An industrial music and electronic dance music (EDM) EP, Gagged is about sex, confidence, and gender expression, identity, and norms. Violet wanted her music to reflect her background in nightclubs, as she had previously modeled and performed in ones throughout Atlanta. Music critics identified BDSM influences throughout the EP, most notably in its title. Sexual fetishism is one of Violet's primary inspirations for her drag personal, along with 1950s pin-up modelBettie Page. Violet likened her vocals more to talking, and did not view herself as a singer. She identified the song "Bettie" as representative of Gagged, and critics associated the track with EDM, electroclash, electronic music, and industrial music.
Gagged received positive reviews from critics, who praised its production and overall approach, as well as Violet's personality. The EP was supported by two singles—"Bettie" and "Vanguard"—and both were promoted with music videos. Both songs and videos were highlighted in reviews. Reviewers considered "Bettie" one of the best songs by a RuPaul's Drag Race contestant, and Violet's aerial silk performance in the music video for "Vanguard" received positive attention. Gagged has appeared on three US Billboard charts, peaking at number 11 on the Top Dance Albums chart and number 48 on both the Independent Albums and the Heatseekers Albums charts.
I wanted to create something as a sort of soundtrack to the avant-garde visuals I create. I love fetish because the line between right and wrong is blurred in a controlled, safe way. It is harmless fun that can really give new meaning to someone’s otherwise humdrum life. I also love the fashion!
Violet decided to pursue music further after being inspired by RuPaul.[7][8] She wanted to emulate RuPaul's focus on branding and merchandising, describing music as a way to "present a total package to people".[8] Violet also preferred to have her own songs for performances and videos.[9] In the HuffPost, Oscar Raymundo wondered if this approach was indicative of drag's future, with "queen as auteur with complete creative control".[10] Violet took additional inspiration from her work as a dominatrix's assistant, as well as from clowns.[11][12] She described herself as a "very visual person" and as often feeling like a clown, which she referred to as "kind of the only visual people had for entertainment" in the past.[12] In a 2025 interview with Out, Violet said that her intentions when first releasing music was promoting herself as "fetish-y [and] dark" and developing those aspects of her drag persona.[13]
For her extended play (EP), Gagged, Violet wrote all five of its tracks with Tomas J. Costanza and Ashley Gordon,[14][note 2] who have frequently worked with drag queens for their music.[16]The Guardian's Brian O'Flynn listed Constanza as an example of how RuPaul's Drag Race contestants often collaborate with the same songwriters and producers, typically for music that he considered "straight-to-dancefloor, bass-heavy bangers".[17]Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee co-wrote and co-produced the song "Bettie" after being contacted to send any "racy and bad ass" songs to Violet.[18][19] Lee said that he did not have any prior connections with Violet;[19] while discussing their collaboration, she recalled having a good experience working with him.[20] Costanza co-produced and mixed "Bettie", which was recorded at the Killingsworth Recording Company and mastered by Tom Coyne.[21]
Violet referred to Gagged as industrial music and electronic dance music (EDM), and said that it was influenced by what she would normally listen to while drinking wine.[2] She wanted her music to reflect her background in nightclubs, describing her goal for the EP as bring "a drag queen album to the next level".[23]Calgary Herald's Eric Volmers and Tiffany Frandsen for Salt Lake City Weekly viewed Gagged as an example of dance-pop,[3][24] and Frandsen called the EP "dance-pop electronic erotica".[3] In Harper's Bazaar India, Jishnu Bandyopadhyay felt that Violet's music had a "dark, more industrial sound", which he considered a "sonic counterpoint to the dazzling persona she presents on stage".[1] Violet identified "Bettie", which she called dark, sexy, and upbeat, as representative of the EP.[8] Critics had varying opinions on the song's genre, associating it with EDM, electroclash, electronic music, and industrial music.[22] The track's production included what Pitchfork's Andy Emitt listed as "drum-machine pounding", a "grating, wobbly synth riff", race car sounds, and "digital androgyne cries of 'ohh!'".[25]
Gagged is about sex, confidence, and gender expression, identity, and norms.[6] Violet identified confidence as her primary message, especially when playing with gender.[3] Gender norms are both referenced and subverted in "Bettie",[25] and the Dallas Voice's J. Denton Bricker noted that the lyrics address "fetish roles and presentation versus reality".[26]Billboard journalists noted BDSM influences throughout the EP.[27][28] Oscar Raymundo said that by using Gagged as the title, Violet shows that she is a "fetish queen at heart".[10]Metro Weekly's Connor J. Hogan felt that Violet is "reminding us who’s in charge" with the EP, which he felt was focused on bondage.[29]
Frandsen interpreted the song titles—"Harlequin," "Vanguard" and "Show Off"—as having "no shame, no secrets".[3] "Vanguard" is about how queer people can find support and strength together, which Violet likened to a military unit, and being a leader in the drag community.[12][30] While promoting Gagged, Violet did not identify as a singer, saying that she instead used "more sexy talking and raspy vocals, dark and fetishy".[10] Emitt described Violet as performing "Bettie" with a "scratchy voice", which he compared to Madonna's vocals for her 1992 single "Erotica".[25]
Release and promotion
"Bettie" was made available as Gagged's lead single on June 2, 2015.[10] The song was supported with a music video, which had premiered the previous day. The top three finalists of RuPaul's Drag Race's seventh season—Violet, Ginger Minj, and Pearl—had released music videos for their singles on the same day.[31] Michael Serrato directed the video for "Bettie",[21] which begins in a kitchen with Violet styled as what Tiffany Frandsen described as a "bored but sensual Donna Reed".[3] The tone in the song's chorus, as Violet sexually dominates two young men and uses erotic electrostimulation on them.[3][25] The fashion changes to chains, spikes, jockstraps, codpieces, leather and latex clothing.[32] Tommy Lee is not in the video, but Pearl appears in a French maid uniform.[18] Violet wanted the video to explore dualities with sexual fetishism, and was inspired by how Bettie Page stopped modeling to be a born-again Christian.[33]
"Vanguard" was promoted as Gagged's second single on June 30, 2015.[37] In the music video, which was also directed by Serrato, Violet is targeted by transphobic men at a fast-food restaurant and customers help her to fight against them.[38] The video was inspired by an incident in which Violet was harassed in an Australian McDonald's, although she clarified that it did not involve physical confrontation.[26] Scenes are interspersed of Violet doing a striptease as part of an aerial silk performance and appearing topless while wearing lingerie and fetish wear, sometimes with prosthetic breasts.[2][11] In 2025, Violet said that she has forgotten about her older music and has considered removing some of her songs from Spotify.[13]
Critical reception
Gagged received a positive response from some critics for its production and overall approach.[39] Connor J. Hogan praised the EP for having a "fusion of glam rock and queer punk, with a decidedly 1950s twist".[29] Joe Lynch for Billboard appreciated that Violet avoided camp to adopt a more artistic style for her music.[27] In Out & About Newspaper, Stephen Wyatt said that Gagged would encourage people to dance,[12] and Tiffany Frandsen described the songs as "smoky, coy, and energetic", as well as catchy.[3] Violet's attitude on Gagged was also highlighted.[3][26] While discussing the EP, Frandsen wrote that Violet demonstrated a confidence throughout the tracks,[3] and J. Denton Bricker referred to her as having a "unique and enduring spunkiness".[26]
Some reviewers highlighted "Bettie" and "Vanguard", as well as their music videos.[40] Frandsen believed that Violet best demonstrated her confidence through these videos.[26] Music critics have named "Bettie" as one of the best songs by a RuPaul's Drag Race contestant;[41] Lynch referred to it as "one of the most expertly crafted, musically adventurous tracks" that came out of Drag Race.[27] Andy Emitt praised "Bettie" and its music videos for challenging how sexuality is typically shown, especially by representing a femme, genderqueer individual as the dominant.[25] For the music video for "Vanguard", writers commended Violet's aerial silk performance.[42] Wyatt appreciated the video's message,[12] and in a positive review for the song, a critic for The Advocate said: "We're still gagging, hunty! Press play and get ready to wherq."[37]
Track listing
All tracks were written by Violet Chachki, Tomas J. Costanza, and Ashley Gordon, except where noted. Credits adapted from Spotify and WOW Presents Plus:[note 3]
↑ Violet Chachki uses both she/her and they/them pronouns.[1] The article uses feminine pronouns for Violet for consistency and to match what is used in the citations.
↑ Several articles refer to Gagged as an album rather than an EP,[15] and during an interview with the Gay Times, Violet also references it as an album.[8]
↑ Gagged is only available digitally,[12] and streaming services, such as Spotify, only credit songwriters for the tracks.[14] WOW Presents Plus offers more complete credits for the song “Bettie”.[21]
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