“Do that thing that feels a little scary” - Guest Feature: Xochii de la Noche
Long Beach-based burlesque performer, Xochii de la Noche performed at our Spellbound Speakeasy on April 26th, 2024 at Lost Property Bar.
In this interview, you’ll learn all about Xochii as a performer, from how they got t heir name and their first performance, to what they’re known for, and what they’re working on now!
Xochii lounges in front of a white backdrop wearing a black leather skirt, corset, and bra, holding their head with one hand. Photo by Kayode Omoyosi
Xochii de la Noche, The Multidimensional Bruja of Play and Pleasure - Early Burlesque Career
Who doesn’t love an origin story? Learn how Xochii became the multidimensional bruja we’ve all come to know and love…
How did you come up with your name?
I really wanted a name that proudly represented my culture and linage from Latin America so even if I wasn't performing a Latin number, I was always representing with just my name being present.
In a mix of Spanish and Nahuatl, my name translates to "flower of the night". I was also inspired by the Mesoamerican energies Xochiquetzal (the energy of sensuality and fertility) and Xochipilli (the energy of music, dance and flowers). Being a non-binary femme, I see both of those energies within myself and thought using "Xochii" would be a cool and unique way to take both and honor that.
How did you come up with your tagline?
I started doing burlesque when online shows and videos were still pretty popular, so I saw myself as someone that could exist in many different "dimensions" (IRL dimension, the digital dimension), also just having many different sides of myself and my art and the way my art can manifest.
I have identified as a bruja and mystic for a while being guided by my pleasure and playfulness. When I put it all together, it sounded super cool and flowed really well!
What originally drew you to burlesque?
I think I originally found burlesque on Tumblr back in the 'twee' days cause it tended to overlap with vintage, which sometimes overlapped with burlesque.
I've always been an openly sensual person, so that element always naturally drew me in. That and the fancy lingerie, to be totally honest.
What was your first ever burlesque act?
My first ever burlesque act was a silk fan burlesque act and summer tribute to Long Beach I named 'LBC's Blue Dream'.
It was done to a remix of Lana Del Rey's 'High by the Beach' and I was only wearing a blue rhinestoned bikini I rhinestoned myself (the first time ever rhinestoning something!), a white cover up beach skirt, a hat, and weed leaf pasties I got from Amazon. Since then, it's been upgraded pretty significantly and keeps getting upgrades every year.
That act took me to the San Diego Queer Mvmnt Festival, the Ohio Burlesque Festival, and the Mile HIGH Burlesque Festival.
Xochii poses fiercely in a lavendar, sparkly gown and boa with blue lights all around them. Photo by Drew Shmoow
Xochii’s work and Inspirations
How would you describe your aesthetic and the concepts/stories you explore in your performances?
At my core, my acts and concepts are sensual, erotic, and playful.
I'm a huge fan of the demure or unassuming transforming into a sex pot seductress. My goal is always to leave the crowd needing a towel, a cigarette, and probably a new change of clothes.
Who and What are Your Biggest Inspirations?
I have so many!!
I'm inspired by all of the BIPOC performers I see on stage, from newbies to legends. I feel like it's a very special energy and creativity that comes from our cultures and worldviews that's so beautiful, genuine, and can't be replicated. Specifically, I've been inspired by Egypt Blaque Knyle, Bella Sin, Perle Noire, Ruby Champagne, GiGi Holliday, Dulce D'jour, Ginger Valentine, Jeez Loueez, Chola Magnolia, Jessabelle Thunder, Onyx Black, and honestly so many more. I feel like the more I learn about burlesque, especially burlesque history, the more I become inspired with ideas on acts.
I'm also inspired by songs and outfits! If there's a song or an outfit idea in my mind, I'll build an act around those as anchors.
What Inspires Your Acts? Walk Us Through Your Burlesque Act Creation Process
My act creation process usually starts a song I really want to dance to or know really well so the moves come out so organically and fluidly. I'll listen to it over and over and then dance to it without any stripping or costume, just to see how it feels in my body.
Perle Noire taught me to think about the intention of the act, so I'll breathe and really call that in before I start adding in what the costume is and how it starts to come off.
There are moments or parts where I want to do specific moves, but for the most part, I try to leave it open so it's different every show for the audience and for me as someone that will have to perform the act over and over again.
If it doesn't start with a song, it starts with a costume I envision and then I'll build the intention around the costume and start looking for a song that matches!
What 3 Burlesque Acts are You Best Known For?
1. Diosa de las Rosas - this is one of my proudest acts! It's my first longer almost 8 minute act that is a love letter to Latin burlesque, both past and present that I got to debut at one of my favorite events, Cumbiatón LA. It starts with a Perez Prado's "Norma Guadalajara" and goes into a sensual cumbia funk song called "Yo Quisiera" by Grupo Fantasma. It incoporates my silk fan specialty, and uses one of the first costumes I put together that I was really proud of (and is one of my most booked costumes!). (pictured below)
Xochii dances with red, silk fans in front of a DJ in a floral headpiece and red, fringe lingerie. Photo by Orchid Haze
2. Lavender Sueño - This is my first serious attempt at a more 'classic' act. It has the full gown I hemmed and adjusted myself, gloves, and giant boa all in one of my favorite colors, lavender. I use different songs for this one, but all in the sexy 'souldies' genre which are also a favorite to perform to. (pictured earlier)
3. Pink Psychedelic Dream - this is a really fun act for me to perform; from the neon UV dress that literally glows off my skin, to the psychedelic rock, to the use of my trippy jellyfish silks fans, it feels like a really unique act. It's also an act that was sort of community created from the Goddess Mercado in East LA I used to volunteer at. I got the dress from a designer named Eyra Pérez who runs a shop called Ceiba that I found at the Goddess Mercado.
The song was a recomendation from a super talented musician named Cello Azul that I also met at the Goddess Mercado and now do Cumbiafest in Long Beach with every month. I also don't get to do rock burlesque very often and I love how raunchy and dirty I can get to it! I love every chance I get to do my rocklesque acts. (pictured below)
What do you hope to add to the art of burlesque and that audiences take away from your work?
I really want audiences to leave feeling rejuvenated, like they just had a really great massage or an amazing orgasm to help them conquer another day! I really hope that other femmes of color in particular see me and are inspired to be courageous to do something they've always wanted to do.
Whether it's burlesque or buying an outfit they don't feel like is "for them" or trying a new hobby or setting a boundary around their time and energy, I want them to feel like they can build the confidence and do that thing that feels a little scary.
What’s something you’re working on now that you’re excited about?
I'm working on a ton of things I'm excited about! I'm learning how to sew to really continue investing in my specific visions for costumes. I'm also working on another really cool neon UV act.
A friend is making the costume for me and another talented friend, MariaChingona, is making a song for! I'm hoping to use this one to enter a certain competition sometime next year. I'm also doing some research into producing my own show centering BIPOC and Latine performers so keep an eye out for that...
Where can readers learn more about you and keep up with your work?
I'm @xochii_noche on both Instagram and TikTok (although less active on TikTok now) and my website is xochii.com that has all my upcoming show dates and newsletter sign up!
What current performers are inspiring you now?
Lola Loveletter @lola_loveletter - Lola is an incredibly talented, stunning, and overall sweetheart of a human I got to meet at my first Ohio Burlesque Festival! Her costumes always blow my mind and I love the ways she brings her nerdlesque characters to life.
Ruby Rabbit @xrubyrabbit - Ruby is a multi-talented human with a super fun and unique style of performing (and also from Long Beach!). Another performer that always kills it with costumes and I love that she brings in elements of flow arts into her acts.
Marie La'Pearl @marie_lapearl - Marie is another sweetheart of a human I had the opportunity to connect with at my first Ohio Burlesque Festival. Yet another performer with killer costumes (I sense a theme lol) and one of my inspirations for me in learning how to sew from watching her process. I also love her passion and love for Puerto Rico and her outspokenness to teach people about the injustices happening on the island.
Xochii caresses themself in bright, blacklight activated costume on their knees. Photo by Joe Murphy
Xochii de la Noche’s Burlesque Bio
Xochii de la Noche is the multi-dimensional bruja of play and pleasure and the newest diamond in the House Of Knyle! Based in Long Beach, CA Xochii is ready to entice, enchant, and excite. Exploding onto stages in 2021, Xochii has been leaving audiences mesmerized with her radiant smile, seductive flow, hypnotizing prop work, and unapologetic tributes to her Latine roots. Xochii has graced festivals such as the Ohio Burlesque Festival, the Mile HIGH Burlesque Festival, and the Exquisite Burlesque Festival. Xochii was also a limited resident in Orange County's Longest Running Burlesque Show MUSE Burlesque, and is a current resident at Long Beach’s premier queer cumbia night CUMBIAFEST. An evening with this midnight beauty will leave you spellbound and screaming for more.
