Q-FILES: Queerantine with Lavrence

Photographed by Eloise Irwin / @hey.eloise_

I first came across Lavrence via social media and was in awe of his confidence and overall vibe. From his beautifully crafted music (which you should totally stream), to his photos which will send you down a gorgeous mystical/punk/queer rabbit hole.

So, when I thought of interviewing and photographing people with Eloise in a space which was essential for them during COVID, Lavrence was an obvious choice. If you don’t know of him already, after reading this Q+A and seeing these photos you’d totally understand why as well.

Lavrence, 29, He/Him - @lavrence

What has quarantine been like for you? Quarantine was absolute purgatory. Having to be so still forced me to confront myself in a way I hadn’t for a long time.

As a queer person, has this time changed the way you view our community in terms of support? It has only solidified my love for the queer community. As fate would have it, my last single ‘Nightshade’ was released just as we went into lockdown in Sydney. I wasn’t sure anyone would care about a song during such a devastating and uncertain time, but the support was heart-warming. I was reminded of the history and unbreakable strength of our community with the way we banded together and held space for each other online.

If you were to quarantine with one high profile person who’d it be and why? English songwriter and producer; Justin Parker. Justin creates such beautifully vulnerable and honest songs. Capturing the internal journey of quarantine with him in song-form would have been incredibly special and such a time capsule.

How do you feel about the direction our society is going in, especially with important movements like BLM and the defunding of the police, LGBT+ rights and visability? I think more of the privileged and ignorant are being forced to see the many injustices in the world which gives me hope for change. The growth in class consciousness due to the pandemic has also been exciting and daunting.

Who do you live with and have you faced any challenges? I live with my two brothers. We all have such different ways of handling conflict which has at times made things challenging and because we’re family; we perhaps lack some of the social boundaries of a friend or roommate so things can escalate rather quickly.

Words of advice for anyone who is experiencing mental health issues during this time? Meditate in the mornings and stay connected to your loved ones. I have a habit of isolating when I’m feeling down however, this year I’ve learnt the grounding effects of maintaining your close connections. We’re a social species – we quite literally wouldn’t survive without love and that’s an important thing to recognise.

What’s the first thing you want to do/change once the restrictions have been completely lifted? I want to socialise more purely for joy. I think before this year, I saw success predominantly through the eyes of capitalism, to the point where my humanity was a little compromised.

Has this experience changed the way you view dating? Will your standards be different now when it comes to meeting potential lovers? I feel more of an inclination to be vulnerable. I also want to be more cognisant of my ego when entering relationships to make sure I’m acting from a place of compassion for myself and others.

What has your personal journey been like through this time? I essentially had to go back and re-lean a lot of the lessons that birthed “LAVRENCE”. I’ve spent a lot of time this year confronting painful parts of myself in order to heal and find genuine strength and alignment with who I really am.

Have you had a mantra throughout isolation? If so, can you share that with us? Let yourself feel it to heal it.

If there is anything else you’d like to add, please feel free. Thank you for connecting with me and for creating this platform. Every queer person who creates a place where our community is recognised and celebrated changes the fabric of society little by little.

Q-FILES: Queerantine with Lavrence

Q-FILES: Getting Cosy with Rosey

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