Culture

Mila Jam’s “Pretty One” Celebrates Black Trans Divinity


 

Pop queen Mila Jam knows she has a lot of love to give. The only question is whether the world is ready for it.

From the early days of her career in the American touring production of Rent and her rise to internet acclaim as her drag persona Britney Houston, Jam has blended musical and visual performance art to find a true avenue for self-expression. As a singer-songwriter, she went on to create visually and conceptually striking music videos like 2019’s “Twilight Zone,” a blunt callout of the cisgender men who can make dating while trans feel literally alienating, like having just arrived “from another planet.” Small wonder that Jam has now collaborated and performed with artists like James Brown, Laverne Cox, and Natasha Bedingfield; most recently, she featured on Ultra Naté and Angelica Ross’ single “Fierce.”

Jam’s latest video is a literal triple threat: a medley of all three songs from her new EP Pretty One. Dropping just in time for this year’s Transgender Day of Visibility, each song touches on themes of love, desirability, and disposability, setting the mood with atmospheric piano and synths. The tracks “Inside” and “Someone” both grapple with the feeling of only being loved when there are strings attached. When the EP’s title track “Pretty One” kicks in, Jam — heretofore dressed mainly in skin-tone dance gear — suddenly appears adorned in bridal accoutrements in the aisle of a deserted chapel, tears rolling down her face as she asks herself, “How you give all your love away?” It’s a question without an answer, but one that still lingers after the final notes have faded. Through it all, Jam’s music is just that: a jam, filled with four-on-the-floor beats that beg the listener to feel the emotion with their bodies, not just their ears.

Ahead of the premiere of the “Pretty One” music video, Mila Jam spoke with them. about her career, the inspiration behind her new video, and what she hopes the future will hold for Black trans performers.

In your video for “Pretty One,” you convey a lot of intimacy through interpretive dance with a small crew of backup dancers. What made you choose that route to express the song’s emotionality?

I’ve been a dancer most of my life. I live for telling stories with our bodies through dance. It’s reverent and sacred. Pain, struggle, reflection, passion, and determination came to mind in my process of collaborating with Broadway choreographer Paul McGill to bring it to life. There’s nothing like interpretation with physical movement.

How did you link up with Paul McGill, and what was it like working with him on what was clearly a very personal project?



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