I-CON is a year-long extended piece of performance art that raises the issues and fetish of iconicity, refracted through gay (musical) icons. When Stephen takes his turn at open-mic, he disrupts audience expectations by performing the gay icon’s signature song in their persona and vocal style on the week of their birthday / anniversary of death.

More info: www.dissonanceonline.com/i-con/

Frozen (ICON: Madonna)

Psalm 69 

Save me, O God, for waters have come to my neck
I sink in miry depths, where there is no foothold.
I have come into deep waters; the floods engulf me
I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched.

My eyes fail, looking for my God.
I endure scorn for your sake.
shame covers my face

I pray, O Lord, answer me with your sure favor.
In your great love, O God, give me your salvation.
Rescue me from the deep mire, do not let me sink.
Deliver me from those who hate;
Quench my thirst.

(Text from the Bible, music from the Well-tuned Organ)
The music's spasmodic chordal accompaniment followed by a trickling melodic line evokes the rapture.

Psalm69: For waters have come (to my neck)

The vocal chant goes up and down and up and down like a teabag.

I earnestly seek you, Oh my God
I thirst for you, my flesh longs for you;
in a dry and parched land
Where there is no water

I have seen you in the sanctuary
beheld your power and your glory
Because your love is good
My lips glorify you

I will praise you as long as I live
in your name I will lift up my hands;
I will be satisfied
My mouth will quench its thirst.

I remember you on my bed
Dream of you through the night.
Because you are my help
I sing in your shadow

I cling to you
while you uphold me
in your right hand.


Psalm 63 - My lips glorify you

Male mezzo Stephen Chen's often eclectic choice of repertoire in his performances reflects his own diverse background. A trans-disciplinary art-ivist, Stephen was originally trained as a concert pianist, and has been a fine-art photographer, opera singer, poet, composer, performance artist, and film maker.

Frozen (ICON: Madonna)

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