To round off our series of articles entitled ‘Salzburg: A Drag Hotspot’, we’re taking a look at drag queen Lilly Hightower. We spoke to her about what drag actually means, how she came to this art form, and what her most formative experiences have been. We also asked her what she thinks of the drag scene in Salzburg.

“A drag artist is someone who plays incredibly freely with gender roles,” says Lilly Hightower with a smile. “From opulent costumes to heavy make-up, pretty much everything’s fair game. We perform, sometimes funny, sometimes serious.” For Lilly Hightower, drag is more than just glitter and performance: “It’s a mix of politics and cabaret – with a touch of madness,” she adds with a laugh. Above all, though, it’s an invitation: “For anyone who fancies simply breaking out of their run-of-the-mill everyday life.”

Quickly brought to a halt

Her first encounter with drag was around 14 years ago at an event where a drag queen had been booked as a walking act. “Back then, I didn’t really know what a drag queen actually was,” recalls Lilly. She took her first steps into the world of drag years later, but her efforts were quickly cut short. “If you don’t have anyone to catch you, you’re quickly out of the picture.” And so, for Lilly, the subject of drag was off the table for the time being.

Instead, she devoted herself to special-effects make-up for years. “More creepy than feminine,” as she puts it. It was only through her current drag sister, Morita Maschinella, that she found her way back to the art form. An evening spent together, a bit of persuasion and, finally, her sister’s decisive words: “You’re good at applying make-up anyway. Just give it a go.”

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No sooner said than done. Lilly’s first drag look: a pink dirndl, a wig she’d styled herself, and a beard to boot. “I was brave enough to go out like that,” she says with a laugh today. It soon became clear where this was heading: “I’ll do drag, but without the beard.”

Time management & self-organisation

Her first official booking, the Unken Pride Parade, was also a formative experience. “I realised that working with people actually comes quite naturally to me.” At the same time, she quickly learnt the practical aspects of life as a performer: time management, preparation and self-organisation. “Back then, it still took me four and a half hours to get ready,” she says.

However, these formative experiences also showed Lilly her limitations. Performing whilst ill, for example, led to an important realisation: “If you’re ill, you’re ill. Even as a performer, you’re allowed to pull out,” the drag queen concluded.

One thing that sets her apart: Lilly sings live. Whilst many drag artists rely on lip-syncing, she brings her own voice to the stage. “I actually used to sing as a child,” she says. After taking a break during her teenage years, she rediscovered singing through karaoke. Eventually, she incorporated it into her drag performances. “‘Satellite’ by Lena Meyer-Landrut was my first song in drag – and it was awful,” she laughs, looking back. Things went much better with classics like ‘Great Balls of Fire’ by Jerry Lee Lewis. Songs that she really “feels”.

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Lilly particularly appreciates the drag scene in Salzburg. Despite challenges, such as finding affordable venues, she describes the sense of solidarity within the scene as strong: “If one queen is having a hard time, the next one is too. That’s why we help each other out. We’re a really close-knit group here.”

One of the most memorable moments of her career so far was the Alpbach Pride Parade: “I had so many fascinating conversations there about politics, queerness and perspectives from all over the world.”

“It’s me, just louder”

For Lilly herself, drag has changed one thing above all else: her self-confidence. “A few years ago, I would never have set foot on a stage. But now, for me, drag is the moment when I leave everything behind and am simply myself. Only louder.”
Interview and text: Sebastian Brandstätter

Lilly Hightower on Instagram