Meet Salem Moon | Drag Performer & Voice Actor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Salem Moon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Salem, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
My favorite quote comes from my mother. Growing up she would tell me: “Those who mind, don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind”. As someone with a lot of self-doubt, I tend to think everyone has a problem with me or doesn’t like me, and I have to remind myself that life is too short to play what ifs. So knowing that I have control of my circle and my source of energy, makes the self-doubt go away.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art comes from a long struggle of pain, depression, self-loathing and stifling that I like to call “being a child star”. I grew up in the entertainment industry from a young age, starting around age 6. I found myself wanting to express myself more, so I was put into dance classes, singing lessons, and acting lessons. It really helped build my confidence, it got me healthier, and I made a lot of friends. But back then, being a kid who was creative and different tended to cause some discourse; specifically amongst other kids. I was bullied mercilessly that by the time I was around 12 or 13, I really didn’t want to perform any more. I felt that my art was weird and wasn’t normal; I stopped dancing, I stopped wanting to sing, and I stopped acting. It wasn’t until high school and college that I really went back into my artistic discovery. Drag came to me in a time where I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life. I had just moved to Texas from Reno, Nevada, and wanted to tackle theatre and voice work full force, but I needed something on the side to supplement that little bit that was missing. Lo and behold, it became something that’s now my strongest asset. I did every talent night, I did every unpaid spotlight booking, I traveled on my own dime out of state and out of city to shows, until the pandemic hit and I had nothing. I decided in 2020 that I was gonna do digital drag, and create a platform for people who couldn’t go to the clubs anymore and earn their check. It wasn’t big, but it was something. And every day in quarantine I practiced my makeup, polished my aesthetic, and trained in my hosting skills, so that when things opened up, I was ready with even more hunger than before. I learned that drag is much more than what it used to be, but never forgot where I came from. Meaning the political importance and creative importance in drag can’t be lost as we progress forward. We have a voice. We have a platform. We can’t just go out and dance and get tips and go home. When we go out in drag, we’re making a statement whether we like it or not, saying that we’re here, we’re queer and you can’t stop us. I’m order to be a successful drag performer, I feel you have to be able to balance and understand both. Respect those that came before us and gave us a stage to perform on. I want people to look back at me years from now, and say that Salem Moon was someone who inspired me to be vocal about who I am, and what I believe in. That’s all I want in the future.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oh my goodness, there’s so much to do, so little time! I would definitely take them to the best spots in the metroplex. I’d love to take my friend to the Rose Room at S4 in Dallas. It’s iconic! Then I’d take them to Tulips in Fort Worth for some great drinks and shows. I’d also try and hit 1851 Club to meet my drag family and have Kiana try and read me for not going there first. Food wise, I’m a big fan of Twisted Root, I love a good burger and so do my friends usually. I won a competition called the Queer Off at Sue Ellen’s, so if it’s Wednesday and the new season is going, you know I’m bringing my friends there! By the time we reach the end of their trip, we’ll be hungover so I need like a month to show them everywhere I frequent.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to Shout Out the wonderful bar 1851 Club in Arlington, Texas, where my drag mother Kiana Lee hosts the Arlington All-Star Drag Show. They were the first place to give me a cast spot and nurture me into the performer I am today.

Website: kibawalkervoices.com

Instagram: @SalemMoonDrag

Twitter: @SalemMoonDrag

Image Credits
Austin Atherton Veronica Valentine Victoria Hall Mark Mayr Con+Alt+Del Photographer Team