Aubrey Auclair is a local musician in Salt Lake City, Utah, whose pseudonym is “Cannibal Queen.” Auclair is well-known in the Salt Lake music scene, performing locally since 2018. She has released music on all streaming services while paving her way by sharing her voice through her music, and released a song titled “Hostage” last year. She has many upcoming performances including concerts in Salt Lake and music festivals. She also opened for Alex G in the Twilight Concert Series last fall.
Parly: How did you get into music in the beginning?
Auclair: I used to walk around my house singing “Phantom of the Opera” until my parents took pity on me and put me into singing lessons when I was eight years old.
Parly: Where did the name Cannibal Queen come from?
Auclair: Funny enough, my Xbox gamer tag! It used to be “flower queen” but I felt it was too childish. When I got older I came across the song “Cannibal Queen” by Miniature Tigers so I decided to swap out the flower with Cannibal and the rest is history!
Parly: Was it hard to forge a path in the Salt Lake City music scene?
Auclair: The Salt Lake music scene is so special. I certainly feel integrated, and that only comes from going to shows and socializing with others in the scene. However, I still feel I have a long way to go before I’ve truly forged my path. I think knowing people is just the first step, and now I need to prove I’m worthy of their attention.
Parly: How do you get involved with something like a music festival?
Auclair: I played a show with Dune Moss at Kilby Court in 2023. After that, I was so lucky because she felt we were a great match and she has been inviting me to shows ever since! It was a beautiful and intimate evening, and I 100% recommend attending a Dune Moss event!
Parly: You played the Twilight Concert Series last year and opened for Alex G. What are the events that led to you being invited to open for Alex G?
Auclair: To be honest, I’m not sure what I did to get the help I’ve received but I am so eternally grateful! An agent at SNS named Taylor Lines has submitted me to events like this in the past, and from there, the headliner chooses! It seriously feels like dumb luck!
Parly: What is your creative process when writing music?
Auclair: For me, there are a few different ways. Typically, it’s first verse chords, then lyrics, then chorus chords, lyrics, etc. Or, I’ll write the lyrics and chords completely separate and mash them together later when I find something that fits.
Parly: What are some things you draw from for inspiration?
Auclair: Strangely enough, anime, video games, Paramore, Wolf Alice, and Alice Phoebe Lou. You put it all together and you’ve got something quite dramatic. I don’t like making simple songs or lyrics that are easy to guess. I want my listeners to feel my emotions with me.
Parly: What does the future hold for you and your music?
Auclair: I just hope that my future is music. I don’t have anything else pulling me in its direction. I dream that one day music will be my only job. I don’t want to become the next big superstar, but I just want to help people heal, one song at a time.
Parly: How do you as a queer woman feel you interact with the music scene in Salt Lake?
Auclair: There was a while when I felt that I needed to prove myself. I started in the Provo music scene, which was difficult in the beginning when trying to fit in, and to be honest, there are a lot of people who will see a quirked-up gal with a guitar and think “Oh, cute.” I’m glad that I’ve mostly been able to move past that.
Parly: Do you think you’ll stay in Salt Lake? Or do you see yourself exploring another city or state?
Auclair: For now, I see myself here. I’ve made many friends and the music scene here really is a special thing. It would be extremely hard starting from ground zero again, but maybe if Cannibal Queen expanded beyond Utah I could find a new home.
