Q&A: “Disco Daddy” Takes Center Stage as Disco Shrine Embraces a Bold New Era
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY SHEVON GREENE ☆
BLONDE PERSIAN VALLEY GIRL — turned “dommy mommy” extraordinaire, Disco Shrine has returned with her boldest era yet, debuting her brand-new single “Disco Daddy.” Formerly known as Persian Barbie, an alter ego inspired by her immigrant roots and upbringing in Los Angeles, Disco Shrine has always channeled her endless energy into live shows. Now, she transforms post-pandemic angst into an unapologetically fearless persona that flips the script on who gets to be “daddy” at the club.
Disco Shrine’s new single “Disco Daddy” effortlessly merges hardstyle aggression with playful mall-pop melodies, reflecting the nonstop adrenaline rush she discovered while DJing across more than 60 cities. After first capturing attention from audiences with her 2021 EP, Xoxo, Disco, and helping launch Barbie Rave (a pop-culture, queer-empowering dance party), Disco Shrine has captured a signature sound she dubs “lip gloss pop.” The track includes glitched-out basslines, hyperpop vocals, and full on main-character energy that makes you want to pull an all-nighter (even if it’s a weekday).
Through choreographed drag performances, electrifying beats, and her commitment to living in the moment, Disco Shrine wants listeners to feel safe and empowered on the dancefloor. With “Disco Daddy,” she invites everyone, “Disco bbz” included, to embrace their inner icon and rewrite the rules of the party. Read the interview with Luna below to learn more.
LUNA: You’ve introduced several alter egos over the years, from Persian Barbie to Disco Daddy. How did the Disco Daddy persona come about, and what new energy does it bring to your music?
DISCO SHRINE: Disco Shrine was my first era as an artist; my truest character, probably the closest to who I am. Then Persian Barbie is the blonde, fabulous, girly, extra side of me, with more heart and emotion, a teen, naïve vibe. Disco Daddy is post-pandemic, post-crazy elections, post-world-ending. She’s my daring, fearless alter-ego that doesn’t care what anyone thinks and chooses what’s best for her. It’s fun, partying, dancing, loving friends and more lust for life. If Persian Barbie was a hopeless romantic, Disco Daddy is lust for life.
LUNA: The world needs that kind of fun energy.
DISCO SHRINE: Exactly. We’ve had a crazy few years, and there’s always something going wrong. If we can come together and have moments of carefree fun, it can take us out of the darkness for a little while.
LUNA: Your latest single, “Disco Daddy,” is described as the soundtrack to the ultimate party-girl fantasy. What inspired you to create such a bold, hyperpop-forward sound?
DISCO SHRINE: Disco Daddy came to me more than I created it. After I released my EP, the pandemic hit. Once things reopened, DJing took off for me, and I was touring more than I ever have. DJ touring is different; often just Thursday, Friday, Saturday in different cities, back home for a few days, then back on the road again. My second home became various clubs, which really changed me as an artist. Dance music became part of my soul, and that’s when Disco Daddy formed.
LUNA: You describe your music as a fusion of hardstyle, mall-pop, and “dommy mommy energy.” How did you craft that signature blend, and what drew you to each influence?
DISCO SHRINE: I try not to take myself too seriously, but to just have fun with my artistry. A lot of the different artists I toured with definitely influenced this new era, like Ninajirachi, who has a hardstyle vibe with old-school EDM and a girl-pop touch. Touring with her, I saw how fun that is live, and I’m always thinking about what makes people go off in the club. I want to enjoy performing these songs for a long time. But even with dirty, grimy production, I’m a pop girl through and through. Pop will always be at the core, even if the production shifts genres.
LUNA: You’ve been known to pair your DJ sets with live vocals, choreography, and drag performances. What sparked the idea to bring all these elements together, and how has it shaped the Disco Shrine experience?
DISCO SHRINE: I live for the live show. Maybe it’s the theater kid in me. Even early on, I’d bring in a saxophone player or something random to surprise the audience. Now that I DJ and tour more, I have more chances to do cool things on stage. Having a drag artist do their interpretation of a song is more interesting to me than just me singing. It’s fun to create new ways to bring the music alive. That sense of community is important: sharing the stage, meshing art, letting the audience in on it. I want people to leave feeling like, “What just happened? I can’t go home yet. Where’s the afters?!”
LUNA: That definitely makes it more memorable. From Gold Rush Festival to opening for Cobrah and Ninajirachi, you’ve performed in over 60 cities. How have those touring experiences influenced your new music and stage presence?
DISCO SHRINE: Touring that much definitely sharpened my DJing skills. So many technical things can go wrong and usually do, but you learn to stay calm and keep the crowd hyped no matter what.
LUNA: Your earlier persona, Persian Barbie, spotlighted your Persian American roots. How do you continue celebrating and representing that heritage in the Disco Daddy era?
DISCO SHRINE: Disco Daddy is somewhat a counter-reaction to Persian Barbie. While ‘Persian Barbie’ reflected on my family’s immigration to America after the Iranian Revolution and the gratitude that came with it, ‘Disco Daddy’ celebrates who you can truly become once you’ve fully embraced that freedom. Despite the restrictions in Iran today, Persians love to party. It’s a huge part of our culture, so that’s definitely in the DNA of Disco Daddy.
LUNA: You helped launch Barbie Rave, a celebration of pop culture and queer empowerment. Can you tell me more about Barbie Rave and how the LGBTQ+ community inspires your work?
DISCO SHRINE: We love the girls, the gays, and everyone in between. My friends at Lights & Music Collective and I started Barbie Rave, and it lined up with the Barbie movie phenomenon. I’ve always felt safe in queer spaces. I wanted to recreate that everywhere. We took Barbie Rave to smaller cities too, and it was amazing seeing it resonate. Building and sharing that community is really important to me.
LUNA: You coined the term “lip gloss pop” for your upcoming project. What does that label mean to you, and how does it capture the essence of your new music?
DISCO SHRINE: I’m a blonde Persian Valley girl, and lip gloss is essential. It’s shiny and fun, not perfectly polished; it can smear, you reapply. That’s the energy of my music: pop and girly, but a little messy. You can hear it at 4AM in the club or blasting in your car. It’s silly and doesn’t take itself seriously, like lip gloss.
LUNA: “Disco Daddy” is about unapologetic self-expression and flipping gender roles. How do you hope fans connect with that message?
DISCO SHRINE: “Call me Disco Daddy, let me drop you the addy” is an invitation to the party. I’m Disco Daddy, but anyone can be Disco Daddy. It’s about stepping into your power, directing your life, being carefree and fun. I hope people feel empowered to claim that “Daddy” energy themselves.
LUNA: You call your fans “Disco bbz.” How would you describe the community around your music and live events?
DISCO SHRINE: We’re the girls, the gays, the straight allies; everyone’s welcome. My Disco bbz are the coolest, most iconic people. We are the moment.
LUNA: With all this high-energy music and alter ego evolution, what’s next for Disco Shrine, Persian Barbie, and Disco Daddy? Any dream collaborations or upcoming surprises?
DISCO SHRINE: I have a new project. This single isn’t standalone. More music is coming soon, along with fun visuals and dance vibes. Expect more collaborations, more extravagant live shows and, most importantly, more Disco Daddy.
