We meet wild flower of the music world, FoxGlove

Where are you from and are you based in London?

I had a pretty varied upbringing and I’ve lived in Scotland, Spain, Devon and now I live in Islington, London. There are lots of parks, cake shops and I’ve been told Boris Johnson lives just around the corner from me, though I have yet to see him. FoxGlove, my magical performance persona, can be often seen out running around Highbury Fields, usually in the evening.

How did you get into the alternative performance scene?

Well, I co-run a club night called Coven, where we put on witchcraft and occult-themed performances and music every three months. Magick permeates my life and I have recently been learning how to mix ballet and contemporary dance with bits and pieces of martial arts. Add a healthy dose of vision meditation, inspiration from science fiction and … there you have FoxGlove.

Have you visited Berlin and what’s your favourite memory or experience? Have you also performed there?

I have been to Berlin, most recently last year with a bunch of my favourite big-haired goths. So naturally, we ended up at the KitKat Club, which seemed to go on for about three days. They had a swimming pool, a swing, dancing puppy boys and an atmosphere that was so relaxed and friendly that I think I actually stayed for those three days.


If so could you please recount your favourite club experience and why?

I have been clubbing for centuries, it seems, so there are so many to remember - and quite a few I’d rather forget! One of my favourites was trying to get into my first gay club at about 15 years old and being turned away at the door. Funnily enough, for looking 15. My friend took me home, dressed me up in complete over-the-top drag and we went back a few hours later, sailing past the unwitting doorman who had previously asked me for ID earlier. More recently, I have enjoyed going to the Candlelight Club, a decadent, 1920s-themed night, where I read Tarot Cards with my partner. I spent the whole night, surrounded by candles, engaging with couples, high-powered business types, bankers… and turning over Tarot cards and discussing archetypes and mysticism with them. Then we all had wine and got drunk.


How will you incorporate the Berlin style into your performance at the BB party at Egg Ldn?

Well, FoxGlove isn’t from this universe, so he’s all about exploration of humanity and its physical nature. He’s done quite a fair bit already. He’ll be mixing up the hedonistic party vibe of the German capital, with some of his stark warnings about society and a few apocalyptic predictions about the future.

Where do you get your inspirations from and ideas for your shows?

Occult rituals; science fiction; extraterrestrial life; political subversion; Jungian archetypes and psychology; cyborgs; post-humanism; nightmares. I’m intrigued by what lies in the liminal space between worlds, that silent void between one thought and another, where the in-breath stops and the out-breath starts. There’s a whole network of other dimensions out/in there and if you take a moment to train yourself, you can slip through the cracks and see them.

Do you create your looks and make up and do you change your look regularly?

I do the make up and I make the costumes, for the most part. I have a background in costume design, so it’s fun to dress FoxGlove.

Do you also have a favourite look and why is this so special?

I have no particular favourite look. It seems to be evolving all the time. I do, however, have certain attributes which are always part of FoxGlove’s look. These include two sigils which I have constructed myself, which form part of a larger magickal alphabet. FoxGlove always appears with red or silver hair, usually long, or in braids. Being that he dances a lot, he usually doesn’t wear very much, but the accoutrements he does appear with are often covered in spikes and jewels.


Do you have any inspirations or performers, artists, etc that influenced when you first started and also who influence you now?

Most of the inspiration comes from very unexpected places. I like Zuul from Ghostbusters. I liked the way they moved, the skin-tight iridescence and red eyes. I’m also drawn the way a lot of male anime characters look, even though I don’t know much about anime at all. There’s something very alien about them, a perfect mix between grace and strength, which comes naturally to FoxGlove.

For people that have never seen your performance, what can they expect on the night?

You can expect FoxGlove to manifest in the space and drag a portion of his universe with him, kinda like a goldfish in a bowl. We don’t quite know what his natural habitat looks like yet and it may even be beyond human senses or understanding. For that reason, there may be unexpected flashes of light, atmospheric disturbances, magical sigils and symbols, ritualistic acts, attempts at communication. FoxGlove is often armed with a golden sword, giving rise to speculation that he appeared to some of the prophets millennia ago.

Foxglove makes his debut at Berlin Berlin this Saturday May 20th alongside Marnie Scarlet, Cynth Icorn, Virgin Xtravaganzah, Syban, K Tyson and Alejandro Gocast at Egg London. Supplying the night’s party soundtrack are the Beste Modus crew headed up by Cinthie and featuring Diego Krause, stevn.aint.leavn and Ed Herbst whilst on the Terrace check out the Keinemusik family of &ME, Adam Port and Reznik whilst the
Sisyphos residents Jonty Skrufff, Fidelity Kastrow and Juli N. More are joined by Egg Residents Kyle E, Ireen Amnes and Fidel. The Loft features a sound clash from Homostash vs Kuntskammers vs Cockheart and all info at www.egglondon.co.uk