Red Carpet - Bridget Barkan

Send us Fan MailThis week on the show Bridget Barkan stops by to discuss her new single Red Carpet, touring with Scissor Sisters, prophetic dreams and more. *** “I told my friend Rod Thomas a.k.a. Bright Light Bright Light the idea for this song and he said, ‘You must do it!’ The next day my horoscope literally said, ‘Roll out the red carpet, now is your time’,” laughs New Yorker, multifaceted artist, powerhouse performer and certified redhead BRIDGET BARKAN about the inspiration for her new single “RED CARPET” which is released today independently.A campy, ‘70s-infused R&B funk track sprinkled with ‘80s soulful sass, “Red Carpet” serves as a defiant, high-energy theme for self-validation, artistic autonomy, and a tongue-in-cheek anthem for gingers everywhere. In the spirit of retro music, Bridget recorded old school style along with cinematic funk jazz group The Brothers Nylon and singer/songwriter Alex Cherny - one take to tape with horns, synths and background vocals from fellow NYC musician friends Tony and the Kiki, Storm Marrero and Mariela Olivo in post-production. Adding a bit of extra mojo from Morgan Wiley (Hercules and Love Affair) on piano, percussion, sounds and beats (who mixed the record as well), “Red Carpet” offers high camp while grasping tightly to a built-in pop shimmer from all the collaborative glitter.Currently co-fronting platinum-selling, international pop sensations Scissor Sisters (for whom she originally served as backup singer for brazen Ana Matronic) alongside the flashy Jake Shears, Bridget carries over that band’s sparkle and drama into her own music. “I learned so much from Ana touring with them back in 2010-2013,” she says. “She’s always supported me as a sister and I love her so much. I’ve always called her 'Minister Matronic'.”Originally inspired from a playful introduction by Jake Shears (who famously dubbed her “the hostess with the most tits”), Bridget took his words “she doesn’t need a red carpet because she’s already got one” and embraced the cheeky imagery, transforming it into a profound meditation on her journey as an artist. “Being in the industry my whole life and having a lot of rejection and heartbreak or even being unseen and unheard at times, I often didn’t believe in myself anymore,” she confesses. “I had to take the things that I love and juice them with this humor and sass and make a mantra for myself.”A staple of the New York performance scene, Barkan’s career spans film, television, theatre, burlesque, and performance art. Following her tenure as a background vocalist for the Scissor Sisters (2010–2013), she stepped into the spotlight in 2025 as a co-lead singer when the band returned from hiatus. Her recent trajectory has been meteoric, including a massive successful 2025 UK arena and US tour co-headlining with Kesha, where she commanded stages from Madison Square Garden to Glastonbury.“People often ask me why I haven’t been on Broadway, which is intended as a compliment but often leaves a sour taste,” says Barkan. “After years of chasing external validation, I realized the answer is: ‘I AM Broadway.’ This song is a reminder that I don’t need to book a specific job to validate my existence. It is about dismantling the ‘castles of idolatry’ we build around industry success and empowering ourselves to BE the thing we are searching for and make the art we want to be part of.”Barkan brings a seasoned, unapologetic perspective to her work, tackling industry ageism head-on with lines like, “I ain’t no spring chicken, but I’m still finger-lickin’ good.” The track acts as a “spell for unwavering confidence,” for anyone ready to stop waiting to be chosen and start defining their own success. Red Carpet is not only a personal manifesto but a tribute to her chosen family of drag performers, burlesque dancers, queer artists, and fellow creators who use their hutzpah to entertain, heal and empower.***If you would like to contact the show [email protected] us on Social MediaYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX0ETs2wpOHbCuhUNr0XFTw?view_as=subscriberInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_d.m.needom/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedomSupport the podcast here: https://www.patreon.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedom©2026 Better To...Podcast with D. M.NeedomSupport the showSupport the show