Originally Published on March 20th, 2026
As I approach two years of writing for Fifteen Minutes of Fame, I’m compelled to look back at some of the relationships that I’ve built along the way. One of them, Dame Fawn Denier has been great for a couple of reasons: Dame, aka Adrian, is a wonderful person and I value each and every conversation we have. The second reason is the joy I’ve had watching this artist develop over the two years I’ve followed their music.
Adrian performs in drag by the stage name of Dame Fawn Denier. She debuted in 2021 with the singles, Nothing to Do and My Husband’s on a Diet. At the start of her career as a recording artist, she was releasing deliberately campy and comical work. This carried on into 2022 with songs like Don’t You Feel Sorry for People Called Karen and her noteworthy Christmas songs like Drag Yourself Out This Christmas.
Turning the corner into 2023, Dame started coming into her stride regarding her comedy as her songs brought a wittier edge. Songs like Your Mum Will Come Out Tomorrow, a play on the famous Annie song Tomorrow, even deals with the hilariously scarring lyric that references your mum “flicking her bean.”
Diabolical.
My favorite of the comedies is The Rudest Christmas Song Ever! which leads us with a nice bluesy intro before busting out into with the incredible line “Try not to be a cunt, it’s Christmas.”
Dame’s lyrical wordplay and her knack for reforming songs from musicals and other classical songs instantly drew me to her work. Then, something happened. In 2025, Dame released the songs Leave Behind and Know Our Own Worth, both outcries for kindness in a world drastically lacking. As the world got uglier, Dame chose to attack it with kindness and when conservative politics raised the bar on their attack on the LGBTQ communities and the drag communities, she released the heartfelt, Drag Changes Everything, an emotional ode to the artform in which Adrian has long performed.
Dame is a passionate member of small independent music community found on threads through CAN! (Collaborative Artist Network). Dame can often be found lifting up other artists, she is a regular attendee for listening parties on Bandcamp, she curates a playlist on Spotify, often including independent artists new releases, and she is often referring new artists to the group and introducing their music to the community. She is an exemplary member of the community. For instance, she likes to transpose and perform covers of songs form indie artists in the community.
Bower Meadow is the second release by Dame Fawn Denier in 2026. Releasing on March 12th, it is a cover by the independent rock band, Red Cavalry. It features Adrian McLeay, aka Dame on vocals and in an independent release. When speaking to Dame regarding some of her past releases, she confided that, as she was continuing to release more music, she was leaning more into the idea of performing some of the instrumental work and production of some of her releases. The progress here is undeniable.
“When ‘Bower Meadow’ came out, I was completely taken with it straight away. Indie rock wasn’t really a genre I listened to very often before, but this track really pulled me in. Over Christmas, I started experimenting with learning it just for fun and suddenly, it struck me how I could transform it into something very different. Something with an 80’s dance feel.” ~ Adrian McLeary (Dame Fawn Denier)
Comparing the two tracks, it is really interesting to hear the contrast. With Red Cavalry, there is a very grunge heavy, angsty, and brooding vibe. Dame has taken that mood and has created a softer, more contextually emotional perspective. As for the production, it’s all Dame:
“With ‘Bower Meadow,’ it is I, the artist who has created everything you can hear. I transcribed the original by ear and every single note has been played and programmed by myself. Shoegaze to old gays indeed!” ~ McLeary
In addition to her cover of Novelley’s song FOMO, I am really excited to see Dame explore creative paths that help her grow as a musician. The proof is in the pudding. It is working! Her talent is the very definition of transformative, from her drag appearance, to the tone, and now her involvement. I’ve always known her to be an inspiring human being. Kind, funny, and charming, we now get to add to the list “eager and capable,” as she strives to do more musically. It is fun to watch. It makes me happy.
Truly inspirational.
Go press play.
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