KILLJOY’S KASTLE

In 2013, artists Allyson Mitchell and Deirde Logue created a fantastical installation called Killjoy’s Kastle. With a large support cast, the physical environment was built in a large warehouse, based on evangelical Hell Houses, but devoted solely to the horrors of lesbian culture. I was thrilled when she asked if I’d do the sound design for the project. A series of vignettes would each depict some aspect of feminist queer history, with a bonkers haunted house twist. 

I soundtracked 12 of the 19 vignettes and dioramas, conjuring a mix of original music and sounds; horrifying collages to create nauseous unease in the guests. “Demented Women’s Studies professors” lead groups through the haunted house, giving context for everything they were seeing. Definitely one of the most fun projects I’ve worked on!

Hear two mixes on Soundcloud. One is a haunted playlist for a Riot Ghoul Dance Party vignette. Ghastly goblins in outfits signifying the early-90s revolution danced around a cauldron to nauseous takes on the greatest hits of the riot grrrl movement, confronting and intimidating guests. In the other, Polyamorous Happily Unmarried Vampire Grannies nestle in rocking chairs, knitting contentedly in their yarn-cobwebbed den, soothed by a mixed-up soundtrack of lesbian oldies from their Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival days.

Photos by Lisa Kannakko and reproduced here courtesy of Allyson Mitchell and Deirdre Logue.