Now, Back To Me! with Denice Bourbon

It all began on a pre-corona spring evening where Denice went through yet another post-performance panic, hyperventilating between the sips of French rosé.

"How do other people do this?? Am I the only one rolling around in this mud of self-doubt and imposter syndrome? Will this ever end??"

27 months and 30 Podcasts later Philipp the Producer and the Queen of unnecessary agony sat down with a bottle of pink sparkling wine and did some nostalgia reminiscing on this beautiful journey they've been on together since early 2019. Because they've reached the end, dear friends. Through all the inspirational conversations with all these amazing people, Denice is pretty much cured from all those fears and insecurities that are such classic symptoms of how fucked up patriarchy and capitalism is.

It's been a great ride. Thank you all ❤

It‘s not everyday that a wannabe diva like Denice Bourbon gets to sit down with a real life bonafide opera singer. And when you are being Divas together you have to drink bubbles, even if it has started to become an old choice of drink for this podcast. Find out how a member of the cool quartet with the kickin‘ name of „Strolling Strings“ in Bismarck, North Dakota found her way to the stages of Vienna and how it happened that her voice found her when she didn‘t even know she was looking for it. Between all the sweet and hilarioius anecdotes Denice learned a lot of new things about opera and how it‘s not as far away from punk rock as one might think. And now you will too!

This special meeting called for Champagne, and although one sip was enough to

make this episodes’ guest mildly tipsy, it still was both classy and worth it.

The musician, artist, club promoter and producer had finished their latest music video just minutes before Bourbon and Bevanda arrived, but still had time to prepare tiny little sandwiches for everyone to nibble on. And that is just how Duffy is; constantly busy doing something and everything. Denice and Duffy try to meet up once a year to have some deep-talk, and this time the only difference was that they did it on record; to share it with you. Hear the 2 unlikely friends talk about dyke-skills, having big big plans, childhood kidnappings, importance of community, frequencies and find out if Duffy is a peach lover or a nectarine fan.

Denice was a bit overly talkative and excited on this rainy evening in March in her kitchen when she met the brilliant musician and producer Veronica, who you all know by the name of Farce.

The recording had to be made in Casa Bourbon because of an insecure cat that the electronic music master and her partner newly adopted, which gave Denice the possibility to really go all in with the coffee brewing, coffee being the beverage of choice for this episodes guest. Enjoy Vienna’s new Lesbian Yoda share her thoughts and tricks on how to navigate through life and work, especially if you are fighting mental illnesses and challenges, and try to blend out the parts of Bourbon that get just a little bit too intense.

Making cocktails is not Denice Bourbon’s strong side, too much stuff and too much work.

So she did her best to pretend to forget that her guest loves a good Negroni and packed a bag full of Aperol and Prosecco instead, because, also Italian, also aperitivo but less ingredients and still delicious. A good ol’ classic no-nonsense drink, which fits this episode’s guest perfectly. Meet the marvellous DJ, entrepreneur and founder of many feminist platforms, Therese Terror! Equipped with a sense of motivation that Bourbon wouldn’t know what it was if it spanked her in the butt, the brilliant Therese gives us a little peak into what life is like when you make your plans and ideas actually happen outside your daydreams. Where you’d never say things like “too much stuff & too much work”. And finally you’ll find the answers to questions like “Which electronic music genre is most full of dudey dudes?”, “What do you do when you realise you planned the completely wrong set? Hide and die? and “Who is the mysterious Drum ‘n’ Bass soldier?”

Almost a decade ago, an intimidated and starstruck Denice bought a playback track for a bottle of fine Vodka from the by far coolest piano player in Vienna. Years later they find themselves in the same show (SODOM VIENNA – DIE REVUE) as well as sharing the same love for their favourite aperitivo; Averna with a lot of sour. Meet Elise Mory; the fascinating super talent who makes you question what a coincidence really is. Do we make choices, or are we chosen by circumstances? And how is it really to be part of a left-leaning, and still so very white, alternative/punk scene as a woman of colour? And are all the things we always thought about a proper jazz audience true?

We're back, darlings!! After some real struggle with motivation and a desperate search for the angel of inspiration, Denice got a text in mid January from Philipp the Producer that said; "what about Faris as a guest?" to which she yelled out into the world "YES!! They is the one!!!" With a bag full of italian lemon soda and pink prosecco they entered the TürkisRosaLila Villa to meet with the beyond fabulous Faris Cuchi Gezahegn to talk about activism, strategies and the origin of christianity. Denice found new ways on how to deal with imposter syndrome and the best ways to confront hypocritical homo- and transphobia. And as always with Faris; all of this being deep and profound avec sass and glitter!

Denice Bourbon yet again packed a bottle of wine and finally left her backyard for a visit to Dutzi, her decade long stage partner at the mother of queer clubs in Vienna 'Gender Crash' which will say good bye forever on October 17 with a covid-secure last night of performances and party. Wanting to try a new approach to the podcast by leaving the same old questions at home, Bourbon ended up learning how little she knows about wine, the 'Velvet Rage' and how the reason for Dutzi ditching dragqueendom is much less dramatic than she thought. Them announcing the song at the end floated away on the stream of bloodred wine; so here it is in writing: “shave” from the most legendary queer band in Vienna: POP:SCH

In German! Auf Deutsch!

For the last summertime podcast Denice got 3 different type of drinks, all symbolising a different part of her guest's intriguing personality. Listen to the 'Legends of Entertainment' – colleagues reminisce and rant about crustpunks, the good/bad old days and find out why the artist, author and entertainment genius Stefanie Sargnagel isn't having it with the imposter syndrome-thing.

Some people just know how to enjoy life to the fullest, and their ability to put some diamond dust on the tiniest everyday life things should be an inspiration to us all!

When Denice invited the bona fide film journalist Julia over for some Prosecco in her garden,

she had no idea in what direction their conversation would go. It turned out that smelling good and accepting death are truly the best ways to overcome your fears and insecurities!