The New Gay » Ask A Straight Girl: Hej Hej’s Natalya Minkovsky

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Ask A Straight Girl: Hej Hej’s Natalya Minkovsky

26 February 2008, 5:27 pm No Comments

This post was submitted by zack

Hej Hej happens tonight at Cafe St. Ex, 1847 14th St., NW, at 10 p.m. Its really fun.

Scandanavian music is everywhere these days. Though frequently associated with awesome “matter of taste” bands like Abba or Roxette, legitimate popsters like Annie, Jens Lekman, and The Raveonettes (among countless others) are once again making it cool to be pale.

The best place to hear tunes from Sweden, Finland, Norway, Iceland and Denmark is at Hej Hej, St. Ex’s monthly Scandanavian music night. Run for the last 13 months by DJs Natalya (pictured) and Melissa, Hej Hej (Pronounced Hey Hey, of course) combines the aforementioned music with CD (and food) giveaways and deals on Viking Beer with the extreme good nature of DJ Natalya, who has kindly offered to answer this homo’s questions on straight culture.

Full interview below the fold.

1. When did you first realize you were straight?

I remember having a crush on a boy in the sixth grade, but my mom likes to tell a story about how I used to bat my eyelashes at a nerdy grad student when I was about 3 or 4. We lived in the same apartment building. From what I hear, he wore horn-rimmed glasses and I flirted whenever we were in the elevator together. Apparently my type hasn’t changed in more than 20 years.

2. What is your least favorite stereotype about straight people?

I felt very entitled and part-of-the-majority when I looked at this question and thought “what ARE some stereotypes about straight people?”

3. What are the biggest challenges faced by a straight girl in DC?

Other than all of the cute, nice, clever guys being gay? [Ed. Note: Awwww.]

4. Do you agree that 18th street is for straight people what 17th is for gays? How have you found suitable alternatives?

That sounds about right… I just go wherever the good music takes me. I’ve met some of my best friends in DC by going to all of the same shows and DJ nights.

5. What obligations, if any, do you think you have to the gay community?

To play good music. But getting serious for a minute, I grew up as a minority under the Soviet regime, so it’s really important to me to support the civil rights of the gay community and other minority groups now that I live in a country where those rights are theoretically possible.

6. Why do you think Swedish pop is so popular all of a sudden? What is your favorite swedish band right now?

I think that people who are really into music tend to get into something (a band, a sound, a scene) and then start digging for more like it. And once you’ve listened to a few bands from Sweden and start looking for more, you’ll find great new bands every time you look. There are just so many great bands concentrated into one country, from the major labels to the tiny indies. It’s easy to get obsessive about it.

As far as my current favorites, it’s so hard to pick just one! I’ll give you a few, some obvious and some less so: Lykke Li, Marit Bergman, Robyn, Jens Lekman, Stars In Coma, Firefox AK, Taken by Trees, The Hives. And of course The LK, who are playing at House of Sweden on March 8. I’m really excited to see them again.

7. I’ve seen a white VW bug around Dupont with the license plate Hej Hej. Is that yours? If not, thats a hell of a coincidence.

Really?? It’s not mine. I haven’t even seen it, but obviously now I have to look out for it.

8. Why should people come out to Hej Hej tonight?

Because we play really good music without taking things too seriously. Sometimes we wear Viking helmets and give away Swedish fish and ginger cookies.

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adam isn't here said:

i don’t know why i feel like i have to be a bitch about this but…finland isn’t technically scandinavian. besides, apart from their recent eurovision win, they haven’t contributed very much to pop music on a global scale. it’s a lovely country though…i mean, reindeer!

26 February 2008 at 6:03 pm

adam isn't here said:

26 February 2008 at 6:03 pm

adam isn't here said:

26 February 2008 at 6:03 pm

adam isn't here said:

26 February 2008 at 6:03 pm

adam isn't here said:

26 February 2008 at 6:03 pm

adam isn't here said:

26 February 2008 at 6:03 pm

adam isn't here said: