Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Nolan.
Hi Daniel, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Hey there, my name’s Daniel; I’m a queer artist here in Houston. I’m better known around town by my drag name Preston Steamed. I’m originally from central Texas and moved around a bit as a kid. I moved to Houston in 2014 to attend college at the University of Houston, and I’ve been a Houstonian ever since. I graduated with a BFA in photography in 2018. That same year I began performing as a drag king and have since made a name for myself as an alt performer in the LGBTQ scene here in Houston.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Growing up queer in the South definitely comes with its own unique set of struggles that many in the LGBTQ community can relate to. I was brought up in a very religious household and was bullied a lot for being different as a kid. When I first started coming to terms with the fact that I was gay, it was a part of myself that I actively repressed for a long time. I spent most of my early life feeling like an outcast and never really having any place that I felt I belonged; it wasn’t until I moved to Houston and had the freedom of being on my own that I was able to explore and fully express who I was. I finally found a sense of belonging in Houston’s LGBTQ community which led me to the drag scene. Drag gave me a space to really explore my queer identity and build my sense of self as an artist and entertainer,
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a drag artist here in Houston under the name of Preston Steamed. I perform predominantly as a drag king, which means I do male-presenting drag. And while I do present predominantly male on stage, I really like to blur the lines of gender in my looks and performances. I like to serve the full spectrum of masculinity and femininity in my work. My style isn’t the usual glitz and glam you might be familiar with when it comes to drag. Instead, my art is on the darker alternative side of things. I draw inspiration from fantasy and horror with aesthetic influences from vampire movies like Blade and Lost Boys, as well as steampunk and cyberpunk fashion. Over the last five years, I’ve become one of the most prominent alternative kings here in Houston and earned the title of the Vampire King of Houston. My drag is a little bit stupid, a little bit spooky, a little bit filthy, and a whole lot of energy. Whether I’m bringing you some raw punk energy or campy comedy you can always count on being pulled in by my stage presence and charm. Recently I’ve been travelling around and performing in other cities and states and sharing my special brand of chaos with the country.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Outside of my drag career, I am also a professional photographer. Photography is my other great passion in life. Something about capturing the moment with a lens has always had such an incredible allure to me. There are so many beautiful moments in life, and capturing them brings its own sense of euphoria. In my photography, I’m always drawn to bright, vibrant colors and fond candid moments. There’s a great crossover between my drag and my photography as I work with a lot of local entertainers doing headshots and promo photos for them.
Contact Info:
- Website: danielnolanphotoart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prestonsteamed_vav/ https://www.instagram.com/throughtheshutterphotography/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/psteamed
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@prestonsteamed
Image Credits
Preston Steamed
