Sound of the City: From sun dances to vogue, house-music diva Quanah Style finds comfort in creating
The 2-spirit trans recording artist hopes for more diversity in the local nightlife scene
Quanah Style. Photo by Wet Trax
SOUND OF THE CITY is a series created in partnership by the City of Vancouver and Stir that showcases Vancouver’s diverse music scene, highlighting BIPOC and underrepresented artists and acts. Each edition features a Q&A and a Sound of the City playlist curated by the artist that features some of their favourite local musicians.
Quanah Style
QUANAH STYLE IS a 2-spirit trans recording artist and Indigenous house-music diva.
After a series of successful singles on Wet Trax, Style became a festival fixture, performing anthemic hits with vogue dance crew House of La Douche. Her stage presence, signature vocals, and inspirational story led her to become the subject of several documentaries produced by CBC Arts, World of Wonder Productions, APTN, and Vice Magazine. Originally from Moberly Lake in Northern B.C., Style has opened for Peaches, Bif Naked, Buffy Sainte-Marie, and more.
“I don’t really showcase my culture through my art a lot because the type of music that I make is very mainstream pop so it’s hard to reflect my culture in the genre and style of music that I make, but I think my culture is definitely a part of who I am,” Style says. “Both of my parents were raised by their grandparents and had a lot of a strong cultural upbringing with the language and traditions. So, I grew up very traditionally. I didn’t go to church, I went to sweatlodge ceremony, sun dances, and since I was a kid I’ve been dancing sun dances with my parents and we still hold to our culture as close and tight as we can.”
Read what’s on Style’s mind these days and listen to her Sound of the City playlist, below.
Quanah Style’s Playlist
How are you feeling about life right now?
Pretty excited with restrictions loosening up and getting to go back to live shows.
How has the pandemic affected your work?
It completely cancelled out everything I was working on for awhile. I had to close out a play early, postpone a tour, and shoot dates for a movie.
What are you working on right now? Do you have any plans or projects lined up for 2021?
I'm finishing up film school right now, so definitely looking forward to working more in film and completing my sophomore album.
Where are you finding solace and comfort?
At home and with my inner circle. I find comfort in writing and creating.
What are you most looking forward to once the pandemic passes?
Touring, travelling!
What song or album has been in your heavy rotation recently and why?
Prado Monroe "Gucci Store" is a BOP— go stream it now! It’s featured on my playlist!
Can you give a shoutout to one of your favourite Vancouver musicians or artists? What about them inspires you?
PRADO MONROE is everything! I am an absolutely huge fan—they simply make great music. They’re a STAR.
What would you like to see change in Vancouver?
Well, I’d love to see more diversity in nightlife when it comes back fully.
Who is your dream collaborator?
My dream collab would be PEACHES. But we just did a track and there’s too many to choose from so I’d have to say LIL KIM!
Who else would you like to see curate a Sound of the City playlist?
I think my sis SCARLETT BOBO (Canada's Drag Race) would curate a great playlist!
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