No one knows her face. A real icon in Italy, Milanese masked rapper M¥SS KETA (who always writes in caps lock) told us about her career in hip hop and her extravagant queer music, that mixes electro, punk, trap and pop.
How and when were you introduced to hip hop?
IT WAS IN THE LATE 80S WHEN I BOUGHT MY FIRST RUN DMC ALBUM AT THE GAS STATION: THAT RIDE THROUGH THE NIGHT CHANGED MY LIFE FOREVER.
How did you start rapping?
I TRIED ALL SORT OF EXPRESSIONS THROUGH ALL KINDS OF ARTS AND MUSIC GENRES BUT I FOUND ELEMENTS IN RAP AND HIP HOP LANGUAGE THAT I BELIEVE ARE THE MOST SUITABLE FOR WHAT I AIM TO SAY.
Your music mixes hip hop, electro, punk and techno influences. Which artists did you listen to while growing up?
MADONNA, PEACHES, RAFFAELLA CARRÀ, DAVID BOWIE, FABRI FIBRA, DAVID LYNCH, TV MUSIC THEMES AND LADY GAGA.
If someone doesn’t know your music and wants to discover it, which track would you advise them to listen to first and why?
UNA VITA IN CAPSLOCK: YOU WON’T FORGET ABOUT ME EASILY AS THE FIRST THING YOU HEAR IS BASICALLY A FACE SLAP. I SLAPPED YOU, YOU WILL REMEMBER IT!
How and when was the character of M¥SS KETA born?
LATE AUGUST 2013, THROUGH THE MAGIC OF THE SUMMER AND MANY, MANY DRINKS AT MOTEL FORLANINI’S CRIB (THE CREATIVE COLLECTIVE BEHIND THE PROJECT).
Why did you decide to always cover up your face?
I WAS BORN THIS WAY. 😉
You are the leader of a female squat called LE RAGAZZE DI PORTA VENEZIA (THE GIRLS FROM PORTA VENEZIA). Can you tell us more about this project?
LE RAGAZZE DI PORTA VENEZIA IS A STATE OF MIND, EVERYONE CAN BE A RAGAZZA DI PORTA VENEZIA. IT MEANS BEING ABLE TO FULLY EXPRESS YOURSELF AND FEARLESSLY KNOWING WHO YOU ARE.
What are your connections to the Milanese queer scene?
I WOULDN’T SAY I AM CONNECTED, IT’S MORE THAT I AM COMPLETELY LIVING IT DAY BY DAY. QUEER POWER!
Do you consider yourself a feminist? If so, how would you define your own feminism?
YES I AM – THE FEMINISM THAT I FIGHT FOR IS THE ONE THAT CONSIDER ALL THE INDIVIDUALS EQUAL IN RIGHTS.
What are your upcoming projects?
I AM CURRENTLY DOING RESEARCH AND WRITING SOME NEW MATERIAL FOR MY NEXT ALBUM. ME AND MOTEL FORLANINI HAVE ALWAYS PRETTY CLEAR IDEAS!
What do you think about Madame Rap? What should be changed or improved?
IT’S GREAT THAT PROJECTS SUPPORTING FEMALE VOICES FROM THE MUSIC INDUSTRY ARE FINALLY COMING TOGETHER RECENTLY AND I WISH AND HOPE A PROJECT LIKE MADAME RAP WILL EVENTUALLY DEVELOP IN SOMETHING EVEN BETTER IN THE FUTURE.
Find M¥SS KETA on her website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter.
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