Written by Lorenzo dela Cruz | July 19, 2025

photos by Samantha Firmin

Promqueen, a second-generation queer Vietnamese American pop/rap artist based in Austin, TX, brings a unique perspective to the large yet monolithic South Texas music scene. Her lyrics incorporate a mix of English and Vietnamese, reflecting a common experience among second-generation Asian Americans—many of whom grapple daily with the duality of identities: a split persona between their mother culture and the inherited culture of living in the States.

This split persona finds a middle ground within Promqueen’s work, and her latest release, “SCARLETT,” is no exception.

“SCARLETT” officially released on July 18th, accompanied by a music video directed by Zachariah Williams. Nopality Magazine attended the music video’s advanced screening party, held a week earlier at ArtUsCo, co-presented by AAAFF and partially supported by the City of Austin Live Music Fund Grant.

The sold-out night included acoustic performances by Promqueen, followed by the screening of SCARLETT and a Q&A panel with its cast and crew.

During the Q&A, Promqueen revealed the lore behind Scarlett’s character and the cinematic universe surrounding her. A struggling youth from a broken family in New York City, Scarlett stumbles upon Rose Jones, the owner of a club called Jones Joint. Rose takes Scarlett under her wing and eventually bequeaths the club to her upon her passing. As the new owner, Scarlett opens the club as a safe haven for queer individuals and others cast aside by society. Scarlett battles with being a cornerstone for those she supports, while struggling with her own inner dialogue and search for purpose.

The music video is heavily inspired by film noir—from obvious visual cues such as its underground club setting (later revealed to be The Cloak Room in downtown Austin) to its meticulous, period-accurate costume design, a credit to Ariel O’Gwin and the rest of the costume department.

The opening sequence features a dramatic backlit scene in which a silhouetted Promqueen “shoots” two individuals, donning a transatlantic accent, after they catcall her and her posse. These two are reintroduced later in the film, bickering over their pursuit of Scarlett, and again later, seemingly holding Scarlett down by her shoulders as she struggles to break free. The stark contrast between the black-and-white film noir world these two men inhabit and the vibrant, free world where Scarlett can sing and dance underscores the visual and thematic tension.

For example, in the first scene, the trio of performers—placed centrally—are suppressed not only by the interaction itself, but also by the mise-en-scène: the rays of light providing a slight respite from the oppressive darkness surrounding them. Again, when the two men talk about Scarlett, the framing is incredibly tight, locking them into a "box" formed by a staircase and surrounding walls—symbolizing the box they attempt to trap Scarlett within. In the final black-and-white scene, this same restrictive framing clamps down on Scarlett, just as the hands physically restrain her. However, Scarlett ultimately breaks free, as color bursts back into the scene while she delivers a powerful rap sequence. The final scene—where the entire bar celebrates as the performing trio waves goodbye from the stage—is a triumphant moment symbolizing Scarlett’s victory over the two men and her escape into a world of freedom, self-expression, and identity.

Be sure to watch Promqueen’s “SCARLETT” on her YouTube channel and stream the single on all major platforms.