In the decade since Kevin Bertin called Portland’s Alberta neighborhood their stomping grounds, like has life’d the comedian, singer, and drag artist around the world.
Whenever Bertin goes toe to toe with a bigger personality –whether it’s their best friend, Bob the Drag Queen; the drag legend Lady Bunny; or even the Queen of Pop herself –they win hardest when they stick true to themselves. This sounds easy enough, but Bertin concedes that it’s an ongoing conversation with themselves that requires full honesty.
“Something that has always worked out for me is being authentically, unapologetically myself, and I think that audiences, listeners and viewers always feel that from me. So whenever Bob is trying to read me or Bunny has a funny, witty, quip, I just answer and reply in the most honest, sincere way that is me and not try to put them on the spot. Sometimes I read them back, sometimes I laugh, but it’s never contrived. It’s an honest depiction of myself every time, and I think that is what has always worked for me, and I will keep on doing that. I will always be myself.”
Bertin rarely feels restricted by genre, but said they face the most limitations when they release music. Even though Bertin has studied singing for most of their life, they’ve had trouble getting their music taken seriously as legitimate music instead of as just “drag queen songs” performed for revues with limited appeal outside the gay bar.
