Vaticanjail - On Our Radar Q&A: "My music is for the girls, gays and theys, and the community that creates when they all join together"

How would you describe your sound?

I would say it’s like a sweet shop, where you can have loads of different flavours of jellies – some slightly fizzy, some sweet, colorful, radiant. It’s like what you would have seen as a kid and have been like, ‘Oh my god, I really want that!’ And once you have it, it just makes you feel happy. Whenever you pass a sweet shop, you want to go back and have some more.

What was the idea behind your latest single ‘MIEL’?

I wanted to write a love letter to Ireland and Chile. That’s where I was born and grew up until I was 14, before I moved with my family to Ireland. I wanted something that had an infusion of both, so I tried to do that with the lyrics and the music.

Stylistically, I made it as Chilean as possible by including merengue, salsa and reggaeton rhythms. Then with the storytelling – whether it was in Spanish or English – I wanted it to be like sean-nós.
So ‘MIEL’ is very much a story of a person that’s coming of age, whose home is more than one place, and the journey they undergo to get to that point.

How has the reception at your Irish gigs been?

I’ve been really happy with the reception for the live shows. Obviously, my music is for the girls, gays and theys, and the community that creates when they all join together in one room; it’s so incredible. I have a really good time dancing with them. It’s given me more ideas for shows, like bringing in vogueing and having drag queens choreograph to some of my songs.

Any plans for the rest of the year?

Absolutely. I’m releasing my EP on September 26. Again, it’s gonna be so many sweets! I’ve recently been thinking that the next step is merch, and something really important in the photoshoot for the EP is lingerie. I would love to give to people who listen to my music beautifully made thongs, with lots of ribbons, lots of glitter and bedazzled bits.

• Vaticanjail plays the Complex, Dublin on September 6.