Magic, Creativity, and Self-Expression with Freida Whales

What is psychedelic culture if not shaped by whirls of colour, waves of whimsy, and unapologetic advocacy?

Embodying the same pleasantries that stamp a good mushroom trip in your heart and mind forever, is Canada’s vigorous, spirit-lifting, and 4-time winner of Kelowna’s Best Drag Artist: the beloved Freida Whales. 

Spreading equal parts camp and jocularity across the Okanagan, Freida’s unapologetic, contagious demeanor casts a light over the mundane like a psychedelic trip for the soul — a blessing in the name of self-expression in a world where community builds the safe space needed to not just be our authentic selves, but to embrace it fully 

“I did mushrooms a few times out of high school, and have continued sampling since. I almost always plan my drag performances under an altered state, usually marijuana. I find it helps me be more creative.” – Freida Whales

How psychedelics affect creativity is fascinating, and a creativity method as old as time. By altering brain states that remain largely unaffected in sobriety, many artists, musicians, and other creative minds find psychedelic substances to be an effective way to crack through creative blocks and in short, think outside the box. 

For Whales, creativity isn’t solely reserved for performing, but instead about transforming past trauma into humour and embracing creative-expression in the process. “I take my trauma and bad experiences and turn them into humour. So, the advice I would give to someone struggling with self is to try not to take things too seriously and laugh at life,” Freida shares.

It’s this very mindset that’s not only propelled Freida’s drag career and stolen the hearts of many (including us), but it’s also where she’s built a community of like-minded creatives in the Okanagan. Her production company, Whalemade Productions, was born out of the frustration with a system that unjustly restricted drag artists’ freedoms and expression. “We were being controlled creatively and financially, and I thought we could do it better without the middle man,” Freida recalls. 

So, Freida Whales made like a shroom-advocate in the 60s and did just that – creating a space of advocacy where creativity is as free-flowing as a good trip, and the results have been nothing short of award-winning. “I may be biased, but so far I think we’re doing pretty well, winning multiple awards voted by the public,” 

In our community, mushrooms have been a catalyst in helping us tap into the further depths of artistry, as they have for countless artists and performers over the last 7+ decades. For Freida, the same goes. “Psychedelics have made it so I can play with characters either on stage or in my head when I’m using,” Freida shares.

And while conversation surrounding psychedelic substances may still hold a sliver or two of outdated stigma, Freida, like us, is hopeful for a future where these substances are seen and heard for their therapeutic potential. “I think for the most part, people are more open to trying them, especially in small doses. I’ve heard that it can help heal people’s brains on a neural level. I’m glad people are opening up to their uses.”

And Freida’s speculation would indeed ring true. In 2021, Yale researchers learned that psilocybin, when given to mice, prompted an immediate and enduring increase in connections between brain neurons. Which, in simple terms, implies that psilocybin essentially forms new pathways and connections in the brain, which, in this study’s case, increased neurotransmitter activity and restored neural connections lost through chronic stress and depression. 

If you could draw any parallel between drag, mushrooms, and creativity as a whole, it’s that their magic is reserved for those who choose to embrace it. While all great things in life come with skepticism, negativity, and judgment, it’s all about prioritizing what matters most: happiness, the freedom to create, and the freedom to exist in whatever way makes your heart and spirit soar.

Freida’s advice to anyone struggling with their true self? Find your people. “Seek out your tribe,” she says, “A great place to start is at a drag show.” And it’s true. When you’re surrounded by those who understand and embrace you, that’s where true self-expression blossoms. 

Catch us, and our purses full of mushrooms, at Freida Whales’ lineup of shows this summer, where you can find all the details and tickets for HERE! If you’re in need of deep laughs, deeper connections, and all the colour and magic life can provide, Whalemade Productions events are where you need to be.