A Quick Chat with Dirty Versachi

What have you been doing between now and your last release? 

My last single, "NEOSTAR," was a collaboration with JULAI and Robert Baxter, released in November last year. Since then, I've been immersed in writing and producing new music. I also got an opportunity to participate in the ONE TRAK’s songwriting camp in Eora/ Sydney last month! I find that I thrive during periods of focused creativity, where I dedicate myself to writing as much as possible, every day if I can. 

What have been some highlights from your adventure overseas? 

Over the past month, I've travelled around Europe, visiting London, Berlin, Rome, Florence, and Milan. Highlights include attending the T Boys club night in London and dancing to incredible techno at Kit Kat club in Berlin. In Berlin, I also loved Sisyphos, where I spent hours on the dance floor in their beach house-styled club, enjoying some of the best house music I've ever heard, spun by DJ Norman Weber.

What is the inspiration behind this track? 

My latest song, "Pumped Up Like A Pony," tackles the pressures within gay masculine culture. It highlights the absurdity of the expectations for gay men to be hyper-masculine—strong, buff, and ripped—while seeking similar and unrealistic traits in lovers/partners.

The song addresses the uncomfortable truth that, despite rejecting heteronormative toxic masculinity, we've created our own version of it within the gay community. 

Despite critiquing gay masculine culture, it may surprise you on first listen, but my song "Pumped Up Like A Pony" is also personal and vulnerable. Beneath the sexually charged lyrics, I reflect on my own attraction to masculine gay men; highlighting the complexities of identity and desire.

As a queer non-binary person, I struggle with societal and self-imposed expectations, wrestling with questions of identity and belonging, and trying to find my place in a queer/gay culture that feels both appealing and alienating.

Take us through the production of the song? 

The song "Pumped Up Like A Pony" has evolved over many years. The hook, "you're pumped up like a pony," came from a downtempo song I wrote six years ago. I always saw potential in it and kept rewriting new verses and beats, over the years, but nothing clicked.

In early 2023, I introduced a version co-produced with Andrew Huhtanen McEwan to my live shows. It had a bubbly house beat and mysterious brooding chords. But I still, something was missing.

After releasing my single "NEOSTAR" late-2023, I spent a few months in songwriting mode. I created a new beat and bass line that fit perfectly with the PULAP hook. I sent it to producer and DJ and producer FOURA, and we developed the song together in her home studio. She created the main bass part sounds and new percussion ideas. It was the missing piece!!! 

I then sent the song to Tim Watt who mixed as well as assisted with the arrangement of the song. And then Klaus Hill did the final master. 

A lot of my songs follow a similar journey to this! I always feel like the initial spark lands when I first write a song, and then each song has a journey that I have to follow to reach its full potential. It's a process of continual refinement and exploration, shaping the song into its best form through time, collaboration, and experimentation.

Where do you draw your inspiration from? 

So many places! And it always changes. I'm inspired by new technology, AI, and the constant evolution of digital art and music. The possibilities these advancements bring are endlessly fascinating and often spark new ideas for my work. I'm also deeply influenced by the greats like Andy Warhol and David Bowie. 

Warhol's approach to art, blending commercial and fine art, and his use of pop culture elements continue to inspire my creative process. Bowie's ability to reinvent himself, his boldness in exploring different personas, and his boundary-pushing music are constant sources of motivation. Beyond these, everyday experiences, conversations, and even random encounters can light the spark of inspiration. The dynamic nature of my influences keeps my creative process fresh and exciting.

What’s next for Dirty Versachi?

I have another single lined up for this year!!! Besides that, I want to spend the later part of the year writing a lot. I’m already thinking about the next evolution of Dirty in 2025. I’m excited to dive deeper into my creative process and explore new ideas, sounds, and concepts. There are some exciting collaborations in the pipeline, and I'm eager to push the boundaries of my music and artistic expression even further.

Stay tuned—big things are coming!