexuality, you know? There isn’t a formula to it.
Strong, confident, and unapologetic women throughout history have always been feared and thus shunned and criticised, not to mention other extremes. Do you think there are common misconceptions about you that stem from assumptions?
That’s really deep (laughs). I don’t know if I am in the right mindset to answer that right now. I’ll get back to you on that.
Name six Miss Bashful essentials.
Ponytails, stripper heels, bouncy beats, gold grills, sparkly mic, and stripper moves.
Is Miss Bashful an alter ego for you or is it who you are from the moment you wake up to when you go to bed?
I feel like two years agom when I created Miss Bashful, I was more Miss Bashful than I am now because I was stripping and shit. But now I would say it is more of an alter ego. Everyone can be their own version of Miss Bashful, but of course, there is only one of me (laughs).
Having sexually charged music and explicit in-your-face lyrics can be a lot for some people. Has your relationship with sex changed after it being so present in your career as well?
Yeah, sometimes I get a little insecure because I feel like I have expectations to be super sexual and stuff, and I’m actually working through some trauma and shit (laughs). But I think it empowers a lot of girlies and that’s my goal in life, to make other women feel powerful.
You’re very loyal with the producers you’ve worked with, most of your discography being in collaboration with DBBD. What makes him your recurring partner in crime?
DBBD just gets; I love his beats. He just fucking gets it, so it was just an easy connection from the beginning. It all flows perfectly. I want another cigarette (laughs). Shoutout to DBBD, love him, without him we wouldn’t be anywhere.
Britney Spears and the Chicago musical, along with the ‘Sass and Ass’ that Texas gave you are influences that you reminisce a lot about but, where do you draw inspiration from now?
Those are my big influences. But now? Oh my god, bitch! I try to get inspired from my day to day, my experiences, my dreams, but I always feel like I end up circling back to those influences because they are so monumental for me.
If you had to form a Church spreading the slut gospel around the world, who else would be a part of it?
That’s so good (gasps). Oh my god, my girl group! Isabella Lovestory — queen. This is so hard. Six Sex, La Goony Chonga, Megan Thee Stallion. I would just keep the name as The Slut Gospel.
Your first official release was in 2022, yet your ‘slut techno’ has managed to already reach and begin to revolutionise all corners of Europe. What is the most valuable thing you’ve learnt from your career so far?
Ayee! Working my way up. Oh my god, these deep ass questions (laughs). Just being yourself pays off. I did what I wanted to do and I stayed true to it and it paid off. One of my exes was like, what the fuck, why are you gonna do that? And now I am owning everything!
What does Miss Bashful listen to on the daily?
I always listen to Lana Del Rey. I love her so much.
Lastly, what are you working on now? Is there anything else scheduled for the end of the year we should keep our eyes on or should we wait for 2025?
I’m working on my Spanish era with CRRDR. We got some cumbias and merengues and reggaeton-inspired tracks on the way with a small EP inspired off a quinceañera party. I also have a Spanish track with X-Coast coming out next year, so, keep an eye out. xoxo!
