More fun with the blonde

Electro-pop-rock diva Gene Kasidit is treating fans to her first full solo concert on August 16, with music, fashion and a wild party vibe thrown in the mix. 

The 35-year-old native of Phrae came to the City of Angels almost 20 years ago, first snagging fame as lead singer of sleaze-rock band Futon, which made the rounds of both the local and international underground scenes. 

Gene left Futon in 2008 to pursue a solo career and her debut album “Affair” came out two years later – along with that glam, famished look she has that a lot of people “hate to love”. 

Now, with her second disc, “Blonde”, due to be released the same day as the big show, Gene gave us some time to talk about life, clothes and fun music. 

 

What’s “Blonde” all about?

Lyrically it’s more personal. Music-wise it’s very eclectic – it incorporates all the kinds of music I love, like ’80s, ’90s power pop, drum-and-bass and breakbeat. “Blonde” is the lighter, brighter version of “Affair”, but it’s very electro, with a heavy nod to ’80s rock music. Some of the songs will even remind you of early Futon. 

The songs are mostly about love, romance, one-night stands and, of course, a blonde girl’s hedonistic, free-spirited attitude. Some of the songs are taken from Small Room’s archive. These were supposed to be on an ’80s-inspired album that didn’t happen, but they fit perfectly with my blondeness. So here you go!

 

How long have you been a blonde?

I’ve actually been blonde for a long, long time – even before I joined Futon. But I’ve not always been blonde. Back in my late 20s I just left Futon and was hit by some “life dramas”, and it really struck me. It made me angry, sad and confused, and that somehow translated to my music and my look. 

Now I’ve completely reinvented and become in-tune with myself, and I’m so very happy! I’m blonde but I’m not a bimbo – I have my wits, my sensibility and my brain about me, and I have lots and lots of fun. I choose to bring fun and joy to my life and I enjoy the ride. 

 

Who are your fans now that you’re a solo artist?

Some are old fans from the Futon days. The new fans are more like high school and university kids, and I have a lot of girls, and the alternative-sex fans on my Facebook page. I’m quite surprised myself! I know it takes time to get established as an artist, especially with my look and my personality, which can come across as unique and even weird. Even my label, Small Room, doesn’t really know how to market the likes of me! 

 

What is “the likes of you” really like?

I’m a singer. That’s it. That’s what I do for a living. I think we’ve passed the point where everything has to have a label on it. I used to be very angry when people referred to me as a drag queen, but now I just shrug. I don’t completely transform myself, like drag queens do. I just cross-dress. And my outfits aren’t as extravagant. Also, I sing – I don’t lip-sync, so I’m absolutely not drag. 

I don’t think gay people have one way or one channel to express themselves and live life in any stereotypical way. I just want to be myself and do what I love, which is music and, of course, fashion. I’m just me – Gene Kasidit – and you can think of me however you like.

 

Your controversial style has been both praised and ridiculed.

When I was fronting Futon the music was dark, sarcastic and angry, so I had to dress accordingly – glam-rock style – and release my suppressed emotions onstage. But now I can totally be myself and embrace my feminine side, so why not? 

It took me a while to build my own style, and I can now say that this is truly who I am. A lot of Futon fans detest my feminine look. It hurts my feelings a bit because I’m trying to establish myself as an artist, and it’s sad that people judge me from my looks and not my music. But it’s all personal opinions. I’ll just keep doing my best with my music. 

 

Since you have become “more feminine”, do you cater more to the LGBT audience?

There was this monthly club night for gays in Paris where I performed once or twice. It was good fun and everyone was having a good time, but it’s not really my scene. My work is not made specifically for gays – it’s for everyone and anyone who likes my kind of music. For me it’s more fun to be me in a mixed crowd. It more fun to meet different kinds of people, not just one kind. 

 

Tell us about the show coming up. 

I am very excited about this concert! There will be about 20 songs, both from Futon and from my solo albums. It’s more a fashion show, party and concert rolled into one. Eleven fashion houses will contribute beautiful clothes for the fashion shows. South Side will have a surprise onstage, and there’ll be some guest singers, too. 

 

The Zen of Gene

_ Gene Kasidit’s “Blonde 2Be Wild” concert is at 7pm on August 16 in the Zen Event Gallery on Level 8 of Zen at CentralWorld. 

_ Seats cost Bt1,200 in advance at ThaiTicketMajor and Bt1,500 at the door. For details, call (02) 262 3456.