DWV (group)
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music, Entertainment |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Defunct | 2014 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
| Products | Music singles |
DWV was a Los Angeles-based American pop ensemble composed of drag performers Detox, Willam Belli, and Vicky Vox. They first attracted attention with the March 2012 launch of "Chow Down (at Chick-Fil-A)", a comedic reinterpretation of Wilson Phillips' "Hold On" that critiqued Chick-fil-A's opposition to Same-sex marriage. This track’s accompanying video quickly gained viral status online.
Following this, in January 2013, they unveiled "Boy Is a Bottom", a spoof of Alicia Keys' "Girl on Fire," which surpassed their initial success by amassing 25.8 million views on YouTube by 2022.
Throughout the period from 2012 to 2014, DWV released a total of seven commercially available singles, with three of these making appearances on the Billboard Comedy Digital Songs chart.
The group officially dissolved in June 2014, a fact confirmed by all members through their social media platforms.
Drag Race Origins
Willam Belli participated in the fourth season in 2012, while Detox competed on the fifth season in 2013. Vicky Vox did not take part in Drag Race. The trio began working together in 2012, producing music and touring after Willam’s increased visibility from the show.
Viral Breakthrough
DWV’s debut single, "Chow Down (at Chick-fil-A)", released in March 2012, was a parody of Wilson Phillips' "Hold On" that lampooned Chick-fil-A’s anti-gay marriage position. The video rapidly went viral, substantially raising their profile.
By December 2012, they embarked on a 60-day international tour covering North America, Europe, Australia, and Dubai to promote their music.
In January 2013, coinciding with Detox’s season premiere on Drag Race, they dropped "Boy Is a Bottom", a humorous take on Alicia Keys' "Girl on Fire" that satirized sexual dynamics. This release outperformed their prior hit with over 25 million YouTube views by 2021.
May 2013 marked the release of "Silicone," parodying Robyn’s "Dancing On My Own," which was Detox’s vocal debut and the first single officially credited to DWV.
During 2013, DWV expanded into cosmetics as brand representatives for a limited edition OCC Makeup Lip Tar and Nail Lacquer line.
In September 2013, they released "Blurred Bynes," a parody targeting Amanda Bynes’ public persona set to Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines." Later that year in December, they issued a holiday-themed single titled "That Christmas Song," incorporating elements from TLC’s All That album. Their final single, "Gaycation," came out in March 2014.
Between 2012 and 2014, seven singles were commercially released by DWV, with three achieving placements on the Billboard Comedy Digital Songs chart, establishing their presence in comedic music.
Disbandment
Speculation about DWV’s split arose on social media in June 2014 and was confirmed by all three members who cited internal disagreements as the cause. Belli described the breakup as occurring because “it was just time,” Vox reflected that “it was fun for a while,” and Detox shared feeling “pigeon-holed” by the group dynamic. Subsequently, Belli clarified via Facebook and Tumblr that DWV functioned as an informal collaboration without future projects planned; busy individual schedules hindered continuation. He also mentioned that commercial partnerships lost the original spontaneous spirit of the group and expressed his preference to concentrate on solo professional endeavors.
Members
Willam Belli (born June 30, 1982) is an American performer, drag artist, and singer-songwriter originally from Philadelphia, currently residing in Los Angeles. She first gained recognition portraying Cherry Peck on Ryan Murphy's Nip/Tuck and later became widely known as a contestant on the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race in 2012, where she made history as the show’s inaugural disqualification. Willam also appeared in the 2018 motion picture A Star Is Born and received a Daytime Emmy nomination for her performance in the web series EastSiders. In 2019, New York magazine placed her ninth on their list of "the most influential drag queens in America," emphasizing her continued impact following Drag Race.
Matthew Sanderson (born June 3, 1985), professionally known as Detox, is a drag performer and recording artist from Orlando who now lives in California. Detox achieved fourth place on the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race and was the runner-up on the second season of All Stars. Her career includes appearances in music videos alongside Ke$ha and Rihanna, and she is a featured performer with Chad Michaels' Dreamgirls Revue, recognized as California’s longest-running female impersonation show. In 2019, she was ranked 14th by New York magazine among the most powerful drag queens.
Vicky Vox is an American actor, drag performer, and singer-songwriter based in California, known as Detox’s drag daughter. Unlike many peers who focus on lip syncing, she is distinguished for her live vocal performances. Vicky appeared in the 2015 film Magic Mike XXL, hosts the YouTube series The Vicky Vox Project, and has taken part in London's stage production of Little Shop Of Horrors.
Singles
| Year | Title | Peak US Comedy Digital Songs | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | "Chow Down" (Willam Belli featuring Detox & Vicky Vox) | 12 | The Wreckoning |
| "Starfucker" (Willam Belli featuring Detox & Vicky Vox) | — | ||
| 2013 | "Boy Is a Bottom" | 6 | rowspan="5" Template:N/A |
| "Silicone" | — | ||
| "Blurred Bynes" | 5 | ||
| "That Christmas Song" | — | ||
| 2014 | "Gaycation" | — |