For D.C. drag performer and producer JaxKnife Complex, all the world’s a stage and every night is an opportunity to perform. From the moment Jax greets you at the front door of their home bar Trade (where they also work security) to the time you exit, not a second is wasted in fully immersing you into their creative dreamworld.
“My art is very grandiose … it’s a show from when you clock in until you clock out,” says JaxKnife Complex.
Jax has just won the fourth annual HAUS AWARD, given by D.C.’s queer production collective haus of bambi. The win is credit to Jax’s work ethic and commitment to their artistic craft. “As an artist and community member, Jax wields chaos in an enthusiastic, belligerent, and joyful disruption to the status quo,” says Bambi, haus of bambi founder and the person responsible for selecting the annual award winner. “[Jax’s] art is embedded in how they entertain a room, agitate the too comfortable, and safeguard the door.”
With the HAUS AWARD, JaxKnife Complex joins some of D.C.’s rising performers who won in the past—choreographer Greg David, drag king King Molasses, and performance artist Bumper. Aside from bragging rights, the award comes with an unrestricted $1,000 cash prize to further the winner’s artistic development. It’s gifted to a D.C. artist, at any stage of their career, whose work explores the intersectionality of queer identity.
“This award is a reflection of my respect for these artists and what their voices say about our city and its identity,” Bambi explains. “In short, I am a fan and I want to help leverage and support our collective growth. D.C. was the first place I found a true creative home, thanks in no small part to the contributions of these artists. I, myself, have been transformed by witnessing their work. The applause they deserve [is] thunderous.”
Jax isn’t new to performing—it’s something they’ve done almost their entire life. Jax started dancing at age 4; in high school, their attentions shifted to musical theater, but their years of dance experience put Jax in high demand. Theater teachers recommended they rearrange their class schedule to begin vocal training, which would make Jax a triple threat when it came to skills. These educators exposed Jax to every step of a production, including serving as dance captain and assisting behind the scenes with tech work. This education instilled a well-rounded love of the theater (and all that goes into it) that remains with Jax today. It even motivated them to study dramaturgy with a secondary focus on theater law at American University.
Beyond their formal education, Jax has been involved in the D.C. nightlife scene since 2009. They’ve worked at Trade since it opened in 2015. From their security perch at the entrance of the 14th Street NW gay bar, and as a performer inside the space, Jax continues to sharpen a dual perspective on D.C.’s queer nightlife and their place within it. “I’ve seen such a shift in the kind of art and the kind of drag D.C. has produced over the years. We’ve gone from what I consider ‘show-ready’ drag, made so that the crowd will love it, to now,” says Jax. “Drag in the city is becoming conduits to the artist’s expression. The majority of D.C. drag artists coming up right now are invested in the art form of drag, not the capitalistic nature of it.”
Jax’s interest in drag’s emotional nature comes across in their performances, which often draw on their life’s experiences. “My approach to drag is treating it like a theater piece or a character work piece. Drag is just another moniker, another name you put on yourself,” says Jax. “Drag artistry is sitting down in front of a mirror and painting a face of what emotions I’m experiencing that day. I let my own day impact what I look like or what songs I want to perform. That expression comes out in my work and it is coming out with all the young artists in the drag scene.”
On Oct. 18, the previous three HAUS AWARD winners will join JaxKnife Complex onstage at Trade for the HAUS AWARDS ceremony. Together they’ll collaborate to showcase the strength, diversity, and range of D.C. queer artistry in Jax’s home bar. Jax is excited to bring the HAUS AWARD home.
“I’ve been to the awards in past years and seen the artistry, art, performance, pole work, and all of the other attributes that the past recipients have. I have some big shoes to fill. Or maybe I already filled the big shoes and now I need to recognize the work I’ve put in. It means a lot to be recognized in this way,” Jax concludes.
The HAUS AWARDS celebrating the 2024 winner, JaxKnife Complex, will take place on Oct. 18 at Trade. tradebardc.com. Ticket details and more to follow.