Allusia: She’s So Wild, So ‘Animal’

Emerging onto the drag scene in the Pacific Northwest 21 years ago in punk rock hair and political statements, Allusia is now a West Hollywood icon who is carving out a spot in the ecosystem of art and music.

Her debut EP, Animal Nature, is scheduled to release April 15.

“I started writing poetry that kind of morphed into songs when I was a teenager, and I’ve always loved singing and performing,” the drag artist explains. “I wrote a song called ‘Down Low’ in 2015, but I’m excited for my first EP. These songs are based on intense feelings.”

Throughout the dance/electronic album, Allusia experiments with daring bass lines, unexpected progressions, and notoriously crass vocals, creating a kingdom of its own that blends flamboyant rhythms, flashy theatrics, and boisterous lyrics.

Animal Nature’s first single, a sex-fueled party anthem, entitled “Psycho Pony,” came out last year. This started a craze that foreshadowed the EP’s anything-goes attitude.

“It has been received quite well,” Allusia says. “Everyone loves it. It’s a fun little dance bob, and the music video is filthy. It’s simply about meeting a guy and feeling the need to take your clothes off.”

Ultimately, she hopes Animal Nature will allow listeners to be taken out of whatever they’re in and have a moment outside of reality.

Describing her musical aesthetic as a messy, raunchy mix between Courtney Love and Robyn, Allusia knows how to instantly captivate audiences. This has helped her stand out from the hundreds of other drag artists in WeHo.

“I’m crazier, so that helps,” she jokes. “You just have to not give a fuck and say whatever comes to mind. You are who you are, and I’m a different kind of girl.”

According to the star, she started drag when she was 15 years old. Her first drag performance was a fundraiser for Stonewall Youth, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing resources and a place of belonging for queer youth.

“I was terrified,” Allusia admits. “I did theater when I was a kid, but this was my first time in drag. The second the music started, I was doing a song by Sarah Brightman, and I left my body completely. The audience started clapping, and I just fell in love with drag. That was the moment I knew this was going to be a forever thing.”

From there, Allusia went on to perform in various drag shows, house parties, and seedy garage rock shows, as well as becoming part of local grassroots political movements. At 19, she became the youngest ever co-chair of Olympia Gay Pride and has strived to make the world a better place for the queer community ever since.

“I just want to keep spreading love and positivity,” she says. “I want to open people’s minds to kindness and empathy, and I hope to do more fundraisers for causes like The Trevor Project and different community impact projects.”

After moving to Los Angeles at 25 with no plan, money, or clue, Allusia wasted no time introducing herself to WeHo’s party scene. She now has residencies at Here Lounge, Micky’s, The Abbey, Hamburger Mary’s, The Factory, and more.

Fueled by the delights of being a nightlife socialite, she became a video ho and has appeared in countless music videos and onstage with the likes of Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, La Bouche, and Bright Lights. She has also made several saucy drag appearances in movies and TV shows such as AJ and the Queen, Bones, Glow, and cult drag favorite, Cherry Pop.

“At the moment, I’m just going to be focused on music,” she says. “I want to win a Grammy, go on tour, and touch people’s lives.”

Stay up-to-date and connect with Allusia by following her on Twitter and Instagram @allusiatogo, or visit her official website, allusiaalusia.com. Animal Nature will be available on all music streaming platforms.

Photos courtesy of Allusia