We were lucky to catch up with Saraya Rose recently and have shared our conversation below.

Saraya, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

The most meaningful project so far is actually an ongoing project I lovingly call EPIC: A (mostly) One Queen Odyssey, the current high point of which has been my performance of Ruthlessness, the fourth and final song in the Ocean Saga.

Aside from drag, two of my biggest passions are mythology and musical theatre. During the pandemic, I found a creator named Jorge Rivera-Herrans sharing his passion project, EPIC the Musical; EPIC is a musical retelling of Homer’s The Odyssey, a story that chronicles the return of King Odysseus to his homeland, Ithaca, where his wife and son are waiting for him. In this adaptation, the story is broken down into nine albums, known as Sagas, each one highlighting part of the titular odyssey.

The Ocean Saga, as the name suggests, follows Odysseus and his crew after they escape the island of Polyphemus, utterly unaware that Poseidon, the god of the ocean, has been made aware of what transpired and is now seeking vengeance.

Saraya, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a chaotic drag witch, known for adding a geeky flair to my performances. While I predominantly lip-sync my performances, I will occasionally sing live, occasionally going as far as to learn other languages to add another layer to the message of a song if I feel so inspired.

I’ve been doing drag for almost ten years now, and it’s honestly been pivotal in helping me find myself personally and spiritually. I love being a force for good in the world, even if it’s chaotic good…scratch that, ESPECIALLY if it’s chaotic good. I’m most proud of the ways drag has helped me find my voice, especially when the world around me wanted me to stay quiet.

As for what sets me apart, I’d think learning multiple languages for the sake of a song is a heck of a way to stand out. Drag has helped me find a sense of beauty and whimsy in the world that part of me thought had faded away into the ether, but to quote a song I used to listen to almost daily growing up, “as long as one heart still holds on, then hope is never really gone.”

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative/artist is watching people glow from the inside out when they find their creative spark. Seeing them find a piece of themselves that the world tried to sever from them is the most beautiful act of resistance and joy that I have ever witnessed.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

My social media journey has, quite frankly, involved a lot of happenstance and dumb luck. Some people follow me for the makeup I do, some like seeing the evolution of my drag face, some enjoy seeing me clap back against bigots, and others just enjoy seeing my performances.

To the people out there just starting their social media journey, the biggest piece of advice I have for you is not to give up. Navigating social media is a lot like cooking pasta; sometimes, you just have to throw things at the wall and see what sticks.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/costumedcacophony/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarayaroserade
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sarayarosecostumedcacophony
• Other: https://linktr.ee/costumedcacophony

  https://www.cameo.com/costumedcacophony

  https://bsky.app/sarayasongbook

Image Credits

Elijah Carpenter (1-4)

Gregory Morgan (6&7)