Q and A - Yas Queen

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Posted 2021-02-17 by Tema ⇒ follow

Tue 09 Mar 2021 - Sun 21 Mar 2021

He's brought us the magic that was Son of a Preacher in 2019 and then stepped it up a notch with last year's raving Yas Queen . Now, after a year battling through the pandemic and jumping through a number of complex hoops to survive COVID-19 in his home away from home, Jason "Jay" Chasland will be returning for this year's Adelaide Fringe festival.

In anticipation of his arrival for the grand festival, we were able to have a brief catch up - have a read of our exchange below:

Tema: How have you been since we last spoke, Jay? How are you going?
Jay: Kia ora! I am currently really well! The jigsaw puzzle that is life is slowly coming together again and I am trying to find my feet in these chaotic times. "Normal" as we used to know may not be the same anymore, but in some ways, I'm all for it.

Tema: What happened with the onset of COVID-19? How did it affect you and your career?
Jay: Wow that's a multi-layered one, Tom Daley deep dive in! I'd love to say, "oh my goodness, it's been a beautiful time to reflect" but in reality, life has been a bit of a roller coaster. After losing 90% of my work for the past year. it's been tough just surviving, but COVID-19 has made me dig deep to realise I'm more than just my voice and has taught me the true meaning of patience and gratitude.

Tema: How did you find the resilience to get through what has been one of the hardest years of your life?
Jay: If people haven't seen my show, I think this question could almost seem a bit "poor me", as though COVID-19 only affected me and no one else- which is true (laughs). But seriously, coming out of 2019/2020 being the hardest chapter of my life… I am strangely grateful for it because I had my beautiful partner who showed up every day for me. He went above and beyond to show his love and support, and we had to build our relationship with COVID times as the foundation. Here we are - a year later, and 'grateful' just doesn't even cut it! I think we are all far more resilient than we ever realise until we have to be!

Tema: What was it like to be a Kiwi-Aussie stuck in Australia? How did it affect your ability to be supported financially, health-wise, etc?
Jay: Normally, I'm the first to make a joke or crack a funny but... it hurt! Like many people, I couldn't see my whanau (family) for almost a year, with Victoria being in lockdown and my whanau now in Queensland and having no government care or support. I've never considered myself to be an anxious person but COVID-19 really brought all that to the front. Despite this, I started doing online gigs when I could, and I created a small jacket business to survive - Jacket and Hyde%% .
That was the toughest I think - for a lot of people, I've never felt so lost not being able to perform but it really did teach me what and who I value and treasure most. My partner was un-f%#?$! believable in his support in every sense. Financially… to put it nicely... it f*cked me over! But, I'm forever thankful to my incredible leather lovers who have been so kind in their thoughts and some in their actions.%%

Tema: Can you please tell us a bit about your encore show Yas Queen?
Jay: It's balls to the wall pure, energy, ridiculous riffing, vocal masturbation and me being as raw and open as I can be without performing open heart surgery live on stage! It features the songs of legends and the stories of an icon… me (laughs)! But seriously, it's my story through the music I love and I think there are a lot of universal moments that are bigger than me. More importantly, the audience can have their own connection and experience through those stories and the music.

Tema: What do you hope for your audiences to experience from attending your show?
Jay: Basically everything in the previous answer, but also to come ready to sing along (in key, please!) and not clap on 1 and 3 like white folk haha! To be open to love, laughter and hopefully connect with the concept. Life is brutal but it can be so beautiful, so own your past and put on the crown for the royal ride ahead!

Tema: How does it feel to be coming back to Adelaide for your performance?
Jay: I CAN NOT F%#$&?! WAIT! I love SA audiences!

Tema: How has COVID-19 shaped your passion for the performing arts?
Jay: We give value to survival! Period.

Tema: What are you hoping to achieve from your participation at Adelaide Fringe?
Jay: Another nomination or win would be lovely but honestly that means nothing without an audience. So ultimately - for masses of people to come and experience, laugh, cry, scream, get tingles and drown in my sequins and sweat!

Tema: In addition to running your own show, what are some other shows that have caught your interest this season that you hope to attend?
Jay: I have to see my buddies on ROUGE . I miss it every time, also CHURCH looks great fun. There is a list as long as my arm. I spend most of my time off stage recouping for the next day but when I can, I want to see everything.

Tema: Is there anything else that you'd like us to know about yourself and the show?
Jay: I'm an extroverted introvert. If you see me post-show or around town, please come say hello! I'm quiet but I'm nice I swear, just shy. Leather Lungs is my armour and I love him! Can't wait to see you all, love, light and leather.

Jay Chasland will be performing his show Leather Lungs: Yas Queen at Gluttony, as part of Adelaide Fringe, from March 9 - 21, 2021. Book your tix here .