Kath Ebbs Gets Real on DJing, Music, Mental Health, Style & Queer Representation

No one is stirring things up quite like Kath Ebbs. The Australian non-binary creative juggles many hats: actor, DJ, podcaster, and content creator. And it pays: Ebbs has amassed a loyal following of over 300K, creating a safe space for the queer community, both on and off the dance floor. By blending identity, culture, and connection to showcase the power of conversation through their podcast Conversations with Kath and reinventing the queer experience in nightlife and club spaces — with a special song for each moment —, Kath Ebbs ascends as a true queer icon in the making.  

Ahead, Fizzy Magazine talks with the multifaceted artist about their journey, creative work, the role of club culture in queer empowerment, the meaning of pride to them, mental health in moments like these,  and how they use music to celebrate queer joy. 

Kath, can you share a little about your life before entering content creation?  

Before I started as a content creator, I was working as a small business owner. I had a food market stall called “The Smoothie Bowl Shack” which I ran out of Glebe Markets in Sydney. I started the business when I was 17 and kept it going alongside my burgeoning career in media until I was 23 years old. 

Describe yourself through a playlist. Which tracks would make the cut? 

Ok, this is my favorite thing to do. When I'm connecting deeply with someone new, I ask them to create a playlist of 10 songs that best describe them and/or their life. Since I’m such a sucker for a playlist, these would be my top 5:

• You Can Call Me Al by Paul Simon
• I'm Your Man by Wham!
• I Like Love (I Love Love) by Solitaire
• I Just Keep Thinking About You Baby Tata Vega
• Quiet by Paul Simon 

What made you start your podcast Conversations with Kath? 

I started Conversations with Kath back in 2019. It began as a talk show, which was later adapted into a podcast when Covid-19 hit—just a week before we were set to film our third season. The concept was inspired by the power of conversation. I believe that conversations—no matter how big, small, silly, or smart—have the power to change the world. Over the seasons, I’ve explored many different concepts and themes, and I can’t wait to launch another one soon, each with its own unique flavor.

Who is your dream guest for your podcast?  

Gabby Windey, Queen. 

You exist outside of traditional boxes — gender, genre, even career titles. How would you describe who you are without using labels?

Someone with a lot of love to give, that gives a f*ck about stuff and want to have fun while I'm here. 

As a non-binary creative, what does queer representation mean to you?

It's everything! If you can’t see it, you can’t be it. I remember growing up as a closeted kid—I never saw myself reflected back to me, which made me feel so much shame around my feelings. If there was representation, it never seemed positive. The narrative presented was always about the struggle of being queer. Those stories are so important to tell, but so is queer joy. It wasn't until I got older and saw happy queer people just existing in the world that I had my lightbulb moment and was able to start my own coming out journey. This is why I'm so loud about my sexuality and gender—because I know that would have been a lifeline to younger me.

How are you celebrating Pride Month? 

Centering community. Being in spaces that make me feel safe, with people who make me feel seen. We are living in a really scary and unsettling time for queer people, so now more than ever, it’s important that we create our own safe spaces to hold each other. Less time online, and more time connecting with the community in real life.

The club has always been a safe space for queer expression. What do you think nightlife and DJing can still teach the world about freedom, identity, and community?

Ahh! The dance floor is a sacred space to heal. There is a unison and shared grief that happens on dance floors, especially Queer ones. Moving our bodies together to the same beat, all bathing in the sweat of our history, shared trauma, and joy to be alive. It represents so much to LGBT+ folk; it was our home before we could be in the home. Club culture is the landing place for queer bodies, it's where we gather like church to worship. What a gift it is to thrive together in a world that constantly wants to diminish our existence. 

What kind of dance floor are you trying to create when you play?

A dancefloor that facilitates the escapism of one's pain whilst also transforming it. One that makes you feel hopeful and excited to be there, existing and moving your body among other bodies. Where people feel connected through sound and leave feeling like they have shed some sh*t! 

What’s your dream venue to DJ?

Honestly, I would love to play at an Aussie music festival. I grew up as such a festival rat in high school that playing at one would feel so full circle. 

What do you think people misunderstand about DJing — especially from queer or non-binary artists? 

We all drink and are party animals! I've been sober for 10 years now, and I think that surprises a lot of people. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE a party and a boogie more than the next  — clearly being a DJ, but you don’t need to be high in order to do that,t and I think people are shocked by that. 

Do you dress differently when you DJ — does your look shift with your sound?

Sadly, no, I wish I had more of a “stage brand,” but I'm just me. Jeans and a singlet do the job! 

Do you remember the first time you used fashion as a form of resistance or self-expression?

Ever since I was a kid! I would LOVE to dress up. I would spend most of my free time going through my mum's closet and trying on everything. Clothes and style have always been markers to me. I've gone through many different stages with my style throughout my life — some I love and some I'm like “what the hell were you thinking?!”. 

As someone who identifies outside the binary, how does queerness inform the way you dress, create, or move through the world?

I think, as well as queer people do, that dress can really assist us in identity. Not for everyone, of course, and I'm sure straight, cis people feel similar in a different way, but I think being able to express yourself freely through creativity is deeply important. Fashion is a form of expression that is liberating to the community, but also just everyone. 

Your wardrobe feels genderless in the most liberated way. Are there any brands or fashion icons that have shaped your sartorial language?

Ooo, I think I turn to people rather than brands. Someone that sticks out along my journey is Alok Vaid-Menon. The way they talk about fashion, identity, and expression has really helped me cultivate my own understanding of queerness through the lens of style. I just think they're also incredible, period. 

One fashion faux-pas you secretly love?

Clothes that don’t fit. I love everything baggy! 

Do you have a dream collaboration — fashion, music, wellness-wise? 

Hmmm...I hate that I don't have an immediate answer! I'm a big fan of Gwyneth Paltrow. 

Looking ahead, what are your goals to achieve with your platform?

I just want to keep doing what I'm doing and hopefully help people just feel a little more seen in their experiences. I wanna encourage people to relish in more joy despite the cruelty of the world.

With all the different projects you’re juggling, how do you manage your time and mental health?

For me, it's the commitment to being consistent with certain things in my routine, no matter where I am, which is important as I travel a lot and am never really in the same place for long. 

What are your favorite ways to take care of your mental health?

Daily movement, weekly therapy, line dancing, and checking in with my close friends who keep me sane!

How do you stay rooted in your values while navigating industries that often prioritize optics?

Oh god, this is an important question and something I don't feel like a lot of people think about enough. My values are my internal compass; it's how I make decisions on everything. Even at times when I want to do something a bit rouge I always come back to my values, even when its annoying cause I just wanna crash the f*ck out. I stay rooted in them by always coming back to them. I literally have them written down alongside “why”. Whenever I'm feeling lost or anxious or smothered by the noise of it all, I come back to them as a reference. I also have really amazing friends and family who live by integrity. I consult those people a lot to make sure I'm not getting lost in the toxicity of it all. 

What conversations aren’t happening enough in our culture, but should be?

That fascism is on the rise, and we need to stand up in solidarity to ALL oppressive systems.

What’s one thing about you people always assume, but get completely wrong?

I think people assume I'm more confident than I am. I think I come across as someone who doesn't care that much what people think because of my job, but the truth is I am the most anxious person ever and really spiral about how I'm perceived. I hate feeling misunderstood, which is literally terrible for someone chronically online. When people think my intentions are in a bad place, I get so worked up. It stops me sometimes from being exactly who I wanna be and saying exactly what I wanna say because I'm scared of being perceived poorly. When the truth is, what other people think of me is none of my business!!

If you could give advice to your younger self about becoming visible without losing your center, what would it be?

Put the phone down and connect with yourself and your people. All of the answers to what you're meant to do and put out into the world are there. You won't find the answers from strangers' opinions and perceptions. 

What kind of legacy do you want to leave, especially for queer kids who see themselves in you?

I just want people to feel less alone in the human experience. I want to give people permission to be themselves and completely themselves! The real messy sh*t, not the palatable version of “being yourself”.  I hope I encourage a sense of empathy and joy in people. All we have is connection. We gotta hold onto that no matter what!