“Sexy, Free, Genuine”: Dara and BEARCAT Recap Interview and Spotify’s GLOW Pride Party

Just as Pride weekend is about to begin, Interview and Spotify kickstarted the festivities Wednesday night with a party at 3 Dollar Bill that featured local and international DJ stars BEARCAT, br0nz3_g0dd3ss, Byrell The Great, and Sterling Juan Diaz. The event is part of Spotify GLOW, the newest music equity program amplifying LGBTQ+ artists, creators, community, and culture, highlighting music by queer artists and providing year-round programming and support. “Music shapes our identities, makes us feel heard and represented, liberates us, changes and even saves lives,” says Bel Aztiria, lead of global music programs and social equity at Spotify. “We created the GLOW program to uplift and celebrate the voices of LGBTQIA+ artists every single month, year-round, honoring the immense contributions this community has made to the arts and culture.” That same spirit is what BEARCAT fed off of during her GLOW party set. Below, relive the night with exclusive images and a recap of the night between BEARCAT and Interview’s fashion director Dara, who talk hydration, gig looks, and why the night’s crowd was special. – ERNESTO MACIAS

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DARA: How are you?

BEARCAT: I got a really good sleep so I feel rested. 

DARA: Did you come straight to the club from the airport?

BEARCAT: Not this time. I just finished doing a quick tour in Japan and Australia. I got back on Tuesday, I just have not been able to sleep properly until today. I had to DJ to get that energy out, but I finally feel rested.

DARA: How do you get energy before a gig with jet lag?

BEARCAT: I drink a lot of tea. Tea is a creeper with the caffeine, but coffee is a quick high and done, so I can’t do coffee. Honestly, something just takes over at that point. As soon as I step in the building, there’s an energy that happens and then I’m fine.

DARA: What was the main inspiration for your set last night? 

BEARCAT: I read the crowd and I was really happy to see such a diverse crowd of people, especially for a fashion magazine party where normally there’s a lack of. The crowd just felt really fun last night.

DARA: There was a good mix of people.

BEARCAT: It was actually really fun. I wanted to continue that energy with my set. Sometimes I can get really serious and dark and we can go to some weird places , but I was like, “Let’s just keep it cute and lighthearted, it’s Pride.” 

DARA: It was really sexy last night. 

BEARCAT: It was sexy. That has a lot to do with the lineup as well. When you have a bunch of sexy people, like Byrell [The Great] and Maya [br0nz3_g0dd3ss], that’s going to translate. But again, for a fashion party, everyone was just having a lot of fun, which at most fashion parties people are just trying to be cool. It was just a breath of fresh air. It wasn’t about inspiration, because I don’t really deal with my sets in that way, but trying to continue the energy.

DARA: Can you describe the event in three words?

BEARCAT: Sexy, free, genuine.

DARA: Everyone was themselves last night.

BEARCAT: Everyone was fab and that’s why it worked. Honestly, I had a really fun time the last time I played an Interview mag party at Nowadays. 

DARA: Oh my god. That was legendary. What is the best time to arrive at a party?

BEARCAT: I can answer that in two ways. If I’m going on a night out and I’m not working, which is rare, I’ll get there when the DJ that I want to see is playing. But when I’m DJing—with the exception of last night—20 minutes before my set. Any more than that, there’s too much conversation.

DARA: You want to be in the zone.

BEARCAT: Exactly. People don’t understand that I don’t want to give away that energy that’s going into the set. But I made the exception last night because I had a feeling it was going to be fun, so I was there two hours before my set, which is really rare for me.

DARA: I love it.

BEARCAT: I think the whole waiting until it gets really late is lame actually. You miss the moment.

DARA: Did you have a highlight?

BEARCAT: Hearing Maya’s set. I haven’t heard Maya [br0nz3_g0dd3ss] in a minute, and she is just one of the best DJs.

DARA: What’s your drink of choice for a late-night gig?

BEARCAT: Seltzer water.

DARA: She keeps it clean.

BEARCAT: You constantly need that. That’s not to say I might not have a cheeky drink.

DARA: What’s your cheeky drink? 

BEARCAT: I like whiskey on the rocks, to be honest.

DARA: Work. What’s your signature look for a gig?

BEARCAT: The signature look is always the makeup. I always need a smoky eye. I don’t feel complete unless my eyes are completely blacked out. Last night, I was feeding off the jet lag lazy vibes and just did a big tee and was comfortable. But other times, I’ll be in a faja and a dress and tits out. It’s the Gemini in me. It depends on the mood.

DARA: Love. Did you meet anyone interesting?

BEARCAT: I saw a lot of my friends that I haven’t seen because I’d been gone for a month. To see Fashion, Shyboi, and my crew, I wasn’t expecting to see them. Last night was really special for me. 

DARA: Do you have an ultimate queer musical icon? 

BEARCAT: Did Q Lazzarus ever come out as queer? To me, they’re queer. An underground legend who is dearly missed had one hit, and probably had more songs in the vault that no one gave a shit about. I don’t think they officially came out as queer but they’re queer to me.

DARA: Did you go to any after parties?

BEARCAT: No, babe. I took my ass home to sleep. I went home to my two cats.

DARA: Do you have any other plans for Pride?

BEARCAT: I’m playing Knockdown Center on Saturday for Pride for Wrecked.

DARA: Fab. What makes you glow?

BEARCAT: Drinking water, tea, and my skincare routine.

DARA: How do you recover from a night out?

BEARCAT: Again, lots of water. I had a party called Seltzer because being hydrated is so important. Just hydrating and stretching.

DARA: Hydration, bubbles, stretching.

BEARCAT: Those are the vibes.

DARA: Thank you for DJing. It was such an amazing, amazing set. Maybe I’ll see you this weekend.

BEARCAT: Thanks for having me. Send me a message.