For Buck Wylde, being part of the cast of the inaugural season of Revry’s “King of Drag” is a culmination of over a decade of hard work.
For Wylde, being able to showcase their talent on this splashy new reality show competition is arguably second to being able to have the chance to bring drag kings to the mainstream. I sat down with Wylde to dish on “King of Drag,” the tight brotherhood between drag kings, and what this art form means to one of it’s most dynamic talents.
You are breaking ground with being part of the cast on Revry’s “King of Drag.” What is it like being part of the inaugural cast of this spectacular show?
I am so excited for the world to finally have the words “Drag Kings” in their mouth, in the mainstream; how cool is that? The whole world knows what a drag queen is, but I always get the question “What is a drag king?” It’s not a huge leap to figure out, but so many people really just don’t know. So to have this platform to be able to show the world what a drag king is, is the most incredible opportunity.
“King of Drag” is of course, being compared to so many other competition shows, but for you you, what was the experience like from the inside?
I have been doing drag since 2011 or 2012. Its almost like we have all been operating in silos. Six or seven of these kings I already knew who they were, but I never had the opportunity to meet most of them. To bring us together and to bridge the gap and to be able to connect like, “Hey, we’re the same, oh my gosh, I’m not alone” it was so cool. To know their body of work through social media, it was big time. These are great kings, it was so well cast, it was so cool to be a part of it. Just to be in the presence of other kings that are like minded. We just want to bring this to the wider audience.
What was it like putting your artistry in front of of a stacked judges panel that had people like Saha Velour (as the stunning Alexander Velvet) and Murray Hill?
It was terrifying, amazing and exhilarating! When I saw the cast of Somebody Somewhere, I watch that show! I was so tongue tied with Jeff Hiller! To see Gottmik, and Paul Feig, it was so cool to be in their presence. You have this tiny window of time to show them your entire career, which is compressed into this entire two to three minute moment, you had that time to show them what you’re about. It is a little intimidating, but it is fun, challenging and exhilarating; it was fantastic.
Jeff Hiller has a new book out titled “Actress of a Certain Age: My Twenty Year Trail to Overnight Success” and I got to interview him last year. He was a fantastically hilarious person to chat with and puts you instantly at ease.
Something Jeff told me was to say, “You’re not a contestant on a drag show, you are first and foremost and artist. Keep that in mind as you move forward.” It was a really nice bit of advice that he gave us all.
What does it mean for you to be the initial representation that so many people are going to see of drag kings for so many people?
It’s kind of wild because we have been asking for a seat at the table for so long. It just has never happened until this point. At some point you have to make your own table and seat your own people at the table; that is what was cool about this. The really cool thing is that we have this opportunity, as we call ourselves “the first ten” to make the blueprint on what this king culture is going to look like moving forward. We get to show people what king culture is, they don’t get to see the inside of that very often. What drag kings do is they uplift each other. When we’re at home backstage with each other, we say things like, “You make me want to be a better king.” We say stuff like that to each other and we build each other up, and that’s what we do on the show. We spend time uplifting each there and rather than it being another drag competition show, it is more like The Great British Bakeoff in my opinion. It’s a very supportive environment.
Our experience was very supportive, we all talk every week, we emotionally support each other with strategy and things like that. We have our own community of ten and we are brothers for the rest of our lives.
I have always compared drag kings to male vocalists, who unlike their female counterparts, don’t get as much shine on the dance floor, despite being just as fiercely talented. That said, why do you think drag kings don’t get the same kind of attention?
That is a really good question. One word-patriarchy. Most of the shows are controlled by the patriarchy. We have been at the mercy of that for so long, as in everything else in our lives. It’s kind of getting to the point where we have to break out of that and do things for ourselves. People have this idea that a drag king is just going to be someone that, while it’s valid drag, puts on a mustache, puts on a pair of jeans and a backwards hat and is just passing. I think that is what people think of when they think of drag kings, but there is a lot more to it. Drag has evolved so much that the level of artistry that is put into what a drag king does is totally underestimated and underrepresented, and I think that the show will change that.
What is the one thing that you want people to have learned and gotten to see about drag kings after seeing “King of Drag?”
I want them to want more. I want people to say, “Drag kings, why have we been sleeping on them for so long? I have been deprived of this for so long!” I want people have a new thing to fear (laughs)! I’ve been doing drag since 2012 and what this has shown me is that there is no time limit on achieving your dreams. This is the moment, I’m not afraid to do it, this is the time. It could not come at a better time in this tumultuous timeline that we are in when queer, trans and BIPOC folks civil liberties are being squashed and are on the line. This show tells us that our differences are celebrated; the timing is just perfect for that.
Follow Buck Wylde on Instagram @buckwylde_dragking
Catch King of Drag each week on Revry.
Follow Revry on Instagram @revrytv
