Rainbow Chan to headline Festival of Queer Delights

A DARLING of Sydney’s alternative music scene, Rainbow Chan wants to “walk the walk” when it comes to female representation in the industry and at festivals.

“It’s getting to this point, where I keep getting asked the question about women in music, but I need to do is not talk the talk, but walk the walk,” she told Star Observer.

 Chan is a triple threat who produces, writes and performs her own music and will return to the Vivid Festival this year to headline The Festival of Queer Delights, an immersive, inclusive carnival of music, art and performance across three stages.

“I’ve been very lucky to be partiicpating in their (Vivid) program for a few years,” Chan said.

“It’s a time when the city comes alive, people are excited to see we are capable of doing something interesting and having various voices being represented globally and locally.

“Sydney, and Australian culture in general, because of its isolation, there are a little less creative things that are being activated in public spaces.”

Chan has become known for her genre-defying sounds and while trained in a number of traditional instruments, such as saxophone and piano, she has become known for using whatever she can get her hands on to create her unique sound.

In her early days performing as a solo artist, Chan felt pressure to prove she was the producer and performer behind her music by trying to do it all in her live shows, but is now happy to share the stage and engage with her audiences through her vocal performance.

“I was self conscious and adamant to do everything to prove I produced the music and I was worried people would see my as a female vocalist and nothing more,” she said.

Hosted by Heaps Gay, The Festival of Queer Delights is an inclusive multi-level party where people of all genders and sexualities can party comfortably. Featured artists included Melbourne’s hip hop DJ Yo! Mafia, Sydney heart-throbs Collarbones, and Melbourne disco-rock weirdos The Blow Waves.

“I appreciate the events they put on, it’s always a safe space and people are respectful of each other. That’s what I look forward to with Vivid, it’s a good event,” Chan said.

“Heaps Gay is good at creating female events.”

Chan will be hitting be hitting the stage with Corin and Moon Holiday, but the artist won’t reveal if there will be any surprise guests joining her.

“I’m excited to play in a female trio, the single launch has been positive and satisfying. And people are feeling empowered,” she said.

“My shows in the past have always had an element of surprise.”

Heaps Gay – The Festival of Queer Delights is on at Marrickville’s Factory Theatre on Sunday June 12. Tickets are available here.

Star Observer is giving away a double pass. Email your ultimate Queer Delight in 25 words or less to [email protected] with the subject: Queer Delight competition.