BY JOHN STEIN
Pandora Boxx’s new dance album, BOXX, is her most personal work ever. It’s fun and quirky, and while most of her previous releases were a tad on the dirty side, BOXX is totally PG.
Pandora wrote all of the tracks and admits to having a soft spot for them all. She’s drawn to the single ‘Pill’ because the song combines a rock vibe meshed with one of her favorite stories, Alice in Wonderland, and depicts some real-life struggles she has faced as an adult.
“I also really love ‘Stars’ because it is a tribute to Star Trek and is about me as a kid, dreaming that I could travel to the stars.” There is also “Raspberries,” Pandora’s ode to Carol Channing that marks her farewell to the impersonation she famously performed on Rupaul’s Drag Race; and “Gay,” her response to Governor DeSantis‘ horrific Don’t Say Gay legislation.
Then, of course, there is “Dance”, the album’s first release that Pandora penned for the little boy she was: mercilessly picked on at school, who would come home, lock his bedroom door, flip on a Madonna cd and dance his troubles away. “Dance is a song for everyone,” Pandora explains. “It encourages people not to pay any mind to what others think and to dance like no one is watching.” Pandora Boxx’s BOXX will be available on streaming platforms on July 15, along with its first single “Dance.” The Dance music video will be on YouTube.
“I have loved music since I was a kid. It was often my escape from the world,” Pandora Boxx continues from her home in Los Angeles. “Sometimes the world becomes too much and too cruel. When I was younger, it was bold and fabulous pop stars like Cyndi Lauper and Boy George who made me think being different was not just ok but something to cherish.”
Pandora Boxx was born Michael R. Steck in Jamestown, NY. She grew up with her mom, dad and younger sister and recalls her childhood being a mixed bag of nuts. “My mom was wonderful. My father, not so much.”
She knew she wanted to be an artist since she was five-years-old when she, as Michael, won a greeting card contest. His design was made into an Easter card and sold in stores! It was a drawing of young Michael walking his rabbit on a leash (which he actually did). The card read: Get into the Easter habit, go out and walk your rabbit.
In the fifth grade, Michael wrote a play called “The Trouble with Christmas” and performed it for his entire school. His mother even directed it! Michael recalls always creating and dreaming. After the first season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, he knew he was supposed to be on the show. “It was just a strong gut feeling. I had interviewed RuPaul years before Drag Race and at the end of the interview Ru said, ‘I hope I come across you in my travels.’ In my head, I said, oh you definitely will.” For season two, Michael, as Pandora, made the best audition video she could and it worked.
Pandora Boxx placed fifth in the second season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, winning the title of Miss Congeniality. She subsequently returned for the first and sixth seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars. Boxx has also appeared in all three seasons of the show’s spin-off series, RuPaul’s Drag U.
“I think some people may realize after listening to BOXX that I am much more than the Pandora that they’ve seen on television,” the artist reflects. “The first show aired in 2010, and I’m not even the same person I was then. Back then, I didn’t talk about my relationship because he didn’t sign up for all that. We’ve been together for almost 19 years and he’s always been there for me. Ian is my rock.”
“I think I’m at a point where I’m ready to branch out and try new things and other avenues,” Pandora continues. She has also been doing some internal work and therapy. “I think healing yourself can make your mind more open to create better artistry. I try to be more thankful of opportunities I have enjoyed and not focus on what other people have. This album has been a journey and I’m excited for people to listen to it.”
Brandon James Gwinn produced all of the tracks on BOXX except for the songs “Swish” and “Hey”, which were produced by Electropoint. The album is executive produced by Michael R. Steck, Parvesh Cheena, Amelia Black and Bruce Peters.
“I’m dedicating this album to anyone who has ever felt like they didn’t belong,” Pandora Boxx adds. “For all those weirdos like me, who buck the norm and are true to themselves. Also, to everyone who believed in my artistry, especially Brandon James Gwinn, my producer, without whom this album wouldn’t be what it is.”
Pandora Boxx’s BOXX will be available on streaming platforms on July 15, along with its first single “Dance”. The “Dance” music video will be on Youtube.
Visit https://pandoraboxx.com.
