We had the good fortune of connecting with Matthew Krumpe and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Matthew, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I pursued an artistic/creative career because it quite literally keeps me alive. Back in my school days , I always enjoyed school out of interest but taking Math, English, History , language etc was just for requirement. I always thrived when in dance, theater, choir, visual art classes and in athletics. I loved athletics because it taught me control over my body. I loved the arts because I was able to express every bottled emotion I had as a young closeted child.

My drag and dance is an extension of me. It is my spirt on stage in front of others. My character Linda Recessionista is as much me as it is a character.

Although this career path is uncertain, volatile, unpredictable and extremely draining at times. I know that it brings me joy. Creativity is the center of all culture and I am blessed to be contributing in any way that I can to my community at large, through my art.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What sets me apart?
Linda Recessionista was born out of chaos, crisis, and creativity. She’s not just a drag queen—she’s a survivor in sequins. What sets me apart is that my work exists at the intersection of performance, protest, and pure camp. I don’t just lip-sync and leave; I create experiences—whether it’s a drag bingo night that feels like group therapy in glitter, or a trivia show that’s part comedy, part cultural archive. I use my drag to build joy, celebrate queerness, and hold space for people who, like me, have had to fight for every bit of light in their lives.

How did I get here?
Through hell—and heels. Matthew Krumpe, the artist behind Linda, grew up in the theatre, trained as a dancer, and worked for years in retail and event production while performing and choreographing on the side. But nothing about this path was easy. I’ve survived homelessness, cancer, abuse, and live every day as a proud HIV-positive person. And that’s before we even get into the career obstacles. Trying to survive as a working dancer and choreographer is brutal—especially in a city like Los Angeles, where the rise of RuPaul’s Drag Race and the hyper-curated world of social media have made the drag scene more saturated, more competitive, and frankly more cutthroat than ever.

The reality?
It’s hard to get booked, harder to get paid fairly, and even harder to keep your soul intact while doing it. But I keep going. Because I know what it’s like to have nothing—and still find a way to create something. That’s what Linda represents. She’s the show and the struggle. She’s funny, fierce, and sometimes frayed at the edges—but she always shows up, rhinestoned and ready.

What do I want the world to know?
Linda Recessionista is not just about drag—she’s about defiance. And Matthew Krumpe is not just behind the curtain—he is the curtain, the crew, the choreographer, and the cleanup. I want people to know that my art comes from a place of real resilience. That being visible, being joyful, and being queer is a radical act. And that no matter what you’re up against, you can still tell your story, take the stage, and demand to be seen. Because I did. And I’m not done yet.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I have a lot of best friends so this would depend on who is visiting. But for a weeklong trip in LA, with the best of the best I would say….

Dance class.- We would have to go take Melissa Schade’s class at PickleFactory Frogtown – For any dancer or nondancer these classes will fill your cup and change your life. Dance meets magic.

Hike – Avoid Runyon, do the Hollywood sign hike or the Culver city steps plus the full hike around the park. Love the view at the top

Beach – Ginger Rogers – Duh Keep it queer.

Parties – If its in season Bears in Space or Planet Love (at akbar or underground) , Uncut if you like Latin vibes, or midnight lovers. Just going out Akbar, Precinct, Club Tee Gee, or an underground party. Im not a fan of the weho bar scene.

Eat – Sandwich Uncle Paulies, Thai – Natalee Thai, Italian – Bacetti Trattoria – Echo Park, Mexican/Vegan – Gracias Madre, Burger – Apple Pan, Late night – Canters

Walk through the Grove not the Americana. Shopping – melrose shops into the melrose flea market on a sunday, or abbot Kinney in venice

See a movie at the vista in silverlake, or at the el capitan for the nostalgia.

Go to the Bob Baker Marionette Puppet Theater in highland park.

LA is always changing and there is always something new and fun to do. It is such an expansive city with nuggets of fun!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate this shoutout to my sister Madison who has believed in me even when I didnt believe in myself.

And to every dance teacher/ mentor I have ever had. Although I might not always be working in dance, what I learned as a mover I have applied to every aspect of my life.

Thank you to Cynthia Winter, Maria Gillespie, Christina Woodard, Sabrina Philip, Roni Blak, Ryan Heffington, Sonya Tayeh and Melissa Schade. Kate Benton, Michelle Spears, Christopher Michael Moore, Zoe Robin, Rees Pugh, Nina Burtchaell, Imani Alexander, David Rousseve and Hassan Christopher.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krumpmasterkrump/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-krumpe-02116849/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/krumpstar/

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@krumpmasterkrump

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