A Quick Chat with Paisley Heart
How did your music journey start?
As I began DJing and developing my sound, I found myself drawn to crafting narrative-driven musical journeys infused with heavy electronic elements. I started collecting soundbites from my favorite healers and queer icons to sample throughout my sets. Over time, I began editing tracks to fit the messages I wanted to convey, and eventually, they evolved into fully original songs.
Why did you decide to release your own music?
As I’ve gradually built a growing community through DJing and Rave Temple, it felt like we were creating something entirely new in Australia with our parties—and I wanted to release music that captures and reflects that unique experience.
How would you describe the song to someone who has never heard it?
"Lavender Scented Gentlemxn," is an avant-garde twist on techno. Drawing from the 18th-century elegance of gender-bending queer men and the raw, modern edge of the leather and fetish scenes, Paisley fuses these two worlds into a sonic journey. The result? An otherworldly, sex-positive dance anthem for all the faggots, freaks, and faeries.
What is your vision for the project?
My vision is to connect with more faggots, freaks, and faeries—starting with my core audience in Australia and Berlin, and expanding to reach others like us around the world. I want to collaborate with media, festivals, and nightclubs that celebrate and showcase our community in all its vibrant, unapologetic glory.
Outside of music you run Rave Temple - can you tell us a bit about that, how it started and what it is about?
One of my biggest inspirations for creating Rave Temple came from my first experience at Berghain. Before that, techno hadn’t really captivated me, but the culture inside Berghain was unforgettable. The strict door policies, the no-phone rule, the relentless energy of the dancefloor, bold fashion, and the open embrace of sex and drugs—it all felt like a form of spiritual debauchery. The club’s commitment to preserving a sacred space reminded me of the mystery schools and temples I had studied at for over a decade. It was like stepping into a true rave temple.
I wanted to create my own version of that experience.
How does your work within the Rave Temple community align with your music?
On one side, our community and the way we express ourselves is still condemned by society—and in some parts of the world, it's even punishable by death. What we do is honor the legacy of the queer pioneers who came before us, standing tall on their shoulders as we boldly express who we are. My music is a reflection of that. It's about giving permission to other queerdos and breaking down the walls of judgment so the next generation can live more freely.
On the other side, it’s just fun, campy nonsense for us to dance, clown, and fuck to.