Hip-hop artist MC Flow – aka Gay & Lesbian Times Queer Abby columnist Abby Schwartz – raps about reaching out to an audience and treading on territory others wouldn’t even think about touching. Southern California will have two chances to catch MC Flow in the next couple of weeks, first at IndieFest on Saturday, March 28, where she and her bandmates will be performing on the “Mature Audiences” stage at 11 p.m. For those making the annual trek to Dinah Shore Weekend, MC Flow will perform at The Dinah in “Dinah Idol” at The Riviera Hotel pool party on Saturday, April 4, at 11 a.m. In the meantime, this self-described hip-hop artist with a feminist twist took the time to sit down with the GLT to discuss how she uses the flow of her instrumental voice to affect change on women’s issues, politics and Proposition 8.

How would you describe MC Flow for readers who are not familiar with your sound?

I like to describe our music as alternative hip-hop with a feminist twist. It’s definitely party music that gets you moving and dancing, but beneath the party edge is often a political or social message. For those who haven’t seen our live show, I like to explain that going to an MC Flow performance is like going to a big, crazy party; we have a dancer who shakes her stuff, a DJ who scratches live, and even some audience participation. It’s definitely an experience!

How did you get into and how long have you been in the music industry?

I stumbled into the music industry about six years ago, when I decided to take some of my spoken word/poetry and transform it into hip-hop. I don’t play any instruments, so my only instrument is my voice and my words. I’ve always been a writer, so writing lyrics comes naturally to me – but I don’t play music, so my producer and band-mate, Taylor-Tay, helped me make the transition. We began working together on songs and that is how MC Flow was born.

Your lyrics often deliver a special message. Tell readers a little more about the messages you deliver.

Obviously, I’m not your average rapper – I’m white, female and queer, so I have a different voice and different reality from what would be considered “mainstream” hip-hop. So I rap my own truth – I rap about women’s issues and the bogus standards of beauty that women are forced to live up to. I rap about queer issues and most recently wrote a song called “Created Equal” about the passage of Proposition 8. I am fully aware of the fact that mainstream rappers are not going to write songs and reach out to the public about the fact that Proposition 8 should not have passed – and so it is my job and the job of other LGBT artists to do so. If we don’t speak our truth and make art about what is most important to us, no one will do it for us. And music is the universal language – it’s one of the simplest and most emotionally direct ways to connect with and influence others.

You have two major performances coming up in the next couple of weeks. First San Diego IndieFest V and also Dinah Shore. What can audience members expect with these performances?

We are extremely excited about both IndieFest and our opportunity to perform at The Dinah. At IndieFest, we will be performing at 11 p.m. on the “Mature Audiences” stage, so anything goes! People should expect a full-force MC Flow experience – quick rhymes, crazy dance moves, and an overall celebration of indie-DIY culture. At The Dinah, we will be performing in “Dinah Idol” on the Saturday morning of Dinah weekend, at 11 a.m. at The Riviera Hotel pool party. We will be competing against lesbian bands from across the nation for a chance to open for Uh Huh Her later in the day. We hope our fans from San Diego and beyond will come out to hoot and holler for us as we perform. It is the biggest women’s party in the world – and we plan to take it by storm!

In 2007-’08 you were honored with a San Diego Music Award, how was it to receive recognition for your hard work.

It is always an amazing feeling to be recognized by your music peers and your fans, and we were thrilled to take home two San Diego Music Awards – one for “Best Hip-Hop” and one for “Best Hip-Hop Album.” It was surreal, to say the least.

What is next for MC Flow?

Next for MC Flow is to hit the road and bring the MC Flow party to cities across the country. We have applied for a few Pride festivals and have also been working hard submitting our video for “Created Equal” to LGBT film festivals across the nation. We are ready to blow up and show the world that it’s time to “go with the Flow!”