A$AP Ferg's Still Striving

SHORTS and HEADPIECE by SKIP FAME, BOOTS by KAYS MASS

“Mujer,” released late last year with the Barcelona queer collective MUSA, reflects the sonic influences of a year spent living next to Brooklyn’s Prospect Park—which is where she posed for Alberto Valle-Gutiérrez’s shoot, as seen below—exploring European capitals, and getting to know Barcelona’s queer underground, where MUSA’s Andy T and Vega took Sevyn on as a sister.

“Mujer” pays homage to this international sisterhood. On “Gender Update,” choral vocals ring out over stomping percussions, as if you’re climbing the steps of a gothic cathedral to join a subversive squad of nuns in prayer. “PP,” with its looping vocalizations of the words “perfect pussy” over industrial synths, evokes a frenzied night of raving experienced in a body recently activated as courageously sexy and self-assured.

TOP by GENERAL EXPERIMENT, JEWELRY by KAYS MASS, BELT (stylist owned)

While in town to play MUSA’s Boiler Room a few weeks before the release of “Mujer,” Sevyn caught up with Andy and Vega, to talk about the trans experience in America versus Europe, the everyday hustle to survive, and why Berlin remains one of the best cities for the dolls to fall in love with each other.

ANDY - How is your experience in New York, as a doll?

SEVYN - Relationships, lives, and work for dolls is different in every city. It depends a lot on your privilege, the color of your skin, and where you're from. Because I started transitioning in LA, I felt dysphoric and insecure most of the time there because people knew who I was before. But when I moved to New York a little over a year ago, people were seeing Sevyn for the first time ever. All of the new people I was meeting would just be like: “Oh, that's just another doll DJ. Who cares?” Some people have told me they didn’t even know I was trans, which is a gag, of course, for this stage of my transition.

VEGA - Always a gag for us.

S - In New York there's so many trans girls who are outwardly expressing who they are to the extreme. There are just so many people in New York who are openly expressing themselves in really unique and charismatic ways where it's like: “This is who I am. This is what I'm going to wear. I'm confident, and if you don't fuck with it, then fuck you.” People don't care if you're a doll or whatever. Just stay pushing, and don’t be a mess.

A - I feel like in Barcelona you really need to work your way up regardless of who you are, where you come from, or who you surround yourself with. Because I began transitioning here, I thankfully already had gigs and stuff happening. I began to get more secure with myself, and I think people appreciated that authenticity more. People noticed that I'm a very upbeat person now, and that I try more with my looks, and I try to just be a better version of myself. There's not a lot happening here either. There is not a big music scene. It is beginning to pop up lately, which is really nice for us, but it used to be quite shitty, I have to say, and being trans does not mean you are just going to get in anywhere.

V - I also feel like the difference that we always talk about with Sevyn is that in Europe you don't really have to survive. I mean, anything can be survival, but here it is so much easier for trans people. Even if it's Berlin, Paris, or Barcelona, whatever—you don't really have to survive in the ways that you have to in the United States, and money doesn't work the same way. For example, in Spain, most people aren’t having to do any sex work. I feel like in the US there's this culture around money that puts dolls in a situation where they have to do a lot of sex work and insane gigs to survive—whether it is expensive surgeries, being able to eat, or stable housing. Everything there, especially in the big cities, seems so expensive. Dolls here know they will be okay.

S - In New York it's like every single trans girl I know hustles literally all of the time. Just being trans and walking down the street here is a hustle. It's already a full-time job. Most of us don't come from family or money or anything. I think in New York that is also what makes it a little bit easier, too, because there are a lot of people in the queer community who are there for the girls. And the girls do deserve to be taken care of! There's a lot of things that have happened to me that have made me feel like, okay, I can live here and survive because I have people rooting for me and I am surrounded by other girls like me. They understand we can all be in this together.

A - I feel like that's the main difference between the US and Europe. Here people are more chill and not having to hustle as hard. Like, we are just here to have fun, dance, and just go about our day. We aren’t worried about a lot of things in the same way. It’s also not about the image that you're selling; it's more about the energy that you're bringing.

S - In New York, that is what you have to be: you have to be presentable and you have to be your best and all of those things you said. Most of the time I am just over it, and I should be allowed to leave my house with whatever I have on and still be a fucking woman. Tuck or no tuck. But how is dating and sex for the dolls in Barcelona?

A - I rarely hook up with anyone in Barcelona. And if I ever do, it's always in the shadows. They don't take you on a date; they don't hold your hand out and stuff like that. Whereas in Berlin for me, my own experience has been completely different. I only ever hook up when I'm there, really. I've had amazing lovers—amazing people—who just are proud to be with me, and I really, really, really appreciate that. I don't get to live that here.

S - For me, that’s one thing that draws me to Berlin. I feel so desired and wanted there.

V - I think something important that we should say is that even if Berlin is such a dark place in a lot of ways, I just feel like every time I've been there it feels like an international reference for dolls to go there and meet other dolls. Every time I go there I meet new girls from all parts of the world. There are girls from Egypt, Spain, France, Germany, the Netherlands, even Latin America.

S - I feel like it's just a really good place for all of us to be together. Because at the end of the day, you do feel free there.

V - It just feels like it is a place where everything is normalized. If you're a musician or artist, you can go to Berlin and be like, I am this person. No one questions. It is just a huge playground. Anytime I've gone to Berlin, I've met dolls. I've met people, but no one is like, “Oh, that's a doll.” They're just like, “That’s a person, who cares?” When it comes to dating, I just feel like it holds so much fucking weight for us. For the first time ever I'm in a relationship with a straight guy. Even though I am happy I still always have this feeling that I am competing with cis girls. We are so in love, but at the same time I am the first trans woman he has been with. I cannot change who I am, but sometimes I do compare myself. What about you?

S - I feel like everyone in New York is annoyingly bisexual right now. All of a sudden there's a lot of energy around women and transsexuals, I don't know, getting crushes on gay boys. I have actually had a lot of great sex this year, worldwide, but honestly I am not looking for anything serious. I am too busy. Most of the guys who I have sex with or build something strong with don't want to get too close because I am usually only in their city for like a week, and they know I will leave them. I have fallen for some people this year, though.

A - Like even though times are changing, we have tons of amazing experiences, friends, and good sex. Like all three of us, I think, have some of the most fun in life. I am just grateful for all of you girls despite needing to pass and be safe.

V - At the end of the day, you're never going to pass. I'm sorry, but you are trans at the end of the day.

S - Damn… you went there.

V - What I am trying to say is that it is a journey, for sure. You're probably never gonna look at the mirror and be like, “Okay, I pass 100%.” There is always gonna be something you will pick apart. Even if you get all of the surgeries and you look your best, accepting yourself for who you really are instead of just looking for it in other people. What you are going to face is going to help you more in the long run, even if it feels impossible to do so.

A - But no shade, I really do think all of us pass.

S - I think that's where I'm at now too. Especially with traveling to all of these new places, it's like—this is who I am and no one questions it. I don’t have to explain myself. Honestly, I don't want to always pick out my details because that makes me spiral about so many other things. Being trans requires a lot of hard work, no matter what stage you’re in, and I obviously think we should be putting in that work, no shade. But for the people who are attracted to me: whether it's a date, whether they want to have sex, book me, dance with me, get me in their studio, speak to me, even just look at me... Great. If you don't, bye.

TOP and BOTTOM by ISEDER, SKIRT by GENERAL EXPERIMENT

A - I feel like I'm finally to this point in my life where I just feel so free and open and myself and happy—so fucking happy just to be able to be this person that I've wanted to my whole entire life. And no matter the struggles or anything, I think it's important for me to hold on to those because that's what's got me here. But at the same time, I really think a lot of us girls need to practice celebration and being happy and being beautiful and going out and showing our bodies.

S - I couldn’t agree more. Life as a trans woman is hard, but it’s so beautiful. I really do think I have one of the best lives out of most of the people I know, despite the struggle. I see that in all of my girls too… We are so lucky.

V - I think we should talk about your new EP, Sevyn. And ending this part on a good note: we love ourselves and we love our lives. We get fucked and will be getting fucked.

A - Ok so the tea is that you released an EP that's called “Mujer,” which means women in Spanish. How do all of these topics we talked about today play into the creation of “Mujer?”

S - I mean, I feel like for me, the music I create has become a capsule or a sentiment of my life. Like, this is just how I'm feeling now, and I want my projects at the time to reflect that. I've been in Europe all year, mostly in Barcelona, and I'm around you Spanish girls that have really influenced my taste and what I am currently into. I am most inspired by new things and new sounds. I think being a good DJ too is taking those influences and playing your own twist on them… like, why would I not celebrate what I am learning about and understand where it all comes from? “Mujer” is the result of those emotions and specifically being tasked with releasing a project with your Barcelona-based label.

A -  I listened to it last night again and it made me feel sexy. It made me feel like a woman. It would be one of those tracks you put on when you're getting ready or when you're about to go out with your girls.

S - I love that so much. It really is for us.

A - We love you. We love you so much. We can always have you over here again. You are an international girl—period. I wouldn’t say you’re just a New Yorker through and through. All the girls know or have seen Sevyn.

S - I'm coming back. Sooner than later.

V - Season two of the Dolls in Barcelona next summer.