Little Combine star Jade Thirlwall gave Drag Race winner Priyanka’s new album the “pop star assertion of approval”. (Getty)
Canada’s Drag Race winner and We’re Right here presenter Priyanka is in her “Renaissance period”. Not less than that’s what her followers on-line – and Little Combine star Jade Thirlwall – have advised her.
The drag star and musician launched new single “No New Buddies” final month, and the music video earlier this week (12 April). Now, as she waits for the arrival of her debut album later within the 12 months, she’s gearing as much as turn into a totally fledged pop star.
A part of that preparation has concerned sitting down with LGBTQ+ ally and one-third of the UK’s lady band Little Combine, Jade Thirlwall, who gave the album “the pop star assertion of approval”.
Talking solely to PinkNews, Priyanka reveals how their assembly took place, and what the Brit-Award-winner needed to say about her music.
“Can we discuss when Jade took me out for dinner? It was her and [me] and her pal, and he or she listened to my complete album and was giving me notes,” Priyanka says.
Whereas fearful that Thirlwall would deal with her like a brilliant fan – “I obtained front-row tickets to Ariana Grande [on the Dangerous Woman tour] to observe [Little Mix] do solely 4 songs,” she says – as a substitute the Little Combine legend was “superb” and the pair spent the night gossiping and speaking tunes.
“She listened to my music. She was like: ‘I used to be on the practice and also you despatched it on the proper time. I listened to it and I really like this music, I really like that music’,” Priyanka provides.
Thirlwall has spoken extensively in assist of trans rights and is an envoy for LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall. She can also be a notable drag fan, and has appeared as a visitor choose on Drag Race UK.
“It’s not performative. It’s so real,” Priyanka says of Thirlwall’s allyship.
“I really feel like she’s simply so impressed by the artwork. She likes my artwork, and that’s why she would take heed to my music. It’s not simply: ‘Oh, let me be an ally’, you realize what I imply?”
Along with getting an endorsement from a premium pop star, Priyanka can also be working with a few of the folks behind pop’s largest hits.
“I’ve completely flipped my complete group,” she says. “I’m working with Josh Cumbee, who’s the manager producer of my album, and he’s a f**king beast. He’s labored with Olivia Rodrigo. He’s labored with Madonna. He’s labored with Janet Jackson.”
She and Cumbee wrote “No New Buddies” collectively, ending it inside 4 hours.
There’s additionally music nonetheless to return created with hit-makers equivalent to Pentatonix’s Scott Hoying, and Damon Sharpe, who has labored with Jennifer Lopez, Ariana Grande and Kylie Minogue.
Though Priyanka has the charisma, nerve, expertise and Kylie collaborators to turn into a chart-topping songstress in her personal proper, does she assume the world is prepared for a drag-queen-turned-pop-queen?
“I’m gonna be the one to do it, b**ch,” she declares. “I’m studying that there’s solely house for you in the event you’re prepared to carve it out. I do know as a younger baby, somebody would inform me that that’s obnoxious and cocky… however I’m like, no,” she says.
“The business is simply going to be as prepared for it as I’m.”
“No New Buddies” is out now.