“Butch Jackie” Talks Best Guess Music Video, Lesbian Identity, and The Importance of Queer Representation in Art
Interview ★ Nash Jones ★ @_nash_jones ★ 800 words
“Honestly I really didn’t think I was going to get picked.” I’m on the phone with Jaqueline Morfin (they/she), succinctly known as Jackie.
I met Jackie and a group of their friends in line for a Julien Baker show last October. I kept in touch sporadically, the group chat blowing up at the clip of Lucy Dacus’ new song and music video casting through Tiktok, and then again a few weeks later at the reveal that Jackie was in the video [best seen in an iconic arm-wrestling shot with Drew Hermes.]
This is what we discuss currently. “When Lucy’s team started DMing people I was like ‘no way,’ then I checked my requests…It felt surreal, I really did not expect it to happen.”
About the filming of the video itself, she tells me, “It was a quick turnaround… it was really organized, I’m really impressed by Lucy’s team making it happen.”
I ask, “How did it feel to be on set meeting everyone?”
“It was really fun, it felt natural… getting to know them. I just felt like, really seen and understood… It’s nice to have that sense of comfort when you’re in a new place with strangers.”
I ask if the shoot was difficult or tedious.
“No… we were filming all day but everything was like *boom*. They had a rough draft… it was just really smooth, and fun to be a part of.”
Stills from the Best Guess music video
I mention meeting her last year, whereupon the distinction made in introductions was that they were the butch Jackie. “…So I wanted to ask you about what butch means to you, and maybe… a look at the term overall.”
“…I’ve always resonated with the word ‘butch.’ I remember watching Orange is the New Black, and one of the characters, Boo, has the word ‘butch’ tattooed on her… I kinda want that one day… But It’s an identity, to me It’s a lifestyle. It’s about being chivalrous, respecting people, and offering service… Like I’d do anything to help the people I care for. It’s like second-nature, you don’t really think, you just do.”
I ask Jackie the importance of queer and lesbian music, she listens to a lot of queer art.
“It’s just cool seeing people who’ve experienced and lived through the same troubles I- and other queer people- have lived through every day… Having them be successful in their art… and making themselves seen and heard. It kind of validates the entire community.”
They expand on that by mentioning a conversation from the music video set with Naomi Mcpherson (they/them) of pop trio MUNA.
“I’ve been looking up to Naomi and ER Fightmaster because they’re both queer, nonbinary musicians. Naomi and I found out we actually grew up in the same neighborhood… within like a two-mile radius, which I think is really cool. Like, damn! They’re a cool-ass nonbinary producer from the same area I’m from… I was studying music in school and I can look up to them ‘cause I’m learning more about making music, and I can see myself [being like] them.”
While we’re on the topic of the music video shoot, I ask a question regarding masculine identity. “There was some response online saying there wasn’t enough ‘butch representation,’ or that the mascs weren’t masc enough…”
Jackie tells me unhesitatingly about how that made them feel, “Yeah, that really upset me because there isn’t a right way to present masculine or butch. We were given a certain dress code, and… people have no place to police identities. You can’t tell someone that they don’t look like what they identify as, It’s dismissive.”
On a more positive note, I ask about the general response and publicity surrounding the video.
“It’s been mostly positive, which I’m really glad is the general reaction. I’ve seen a few comments like ‘this is really cool,’ from young people like, ‘Oh my god, I can’t wait to look like this,’ or, ‘I’m glad that queer people are on my screen right now.’ Just like, having the spotlight on queer people, I think it’s really cool. Then Rolling Stone Magazine made an article on the video which I think is my peak,” she giggles.
“My coworkers poke fun at me, like, ‘you’re famous’ blah blah blah and I’m like no, but, It’s really cool to have a part in something like that.”
We’ve talked about their appreciation for other lesbians and queer people, other queer people's appreciation for the music video, and how It’s important to be represented and celebrated in a public way. Now I ask Jackie, “What do you think is important for the queer community to hear right now?”
“Right now, we kinda just all need to stay strong, stick together. We’re only growing, nobody’s gonna make us stop being queer. We need to educate others when we see others being ignorant, and stick up for marginalized people… We just need to stick together.”
“I think that’s my last definitive question, but you can add anything else.”
They laugh, “I can’t think of anything off the top of my head. Stream Forever Is A Feeling, out March 28th.”
“Hell yeah.”
“Buy merch, buy some concert tickets, bring your friend. And stay queer!”
“Stay queer, Lucy Dacus forever!”
“Always!”
