We can’t confirm whether she has a reflection in mirrors, but Pretty Frankenstein’s lead vocalist and guitarist, Grey Starr, a 137-year-old Filipino/Iranian glampire goth, is a reflection of what it means to be an artist for the community. While weaving their identity into their artistry through captivating lyrics and flow, they also actively cultivate and support their community by highlighting queer artists and artists of color on their platform, participating in compilations supporting Palestine, and producing events in the Bay Area.
Keep reading for our Q&A with Grey Starr as she discusses her creative process, finding inspiration in identity, uplifting community, and her spectacular taste in vampires!
–
In one sentence, how would you describe Pretty Frankenstein?
Pretty Frankenstein is an alternative goth project of mine, with the ‘Alternative’ part meaning whatever the hell kind of music I feel like making at the time, while still staying grounded in Goth themes and roots.
Can you tell us a little bit about your creative process and what inspires your artistic vision?
As far as songs, the process is usually things just hitting me in a moment, to where I’m somewhere random and asking the person next to me, “Oh shit, do you have a pen!?” Other times, I’ve dreamt lyrics and melodies and have worked on ‘em soon as I wake up before I forget. Then it’s kind of playing around with sounds for a while. I’m very easily influenced by the media I ingest as well. So, if I’m reading a certain book or watching a show, I’m gonna end up writing about it in some way or another, usually to sounds similar to what I’m listening to at the time. Even if all those sounds are different, I’ll probably find a way to blend them.
I’m really curious about the story behind the names Pretty Frankenstein and also your solo stage name, Goth Auntie Grey Starr?
So, the name Pretty Frankenstein actually came from me sending a selfie to my husband, Ash, saying, “Frankenstein’s monster got into the makeup drawer! Pretty Frankenstein over here.” Then Ash replied, “That should be your next project name.” And for our 1st year or so, we were a duo with him on guitar and me on electronics and vocals. Over time, the definition kind of changed, and now I consider it something that tells you “Hey, we’re pieces of many different genres and stylings put together in a lab”. And the Pretty part of the name to me is a welcoming to other queer folks.
For my name, Grey Starr, Grey is my middle name, and I decided to go by that when I transitioned. Starr, however, was my Lola (Grandma). Her name was Estrella, but went by Star to everyone who knew her. The Goth Auntie thing happened cause in early TikTok days, I saw Gothdad/Dusty doing his thing and was like, “Well, we need an Auntie in the goth community, and why not have it be me, a brown trans woman.” So, I did some kinda cringe videos where I’d be giving advice to young goths. I didn’t stick with that type of content on my page, but the name stuck, and I figure sharing new music/bands is honestly the most “Cool goth Aunt” thing you can do.
You’ve spoken before about how Filipino culture has a lot of intrinsic queerness in its folklore that was erased by colonization and forced conversion to Christianity. Do you see embracing and celebrating your queerness as a form of decolonization?
Absolutely! I think being a Queer (Or Bakla) Goth is honestly the most Filipino thing. In our mythology, we not only have queer gods like Lakapati or Libulan that we’d look to, but we have centuries of Trans Babaylans (Filipino shaman or medicine people) who would provide for the villages and towns. Not only that, but our people have some of the spookiest and coolest creatures in our mythologies! The manananggal is a vampire banshee bat-winged creature that eats unborn babies and rips itself in half from the waist in order to fly as its guts and spinal cord are exposed… that’s some mad Goth shit right there.
Several of your songs reference intersections of your identity (‘They Them (Not Your Choice)’, ‘Guwang Na Buto’, ‘Aswang, etc.). In what ways do you feel that your identity as both a Filipino/Iranian artist and a queer trans artist informs your work?
It’s definitely become more apparent over the years. When I released “She Put a Spell on Me”, I was barely scraping the surface of that side of me musically. Referring to my Lola, Lolo, Kuya, and Nanai in the song filled me with a sense of pride that made me want to write more like it. So much so that now we have things like my Filipino Manga Unggoy, and a whole soundtrack for it that’s mostly in Tagalog. All this said, while I grew up with both my Filipino and my Iranian sides being very prevalent in my upbringing, I’m not as well-versed in my Iranian folklores or language. But I can cook you some Fesenjan or Gormeh Sabzi for sure.
When it comes to being a queer/trans artist, I feel it’s so important to not only write music that touches on the subject and uses my platform, songs like Not Your Choice, or songs like Pronouns, but to also just write music that shows we are so multifaceted as queer folks. Like, trans artists don’t have to do this or that. We can do everything and anything in our art without having to fit into a box.
On social media, you’re a vocal activist and community member, always uplifting other queer artists and artists of color. Can you speak to the importance of this work and being a voice for marginalized folks in our community?
Definitely! I feel that sharing resources is one of the most helpful things you can do sometimes, but also, sharing art and showing representation whenever you can or have the chance to. I do my little monthly videos sharing these artists because as a neurodivergent, plus sized, trans filipino/iranian goth/alt/hip hop artist, I know it’s rare for me to see someone just like me represented amongst these types of lists, but I really wanted to provide representation for other folks and share the beauty of so many other groups/backgrounds through the music they put out. I always get comments saying things like “thank you for sharing my people’s work” from folks, and that makes me really happy to be able to do so. To show anyone that the artist they look up to may be the same as them in some way or another is a gift. I’m also just a fan of so many artists, so if there’s a chance for me to highlight the people I admire, I will.
In the spirit of uplifting community and Trans Awareness Week, who are some other trans artists you love? Since your music draws a lot of inspiration from horror, what music, arts, or film and TV creators inspire you?
For trans artists… Whoo, there’s so many. Boy Jr (Who I got to play a show with some years back), Sarah and The Safeword, and Ratbath are two awesome bands I adore, as well as Za Za Historia and Eeevie Echoes. All of them are so good!! Dioavol Strâin is amazing… ooh, I’m also actually gonna be performing at Doll Fest here in Oakland next year and found out I’ll be on the bill with Damag3, who is an awesome Trans Rapper I’ve been a fan of for years!
As far as media I’ve been taking in at the moment, the usual IWTV s1 and 2 rewatch, Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein was amazing (in my opinion), I just love his work so much, and while I’ve seen the discourse about the film, I still love it. I think he made it his own while being more accurate to the thematics of the book than any other adaptation. For music, I’ve actually been listening to a mixture of Bay Area Hyphy classics like Mac Dre and Mistah Fab, with some Larussell in there, and randomly, a lot of the Last Dinner Party.
This year, you released two new albums, Evil Twins and Severed. Can you please tell us a little bit about these albums?
Yes! So Severed came about as kind of an album of leftover songs I had that I thought should just be put into one thing, whether it was cohesive or not. I was kind of like “Fuck it, I’m just putting it out. I’m tired of these sitting here for no one to hear”, and Evil Twins was made up of 3 songs I’d worked on with my longtime friend, collaborator, and former band member (From my old hip hop group, Spirits in the Basement) Juda Jay. We meant to put that out years ago, but things didn’t line up, haha. Along with these releases, this year I also put out the soundtrack to my comic Unggoy, and a Goth Hip hop EP and video titled Out at Night (Which features samples from Nosferatu and some clips of Louis in the title song), both only on our Bandcamp cause Spotify is evil.
Do you have any upcoming projects you’d like to tell us about?
Yes! Absolutely! I know putting out 5 (Severed, Evil Twins, Out at Night, Unggoy the Comic, and Unggoy the soundtrack) projects in one year is crazy and what managers tell you not to do, but I’m saying fuck it and putting out a new single titled Portraits next month. So keep an eye out for that.
We know you have a few songs inspired by Interview with the Vampire. With shows like IWTV, we’ve seen more vampires of color emerge. Who’s your all-time favorite vampire of color?
I mean, Louis is an obvious choice, but always a good one. Stack from Sinners is up there for sure. As a kid raised in the 90s and a teenager in the 2000s, Blade will always be up there, and so will Aaliyah’s portrayal of Akasha (Despite the rest of the movie being totally off), but I’m gonna say Louis.
Favorite horror film?
I have so many! Tops are probably:
Evil Dead 2
Dawn of the Dead (Original)
Dracula (original)
Sinners
Nosferatu (2024)
Is there anything else you’d like people to know?
Yes! For folks in the Bay, we’ll be playing Thee Stork Club on November 28th, and at Stay Gold Dei on December 13th! Go check out our Bandcamp for other releases! Purchase Unggoy, my Filipino comic, at Cape and Cowl or Dr. Comics and Mr. Games in Oakland! Keep an ear out for Portraits, coming soon! Support trans/queer artists and artists of color all year!
—
Grey Starr later mentions that, for Mardi Gras, they are doing an IWTV-themed Drag show and celebration in Oakland! Applications for performers will be available soon, so keep an eye out for that!
—
You can keep up with Grey Starr and Pretty Frankenstein on the following platforms:
https://www.prettyfrankenstein.com/home
https://prettyfrankenstein.bandcamp.com/album/out-at-night
https://www.instagram.com/prettyfrankensteinband
Two Goths and a Coffin 