The Many Passions of Danielle Egnew

To explain the myriad of places that Danielle Egnew puts her energy is nearly surreal: her professional titles include singer/songwriter (both independently and as frontwoman for the currently-on-hiatus Pope Jane), actor, producer, radio show co-host, clairvoyant and ordained minister! If that isn’t enough, her musical contributions are equally diverse, writing songs both for herself and others, creating a line of meditation CDs and penning soundtracks and scores for films.

Egnew admits that these talents and tendencies have been in her life since her earliest of days. “When I was born, my parents called me ‘Super Baby,’ she laughs. “It’s painted on the back of my baby drawers. I thought it was some sort of cutesy ‘oh-isn’t-my-kid-the-best’ kind of parent thing, but my mom told me the nickname was literal, saying I came out of the womb with incredible physical strength, a laser focus, and an unshakable sense of self. I don’t believe in limitations,” she smiles, “and apparently, I never have!” Much like the present day, Egnew admits to having trouble narrowing down career desires even as a young child. “When I was really little, I wanted to be an astronaut, and then a veterinarian, but I set my sights on entertainment, because I loved acting, singing, writing, or anything that had to do with being a performer. I’ve even done stand-up and sketch comedy with a troupe, which I loved, and wrote for them as well. The acting came first — I had two different full-ride scholarships for theater from two different universities. I actually wanted to be a film actress, which was an abomination to my fellow stage actors!” Egnew’s college and theatrical journey was sidelined after receiving a record deal in Seattle in the early nineties, she explains, “so I was on the music track for years with Pope Jane, then I got into TV and soundtrack composition, got a radio show, and a screenplay optioned. Eight years into music I got asked to be in the movie Changing Spots — so here I am, full circle, being a film actress, which is what I wanted to do in the first place!”

Changing Spots is a love-and-life story about two queer women - one, a former child star, the other a former rock star — and the way that each of their pasts intersects with their present-day realities. The movie is slated for release in May. Egnew confesses that she loved the opportunity of being able to challenge herself by acting in such a weighty role. “Changing Spots is extreme drama, and my character Peg is riddled with obstacles, from crushing physical problems to horrible career failures to wrenching emotional difficulties. You know — a day in the life of a typical lesbian! This type of character is like a fabulous all-you-can-eat-five-star-buffet for an actor, and I ate a LOT of Peg!”

Her involvement with the film came in many forms, from producer to actor to composing the film score and soundtrack, and she admits when asked that she couldn’t possibly choose a favorite task. “This is a really tough one to call for me, because I LOVE all the aspects of acting, composing, and the behind-the-scenes strategizing of being a producer on this project — but I would have to say that for Changing Spots specifically, my favorite part has definitely been the acting. It’s the most artistic, and the most organic. Composing the score is creative, but it’s a lot more structured.”

Fans of Egnew’s music will be thrilled to note that not only is she playing a musician in the film, her melodies can be found throughout. In fact, writer/director Susan Turley - when becoming aware of Egnew’s interest in the project — changed the script to make it more Danielle-like. “Peg’s character was re-written by Susan to be a former rock star, in order to incorporate my pop music. The soundtrack is comprised of my music, in different forms, and since I have done so many different types of music, from the pop and roots of Pope Jane to my own more acoustic tunes, there is a really varied emotional and tonal character in the soundtrack! Not to mention, I am also composing the orchestral score, and that is an entirely invisible character that truly shapes the feel of the film.”

On a personal note, the multi-talented Egnew admits that she is only partway through her creative journey and has a deep desire to dive into other interests on a professional level. “There is still so much more I want to do — I still want to finish my novels I’ve started, and get my film production company up and running to produce my own screenplay, Imogene’s Waltz. As soon as I can find more hours in the day, I’ll get right on those!” Life isn’t all blood, sweat and tears, however: she admits to enjoying her downtime, and one of the ways that she likes to relax is to spend time on the ‘Net, including Queerky.com. “I absolutely LOVE Queerky! What a hysterical and rejuvenating pit-stop on this long road trip called my life! It’s an honor to be included with you guys!” She also admits that she finds herself drawn to nature to slow her own pace down when the world moves too fast. “I’m wired to pick up teeny little variances in the ethers, and these vibes can really cramp my style. I have a host of things I do to balance that out, from running to the ocean, which sucks up a lot of contrary energies, to teas, to walking or composing meditation music. But sometimes it just knocks me flat on my butt, and I just deal with it with the least amount of drama until it passes.”

Egnew’s future contains everything from working on her next CD — an adult alternative disc entitled Red Lodge — to fronting a new musical group entitled Junkie Cousin, whose first release, entitled JC Superstar, is expected this summer. Additionally, a reality television program showcasing her clairvoyant abilities is in the works. She also enjoys spending time as a rotating co-host on talk/music radio show “The Music Highway with Sheena Metal” hosted by her girlfriend, former Howard Stern on-air sidekick Jenny Sherwin. Egnew admits that, however, that all things to do with art, life and love are most appealing and rewarding to her when they come with queer nuances. “I have to be honest and say that I am more drawn to projects that reflect my sexuality, especially if they have a romantic storyline. It’s refreshing and exciting for me to see intelligent stories involving two women, mostly because there is such a lack of them. I’m not saying that I won’t do non-gay projects — I do a ton of projects that have nothing to do with sexuality, especially in music. But overall, I do feel drawn to contribute to the art in our community, and the message that the art, whether it is music, film, or stage, has the power to convey.”

For the latest Danielle updates, streaming audio, screensavers and more, head to www.danielleegnew.com.

Additional links:

Visit Danielle on Myspace

Check out her band Junkie Cousin

Learn more about the Clear Pictures film, Changing Spots

Written by Denise Sheppard and Darby Blue

Denise Sheppard (scribe at shaw dot ca) is a self-employed journalist/editor who likes long walks, candlelit dinners and writing for U.S and Canadian national mags and websites. Her fave topics are human rights-related pieces and entertainment journalism.

Dyke Drama with Leslie Lange

“What is dyke drama? Any lesbian relationship that last longer than one night. No, wait…any lesbian relationship that lasts long enough to require communication. No…actually, you could blindfold two dykes and put them in separate soundproof booths in separate states and still, somehow, the vibe of drama would be sparked. It’s unstoppable.”–Michelle Sawyer, author of They Say She Tastes Like Honey

Dyke drama. We’ve all experienced it. Yet rarely do we go beyond a simple recognition of this inexplicable force in our lives. We accept it as an intrinsic facet of our lesbian lives, something we inherit, like granola and thirty-seven ways to spell wimmin. That is, until Leslie Lange, author of the irreverent and practical, Dyke Drama: Your Guide to Getting Out Alive came along. Leslie is an expert on the topic, a self-avowed dyke drama scholar, which is why I thought I’d put her drama skills to the test and conduct this interview at gunpoint, or actually, since she lives in California, with a gun to the phone receiver.

LL: Do you really have a gun?

Q: Yes, it’s a WWII musket.

LL: (audible shudder) Oh, is it clean?

Q: Well, between balancing work, a stilted personal life and corrupting family values, I don’t really have time… hey, who’s asking the questions here?!

First off, I want to say kudos to you for writing this book. If Showtime can create a whole series dedicated to dyke drama, and if it yields nearly 1 million hits on Google, it’s way past due for it to receive the respect and humorous anecdotes you bring to the topic. So thank you for that. And thank you also for not being a lesbian mystery writer. I was beginning to think all lesbians were secretly detectives.

LL: Actually, all detectives are secretly lesbians. Maybe it all started with Nancy Drew and her butch/femme friends George and Bess. I couldn’t get enough-I’d be reading The Secret in the Old Clock, and there’s this other “secret” inside myself at the same time. Who can’t relate?

Q: Why do you think, as you wrote in your preface, that “dyke drama is the single most important facet of lesbian culture ever”?

LL: As Sappho said in 400 BC, “Lesbos ergo drama.” We’re dykes, therefore there is drama. However, I do believe it is something lesbians may be reluctant to share outside of our own community-because it’s a stereotype that can be used against us, to discredit our relationships. Humor is a good place to start. Actually, maybe it would’ve been better to start with The L Word because then I’d be rich.

Q: Speaking of money, you write, “All forms of dyke drama are exacerbated by the underlying frustrations of being a second-class citizen times two: the isolation of the closet, the toll of self-hatred, and the social and economic disadvantages of being both a woman and gay.” Could you elaborate on how socio-economic status contributes to dyke drama?

LL: Maybe I can’t afford to go to a movie but I can turn my life into one. I think a lack of power leads to more manipulative types of behavior, especially when lesbians rely so heavily on cohabitation. In one of my past relationships, my partner had more money than I did and I stayed longer than I should’ve, because I didn’t want to, you know, get a job or anything.

Q: You write in the preface that you had some trouble gathering Qta for this book: “People I considered friends suddenly feigned illness. Some didn’t have to feign illness-they actually became ill. “Why do you think there was such resistance to the topic of dyke drama?

LL: Ultimately, nobody wanted to stir up trouble with their exes. People maybe felt they were betraying the community. Some felt it was threatening or too negative, especially the more tense subjects like stalking, which hasn’t generally been acknowledged.

Q: I definitely felt better about my stalking habits after reading your book. But that’s…not relevant. Tell me about what your writing process was like. How many people did you brawl with to get fodder for this book?

LL: I surveyed about 200 people, a few people I knew and also some lesbian authors published by Alyson books. The accounts were all over the map. I remember reading one survey and thinking, “Oh, my god, this is hilarious! Who is this woman?” Then I realized it was one of my exes and she was talking about me!

Q: Did that make it into the book?

LL: Oh yeah.

Q: In your “cast of characters” section, you do an amazing job of nailing almost every lesbian stereotype to Qte, even lesser known, but no less poignant, ones such as:

- The Foreign Objects Freak: She’s obsessed with putting all kinds of weird objects into your hoo-hoo during sex (bananas, wine bottles, her grandmother’s cane…). Pros: If that’s your thing… Cons: Could Qmage your thing. Often heard line: “Call 911!”

- The $14 Lesbian: She’ll make you pay for everything because she always claims she only has $14 in her checking account. This claim may or may not be true. Pros: You’ll always feel generous around her. Cons: Pretty soon you’ll only have $14 in your checking account. Often heard line: “There’s a three-Qy hold on my paycheck.”

I was curious which ones, if any, reminded you of yourself?

LL: Well, which ones are you?

Q: Er…The Competitor, the one who “scatters the tiles when she doesn’t win at Scrabble. “Also, I’m The Googler, which is how I got your information. Listen Leslie, if that’s even your name, do I have to remind you who’s holding the cards here? (Taps receiver with the gun in a gentle but confrontational manner)

LL: In my past, I was a Class Issues Lesbian. I would always Qte women who went to Ivy League schools and then make them feel guilty about everything. Also, I’m a Perpetual PMSer.

Q: Clearly this book is supposed to be funny and there is a ton of hilarious advice on things like, “How to Sabotage a Lesbian Wedding” and “How to break up with the MOST drama possible.” Sometimes I found myself cracking up even during the more serious parts, like “Emergency Intervention: when your interviewer, I mean, stalker has a gun.” Have you gotten any flack for making light out of the more serious subject matter, like substance abuse, battering, etc?

LL: No, but I wish I had. It would sell more books. If only Curve magazine would run an article titled: “Why We Love to Hate Leslie Lange.”

Q: Since we’re discussing serious matters, are you Anna Nicole Smith’s Baby Qddy?

LL: Yes. We used parthenogenesis back in the early nineties, and kept it in the freezer all these years. Why do you think the judge has been dragging his feet on those DNA tests? They’re worried about a lesbian population explosion.

Q: I knew it, you slut! After everything we’ve been through-the three emails and 1.5 phone conversations! I’ve seen your true colors Leslie, or should I say Les-LIE. Ahem, I want to talk about the lesbian urge to merge. You have some riotous and astute relationship credos (particularly “how demoralizing it is to constantly come home from Old Navy with the same pair of cargo pants as your lover”). Do you think the merge is partially because our networks are often homosocial as well as homosexual? If we were straight, would we be content to just fight over who has to make dinner?

LL: I definitely think it’s good to hang out with a mix of people and I’ve been guilty of not doing that. There was a time when my only friends were my exes, and it’s ridiculous how we stay in these little lesbian covens. If we were straight, we might have better bounQries. Sometimes, when I’m processing with my girlfriend, I think, life would be so much easier, if we only understood each other less.

Q: You talk a lot about processing, how it “gets you everywhere and nowhere at the same time.” And you rather brilliantly explain “lesbian bed death” as a possible result of too much processing. I loved your term “lesbian sexual rejuvenation phase” as an alternative to bed death and think it should be added to the lesbian lexicon (lezicon?). Do you have any advice for precocious readers on how to prevent over-processing, or at least how to tone it down?

LL: There is no escape. NO ESCAPE. But here are some tips.

1. Listen and resist the urge to bring up your side of things.
2. Go for a walk. Get off the couch, and out of the NEST. Keep the blood circulating.
3. EAT SOMETHING!!!!

Q: You describe “unfinished business illness, where a couple has been breaking up for the last seven years.” I think this is one of the big components of lesbian bed death nee “lesbian sexual rejuvenation phase” - that our emotional connections/proclivities supersede our willingness to tolerate unfulfilling relationships way longer than we should. Can you elaborate a little more on the UBI phenomenon and why you think it’s a prevalent part of dyke culture (and drama)?

LL: My own example of UBI: Every two weeks for about six months following our break-up, my ex wanted me to come fetch my stuff. She’d call and say, “I left a box of your stuff on the back porch. Could you please come a get it?” The last one was, like, three boxes of tampons and some leftover dog food.

Q: What are you working on now?

LL: A memoir (that may turn into a novel) of my experiences as a volunteer for the Red Cross during Hurricane Katrina. It’s going be funny, even though Katrina itself was not funny at all. The Red Cross didn’t have time to do background checks and the mix of people was fascinating-from conservative Christians to radical gays to people who’d just gotten out of jail-and we were all working together to try to help people. Also, I’m working on a couple of film projects with my girlfriend-one about dyke drama and the other one about dildos.

Q: Dildos? That’s right up my…alley. I’m also curious about a line in your bio, about your stint as a parade clown? Tell me it was as glorious as it sounds.

LL: I’m so glad you asked that. It was glorious. I was a poop-scooping parade clown, basically walking behind horses and shoveling their excrement into a wheelbarrow. I wore sad-face make-up and really hammed up the misery of the task. The crowd loved it. And I loved the crowd. Shoveling poop was one of the happiest times of my life. And writing about dyke drama is the equivalent of “picking up the poop” of lesbians.

Q: The fact that you have written dog haikus on your website leads me to believe that we’re soul mates. Don’t you agree?

LL: (Laughter) Well, I could agree with that but you’ll have to elaborate.

Q: You can scoop my poop…

For more information on Leslie Lange, visit her official web page, Langeworld. Her book, Dyke Drama: Your Guide to Getting Out Alive, is published by Alyson Books and available at all major book retailers (and some not so major).

Anna is a post-Creative Writing major and validation junky. In addition to Queerky, she also writes for dykediva.com, centerstagechicago.com and does film reviews for theaspectratio.net. She uses quotation marks unnecessarily and spends entirely too much time justifying the artistic merit of limericks. You can contact her at banannarama01@yahoo.com