"I hated working with Porky Pig" Frosty Valentine Gets Real on the Cartoon Industry, Shares Beauty Secrets and More!

Photo courtesy of Debaser

If you aren’t already in the know, Toronto’s Frosty Valentine is the next it-girl. Now retired from three decades in the cartoon industry, Valentine is turning heads as a triple-threat performer; singing, dancing and animating her way to the top of the charts, all while setting the record straight on her previously unrecognized talent. Rather than a thorn in her side, Valentine’s plight with the seedy underbelly of the entertainment world fuels her desire to make change in the form of sugary-pop anthems and elaborate, uncanny productions. 

We got the chance to connect with the pop-star leading up to her performance at the second edition of PIQUE, a new forward-thinking, artist-driven quarterly event series featuring eclectic musical, visual and multimedia artists produced by Debaser. Valentine will be performing at the festival this coming Saturday, September 11th, 2021 at Arts Court in Ottawa. 

Read our exclusive tête-à-tête with Valentine below. 

Zoë Argiropulos-Hunter for Also Cool: Hi Frosty! Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with Also Cool. To start, can I ask you how your retirement has been going? It seems like you've taken an unconventional path since leaving cartooning behind. Where did this new energy come from?

Frosty Valentine: My whole cartoon career

I was a shadow in the back.

I sang, stunt doubled, danced

to be honest I lost track…

I dressed as Lady and the Tramp

for the scene with the spaghetti.

Cause Lady was gluten intolerant

and I was camera ready!

I hated working with Porky Pig

and looked for a new job.

It was nearly impossible

and every day I would just sob.

I sang at Chucky Cheese at night

and then got my big break!

Manager Sticky was sitting there

and said that I was great!

Also Cool: You've spoken candidly about the industry leaving a bad taste in your mouth. Knowing that ethics are important to you, how do you cultivate an ideal work environment now that you're the ringleader of your troupe?

Frosty Valentine: Since being in the industry

I really saw it all.

That’s why I only have puppets

and a robotic doll.

AC: Speaking of your entourage, how did all of you come to know each other?

FV: I studied to become a wrestler

that was my retirement plan.

My costume is for a wrestler

just so you understand.

Every time I got knocked out

these visions came to me…

That’s when I came across

my heavenly puppet Pinky!

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Frosty Valentine and Pinky by Kate Killet at The Harbourfront Centre - Long Winter Festival, 2019

AC: At the same time, how do you take time for yourself, and look so good doing it, while managing your recent rise to fame? Any words of wisdom, or beauty secrets, that you'd care to share?

FV: It’s true that I'm famous

there are days that I forget…

But then everyone will know my name

Whenever I go to the vet.

You better drink lots of water

if you want to look like me!

Wear sunscreen every single day

and “Miscellaneous Water” by Cerave!

AC: Knowing that you're beginning to tour again, how will you keep yourself grounded and motivated as your schedule picks up and the paparazzi begins to swarm?

FV: I wear a tinted sunscreen

every single day.

it takes care of my skin

and it makes me look okay.

I stretch every morning

to release yesterday's stress.

If I don’t do that daily then

I promise I’m a mess!

AC: We’re excited to see your performance this Saturday in Ottawa at Debaser's PIQUE festival. Can you give us any hints about what your set will entail?

FV: This time my robot won’t be there but,

I have a body double.

I can’t say too much more

or you might get me in trouble.

I will say that a lot of local

people are involved.

I feel so grateful to them

that my heart will soon dissolve!

Frosty Valentine will be performing in-person at the second edition of PIQUE, Debaser’s new forward-thinking, artist-driven, quarterly event series at Arts Court (Ottawa Art Gallery - Jackson Courtyard) on September 11th, 2021 at 9:30PM EST.

For more information on PIQUE and to purchase tickets to Saturday’s event visit thisispique.com

Frosty Valentine

Instagram | Bandcamp | Youtube | TikTok

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The Second Edition of Debaser's PIQUE Takes-Over Arts Court on September 11th, 2021

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PIQUE poster by @mouthoftiger, original wordmark typeface created by Moritz Esch

The second edition of PIQUE, a new forward-thinking artist-driven music and multimedia arts event series produced by Debaser, offers up music, art, comedy and drag in its hybrid in-person/online program.

The multi-level building-wide arts event and digital program takes place September 11th, 2021 in-person in and around the Arts Court and Ottawa Art Gallery buildings, and online at thisispique.com.

PIQUE’s second edition will be a hybrid event featuring live in-person outdoor performances, indoor screenings and installations, a skill-sharing workshop, and a virtual program of audio-visual works available on-demand. PIQUE is produced by Debaser, Ottawa’s leading independent and underground music presenter.  

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PIQUE poster by @mouthoftiger, original wordmark typeface created by Moritz Esch

PIQUE is experimental in form and content. Its second edition features:

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Live performance by Polaris Prize-winning rapper and producer BACKXWASH with original set design by Méchant Vaporwave

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Photo courtesy of Debaser

An immersive audio/visual play by Vancouver-based experimental artist/composer Debby Friday featuring AI deepfake tool Holly+ (developed by musician and researcher Holly Herndon)

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Photo courtesy of Debaser

Live performance by Toronto spitfire “rapper supermom” and scene builder Sydanie, curated by Shaya Ishaq

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Photo courtesy of Debaser

Live performance by Toronto-based RnB and electronic pop artist Quinton Barnes with visuals by Justin Atkins

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Frosty Valentine by Jesi Jordan

A site-specific performance by drag artist, pop star and “retired cartoon” Frosty Valentine with her animatronic back-up singers, live dancers, and projections

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Photo courtesy of Debaser

A playful immersive audio installation exploring childhood diary entries by local artist and composer Yolande Laroche

Virtual video performances by innovative artists New Chance, La Neve, Abdu Ali and Amanda Lowe, which will be screened in Club SAW at the in-person event

Photos courtesy of Debaser

Live performances by local artists Jules Filmhouse, Lady Charles, and Randy Schmucker

Photos courtesy of Debaser

Pass the Vibes logo

“Infinite Vibes”, an intro to DJing workshop, curated by Shaya Ishaq and facilitated by QTBIPOC-centring artist collective Pass the Vibes

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Photo courtesy of Debaser

Guest curation by interdisciplinary artist, designer, writer and world-builder Shaya Ishaq. Her solo exhibition, Library of Infinities, is currently on display at the SAW Gallery.

Pique is produced in partnership with SAW, Ottawa Art Gallery, Firegrove Studio, Ottawa Fringe, Artengine, DAÏMÔN, Digital Arts Resource Centre, CKCU FM, CHUO FM, Apt 613 and Also Cool Mag and is supported by Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Canadian Heritage, City of Ottawa, Ottawa Community Foundation, SOCAN Foundation, and FACTOR. 

Tickets are pay-what-you-can, with a suggested donation of $30-$50, and are on sale now on Eventbrite

For more information contact: Rachel Weldon at hello@debaser.ca

Check out PIQUE’s fall edition schedule below

Debaser

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Introducing Nailed by Bonnebez

Photo by Malaika Astorga, Nails by Nailed by Bonnebez, Modelled by Gab Bois

Francis Hétu is the artist behind Nailed By Bonnebez, a custom nail business operating on Instagram since late September. We commissioned a pair of Also Cool nails from him for this article, and he created the pastel-rainbow-Sagittarius of our dreams. Check out the nails modelled by Gabbois, and photographed by Malaika Astorga.

Green nails for Gina Gates by Nailed by BonneBez

Another one of Francis Hétu’s standout creations—a pair of green stiletto nails glazed in cat-eye polish, adorned with gemstones—is fit for a glamorous Wicked Witch of the West. The green set was intended for the hands of drag queen Gina Gates. The nails are rich in colour, almost aquatic. With one look at these nails, you feel like you’re swimming in a pool of glitter. Crafting this kind of fingertip magic is a regular task for Hétu. 

While he creates nails for drag performers, he is an artist in his own right. “He’s always been meticulous about his looks and his makeup,” said drag queen Taylor De Vil. “You get the same thing with his nails.” De Vil owns a few pairs already. She said that Hétu always makes sure she likes what he is creating for her: “It’s a collaboration between two creative minds.”  

Hétu listens to the needs of his clients, and when they land on a concept after exchanging ideas, he gets to work on virgin nails—a blank canvas for his art. “I rarely, rarely do simple designs, because it bores me,” he said.

After making a prototype for himself, Hétu made his first pair of nails for his friend and drag queen, Ben Addiction. Addiction said that Hétu truly listens to the needs of his clients, and qualified his nails as demonstrating amazing craftsmanship. “He’s an amazing artist and a really sweet guy to work with.”

Addiction added that custom nails are the final touch to any look. “If you’re going to have a custom pair of nails on your hands, I want my customers to say ‘oh my God, these are unique,’” said Hétu. 

Photo by Malaika Astorga, Nails by Nailed by Bonnebez, Modelled by Gab Bois

In 2018, fueled by a strong desire to try drag, and a if-not-now-when? attitude, Hétu entered the Sherby Drag Race at the (now-closed) bar Les Grands-Ducs de Wellington in Sherbrooke. “I said to myself that another opportunity might not come up and who knows what tomorrow will bring?” reminisced Hétu. “You can’t push back on what you dream about, and if you don’t seize it, you might just lose it forever,” he added. 

While Hétu doesn’t perform anymore, in starting Nailed by Bonnebez, his main goal was keeping in contact with the drag community, and to give back. On making his his first pair of nails, he said he “was just so giddy to see so many stones and crystals shining in [his] face.”

Hétu is a self-taught nail artist, but has been watching the Ontarian YouTuber Simply Nailogical for a few years. “One thing led to another and I delved deeper into nail art tutorials,” he said. “I keep my natural nails too short to sport nice nails, so I started off with practicing on clear press-on nails.”

“When I wear nails, it just clicks,” said Hétu. “You move your hands differently, you look in the mirror differently. I would [find myself] pointing a lot.” Hétu said the nails are a form of expression within themselves; no different from your hairstyle or clothing. They are a statement. “You are loud as fuck,” he said. “I’m gonna wear them and represent me.”

It’s important for him that his nails be reusable in this time of climate crisis. You simply have to dip your hands in warm water and remove them carefully. This kind of outlook has made him stand out in the community. “I think it’s really important to encourage small businesses,” said De Vil, “especially when they’re LGBTQ+ friendly, but even more importantly when it’s your friends’.”

Hétu hopes that someday, he’ll happen to be at a drag show and see his nails on a performer: “That would be a dream.”

To order your own custom pair of nails, send Hétu a DM on Instagram and detail the idea you have in mind. Hétu will reach back with design ideas and pricing. Check out the “Measuring” highlight on his page for instructions on how to measure your nails. 

Victoria Lamas is a Montreal arts journalist. She is the former copy editor and current arts online editor at The Link. She writes about the queer art scene, emergent visual artists, and hip hop.

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