Katrina Rees
Yorkshire pop-rock singer-songwriter YUNGBLUD is the cover star for the September ‘Style’ issue of Attitude Magazine. In addition to covering the issue, in an accompanying interview the artist – real name Dominic Harrison – got candid about sexuality, smashing gender issues and his battles with mental health issues.
YUNGBLUD isn’t one to shy away from wearing whatever he feels comfortable in, and in the interview he spoke with Attitude’s Tom Stitchbury about blurring the boundaries when it comes to clothing and gender stereotypes.
“That’s why I fucking wear a dress on stage. We’ve been brought up with such boundaries: woman wears dress, man sees woman’s curves, you can make baby. Western civilisation put women in dresses and men in trousers. Before that, in medieval times, every fucker wore a dress,” he said.
“I wake up one day and want to look girly as fuck, and I’ll wake up the next and walk out of the house in a Fred Perry polo shirt looking like I’ll beat the shit of out you. I’ll be Anita from West Side Story then suddenly transform into Liam Gallagher.”
Embracing fluidity in every sense, YUNGBLUD also commented on his sexuality, stating: “I am more straight. [But If] I walked down the street and met a fucking bloke tomorrow, or a trans person, you never know. It’s about connection. I’m very fluid about it.”
During the interview, the ‘Hope for the Underrated Youth’ singer was also very frank about this battle with mental health issues. Speaking to Attitude, he said: “I came to London to be liberated, to be able to paint my nails, to fucking try sex with a guy, to try everything, to fulfil my fantasies and figure out who I am. Ultimately, it was a massive journey to being comfortable in myself. But in that journey, I got more confused…”
“[I’d get] blazed and fucked up. Then I’d sit in my room and cry my fucking eyes out… I [still] have to get talked off the ledge 10 times a day, but I know who I am now. There is always the dark part in everyone’s brain. You wake up in the morning, you’ve got a knot in your stomach and you don’t know why. But you just have to tell yourself that it’s fine, breathe, go for a walk, make love to your girlfriend or boyfriend, anything that will make it better.”
YUNGBLUD’s full interview with Attitude Magazine is available now.
