In an business that claims to be inclusive, it’s really easy to really feel tokenised. For musician and comic Charlene Kaye, it has been an uphill battle feeling just like the token queer Asian feminine guitar participant, in demand to cater to individuals’s in any other case superficial concern round range, in addition to their makes an attempt at being perceived as politically aware. However for those who’re booked and busy, and genuinely expert at what you do, does it matter if the requests are available in by means of barely nefarious means?
Variety Shredder is a enjoyable and feverish romp by means of Kaye’s journey of discovering her creative voice, and what it means to be an Asian American musician within the context of a really damaged and unbalanced capitalist system. Utilizing well-crafted, multi-genre musical comedy alongside together with her masterful guitar expertise, Kaye displays on the psychological gymnastics at play if you’re an individual of color making an attempt to navigate a profession in music, when all individuals actually appear to need is Cassandra from Wayne’s World.
Kaye has constructed a worldwide following by way of Instagram and TikTok with movies through which she parodies standard music traits and genres comparable to Okay-pop, and chart-topping stars from Taylor Swift to Ed Sheeran. Going viral on social media doesn’t robotically translate to bodily stage presence however as a musician who has constantly toured, enjoying solo and with a number of bands, her aura is magnetic and solely amplified by her pure, conversational humour and unbridled sass.
A big display on stage shows obnoxiously written emails from potential collaborators – from a fresh-faced Soundcloud rapper, to a monotonous people singer-songwriter – in addition to clips of the few examples of “Asian music” that exist within the western pop canon. Assume the Vapors’ Turning Japanese, David Bowie’s China Lady, and the massively problematic Asian Girlz by LA band Day Above Floor.
There’s a variety of materials packed into this hour, largely as a result of Kaye has such a hefty and high-quality financial institution of content material. At occasions, it might do with some respiration room to permit for Kaye’s witty lyricism and uncompromising punchlines to land. Nonetheless, Variety Shredder is a potent and unflinching critique of the stereotypes that field individuals in. Ultimately, she simply desires to chart her personal course. And my God, does she know learn how to shred.
