Big Freedia

Bounce is taking flight all over the globe. New York especially, and L.A., Canada, Portland, Washington. It keeps getting bigger and bigger.

I'm always honored to see my music and New Orleans Bounce make its way into mainstream culture.

The bigger artists are definitely looking and paying attention to the culture and the style of bounce music.

I'm steady trying to make this bounce stuff mainstream and do some wonderful and great things for the culture of New Orleans.

I've worked tremendously hard to make things happen for New Orleans culture.

I was so big, so I had to always come up with my own creations. Like, when I would do junior prom and stuff, I would have stuff specially made or added to my outfit. I definitely was always into trying to do something a little over and beyond.

The first club that reopened in New Orleans was Caesar's, and they called me immediately and said let's do a regular night with you here. So we started FEMA Fridays. It was the only club open in the city, and a lot of people had a lot of money from Katrina, the checks and stuff, so the joy inside that club - I don't think that'll ever come back.

I've always loved to cook. It helps me to relax and gives me peace. It's my nourishment.

We have a dance in bounce music called 'exercising' where you just open your legs and shake your butt a little bit from side to side.

I come from a community plagued with so much poverty and violence and homophobia.

Like a lot of artists, I started out as a singer in my church choir when I was a child.

Performing has always been a natural part of me.