We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nick Gaga. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nick below.

Nick, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

Ever since moving to NYC and to US – everything has been a risk: starting a new show, meeting a new friend, even trying to get into a serious relationship. I’ve moved to NYC straight from Moscow, Russia back in 2016. Building a new life from nothing hasn’t been the easiest journey, but here I am, 8 years later with a successful Drag career in one of the hardest nightlife scenes in the world. Starting my career as a drag queen was a necessary risk and I couldn’t be happier that I took it. I come from a very different place that isn’t accepting or has any knowledge of accepting concept. My previous career however merged into my new one very smoothly. Ive been in theater since I was 7 and have been on stage since I was 11 and graduated as a musical actor back in Russia, which at some point led me into being a professional makeup artist. Adding up 1 and 1 I would hope you’d figure how beneficial for me those professions were to become who I am right now. Aside from taking a risk of becoming a drag queen in NYC, I took it even further and decided to become a Lady Gaga drag impersonator, which mind you, 8 years ago there weren’t many – however 8 years later you can absolutely call me your premiere Gaga Drag impersonator in US. I never had freedom in anything that I was doing back in Russia, finding drag led me into finding the best chosen family one can ask for, best coworkers and overall best life I was dreaming about ever since I remember myself.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Since I’ve moved to NYC, I’ve been going through many different possible career outcomes. 8 years ago I was completely over retail and office spaces, I was also over being in the shadows of a makeup artist life so I had to go back to acting and performing since I’ve been always passionate about it. It took me a while to figure NYC nightlife out and I wouldn’t be able to get to nearly where I am without my chosen family. My drag career started because of a drag queen Kimmi Moore, who is now my best friend and an enormous part of my life. She introduced me to NYC nightlife and gave me hope of finding my happiness in her craft. Approximately after a year Ive got my first gig and since then it’s all history.

So right now, I am Nick Gaga – your premiere Lady Gaga Drag impersonator. I perform with a successful very well known drag house – “Haus of Assassins” as well as having my solo career as a full time Gaga impersonator. What have set me apart from any other impersonator is that I take my craft extremely seriously by brining it to a different height every time I create, either if its a new wig, new outfit or a new show. I am a perfectionist so the art of replication is really running through me, those two go well together.
My proudest creation as of right now is my solo show which is a full production replication of any Lady Gaga tour she has been on (so far me and my team successfully replicated 2 of her major tours and as this interview happing I am putting together the third one) so if you are a Little Monster (Lady Gaga’s fanbase member) or would like to become a Nick Gaga fan – hop on! You’re more than welcome to come see me in person!

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One of the hardest lessons I’ve had to learn ever since escaping my old life and what I used to call home is that not all blood is your family, not all friends supposed to be there your whole life – sometimes you have to move on from the past to survive your new future. I’ve had loss my whole life, no matter how dramatic it might sound but it is reality for me and hear me out – it might be unfortunate for other people to never experience it as much as I did, but if I am being realistic it has taught me how to be strong and survive almost anything that is thrown my way. Moving to US for me was a survival instinct firstly. Back in 2015 I was attacked and survived a 5 day coma which brought me to a completely new level of life understanding and changed me juristically. Ever since that happened to me I haven’t stopped being thankful for that experience, the knowledge of that even you, yourself, have to let go of your (quite literally) past life, you have to do it to see that new future.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Most of the times, as we drag queens say during our shows – sometimes it is not about money, sometimes it is literally about showing up and supporting by giving your time and energy. Even though we also love to say “If you can’t tip, you shouldn’t be out”. Both can be and are true. The point I’m making is drag is an art form that thrives on the audience’s love and appreciation. Your cheers, your laughter, your presence – that’s what fuels our performances just as much as those dollar bills. Tipping helps queens keep putting on fabulous shows, but ultimately, we want to share our art with anyone who wants to experience it. So come on down, sing along, and tip if you can, but most importantly, be there and be loud! That’s the real magic of drag.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_nickgaga_/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/nickgaga

Image Credits

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