VASSY to headline Darwin Pride among packed list of NT events

Ahead of headlining Darwin’s first-ever queer pride music festival, VASSY reveals how being kicked out of her school choir spurred her on to become a global superstar.

Annabel Bowles

3 min read

June 8, 2023 - 3:52PM

Northern Territory

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From Ludmilla to Los Angeles, electronic dance music icon VASSY has had her fair share of setbacks.

Vassy Karagiorgos was kicked out of her school choir as a teen, told she “didn’t really have the chops”.

Today she is a multi-platinum award-winning artist who has created chart-topping hits with David Guetta and Tiesto, performing at some of the biggest music festivals in the world.

This month she’s returning to her home turf to headline Darwin’s very first queer Pride music festival.

“It’s sentimental for me because I was born and raised in Darwin, I left in my early 20s to pursue my career,” she said.

“It’s just really nice to come home and do that for the community.”

EDM superstar VASSY was born and raised in Darwin, NT. Picture: Anna Azarov Photography // Supplied

VASSY’s performance in the Top End on June 24 will mark another notch on a string of Pride performances, including at Sydney World Pride last year and Sonoma Pride in California earlier this month.

She said it comes at a “challenging” time with anti-drag laws recently passed in Tennessee and closer to home, Darwin’s pride mural being repeatedly defaced with homophobic slurs.

“Because Darwin is so remote, it’s not easy for the young generation to always jump on a plane and go to all the Pride (events) in Sydney or Melbourne,” VASSY said.

“To be able to have their very own Pride … it’s so important.

“The reason I love performing at Pride is because it’s just a place where anyone could feel safe.

“You just come to dance, have a good time and listen to music … it’s all about love, positivity and acceptance.”

VASSY’s song Bad made the APRA AMCOS one billion list and a billboard in Times Square. Picture: SUPPLIED

VASSY also wants to inspire young people in Darwin to chase their dreams, despite any hurdles that may come their way.

“I was really ambitious and I had a sound that wasn’t quintessentially Australian, you know I wasn’t like a Delta Goodrem or a Missy Higgins,” she said.

“It was hard to find my lane … but it’s so important to remain authentic to yourself.

“Even though by doing that I probably missed out on a lot of opportunities along the way, I always say rejections are simply redirections.”

VASSY recently made history by becoming the first woman to win the EDMA ICON Award, while her latest release Pieces has hit the top spot in the UK Music Week and US Billboard Dance Charts.

Her platinum hit BAD with David Guetta has now had over two billion streams while Secrets, created with Tiesto and Kshmr, has reached number one in more than 30 countries.

Tickets to her Darwin Pride show in Civic Park can be bought at topendpride.com.au

Pride Month to feature Darwin’s first queer music festival

The Territory’s first ever queer music festival along with arts, storytelling and cabaret shows are among a busy Pride Month calendar this month.

Joining in with celebrations across the world this June, the festivities kick off with Sugarbag Festival in Darwin this weekend before travelling to Palmerston, Katherine and back.

Top End Pride deputy chair David Toro said the month’s final four-day event – which is headlining Darwin-born “international EDM icon” VASSY – would be the biggest Pride program so far.

Pride Month festivities will run across the Northern Territory this June. Dion Padan, Equality and Inclusion Minister Lauren Moss, Ben Graetz and David Toro officially launched the month-long celebration on Tuesday. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“Our theme this year is embrace difference, somewhere different,” he said.

“We have over 30 different events – there is literally an event for everyone.

“At (each) of these events we’re providing a platform to amplify diversity, inclusivity and creativity.”

The LGBTIQ+ community came together to paint over the Darwin rainbow flag mural, which has been vandalised three times this year alone. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

It comes just months after repeated vandal attacks on the rainbow flag mural in Austin Lane, which Darwin drag performer Ben Graetz said impacted the entire community.

Mr Graetz, who is also the Sugarbag Festival co-curator, said Pride Month was about achieving equality for all.

“We are having great parties and we are having great events, but at the core of it we are still fighting for equality,” he said.

“It’s about celebrating us as a community, and love always wins.”

Pride Month kicks off with Sugarbag Festival this weekend. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Mr Graetz, who is a Iwaidja, Malak Malak and Torres Strait Islander man, said 50 per cent of the Sugarbag Festival program involved First Nations queer artists.

Equality and Inclusion Minister Lauren Moss said the upcoming events acknowledged the “trailblazers” of the community.

“We acknowledge the history of pride and the many fights that have happened over many decades for rights,” she said.