Drums of Death - "FIERCE" featuring. Azealia Banks and Franklin Fuentes

THUMP UK are proud to present an exclusive first look of Drums of Death's brand new video, "FIERCE", featuring Azealia Banks and Franklin Fuentes. Visuals by Greenaway & Greenaway. You can download the full version for free here, and follow Drums of Death and Franklin Fuentes on Twitter.

Along with the video exclusive, we caught up with Drums of Death and NYC ballroom legend Franklin Fuentes to talk about working together on the track, how the collaboration engages with ballroom music and culture, and what "FIERCE" means to them.

THUMP: How did you come to work with Azealia Banks and Franklin Fuentes, and what was it about both of them that appealed to you as a producer in the first place?

Drums of Death: I originally made "FIERCE" by taking Franklin's vocal from an old StrictIy Rhythm 12" record. It's a really cool spoken-word part. I emailed Franklin to ask if we could give the track away, as that was the original version. When I met Azealia around two years ago to work on her album, I either played her "FIERCE" or she just heard it somewhere. She loved it, and wanted to do a version for her "Fantasea" mixtape. This new one now is the first full version with Azealia's and Franklin's vocals. It's also mastered by my mate Kelly Hibbert (Alma Chrome), who masters like a boss. He does all the Stones Throw stuff, and more club tunes now too. Franklin is just awesome. He was up for re-recording his vocals in New York with my friend Kotchy. It freshened up the recording, and Franklin's as fierce as ever.

What was your thought process with the making of the track?

Drums of Death: Well, it had to be stripped back and kind of raw for Franklin's voice. That's what I concentrated on. Here's the thing. I'm a straight, white guy from a fishing town in the Scottish Highlands. I'm not going to roll up and say I know loads about the ballroom scene. I don't want to appropriate someone's culture like that. But the music, that's where you'll find me.

I wanted to make a twisted-out tune for Franklin's vocal. I knew the ideas surrounding ballroom culture, but it took a dancer friend from L.A. to send me Paris Is Burning to really fill in the history for me. I then asked Franklin questions about it, as he knew a lot of the people in the film. There's something beautiful in people, despite all the hardships they've endured, expressing themselves in that way. Being defiant. Wanting to create a world where they can be the person they always wanted to be… even if it's ultimately a world of illusion.

The theme of the track is fierce: what does fierce mean to you?

Drums of Death: Ha, good question. Being confident in what you do. Oh hell, that sounds so boring and dry! "FIERCE" I think is: "Looking good, feeling good and sounding good".

THUMP: Hi Franklin! You're a real legend of the NYC ball scene. How did you hook up with Azealia Banks and Drums of Death on this track?

Franklin Fuentes: I was unfamiliar with Drums of Death. He actually approached me through Facebook! He told me that he was a fan of my music, and that he had an amazing idea for us to potentially collaborate. I accepted his offer and about a month and a half later, he'd completed the original version of "FIERCE" with only my vocals and lyrics on it. He began to play it, and it really started to make NOISE. A few months later, he was in the studio with Azealia and he played it to her. She loved it, recorded some of her own vocals for it, and released it on her mixtape "Fantasea". The rest is history.

Azealia Banks is a very strong figure, and clearly loves ball culture. What does she represent to you?

Franklin Fuentes: I love Azealia because she is a breathe of fresh air, especially in the rap scene. She is doing something very bold and different. I love that she's introducing new things like the ball scene, the underground, downtown scene, and many other gay/LGBT cultures to what is a very closed-minded and homophobic genre of music. She's also doing it without trying too hard, and just by being herself. She is doing positive things by bridging the gap. Even before we collaborated I was a huge fan of Azealia, and I'll support her forever. L-O-V-E H-E-R.

The track and video are a clear homage to the ball scene. How do you feel the scene has grown and changed over the years, especially after the massive exposure of Paris Is Burning, and Pony Zion Garcon's role on America's Best Dance Crew TV show? I can imagine these must have been huge turning points, but not always necessarily for the better.

Franklin Fuentes: The ball scene was a very wonderful, taboo, and also very tight underground scene. Almost like a secret society. If you were there, you were in it and accepted by it, and you supported it TO THE FULLEST. During the original run of the Paris is Burning documentary, the entire gay community did cringe with fearful thoughts of our cultures darkest secrets being totally exposed all at one. I think that many members of our community had expected a definite backlash from that film; not really knowing if it would be a positive or a negative one. Luckily, the entire downtown scene embraced our culture. This lead to the ball scene merging with the artsy and celebrity crowds; Patricia Fields boutiques, ALL of the 90s supermodels, Madonna. Even though we were wary of change, everything must evolve.

At the time, the ball scene also had some negative connotations associated to it. The houses and the abuse of power, burglary (of designer outfits to wear to the balls) prostitution and homelessness. I was extremely fortunate because my family always accepted me and my lifestyle. Many were cast out to the streets by their families because of their sexual preference and because of this, many underage gay youths felt forced into the seedy side of gay life. This caused many to become HIV positive but merging with the downtown celebrities put a more positive light on the scene, such as members of the newer generation of the LGBT community like Pony Zion Garcon.

I love the fact that they are spreading awareness to the Midwest via TV dance competitions and reality shows. People are only afraid of what they don't know. Now, we are no longer hidden secrets or mysteries. The world is changing, and we're being accepted more as normal. We are your friends, your sons and daughters, your family, positive contributors to society. A definite GOOD THING.

I heard Pony Zion Garcon and DJ Sprinkles speak this year about how the internet has changed not only how people view the original ballroom culture, but how it's a culture that actually shouldn't be filmed and spread beyond the balls. That it kills the specialness of Being There. Do you agree?

Franklin Fuentes: First of all, I think every gay person should see Paris Is Burning. It is part of our history. It is our Bible, and most just because of ball scenes and the footage (which is stellar by the way), but it also because it shows these main characters outside of the scene and in their everyday lives. I actually think the film has something to offer to everyone, and it manages this with humour too. NOTHING is the same as the feeling you get when you're actually there in person but, at the same time, I don't think that any real experience is lessened, cheapened, or further ruined by also (or by only) seeing it on film.

I think what is upsetting to many (like Pony Zion Garcon and DJ Sprinkles) is the EXTREME homogenising; the immense mass producing, the shameful, instant mainstreaming, and definitely the inevitable act of WHITE-WASHING an action or culture. No one ever likes to feel that their culture is up for sale, and then to know that elements of it aren't being portrayed or displayed correctly. Two examples of this that come to mind immediately are Miley Cyrus's blame for twerking and Madonna's for Vogueing. Real fans know these are both false. I don't think that others would mind their cultures being exposed to the masses if it were done properly.

Finally, what inspired you to work on "FIERCE", and what does fierce mean to you?

Franklin Fuentes: I think that the spirit of FIERCE-ness has evolved for the better with the overexposure of our culture. Again, I will say that this has shown "Us" in a better, more positive and, dare I say, a more "normal" way. This can only expand our self esteems to a greater pride. Fierce is open to everyone's own personal interpretation. To me, it represents freedom to be one's own self. Never having to hide; the epitome of everything, paramount and opulence. This is what I carried with me during the making of all of my music. The track puts this across by inspiring self belief and confidence in all that hear it.