Switches Gathering 3. Part 9 Thank you for the music

We came to the final panel of the day, with Ess, Cat and Demetria. Followed by the photo retakes and Sunday autographs, leading to the closing ceremony.

Question. For Demetria. Asking about a song they did and wanting to know more about it.

Demetria. They recorded a song 6 or 7 years ago. It was a different type of song from what they usually record, it wasn’t R & B. It was coming from a different place, where the finally felt connected and understood. She had been asked if she would release it. The song is called Find Your Crime. Because it is different from her usual genre, she didn’t intend to release it. But she would play it for us.

She got it up on her phone and Cat held the mic by Demetria’s phone for us to listen to it.

Huge applause from the audience.

Cat. [pointing at Demetria] She’s glistening (crying). She had been teasing Demetria that she was the only one not crying that day.

The person asking the question said they found the song on Instagram, downloaded it and really connected with it.

Question. If you could have any quality from your character on the show, what would it be?

Ess. I wish I could be a little more mysterious or stoic. Hold a lot more back. There is a time to be joyous or over the top in public. Be a little more serious. Been a loudmouth their entire life instead of trying to put a bear cap on their tongue. [Ess then translated their answer]

Cat. Admires Petra. There is a confidence in the steps she takes for her own advancement. She can focus on self care. Helping to get more sense of personal fulfilment.

Demetria. Anacoatia’s ability to be still. She is a bit neurotic, a Virgo. Everything is to fix, to find, to correct. But to connect to someone like Scylla, she needs to be cerebral, she needs to be still and listen. That is fruitful in relationships

Question. To Ess. When season 3 was released, Ess had done an interview about M. Saying that they had created some backstory for M. Did any of that make it to the fandom?

Ess. Said they had mentioned this earlier this summer [Ess / Arlen talked about this at Witchbomb]. Arlen helped them a lot in Vancouver to come up with an explanation for how a character like M could come to exist. Their Matriarchal society is very gendered, but M is non-binary. How does a trans witch fit into Motherland society? Arlen helped them to write what they knew, how to fit with other groups, like indigenous people or not?

They took Arlen and themselves as a starting point. They were cast as M, as a transgender person, even building costumes differently from others. Is this something that magic could do? With all the circus events this summer, they haven’t been home this summer. The pages are in a bottom drawer in their office. There are suggestions for it. Right?

Question. For Cat and Demetria, one of the best parts of the series, is seeing story arcs for women who are often put aside for being above a certain age. How do you feel about these complex projects? Did it affect the projects that came later?

Cat. The first day on set was at the scene of Abigail’s call up. The second day on set was at the set of Petra’s office. In the Green Room were all the biddies – every generation was represented. Every spectrum of existence and we were not talking about a man. We were there to talk about our scenes and our experiences. Had scenes with others. So when she has auditions, it has changed what she goes to. Wants good people, good stories and not talking about men.

Demetria. Briefly. The House of Payne. 27 years a wife and mother, become a grandmother, her son had a daughter. In Motherland, age is a number, age wasn’t a factor, just part of the story. In her 40s, teaching the recruits, wasn’t tethered to a male figure or some feminine things. I got to be Anacostia whatever her age, her valour, her care, her love.

Question. Yesterday, someone asked our favourite part of the day. If you texted Arlen, Amalia, Kandyse, Emilie about your favourite part of the day, what would it be?

Cat. Continuing the conversations. First you get the introductions. Second you start to get to know someone. Third you see how the encounters go. It shifts the dynamic. So getting to know people. Recommend things. Have context. Rather than just seeing people.

Demetria. Talking, taking pictures. My first time here. All the beautiful gifts. The ideology of someone who marked me on their body. How did someone come to that place? Experience it together. Share your story. Help you over sickness, help you over grief or find a wife. Deal with fear of health. Touch with tears. Find commonality. Enjoyed every moment, every bad joke. Even [looks at Cat] losing with you.

Ess. Loved what you said. Amplify. Energy exchange. Fun. Specific moments, enjoyed the games and selfies and being my messy, complicated self. Everyone shows up with their happiest self and tenderest self. It is a special time, that we get to share that.

You can watch excerpts of this panel, including the Demetria song at