With a title that demands attention and music that refuses to apologize, queer punk provocateur Dagger Polyester has officially entered the arena. Their debut album, Perversion for Profit, released August 1, is a genre-fluid firestorm of rebellion, performance, and raw political commentary, all tracked at L.A.’s legendary Sunset Sound and produced by none other than Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes.
In conversation with Gayety, Polyester unpacked the making of Perversion for Profit.
Q: Perversion for Profit is such a bold title for a debut LP. What does that phrase mean to you, and how does it tie together the themes across the album?
Perversion for Profit was a phrase Chris [Robinson] stumbled upon in some documentary, scrawled on a protest sign at an anti-pornography rally. In 1963, Eastmancolor made the propaganda film by the same name, financed by an organization called the Citizens for Decent Literature. Currently we are unfortunately still combating the same small-mindedness, censorship and misinformation. However, culturally we have almost no restraint, having given over entirely to aestheticism and Dionysian pleasure-seeking. The dichotomy of these ideas encapsulated in one phrase is as severe as the tracks are disparate from one another. I’m not sure if the title ties the record together in any literal sense, but it does set a mood by introducing themes of scandal, oppression and suppression.
Q: Your single “She Kissed The Gun” takes on the tragic story of Lana Clarkson. What drew you to that moment in pop culture, and how did you approach capturing its complexity through sound and visuals?
I remember hearing Phil Spector use the phrase “she kissed the gun” in his defense during his trial. It stuck with me for years until a song formed around it.To grow up in Los Angeles is to be imbued with its curses. This story feels as close to me as if it happened in my own family, and the song and visuals possessed me all at once. These are real lives and tragedies that could stand to be handled more delicately, sure, but the way I’m approaching the story is more as a fable, representative of the threat this industry poses to those who aspire to fame.
Q: What was the experience like recording at Sunset Sound, surrounded by the legacy of artists like Prince, The Doors, and Janis Joplin? Did the space itself influence how you approached the sessions?
It made me fucking nervous! But that was for the best. I felt I had a lot to live up to. I wanted to sing full takes all the way through as much as possible. I even picked out my outfit the night before, ironed them and shined my shoes before going in each day. It’s good to feel a seriousness about your practice, an urgency and severity. I was so grateful to be there, I didn’t want to waste a single second.
Q: Your music blends angular post-punk with disco, glam rock, and new wave — all with a ferocious and theatrical twist. How do you strike that balance between chaos and control?
I don’t tend to strike balances very successfully. If it were up to me, the record would have probably been almost pure chaos. But that’s what we have producers for, to tell us “No one is going to listen to that art school bullshit.” In a much kinder way, of course.
Q: You’ve said that drag queens, Dada art, and the Fluxus movement have all inspired your live shows. What can someone expect when they walk into a Dagger Polyester performance for the first time?
Though the set tends to change frequently, I will give the audience absolutely everything, every time. I’ll be reduced to a puddle of sweat and tears afterwards.
Q: I heard about the infamous show where you brought a roasted duck on stage and screamed, “WHAT HAPPENED TO MY BABY?!” Do you see your live performances as part concert, part performance art?
Yes! I love music, but performance is the most important element of what I do. I will expend all my energy every single show, trying to make each one unique. On no budget! And shitty health insurance. But it’s worth it, it’s what I live for.
Perversion for Profit is available now on all streaming platforms, with vinyl and CDs available for purchase. Polyester will announce fall tour dates soon.
Album Tracklist:
- We Stand On The Shoulders Of Giants
- Conversion Therapy
- Father Panik
- Spin
- Affection
- She Kissed The Gun
- Cheap
- The Tower
- Will
