from dog to god.

a video.

from prayers.

words.

NOISEY: In the “From Dog to God” video, you’re putting on lipstick. That seems like a pretty ballsy move for a known gang member. Has there been any backlash?

SEYER: Many gang members have accepted me, and they fight for me because they know a lot of people talk shit about me, calling me this and that. These hardcore machismo dudes see me put my finger in my mouth, and they think I’m gay, but listen: I’ve dated a lot of makeup artists. You put your finger in your mouth so you don’t get lipstick on your teeth. What these dudes don’t understand is that I’ve been with some of the hottest women in San Diego—I’ve been with supermodels. These guys who are calling me names have never even been with the type of women I’ve been with. But that’s just my ego and my pride talking. Let’s get down to business: The reality is that I don’t give a fuck.

NOISEY: Why not?

SEYER: I do what I want. That’s my power and my strength. If people think I’m gay because I wear makeup, they don’t understand me. I’m the one who wanted to be filmed putting on makeup, because that’s me putting on my war paint. It’s a ritual—it’s me invoking [Christian Death vocalist] Rozz Williams and that kind of energy. That’s me getting ready go do business and fuck shit up onstage. But I also want to fuck with people, too. I want people to question their own machismo, their own sexuality. I don’t have no problem with people who are gay. People inspire me. And I want to inspire others to be who the fuck they wanna be. Don’t let people saying you’re this or that keep you from doing what you wanna do with yourself. And sometimes the only way to do that is by doing things that others fear. I’m a cholo goth—I’m the first of my kind, so I gotta represent hella hard for those who are coming up and wanna be part of this new culture. We live in different times now. Everything’s a hybrid. I’m a fuckin’ hybrid. Mexicans are hybrids—we’re crossed with indigenous blood and Spanish blood. It’s the same thing with the music I’m creating. So for me, I gotta go hard. When I put on makeup, it’s my badge of honor. Because other people can’t do it.

NOISEY: Meet Prayers, the San Diego Cholo-Goth Duo Who Want to Break Down Every Barrier In Sight