By Larry Olsen
Born and raised in suburban Chicago, Queen Sir JET struggled with gender dysmorphia throughout
her youth. It wasn’t until adulthood —after moving to Hollywood—that she fully embraced her true identity. Her musical evolution, from her 2012 dance-pop debut EP Shoutout to the Lonely to her critically acclaimed 2020 album Empowered Bottom, reflects her unwavering commitment to authenticity. Recurring themes of loneliness, self-worth, and the blurred line between fantasy and reality run through all her work. While she once leaned on metaphors and kept her lyrics largely gender-neutral, her latest EP, The Torture of Consent, marks a bold shift. This time, she is unapologetically herself, proudly using “she” and “the girl I am” in her lyrics. “I have less to lose with this project,” she shares. “I’ve already been rejected by the mainstream
music industry and blacklisted by every gay adult film studio. I’m no longer working with anyone who
tells me I can’t do something. I’m truly free of expectations.”
From her home in Los Angeles, Queen Sir JET opens up about her journey.
Larry Olsen: What do you hope listeners take away from The Torture of Consent—both
musically and emotionally?
Queen Sir JET: I hope for empathy. I hope people will listen to these songs and be able to relate to the
things I say. I want them to know that their sadness, loneliness, and sense of failure are all gifts. Turn
pain into art, into self-expression. That is the true reward of the doom and gloom. I also love a good
treadmill song for the gym, so I hope these are songs can move a person too.
LO: You have said that The Torture of Consent was inspired by a dream.
QSJ: I wish I could remember what happened in that dream, but the phrase that came from it is all I can recall. I wrote it down as fast as I could in the middle of the night.
LO: What exactly is the phrase referring to?
QSJ: For much of my life, I have agreed to do things that I knew weren’t right. Simple things like
signing a contract with someone who I intuitively knew was untrustworthy but because I was so
desperate to move ahead with my career, I agreed to their terms. Then several months later, after they
reneged on their promises, I was left broke from paying for the things they insisted I pay for. Also,
complicated things like having sex with someone I was not into - afraid that if I said no, they would feel hurt and do something bad to me.
LO: So, The Torture of Consent is living with the pain of regret?
QSJ: Yes. Prior to hearing that phrase in my dream, it never occurred to me that I shouldn’t live
in a constant state of shame. I knew then that I needed to accept the past and stop beating myself up for my mistakes. I needed to let go of the torturous pain and move on.
LO: You launched the EP last year with its first single, “Male Femininity.”
QSJ: I wrote “Male Femininity” as a message to myself that I need to stop caring what people think of me. I thought that by being open about my gender, it was helping people find their true selves. It turns out, I was making people uncomfortable, because many are not ready to face their own gender duality.
LO: Along with EP, you are releasing your new single, “Release Me,” a high-energy anthem with introspective lyrics.
QSJ: The whole idea of “Release Me” is letting go of one’s hopes and dreams. We can hope and pray for what we want in life. We can push ourselves to our limits, spend fortunes trying to get what we want. In the end though, the universe decides what we get.
LO: What dreams are you letting go of?
QSJ: Like most pop singers, I was so focused on the idea of being famous.
I wanted to be popular and feel wanted. I had to let go of those dreams. It hasn’t been easy. I was
crying my eyes out writing those lyrics. I had to take multiple breaks. My new goal is to be heard. I have this powerful message about gender and self acceptance that would help so many people if I
could only reach them.
LO: You’ve cited Loreen’s “Euphoria” as an influence on “Release Me.” What is it about that song’s energy and style that resonates with you?
QSJ: I honestly don’t think a more perfect song has ever been created. The build is just so
incredible: how it starts almost classical and becomes this dance masterpiece. It’s a happy
song, although the melody is so somber. That’s musical brilliance. I remember an interview with (singer)
Robyn, and the interviewer asked her a similar question: something along
the lines of “why is Swedish pop music so perfectly crafted?” She said it was because the sun rarely shines in Sweden and so Swedes are really unhappy people who turn pain into beautiful art. I really resonate with that.
LO: What’s next for you?
QSJ: I’ve already started writing the next album. Nothing is set in stone yet, but I would love to perform Market Days! Hint, hint!
Follow Queen Sir JET on
Instagram @ iamqueensirjet
