En Femme Interview

Meet Ying Yang

by Angela Gardner

Some may say, "just what the world needs, another band of guys in dresses." Ying Yang is much more that that. We have women in tuxedos, too! As the standup comics say, "but, seriously, folks..." Ying Yang is a project that marks the next phase in my life journey. I have always been a crossdresser. I have been a performer since I was old enough to talk and since I took guitar lessons in 1967, I have been a musician. Putting all these elements together in a way that would entertain, inform and make me a pile of money sure seems like a good idea.

I've been writing songs for years and recently, as I became involved with Renaissance and came to know myself better, my songs grew more concerned with gender issues, identity and selfawareness. As these themes emerged, I realized that here was a good basis to develop a band.

Ying Yang isn't just guys in dresses. Ying Yang has male as male, male as female, female as male, and female as female. Right now the band is a core of three singers Allison DuFey, Hellene Masiko and myself. I write the music and program the synthesizers. I use session musicians to get the sound in the recording studio and Hellene is our choreographer for the live stage.

Right now we're working at a twenty-four track studio in Philadelphia to complete the tracks for our cassette release, "Kabuki Confidential." When that is out it will be made available by mail order and we will begin appearances in clubs to promote it.

Our message is simple - be who you are. It may take you time to discover the many people that you are but when you do find them, don't try to hide them or deny them. If you feel feminine some times, then be feminine. If you need to act macho for awhile - go ahead. Don't get locked up in one role to the extent of stifling all the other people you are. By expressing all of yourself you can be a well-rounded person who is happier and more content with life.

Of course it helps if you buy anything that Ying Yang releases and play it for your friends and request it in clubs. Well, at least I'll be more content.

Watch for "Kabuki Confidential" and I hope we'll see you soon at a club near you!


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