We spoke to Brazilian pop star, activist, and world-renowned drag queen Pabllo Vittar (he/she/they) before their show in Berlin! Ever since conquering the Brazilian market with their sensational 2017 debut album, Vai Passar Mal, which featured club-ready singles “K.O.” and “Corpo Sensual,” Vittar has exploded into an international phenomenon. They are the most-followed drag queen on social media with 35+ million followers across all platforms and earning glowing editorial coverage in Rolling Stone, Paper, Vogue Brazil, GQ Brazil, Harper’s Bazaar, Gay Times, and countless other outlets.
With their feel-good pop anthems, Vittar has not only released multiple smash-hit albums, including Vai Passar Mal, 2018’s Não Para Não, 2020’s 111 (their first trilingual release in Portuguese, English, and Spanish), and 2021’s Batidão Tropical, they have collaborated with legions of pop acts, including Major Lazer/Diplo, Anitta, Charli XCX, Thalia, Rina Sawayama, Marina & The Diamonds, Lauren Jauregui, and MC Carol. They have also performed all over the world at major festivals, including Coachella, Lollapalooza Argentina/Brazil/Chile, Estereo Picnic, Primavera Barcelona/Porto, Melt Festival, and more. This year, Vittar kicked off their Noitada era, which is sure to shatter even more long-held records.
KALTBLUT: Are you finding big differences between performing for Brazilian and European audiences?
Pabllo: I think the big difference is the weather in the city. I’m a Brazilian, I’m used to this hot weather, but the people are louder and more vibing. And I think Brazilians are used to it. And I don’t come [to Europe] so much in a year. And when I come, the people are “Ahhhhh, oh my god”, like Princess Diana or something [laughs]. Yeah, I think it’s cool.
KALTBLUT: I’m sure there are also a lot of people who actually start to learn Portuguese because of you and your songs. Is it surprising when touring in Europe to hear this?
Pabllo: For me, it’s interesting to hear people singing in Portuguese, I think cute. The accent. And I think this is globalising. I don’t know if this word is right, but I feel like this is globalising my future, my kind of pop song. And I feel grateful and blessed to share my energy and my vibing with the rest of the world.
Polaroid by Nicola Phillips
KALTBLUT: Are you a spiritual person?
Pabllo: Yes. So much. Yes. A lot. I believe in energy and god and other positive things.
KALTBLUT: How do you find a balance between real life and the world tour, the craziness?
Pabllo: Therapy, drinks, pills and potions [laughs].
KALTBLUT: Do you have little things or rituals that you do before going on stage?
Pabllo: I drink my little champagne and praise the lord that my knees don’t fail [shows off an impressive knee pad]. I’ll warm my voice. I do some warming exercises [vocalises] and I think to relax, you know because when I go onto the stage, it’s very “let’s go, let’s go!”. I love it. Yes. Energy.
KALTBLUT: Do you have any high or low points of your career that you’d like to share?
Pabllo: I always believe in high points. I think we need to put all this energy into high points because these moments that we don’t feel a lot of confidence pass by quickly. I don’t put my energy into low things, but I think my highest point is travelling around the world, doing huge concerts at festivals and meeting people, great people like you. And my life is moving about like this and it’s sharing my energy.
KALTBLUT: The name of your last album Noitada means “a night out”, have you been out in Berlin yet?
Pabllo: I know that there are a lot of clubs here. The nightlife is very, “Padam, Padam”, but who knows? Maybe tonight. But if not, someday I’ll come back to enjoy this.
KALTBLUT: Are there any collaborations that you dream of doing?
Pabllo: [Sings] Beyoncé! I dreamed of this since I was a child. Beyoncé is my queen.
KALTBLUT: Did you go to the Renaissance Tour?
Pabllo: No. I’m doing my own tour, you know, honey [laughs]. Yes. But I saw the videos. She’s doing amazing. She doing great.
KALTBLUT: What comes next? Are you going to rest after the tour?
Pabllo: I just released a remix album with amazing artists and producers. Artists from Brazil. And all the people that I brought to this project are queer people, Trans people, Black people, gay people. And now I’m starting to work on my new project that I believe will be released by the end of the year. But it’s a secret.
KALTBLUT: So you’re always working, actually.
Pabllo: Always! I’m a busy girl.
KALTBLUT: What is the craziest thing that a fan did or gifted you?
Pabllo: The tattoos! I think it’s insane because someday you wake up and you don’t like me anymore and I have my face on your arm. I think it’s crazy [laughs]. But I receive so much gifts and I don’t know… underwear?
KALTBLUT: Underwear? Was it clean?
Pabllo: Yeah. No. I don’t know [laughs]. I hope so!
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@pabllovittar
Live photos by Annelies Vollmuller for Coda Photos
@annnlies @codaphotos
After is out now: https://pabllovittar.lnk.to/After
