We are happy to announce the kick off of Iceland, a blog by Justin Moyer’s alter-ego Edie Sedgwick. Aside from Edie, Justin has dabbled in a number of other fine Dischord Records projects such as Antelope and the severely under-appreciated El Guapo/Supersystem. He/She will be blogging from the road through November and performing tonight at Kansas House with BYT favorites the Mathematicians. This “house-show” programme will unfold at 900 N. Kansas St., Arlington, Va., at 7 pm. Highly recommended. -cale

Dearest Barack Obama,

I understand that you have been elected 44th President of the United States of America. I write to offer my condolences.

As you may know, I, Edie Sedgwick, transgendered drag artist and singer of songs about celebrities, have served this nation of saps we call “America” since 1999. Take it from me - it’s no picnic being a visionary! I first unleashed my revolutionary aesthetics on the 300 million yahoos I like to call “my people” a decade ago, but fear that, despite overexposure in all known media and mounting publicist’s fees, many still haven’t received my musical message of change. Barack (may I call you Barack?), I’ve released records on the most exclusive record labels. I’ve penned the most penetrating versesand composed the catchiest choruses. I’ve covered my ass in the finest dresses money can by and shaken it in front of audiences in New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., New Orleans (on behalf of Katrina refugees), and Berlin (on an international fact-finding mission). Yet, when I take the stage in Anytown, U.S.A., the assembled plebes still ask that most-dreaded question: “Who is Edie Sedgwick?”

In your short time in the public eye, your well-formulated schtick – “Yes, we can!” - has captivated millions and brought you success unimaginable even a generation ago. But, Barack - beware! I too was once a darling of the mainstream media, but have fallen on hard times – changing tastes, assorted addictions, rehab stints, et cetera. Though my new record, Things are Getting Sinister and Sinister, is a powerful artistic (dare I say “eschatological?”) comeback, I am all too aware that the huddled masses are fickle, foul-smelling, and stricken with that most-incurabledisease: bad taste. You must never forget that the same lowly proles who pulled levers for you on November 4, 2008 also have a high opinion of tedious abstract expressionists, cherish interminable Radiohead CDs, and buy tickets to see the overpraised films of Scarlett Johansson. When I first stepped to the microphone, you were an obscure Illinois state senator. Thus, I feel I have the experience and credibility to warn you that the Great Unwashed cannot be counted on! Despite the insistence of collective action theorists, there is no wisdom in a crowd, no matter how divers! One fateful day (may it never come!), prepare to be struck by the back of the same hands now raised to applaud (yea, even massage!) your shoulders - shoulders that so muscularly carry the burden of history.

Today, celebrate. You are at the top of your game, but tomorrow begins your never ending struggle to stay there. You must not hesitate to crush the sycophants, the yes-men, the nay-sayers, the haters, the poseurs, the cynics, the unbelievers, the poorly-dressed, the nearsighted, the obese, the disinterested and the all-too-interested who will challenge your legitimacy as “The One.” Welcome to the elite! This is your burden.

Yours in struggle,
Edie Sedgwick

Old ass PandaHead Interview with Edie
Old ass BYT Interview with Supersystem

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