It’s crazy that it has been nearly two years since we sat down with Christine And The Queens at Boston Calling, talking with Héloïse Letissier deep in the media tent about gender identity, choreographed dance moves, and a deep mutual love of RuPaul. Back then we were all getting “Tilted” off her fresh brand of alt-pop and 2014 debut LP.
Now Christine And The Queens are back with a refined approach, a more minimalist sound, and a collaboration with Dâm-Funk. It’s called “Girlfriend,” out via Because Music, and the G-funk-inspired jam continues Letissier’s constant attention to gender roles and shifting identity. The track address themes of masculinity, and just what inside us makes us feel and act “macho,” as traditionally defined.
“I initially set out to smash against macho culture and macho men,” says Letissier. “I became obsessed with this idea of the macho man, and still being a woman. What does it mean if I’m this figure, and I’m a woman? Does it make me an aberration? Is it joyful?”
In the track’s visual promo presentation, the “-tine And The Queens” is scribbled out, leaving just “Chris” as marquee billing. “I felt I had to address female desire and it’s diversity,” she adds. “How sometimes it’s blacked out or ignored. It’s still something quite suspicious or slightly dirty. I felt like it was important to be more unapologetic about that.”
Christine And The Queens are coming back to North America later this year, though, sadly, no Boston date appears on the schedule. Maybe that will change between now and then.
Featured image by Suffo Monclao.
Christine And The Queens 2018 Live Dates:
October 11 – Luxembourg, LUX @ Rockhal
October 12 – Bruxelles, BE @ Forest National
October 13 – Amsterdam, NL @ Afas Live
October 15 – Berlin, GER @ Columbiahalle
October 17 – Stockholm, SE @ Nobelberget
October 23 – Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
October 26 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater
October 27 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern
October 31 – New York, NY @ Brooklyn Steel – Sold Out
November 01 – New York, NY @ Brooklyn Steel
November 02 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
November 04 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
November 05 – Toronto, CAN @ The Danforth Music Hall
November 06 – Montreal, CAN @ Place Bell
November 17 – Bournemouth, UK @ Bic
November 20 – London, UK @ Eventim Apollo – Sold Out
November 21 – London, UK @ Eventim Apollo – Sold Out
November 23 – Glasgow, UK @ Royal Concert Hall
November 24 – Edinburgh, UK @ Usher Hall
November 26 – Birmingham, UK @ O2 Academy
November 27 – Manchester, UK @ O2 Apollo
November 30 – Dublin, IRL @ Rds
December 04 – Nantes, FR @ Zenith
December 05 – Bordeaux, FR @ Metropole Arena
December 06 – Montpellier, FR @ Zenith Sud
December 11 – Geneve, FR @ Arena
December 12 – Strasbourg, FR @ Zenith
December 14 – Lyon, FR @ Halle Tony Garnier
December 15 – Toulouse, FR @ Zenith
December 18 – Paris, FR @ Accorhotels Arena