Rachel Arieff

DNI: Milwaukee. "United States of Bush", 1979. Merits: Rachel Arieff swapped New York for Barcelona two years ago. Her past as a humorist-actress-singer and her attitude of "unintentionally provocative" attitude led her to start a "funny and theatrical" karaoke. Exactly the opposite of what she saw in Spain. A year ago she moved it to Madrid and, ever since, every month she gets dozens of uninhibited folks to dress in crazy costumes.

Why is Anti-Karaoke so much fun? It's a completely uninhibited show. It's anti-pose, anti-fashion; it's a "come as you are" kind of affair. Everyone is welcome. In the same night, you can see drag queens, a fifty-year-old French tourist singing Sinatra, two men that are going to get married the next day... And all of them singing in front of 300 people who are totally into it! Last night (May 16th) two guys came out dressed as waiters, and they'd glued the lyrics to a serving tray. What do you like best about Madrid? I love walking through the Chueca neighborhood, and also Malasaña. I also like Madrid's appreciation for good food. But you live in Barcelona... In comparison with Barcelona, in Madrid they seem to have preserved much more of the daily rituals. Meeting with friends, going out... There's a lot of soul, a lot of flavor. The people haven't permitted their city to become a victim of mass tourism. Why don't you move here then? I'd love to, if I had the cash. In Madrid there's more support for artists. There's more of an artistic community, a lot of atmosphere, more shops for young people -- young people who don't have a lot of money. Barcelona is too pretty and polished, and full of shitty fast food chains. Where do you go shopping in Madrid? I love the Chinese bazaars. They're very madrileño. They have feather boas that you can't find in the Chinese stores in Barcelona. Madrid's Chinese stores are more kitschy. You like a strange bar here... Yes, there's a café here in Chueca, with angels with huge dicks on the walls.