Chocolate diva!

>> Kevin Aviance seeks mainstream breakthrough with wild genderplay

by MATTHEW HAYS

Believe it or not, Kevin Aviance began his career in the church. That's right, the Manhattan sensation who's been shaking up the underground scene with such singles as "Rhythm Is My Bitch" and "Cunty" credits his musical awakening to singing in a Virginia church.

"And my mother," he explains. "She was always singing around the house and I loved it."

Aviance's unique energy manifests itself in an outrageous stage show, one that often begins with him devouring a phallic-shaped chocolate bar, then launching into a series of his hits. His show has proven so popular that he's now played gay pride events around the world, including Sydney's Mardi Gras and Berlin's Love Parade. "I just got back from Berlin, there were a million people there. The energy in Europe is so different. It was amazing!"

Aviance's CV is expanding at a rapid rate, having worked with some of the top DJs in the biz, including Danny Tenaglia and Junior Vasquez. He has his own entourage, The House of Aviance, which accompanies him on his international gigs. And his soon-to-be-released album includes a new single, "Alive," which he'll be performing during his appearance in Montreal. His management has made no bones about the fact that they'd like this to become a mainstream breakthrough. But with past titles like "Cunty," Aviance concedes his act can come on a bit strong for some industry types and audiences. "My world is very in-your-face," he says. "Cunty is just gay street slang. But the single got banned in London." As well, Aviance has a supporting role in the upcoming film Punks, an independent film about the gay African-American experience. Aviance plays--what else?--a club diva.

Aviance believes in love and positive energy, something he tries to convey in his show. Any downside to the current state of gaydom? "I'm African-American, and we still have a hard time within the gay community. I find Canada really amazing in that respect. It seems there are so many different races there and very little racism that I can see."

Kevin Aviance will perform as part of Divers/Cité's New Society show on Friday, August 3 at Place émilie-Gamelin