Jae XO Drops “Fabulous”: A Celebration of Queer Joy and the City That Shaped Her
This week, NYC-based transgender artist and LGBTQIA+ activist Jae XO is declaring independence in her own electrifying way: with the release of Fabulous, a high-octane anthem of queer joy, self-love, and unapologetic visibility. The brass-infused pop banger, produced by Velvet Code and recorded with Grammy-winning engineer Denise Barbarita at MONOLisa Studios, drops across all digital platforms just in time to light up your summer playlist.
Born and raised in Kentucky and trained in musical theatre at the University of Utah, Jae XO (they/she) found her true artistic voice in New York City. “NYC gave me permission to be all of myself,” she says. “It’s the place where I stopped asking who I should be and started deciding who I am.” The city’s fearless energy pulses through Fabulous, a drumline-driven riot of sound that channels the sass of Gwen Stefani, the power of Destiny’s Child, and the pageantry of a punk-glam parade.
The single’s first spark came during a chaotic Uber ride back from Cheesecake Factory in New Jersey, when Jae belted out, “me and the dolls on the West Side Highway,” setting the tone for what would become Fabulous‘s opening lyric and spirit. “That moment was pure queer joy,” Jae recalls. “The kind of joy New York gives you at 2 a.m. with your best friends, flying down the highway in full glam.”
Jae’s path through the NYC arts scene – spanning Broadway roles in Back to the Future, Some Like It Hot, and A Beautiful Noise, to cabaret stages and Pride rallies – has blurred the lines between pop star, activist, and performance artist. With Fabulous, she’s not just stepping into her spotlight, she’s marching into it with majorette bravado. “I was a drum major in high school,” Jae says. “Now I’m a majorette on a mission.”
More than just a summer anthem, Fabulous is a statement of resistance. “In today’s political climate, being openly queer and trans is revolutionary,” she declares. “Being Fabulous is protest.”Fans can catch Jae XO live across the Northeast this summer, including a highly anticipated performance at Brooklyn’s 3 Dollar Bill on August 21. Follow @jaexo.music
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