Shawna Virago is one of the nation’s first openly transgender musicians to perform and tour nationally, and has performed as an out transwoman since the early 1990s. Virago is a songwriter celebrated for her striking lyric-based songs. Her songs twist together folk, punk and alt-country. Virago has been profiled online, in print and on radio including Bitch, Louder Than War, No Depression, Paste magazine, on NPR and PBS, and on left-of-the-dial radio. The Advocate named her song “Objectified,” as one of the nation’s top Transgender Anthems. Her last single “Heaven Sent Delinquent (Electric Single Mix)” (Tranimal Records) was featured in many national publications and year-end best-of lists.
I’ve been a fan of Virago’s music for some time and thoroughly enjoy her take on traditional country music in “High Road No. 6.” With a thumping bass line akin to the best of Johnny Cash, Virago relays a classic story of a troubadour sticking their nose (ahem) everywhere they shouldn’t. In the video, Virago is accompanied by some foxy go-go dancers, cheekily (ahem) asserting queer country artists’ legacy throughout country music history.
“‘High Road No. 6’ is a about escaping the entrapments and negative forces wanting to take you down,” Virago writes. “It’s a visual and cinematic song, plus you can shine up your boots and break out some line-dancing.”