Q&A: Boy Jr. Reclaiming "Zitty Stardust" and Celebrating Gender Euphoria
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
BOY JR. IS A CREATIVE FORCE REDEFINING INDEPENDENT ARTISTY with their genre-bending sound and fearless self-expression. Their latest single, "Zitty Stardust," is a testament to this, transforming a hateful online comment into a vibrant electro-pop anthem celebrating gender euphoria and the joy of transition. This reclamation, born from a period of personal transformation and online vitriol, showcases Boy Jr.'s ability to turn adversity into art, a quality that has garnered them acclaim from outlets like Galore and Earmilk.
Known for their DIY ethos and sharp production, Boy Jr. has captivated audiences with their previous album, I Love Getting Dumped!, a high-energy exploration of heartbreak and humor. Now, with "Zitty Stardust," they delve deeper into themes of self-actualization, using the very tools of their transition—testosterone supplies—to craft the song's unique sonic landscape. Beyond their music, Ariel has emerged as a vital voice for young queer people, championing self-expression in a time of cultural and political pushback.
Read below to explore the genesis of "Zitty Stardust," Boy Jr.'s unique creative process, and their powerful role as both artist and advocate.
LUNA: “Zitty Stardust” is such a bold and memorable title. Can you talk about the moment you decided to reclaim that insult and turn it into a song?
BOY JR.:Well first off thank you so much!! At first it started with making a song about gender euphoria using my testosterone supplies. I have that comment saved cuz I knew I wanted to use it as a song title eventually. And as the song progressed I realized THIS was the song I should use that comment for!
LUNA: Walk us through the creative process in this one
BOY JR.: XLN Audio makes a plugin called Life where you can use recordings from any source likes your voice memos or a video on your camera roll and it can chop up the audio and make it into a beat. And then you can control a bunch of parameters from there. So I recorded stuff like the glass vial, syringe, rubbing alcohol bottle etc. and built the song with that beat as a starting point. I knew I wanted it to be very anthemic and steady, building from a more intimate arrangement in the verses to something with thick vocal layers and full drums in the chorus.
LUNA: What do you hope listeners, especially those going through their own gender journey, take away from “Zitty Stardust”?
BOY JR.: I hope people see how there is happiness in unconventional-ness. That’s what I needed from the song. I held off on seeking gender affirming care for longer than I wanted to because of aesthetic based fears. And that’s very valid! I wasn’t ready until I was ready. But any time I saw other gender nonconforming people living life and being happy, it was vital for me. And I hope to contribute to that for others.
LUNA: Your sound blends elements of electronic, pop, indie, and punk. How did you develop this genre-bending style, and what artists or influences have shaped your approach?
BOY JR.: The sound has come from making music creation a sort of play time and work combination. There’s a lot of different things I want to do and try in both music and all forms of art and personal expression. So I think it comes out as this sort of eclectic mixture. One of my early inspirations was St. Vincent and at the time I was otherwise listening to a lot of indie sleaze rock stuff cuz I was in high school/ college. Lately I’ve been really interested in what artists who sometimes fall into hyperpop and artists who sometimes fall into alt hip hop are making. Frost Children have become a big love of mine. And I’ve been really into clipping. lately.
LUNA: Your last album, I Love Getting Dumped!, was an exploration of heartbreak and humor. How does “Zitty Stardust” compare in terms of tone and themes?
BOY JR.: This song feels like a much needed benchmark of healing compared to the last album. I put a lot of focus in the last few years on being appealing to others. And once I started answering to my vision of myself and my future over what others like, I think it healed pieces of heartbreak from the past too. And I know I’ll be handling relationships in the future differently too.
LUNA: Your DIY approach is such a big part of your identity as an artist. What’s something about self-producing and songwriting that feels most liberating to you?
BOY JR.: I was really stuck in not being able to produce myself for years. I would get so upset that the songs I heard in my head weren’t what was coming out when I would write on acoustic guitar and it felt like such a frustrating crutch. So now that I’m at a point where I am comfortable producing myself and exploring and finding my sound, it feels like a playground and I just want to do it all the time.
LUNA: Your music and presence offer so much hope and joy to young queer people. How do you balance being an artist and an advocate, especially in today’s political climate?
BOY JR.: I think both things go hand in hand in a lot of ways. And I honestly think I could be doing more and strive to do more to be more of an advocate. So much stuff that is deemed political is just like. People’s reality ya know? Like Zitty Stardust is just a story of self actualization, it’s just with a specific set of experiences that are unique to me being trans nonbinary. So I’m gonna wind up talking about this stuff cuz it comes from my love of being alive and my love of humanity and art!
LUNA: If you could go back and give advice to your younger self at the start of your transition and music career, what would you say?
BOY JR.: Don’t keep your monitors pushed up against the walls of your room, move them out a foot at least lol. Be weird. Weirder! Are you having fun doing this? Stop checking how many views each post is getting. Engage with art and music you like, don’t just compare yourself to everyone else’s successes. Actually this is advice to me now too haha
LUNA: What intentions do you have for this spring season?
BOY JR.: I’ll be putting out another single and then an EP following up I Love Getting Dumped! So there will be more music to talk about and make content about etc.. I’m also trying to be able to do at least one pull up in the gym haha.
