Sharon Needles conjures up a vision of ghoulish ecstasy in a crypt, with red lacquered fingernails clawing at a stone entombment. Her onstage entry, usually in a casket, elicits chills and laughter. Behind this macabre persona is a genius entertainer who spent more than 15 years honing skills that built the foundation for a career. Known as a drag performing artist and reigning queen of Logo TV’s “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” Needles is a versatile actor and songwriter.
On January 29, she will debut a 12-track album, “PG-13,” with simultaneous release of her first music video, “This Club Is a Haunted House.” An eerie, somewhat chilling mix of fright-inducing punk and emotional catharsis, these eclectic songs range from an anticipated pop-punch to dance beat. Needles wrote all material, relying only on her dream collaborators for inspiration. “This album has been titled ‘PG-13’ because, like this vapid industry, life succeeds only in compromise,” she says. “In order for this world to work with me, you must meet me halfway.”
RuPaul, Amanda Lepore, Ana Matronic of the Scissor Sisters and punk rock legend Jayne County contribute everything from humor to rap, while partner Alaska from Season 5 of “Drag Race,” premiering January 28, rounds out this starring lineup.
Produced by Tomas Costanza, the album was recorded at Killingsworth Recording Company in Studio City, California. “She is the most paranoid, disgusting, vile, lewd, corrupt and obscene bitch I’ve ever met,” Costanza says. “And I mean that in a good way. Basically, there are three human needs in life: sex, scotch and Sharon Needles.”
A freaky trip to the dark side, the video is a high-fashion production with a crew of more than 100 people, implementing advanced technology in film, including use of the Sony Red. It was shot on location at The McKittrick Hotel in NYC. “Those like me who have been judged during the day tend to be rulers of the night,” Needles says. “We don’t want a white house, we want a dark club. If we can’t be loved, then let’s be feared. This club is a haunted house.”
Logo TV will run a sneak preview of the music video on Monday, January 28, at 6 p.m. and again at midnight EST on premiere night for the fifth season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
Needles will take a break from her current international tour of Europe, Canada and Australia to attend release parties and open the doors to her fans. This is an opportunity to hear the music, see the video, study the documentary and watch Sharon Needles perform live with a few surprise guests. Media will be available at all major digital music outlets, including iTunes and Amazon, on January 29. CDs, along with vintage vinyl, will be available at sharonneedles.com.
January 26:
Los Angeles – Rasputin
9 p.m. for VIPs and press
10:30 p.m. for public
Info at facebook.com/RasputinLA
January 27:
New York City – The McKittrick Hotel
7:30 p.m. for VIPs and press
8:30 p.m. for public
Tickets at mckittrickhotel.com/monocle
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1. This Club Is a Haunted House (feat. RuPaul)
2. Call Me on the Ouija Board
3. Dead Girls Never Say No
4. Drink Till I Die
5. I Wish I Were Amanda Lepore (feat. Amanda Lepore)
6. Why Do You Think You Are Nuts?
7. Disco Ball
8. Dressed to Kill
9. Let’s All Die?
10. Kai Kai (feat. Ana Matronic and Alaska)
11. Everyday Is Halloween
12. Hail Satan! (feat. Jayne County)
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Photo By
Austin Young
