In the years since Purple Crush released an LP, this veteran club couple entered Ballroom, parenthood and TV in a whirlwind of spins and dips. In 2020, Isla led the House of Ebony on Season 1 of Legendary (HBO Max), and Purple Crush had 20 tracks on the show. This year Purple Crush holds the title of Music Supervisors for Season 2.
Purple Crush joined the Ballroom community 8 years ago, making a mark in LA with their event Banjee Ball. Soon after, Isla rose as a prominent voguer, winning Woman Voguer Of the Year in New York (2017), and becoming a house parent for the Iconic House of Ebony. Also in that time, Isla and Jared gave birth to their own child, stayed active with their events, and went viral with pregnant voguing videos. It only made sense to call the new album “BALLROOM BABY”, and it is a diary for Ball kids. The tracks are laced with the sounds of Ballroom music, yet these are not your typical bangers. Much like their Blog House EP “Welcome 2 Emo Club”, this album is drenched in vulnerable emotions.
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The title track, “Ballroom Baby” speaks directly to the transformation of the Female Figure in Ballroom. Whether a trans woman, a cis woman, or a butch queen in drag, something divine happens when she taps into feminine expression. The video stars Selena from the House of West, and is narrated by a shadow female figure that graces the album cover artwork.
“Thick Skin” debuts poetry by LA based trans artist Daphne Von Rey, and references the famous line from Venus Xtravaganza in Paris is Burning “touch this skin darling”. The music video stars Daphne and Mother Gia Banks from the House of Tischi (Season 2 Legendary).
“Safe Space” is a song written days after the Orlando shooting. Purple Crush had a Banjee Ball scheduled that day, and the grief and fear felt that night as the community gathered in one of its safe spaces inspired the lyrics.
“Heart of the City”, the only song with roots dating back to Purple Crush’s Brooklyn days in the 2000s, resurfaced to be completed amidst the isolating pandemic lockdown and post Legendary Season 1 recovery.
“Step into the Light” is a song that borrows music they did for an episode on Season 2 of Legendary. It was produced the night they found out about the passing of their dear friend, collaborator and mentor DJVjuan Allure, an educator in House music and one of the originators of Ballroom music. The song will be used in a NYX Makeup Pride campaign next month.
“Hold my Purse” and “A Moment” flash the kind of cockiness necessary when walking a category. “Hold my Purse” features Purple Crush’s daughter, Zarah, and may be recognized for borrowing music heard on the House of Ebony’s Wild Wild West production from Episode 4 on Legendary.
Previously released singles “Witch Stunt” and “Woman Voguing like a Butch Queen” carry collaborations with Legendary commentator Kevin JZ Prodigy, and the Icon Monet Ebony.
Tracklist:
- Ballroom Baby
- Woman Voguing Like A Butch Queen ft. Monet Ebony
- Slow & Steady
- Hold My Purse
- Don’t Wanna Wait
- Hey Sis
- Thick Skin ft. Daphne Von Rey
- Into The Light
- Heart Of The City
- A Moment
- Our Space
- Witch Stunt ft. Kevin JZ
