Gagged (EP)

Gagged
EP by
Violet Chachki
ReleasedJune 30, 2015
Genre
Length16:17
Label
Producer
Singles from Gagged
  1. "Bettie"
    Released: June 2, 2015
  2. "Vanguard"
    Released: June 30, 2015

Gagged is an extended play (EP) by American drag queen Violet Chachki. It was released digitally on June 30, 2015, through Sidecar Records and Producer Entertainment Group. Violet had won the seventh season of the reality competition series RuPaul's Drag Race, and decided to record an EP to expand her brand and to have her own music for videos and live performances. She was inspired by her past experience as a dominatrix's assistant and by Drag Race host RuPaul's work with branding and merchandising. Violet wrote all of the songs on Gagged with Tomas J. Costanza and Ashley Gordon. Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee co-wrote and co-produced a track for the EP.

A dance-pop, glam rock, and queer punk EP, Gagged is about sex and confidence, as well as gender expression, identity, and norms. Violet wanted her music to reflect her background modeling and performing in nightclubs throughout Atlanta. Violet referred to the EP as industrial music and electronic dance music (EDM). Music critics identified BDSM influences throughout the EP, most notably in its title. Violet likened her vocals to talking, and did not view herself as a singer.

Gagged received positive reviews from critics, who praised its production and overall approach, as well as Violet's personality. The EP was supported by two singles—"Bettie" and "Vanguard"—and both were promoted with music videos. Both songs and videos were highlighted in reviews. Critics considered "Bettie" one of the best songs by a RuPaul's Drag Race contestant, and Violet's aerial silk performance in the music video for "Vanguard" received positive attention. Gagged has appeared on three US Billboard charts, peaking at number 11 on the Top Dance Albums chart and number 48 on both the Independent Albums and the Heatseekers Albums charts.

Background and recording

Violet Chachki started performing in drag at age 19.[1] She[note 1] was primarily inspired by Bettie Page, a 1950s BDSM and pin-up model, and by sexual fetishism in general, feeling drawn to "the severity of it" and viewing it as an "extreme form of glamour and sexuality".[2] She modeled and performed in nightclubs throughout Atlanta, learning from other drag queens and from the Internet, and studied fashion design at Savannah College of Art and Design for a year.[3][4] After auditioning for the sixth season of the reality competition television show RuPaul's Drag Race, Violet Chachki participated in and won its seventh season in 2015.[2][4] As a contestant, she recorded a parody version of host RuPaul's 2014 single "Sissy That Walk", participated in a musical adaptation of a scene from John Waters's 1972 film Pink Flamingos, and covered RuPaul's 2007 song "Drop That Pimp" for the 2015 compilation album RuPaul Presents: CoverGurlz 2.[5]

I wanted to create something as a sort of soundtrack to the avant-garde visuals I create. I love fetish because the line between right and wrong is blurred in a controlled, safe way. It is harmless fun that can really give new meaning to someone’s otherwise humdrum life. I also love the fashion!

Violet decided to pursue music further after being inspired by RuPaul.[7][8] She wanted to emulate RuPaul's focus on branding and merchandising, describing music as a way to "present a total package to people".[8] Violet also preferred to have her own songs for performances and videos.[9] In the HuffPost, Oscar Raymundo wondered if this approach was indicative of drag's future, with "queen as auteur with complete creative control".[10] Violet took additional inspiration from her work as a dominatrix's assistant, as well as from clowns.[11][12] She described herself as a visual person and as often feeling like a clown, which she referred to as "kind of the only visual people had for entertainment" in the past.[12] In a 2025 interview with Out, Violet said that her intentions when first releasing music were promoting herself as "fetish-y [and] dark" and developing those aspects of her drag persona.[13]

For her extended play (EP), Gagged, Violet wrote all five of its tracks with Tomas J. Costanza and Ashley Gordon,[14][note 2] who have frequently worked with drag queens for their music.[16] The Guardian's Brian O'Flynn listed Constanza as an example of how RuPaul's Drag Race contestants often collaborate with the same songwriters and producers, typically for music that he considered "straight-to-dancefloor, bass-heavy bangers".[17] Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee co-wrote and co-produced the song "Bettie" after being contacted to send any "racy and bad ass" songs to Violet.[18][19] Costanza co-produced and mixed "Bettie", which was recorded at the Killingsworth Recording Company and mastered by Tom Coyne.[20]

Music and lyrics

Critics had varying opinions on Gagged's genre, referencing it as dance-pop, glam rock, and queer punk.[21] Tiffany Frandsen for Salt Lake City Weekly referred to the EP as "dance-pop electronic erotica".[3] Violet described Gagged as industrial music and electronic dance music (EDM), and said that it was influenced by what she would normally listen to while drinking wine.[2] She wanted her music to reflect her background in nightclubs, describing her goal for the EP as bring "a drag queen album to the next level".[22] In Harper's Bazaar India, Jishnu Bandyopadhyay felt that Violet's music had a "dark, more industrial sound", which he considered a "sonic counterpoint to the dazzling persona she presents on stage".[1]

Violet identified "Bettie", which she called dark, sexy, and upbeat, as representative of the EP.[8] Critics had varying opinions on the song's genre, associating it with EDM, electroclash, electronic music, and industrial music.[23] The track's production included what Pitchfork's Andy Emitt listed as "drum-machine pounding", a "grating, wobbly synth riff", race car sounds, and "digital androgyne cries of 'ohh!'".[24]

Gagged is about sex and confidence, as well as gender expression, identity, and norms.[6] Violet identified confidence as her primary message, especially when playing with gender.[3] Gender norms are both referenced and subverted in "Bettie",[24] and the Dallas Voice's J. Denton Bricker noted that the lyrics address "fetish roles and presentation versus reality".[25] Billboard journalists noted BDSM influences throughout the EP.[26][27] Oscar Raymundo said that by using Gagged as the title, Violet shows that she is a "fetish queen at heart".[10] Metro Weekly's Connor J. Hogan felt that Violet is "reminding us who’s in charge" with the EP, which he felt was focused on bondage.[28]

Frandsen interpreted the song titles—"Harlequin," "Vanguard" and "Show Off"—as having "no shame, no secrets".[3] "Vanguard" is about how queer people can find support and strength together, which Violet likened to a military unit, and being a leader in the drag community.[12][29] While promoting Gagged, Violet did not identify as a singer, saying that she instead used "more sexy talking and raspy vocals, dark and fetishy".[10] Emitt described Violet as performing "Bettie" with a "scratchy voice", which he compared to Madonna's vocals for her 1992 single "Erotica".[24]

Release and promotion

Sidecar Records and Producer Entertainment Group released Gagged on June 30, 2015, on digital marketplaces, such as the iTunes Store, and streaming services.[30] It was later credited as being made available through Violet Chachki LLC.[31] The EP has appeared on three US Billboard charts, peaking at number 11 on the Top Dance Albums chart and number 48 on both the Independent Albums and the Heatseekers Albums charts.[32] In 2025, Violet said that she has forgotten about her older music and has considered removing some of her songs from Spotify. Bernardo Sim of Out wrote that she may not identify with the "freak-in-the-sheets" persona for "Bettie".[13]

Singles

"Bettie" was made available as Gagged's lead single on June 2, 2015.[10] The song was supported by a music video, which had premiered the previous day. The top three finalists of RuPaul's Drag Race's seventh season—Violet, Ginger Minj, and Pearl—had released music videos for their singles on the same day.[33] Michael Serrato directed the video for "Bettie",[20] which begins in a kitchen with Violet styled as what Tiffany Frandsen described as a "bored but sensual Donna Reed".[3] The tone shifts in the song's chorus, as Violet sexually dominates two young men and uses erotic electrostimulation on them.[3][24] Violet wanted the video to explore dualities with sexual fetishism and was inspired by how Bettie Page stopped modeling to be a born-again Christian.[34] Music critics have named "Bettie" as one of the best songs by a RuPaul's Drag Race contestant.[35] Andy Emitt praised the single and its music video for challenging how sexuality is typically shown, especially by having a femme, genderqueer person as the dominant.[24]

"Vanguard" was promoted as Gagged's second single on June 30, 2015.[36] In the music video, which was also directed by Serrato, Violet is targeted by transphobic men at a fast-food restaurant and customers help her to fight against them.[37] The video was inspired by an incident in which Violet was harassed in an Australian McDonald's, although she clarified that it did not involve physical confrontation.[25] Scenes are interspersed of Violet doing a striptease as part of an aerial silk performance, which was highlighted in reviews.[38]

Critical reception

Gagged received a positive response from some critics for its production and overall approach.[39] Joe Lynch for Billboard appreciated that Violet avoided camp in favor of a more artistic style for her music.[26][note 3] In Out & About Newspaper, Stephen Wyatt referred to the EP as being "five dynamic club tracks that make you want to get up and dance",[12] and Tiffany Frandsen described the songs as "smoky, coy, and energetic".[3] Violet's attitude on Gagged was also praised.[3][25] While discussing the EP, Frandsen wrote that Violet consistently demonstrated a sense of confidence,[3] and J. Denton Bricker felt that she had a "unique and enduring spunkiness".[25]

Track listing

All tracks were written by Violet Chachki, Tomas J. Costanza, and Ashley Gordon, except where noted. Credits adapted from Spotify and WOW Presents Plus:[note 4] 

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Bettie"
  • Costanza
  • Lee
3:09
2."Harlequin"  3:31
3."La Petite Mort"  2:53
4."Vanguard"  3:15
5."Show Off"  3:29
Total length:16:17

Personnel

Credits adapted from Spotify and WOW Presents Plus:[14][20]

Notes

  1. ^ Violet Chachki uses both she/her and they/them pronouns.[1] The article uses feminine pronouns for Violet for consistency and to match what is used in the citations.
  2. ^ Several articles refer to Gagged as an album rather than an EP,[15] and during an interview with the Gay Times, Violet also references it as an album.[8]
  3. ^ Camp is often associated with drag queens.[40]
  4. ^ Gagged is only available digitally,[12] and streaming services, such as Spotify, only credit songwriters for the tracks.[14] WOW Presents Plus offers more complete credits for the song “Bettie”.[20]

References

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c Bandyopadhyay 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Nahmod 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Frandsen 2015.
  4. ^ a b Ho 2015.
  5. ^ Avery 2015; Malice 2015; Sava 2015; WOWPresents 2015
  6. ^ a b Dalton 2015.
  7. ^ Preston 2015.
  8. ^ a b c d e Clayton-Wright 2015, p. 52.
  9. ^ Clayton-Wright (2015), p. 52; Dalton 2015; Raymundo 2015
  10. ^ a b c d Raymundo 2015.
  11. ^ Vivinetto 2015b.
  12. ^ a b c d e Wyatt 2015.
  13. ^ a b Sim 2025.
  14. ^ a b c Spotify 2015.
  15. ^ Bricker 2015; Dalton 2015; Hogan 2015; Nahmod 2015; Vivinetto 2015a
  16. ^ Summers 2024.
  17. ^ O'Flynn 2019.
  18. ^ Parker 2015.
  19. ^ Lee 2020.
  20. ^ a b c d WOW Presents Plus.
  21. ^ Frandsen 2015; Hogan 2015; Volmers 2025
  22. ^ Violet Chachki 2015a, p. 48.
  23. ^ a b Emitt 2015; Lynch 2019; Torres 2015; Vivinetto 2015a
  24. ^ a b c d e Emitt 2015.
  25. ^ a b c d Bricker 2015.
  26. ^ a b Lynch 2019.
  27. ^ Youtt 2018.
  28. ^ Hogan 2015.
  29. ^ Hernandez 2015.
  30. ^ Frandsen 2015; Producer Entertainment Group; Spotify 2015; Wyatt 2015
  31. ^ Amazon Music 2015; Apple Music 2015; Spotify 2015; Tidal 2015
  32. ^ Billboard A; Billboard B; Youtt 2018
  33. ^ Vivinetto 2015a.
  34. ^ Reynolds 2015.
  35. ^ Emitt 2015; Lynch 2019; Torres 2015
  36. ^ The Advocate 2015.
  37. ^ Violet Chachki 2015; Hernandez 2015; Wyatt 2015
  38. ^ Bricker 2015; Vivinetto 2015b; Wyatt 2015
  39. ^ Frandsen 2015; Hogan 2015; Lynch 2019; Wyatt 2015
  40. ^ Newton 2002, p. 442.

Citations

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