EDGE Interview: Lagoona Bloo Channels 'Ultimate Icon' Britney Spears for Ptown Appearance

EDGE: Let's talk about the upcoming show.

Lagoona Bloo: I've sung Britney my whole life. I have done "Lagoona Sings Britney" in a few different places, like the Atlantis Cruise Lines where it was my most popular show. It was always packed. I perform Brit in most of my shows, but this is my Provincetown debut. I wanted to do something in Ptown that is a representation of who I am as an artist that is also super attractive to a gay audience. We gays love Britney. She's my ultimate icon. It's a musical tribute to her.

I'm also excited because the show goes hand in hand with my brand new single cover of "Can't Make You Love Me," from her second album, "Oops, I Did It Again," which was a very world-defining album for me.

EDGE: How so?

Lagoona Bloo: I was in the fourth grade when that album came out, and I was obsessed with it. I couldn't get enough of it. Even to this day, when I listen to it, it still slaps for me. It gives me this deep nostalgia that is so unmatched. A lot of my music is inspired by her. You can hear her all over my records, especially "Toys." Some of the vocal choices I make, and the nasality of my tone, are inspired by Britney, which my voice teacher smacks me on the hand for.

Music was always a safe space for me, because I had a hard time growing up and wasn't allowed to like what I liked. I was always shamed for expressing myself, constantly in trouble for what I liked. Music was easier to hide because I could just listen to it in my headphones. And I could listen to it alone in my room, where I could pretend whatever I wanted to pretend. I discovered this through Britney Spears, truly, and Christina Aguilera, and Shakira. Those three icons for me, my pop icons, were the places where I really found my voice. I was able to express myself in a way, explore my sexuality, explore these themes of being feminine or being girly, or saying curse words, or provocative things as a young teenager, like it or not.

EDGE: I was watching some of your YouTube videos, and I thought a number of them felt Britney-inspired.

Lagoona Bloo: Thank you. I'm very honored and flattered. I don't know what it is. I've always just been obsessed with her and her unique voice. It defined pop for a long time – I would say for the majority of the 2000s. I love her so much, and I hope she's okay. I wish people would leave her alone. But I also hope that she understands how many people she's touched. There are so many queer people I know whose lives are different and impacted by her.

The first time I ever said I liked boys was when I sang her song "Boys." The first time I ever, you know, thought about masturbating was because of the song "Touch My Hand." So many of my formative queer experiences that I wasn't allowed to talk about at home, wasn't allowed to discuss with my parents, wasn't allowed to talk about at all anywhere, were felt through pop music.

EDGE: If you could speak to that little boy, David, singing Britney songs into his hairbrush, what would say to him?

Lagoona Bloo: There are many times when I would like to go back and hug him. I grew up in a really violent home. It was scary. I never felt safe, accepted by anyone, or loved. I remember when I was about six years old, I was crying and my parents said, "Why are you crying? You're always crying. Stop crying." I wish I could tell little David that it's okay to cry. That everything is okay, and you're gonna be great. I love you, and oh, my God, you're going to be just like Britney Spears! I wish I could.

EDGE: Hopefully you can reach some of the little Davids currently living like you did.

Lagoona Bloo: It's a blessing to do what I get to do, to share my story with people. I hope that some queer kid in the South who feels like he can't be himself sees me and thinks, "I can do that." I never thought I could do that.

EDGE: And look at you now.

Lagoona Bloo: Look at me. I made cakes on "Nailed It!," called Simon Cowell a hypocrite on national television, I continue to make music, and am singing Britney Spears songs at my P-town debut. I love it. What a life blessing. Truly.

For ticket information for "Lagoona Sings Britney," at the Art House, 214 Commercial Street, Provincetown, MA, August 14 -17, click here.

For more on Lagoona Bloo, visit her website.