Honey Davenport: "There's no queen stronger than a New York queen"

Honey Davenport by Davide Laffe

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world at the beginning of 2020, Honey Davenport was "going through the hardest time" of their life. But instead of letting the darkness of an uncertain time take over, they did what they do best: art. The RuPaul's Drag Race Season 11's alumni started writing songs for their new EP, Love is God, talking about strength, justice, and, of course, love.

"I wanted to write myself into a better place. I wanted to write about when it will be when it gets better. So I wrote about how I felt like my love was being tested, but I wrote it in a positive way", says Davenport, who is finally ready to share their new project with the world. Love Is God is out this Friday, 14, with five different songs, genres, and special guests Manila Luzon, Tammie Brown, LaLa Ri, Kevin Aviance, and Jackie Cox.

In this interview, Davenport talks about the new EP, their musical influences, the chance of returning to RuPaul's franchise in a new season of All-Stars, and their love for "the greatest city in the entire world," New York City. 

Honey Davenport by Davide Laffe

Can you tell us more about each track? And how did you choose the Queens featured in this project? 

Each track has a different emotion that I was feeling in the process of writing this project. Love is God is about seeing my love overcome every obstacle. Lady Justice came from the heat of 2020 when we experienced so much division in our country and our desire for justice. Each piece was really specific, not only to the project but to the artist I chose to work with. I actually wrote each song with the artist already in mind. So Love is God takes on Manilla's fun personality, and it's disco, Europop, this fun kind of thing. But when I'm working with the legendary Kevin Aviance, I'm giving you a bit more deep house. I wrote a song called Thrive, which is about overcoming obstacles and breaking through those coping mechanisms you allowed back in your life in difficult times. 

What are the musical influences on this EP?

There are so many influences. Each track is a different genre. I wanted to write a pop album like those I experienced growing up. When Britney would release an album, it would have a little bit of every flavor. So this one is the same thing. It has a little bit of every flavor. Love is God is Abba, Love Still Last is Lady Gaga, Lady Justice is really like a social justice ballad, but it takes on Shawn Mendes vibes - he was the influence on the flow of it. And Thrive is inspired by the artist featured on it, Kevin Aviance. My favorite track on this project, which is Paradise, was really inspired by Rihanna and Bad Bunny. It channels a feeling. It's a vibe!

You have a powerful story of overcoming obstacles, and you're a very political queen. So for you, what's the importance of using drag art to fight for social causes? And what's the main message you want to spread with your art? 

Using my platform is not something I do because I feel like it's my calling. I feel like it's my responsibility! I don't think anybody is necessarily called to fight for social justice. I don't feel more special than anybody in that way, but I feel like we all have social responsibility. In order for our community to work, everybody gotta speak up. So I do my part on speaking up. I just have a big platform, so my voice gets heard a little bit louder. I know that, and knowing that, it makes me really use it. I really try to use the platform that I have to speak out on issues. To speak out for people of color and women because I feel like those voices aren't heard loud enough. I'm so blessed to have the platform that I do have, and I try to use that to the best of my ability. And I think it goes hand in hand with my art. My activism has always been a big part of me, so it's always with my art, and I love that. 

I have to ask this because many drag race fans agree that you left the competition too early. Would you like to come back for All-Stars? What would you do differently this time?

Yeah, I'd absolutely love to go back to All-Stars. I think it's an incredible opportunity. If I ever get the call, I'll go back with bells on. There's a lot that I would do differently. Number one is that I had a lot of self-doubts when I was in the competition. A lot of my anxiety got the best of me. Over the past years, I learned how to control that to keep myself grounded. I'm a new person in my art. I wouldn't necessarily bring a different fashion because I think I was the ticket with what I was serving, honey! But I would bring a different viewpoint. I have a different view, and I'm in a different place in my life. It would be awesome to showcase that to the world. 

Our website is dedicated to the queer scene of New York City, where you are definitely an icon. So if you don't mind, I'd like to include a couple of questions about New York. 

Awesome! 

First, I want to know how New York has influenced your art? 

I'm a New Yorker! I'll always be a New Yorker! New York is still my inspiration! I'm bicoastal, and I go back and forth to New York to create. There's something about the city... There's something in the air that gets my blood running! It clears my ideas - they all come to me so rapidly. In fact, that's why I can't live there all the time because I'd be overwhelmed with how much I can create in New York. There's really nothing like New York City. There's no greater place to create. There's no greater place to be inspired. It's truly the greatest city in the entire world. 

In your opinion, what makes New Yorker Queens so special?

Well, New York is harder to do drag than anywhere else. In the entire world, I swear, there's nowhere like New York, where they make you stand on stage for two hours by yourself in the daytime and say "go, go be a drag queen". There's nowhere else that gives you that stage, and it creates a different kind of queen. Also, New York is a hustle and bustle place. So a queen from New York knows how to hustle, knows how to get through it. It builds you. It makes you stronger. I don't think there's any queen stronger than a New Yorker queen. We know how to get the job done! Okay? 

What is your favorite bar in NYC?

My favorite bar in NYC is Rebar. I think it's a place of love and acceptance. I experienced some tumultuous situations with another club shortly after filming RuPaul's Drag Race, and Rebar accepted me with really open arms, and it became a home for me. It was the last bar I visited before the pandemic, and I can not wait to be able to visit again. 

What's next for Honey Davenport? What else do you have planned for the future?

So many things! I'm a New York queen. I keep that hustle and that grind going, darling! Coming up next, I have my new makeup line. It's a collaboration with Chaotic cosmetics, and it's called Bee Yourself. Also, line up for 2022 there's my podcast with that insanely talented and meme sensation Jasmine Masters, called The Wake and Bake. And my Youtube show will be returning for a fourth season! 

Love is God is out now! Click here to listen!

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