ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: Rufus Wainwright on His Mother’s Passing, His Upcoming Hamptons Benefit and His New Album

(Rufus Wainwright)

Out troubador Rufus Wainwright has re-enacted Judy Garland’s legendary show at Carnegie Hall, sung with Boy George and Antony Hegarty of Antony and the Johnsons, and even headlined Dean Johnson’s queer-punk Homocore show at CBGB. His latest collaborator is none other than Kylie Minogue, who will be Wainwright’s special guest at a August 28 benefit at Robert Wilson’s Watermill Center in the Hamptons. We got Wainwright on the horn to chat about the upcoming show, his new CD, All Days are Nights, and his evolving views on gay marriage. —Dan Avery
 
Where does the album’s title, All Days are Night, come from?
It’s from Shakespeare—from the tail end of Sonnet 43. The album is really inspired by his sonnets. “All Days are Nights” refers to, for me anyway, how time keeps moving on whether we’re conscious of it or not. Whether you’re dealing with a tragedy or working intensely on something, time is the first thing to go. It’s so easy to forget where you are.
 
Did you complete the album before your mother, folk singer Kate McGarrigle, passed away? Or was her death an influence on the album?
I worked on it while she still alive and thankfully finished it before she really went downhill. We knew deep down she was dying, and certainly the music reflects that, but I didn’t advertise that connection. I guess the album is a kind of clairvoyant process I went through with her death. You can hear the darkness and the grieving.
 
What can you tell us about the song “Who are You New York?”
In this modern day, New York has been so sanitized and transformed that a lot of the old ideals that brought people here—freedom, danger, filth, nightlife—are like phantoms. You still see them turning corners or in high windows, but they’re very elusive. All of us pleasure seekers still yearn for them.
 
You’re performing at the Watermill Center’s summer party, which is really a unique event for the Hamptons. How did you get involved?
I love the event—It’s very important to have an outlet for the arts in that very high-end American milleau. I’ve had a long connection with [Watermill founder] Robert Wilson. I worked on a musical version of the Shakespeare’s sonnets that was performed Berlin. And my boyfriend Jörn [Weisbrodt] is the center’s creative director. So I guess you could say I’m married to the place.
 
Speaking of marriage, the press made a big deal of reporting that you weren’t a gay-marriage advocate. But you’ve said you’re your views are evolving. How do you feel about the recent court ruling overturning Prop 8?
I said that I didn’t think the government should be involved in marriage at all. At the time I didn’t really see myself as the marrying kind, so it wasn’t very important to me. But being with Jörn, I’ve rethought a lot of things.  I’m very happy about the decision—it’s just common sense. I’m also interested to see what will happen now. Will it go to Supreme Court? What kind of Supreme Court do we have now, with more women on the bench? It’ll be very interesting to see where we stand on sticky social issues.
 
You’ve got a special guest at the Watermill show…
Yes, its Kylie Minogue!
 
How did that come together?
It was my and Jörn’s idea. We saw her at Hammerstein Ballroom and loved it—and I worked with her on a Sting tribute years ago. Jörn got in touch and she was delighted. It’s so exciting!”
 
What can we expect? Are you both going to perform?
We’re gonna do a plethora of material—a little Broadway, a little Australian folk music and some mandatory gay anthems. We’re gonna set that place on fire!
 
Last Song of Summer at Watermill Center, Watermill, NY, 212-253-7484, WatermillCenter.org, Aug 28 at 4:30pm, $150 –$1000.