ORACLE666, a self-identified nonbinary queer femme, makes her musical debut this Valentine’s Day with “Celadon Haze,” a Bjork-inspired ethereal trance/pop track about the loves we can’t let go of; people who inspired but didn’t cherish our hearts. Written and recorded over two months ago while NYC remained in dark quarantine, the song is danceable, with a spritely energy, representing a hopeful fantasy world fueled by beautiful memories. “Sometimes, we look back on connections that were once important to us and wish we could re-live them,” reflects the artist. “But nothing can be taken out of time and place, and we are all a part of each other as we grow and change.” Produced by Meviu§, “Celadon Haze” is being distributed by Ghostcat Media International and is available on Apple Music, Spotify and all digital platforms. Its video is available on iTunes, Vevo, and YouTube.
ORACLE666 (they/them) - "Celadon Haze" Music Video
Directed by Laura Kimmel aka METAGASM (insta @metametagasm)
Assisted by Ashley Twomey
Featuring co-actor Chelsey McChensey (She/Her)
Prod. Meviu§ (meviusmusic.bandcamp.com) Label: Ghostcat Media International @ghostcatmediaintl single and EP artwork: Nicole Ruggiero
Full credits on oracle666.bandcamp.com
PHOTOS BY HALEY VARACALLO - PINK STYLED BY HESTER SUNSHINE FROM PROJECT RUNWAY
“I want people to experience a dizzying and exciting feeling of elevation when listening to ‘Celadon Haze’,” continues ORACLE666 from her Brooklyn home. “The song brings me back to the raves of my youth in Texas and NYC when the cerebral beats would whisk crowds to a wavelength high into the air, all dancing in sync. I want to give that same feeling of connection and excitement to listeners. That sensation that even if you are in a grungy Brooklyn warehouse, you are also in an astral cloud, emotionally and spiritually connected with everyone around you.”
The accompanying music video depicts a contemporary queer love story in the time of COVID, with ORACLE666, depressed and lonely because of the pandemic, reminiscing over a lost love and what could have been. Directed by Laura Kimmel, aka METAGASM, in collaboration with ORACLE666, the video was filmed at Nonbinary Studios in Ridgewood and the Refuge Arts studio in Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Additional filming was done along the streets of Bushwick, as well as in the subway station and at an abandoned castle in upstate New York.
“METAGASM and I developed a story where my fantasy lover is a hologram before me, still and silent, lost in a manic pixie dream world and unaware of my song. In placing my kiss gently at the end, it’s like I’m sending a wish or a poem to someone or something I never quite knew was real.”
ORACLE66 was born Julia Sinelnikova, in Jerusalem, Israel and lived in St. Petersburg, Russia until five-years-old when the family moved to Texas. “I experienced a lot of rapid transitions moving from Israel to Russia to Central Texas, changing apartments and homes frequently. What stayed stable was my mom, her strength in continuing to work and educate herself and keep pushing us forward.”
In grade school, Julia felt attraction toward boys, girls and non-binary people. “I didn’t understand it but I would fantasize about being close to them, drawing them.” Julia kissed many girls as a teen, but the possibility of a queer relationship simply wasn’t on the table.
PHOTOS BY HALEY VARACALLO - PINK STYLED BY HESTER SUNSHINE FROM PROJECT RUNWAY
“Homosexuality is not spoken of much in Russian culture, and I was surrounded by a variety of Christians in Texas. My friends’ parents would routinely drag me to church, where I was repeatedly told that being gay is a sin.”
It took Julia until the second half of teen-hood to find groups of creative people and fellow queers to commingle with, and feel validated.
“While at FIT in New York, I became involved in Brooklyn nightlife, hosting queer events and designing sets for raves. I met people in so many stages of transition, who expressed their queer identity in different ways, and I learned to flirt with people of all different sexualities and gender expressions.” It was around this time that Julia took on the name ORACLE666.
“I have never felt entirely comfortable with being perceived in the mold of ‘woman,’” ORACLE666 explains. “I am bisexual or pansexual and in my love life, I identify as a nonbinary queer femme. I often feel myself in bimbo mode when expressing my femme self, and over the last few years, without really noticing, I have altered my look from blonde high heels and dresses to street style; joggers and graphic tees. I love to wear white and bright colors to self-symbolize purity, truth and openness, and also to vibrate serenity.”
“It is never lost on me how lucky I am to live in a place where I can express my gender and sexual identity openly, especially in relation to the countries I come from.”
“Celadon Haze” is the debut single from ORACLE666’s forthcoming EP. “My hope is that it opens a crystal doorway into a new dimension and offers listeners a sense of spiritual cleansing. It will be something new and futuristic, peppered with nostalgia and yearning.”
ORACLE666
The Art of Being Queer
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