Teena

Teena returns with a wonderfully eccentric new album that blends humor, multilingual storytelling, and surprising emotional depth. In this interview, the Liverpool drag sensation discusses music, identity, Edinburgh Fringe, and future ambitions.

1. Your new album combines comedy, heartfelt storytelling, and multiple languages. What inspired you to create such a diverse and personal collection of songs?

People often think that a woman as famous as me has life so easily. But there is so many things I go through they can’t understand. For example, I sometimes feel sad. I also have to manage 10 property agents who look after my international property rentals. I wanted my 52nd album to represent where I am now. As a woman. In 2026.

2. “Sadnewyear” reflects your move from London to Liverpool and a fresh start in 2025. How did that life change influence both your music and your artistic identity as Teena?

I always wanted sadnewyear to open the record as indeed it is one of the personal songs I have ever written. It has 4 tempo changes as well as 4 key changes – I am actually a musician. I have Grade 8 piano, guitar and theory. And I wanted to start acapella with no autotune to show that there is a serious artist underneath this glitter and famous persona. Interesting fact – I recorded that acapella immensely hungover as a retake as I messed up the original studio version. I still feel ill thinking about it, blame my pal Stealia Hearts from Leeds – she’s a fun night out!

3. “Soc la Teena” playfully addresses assumptions people make about you and celebrates your multilingual background. Why was it important to include this message on the album?

With Sóc La Teena, I was just playing around in the studio, I produced a funky Spanish guitar riff and just sang over the top. The first lyrics are actually what remained on the record off the top of my head, potentially it was something from a previous life. I don’t think the message is really important. I speak Spanish and Catalan fluently, and because I have an English accent underneath, nobody over there thinks I can really speak it and it drives me crazy. The Spanish lyrics make as little sense as the English lyrics storytelling. I want to confuse everyone!

4. You’ve re-recorded “I’m Not Afraid,” a song that originally achieved significant success in 2009. How does this new version differ from the original, and what does the song mean to you today?

Such a good question! I’m Not Afraid is a song I’ve always been really proud of and I wanted to bring it to the 2020s. I recorded the demo for it in the summer of 2008 in a rat infested flat in the South of Moscow about a 29 year old girl friend of mine called Natasha who one night told me that she was considering trying lesbianism as she couldn’t find a husband (100% true story). I might be a straight biological woman myself, but I lived such a queer open life in Moscow at that time, often going to parties and being as outrageous as I wanted. And for that record, I finished recording it in Odesa, Ukraine, wow you are getting me emotional. It was a different time, and it is so sad what has happened since not only for the war but what has happened to the LGBT community. And before you ask, I have asked my friend Mr Putin to stop the war but he won’t speak to me. I really can’t go into it, I don’t want another polonium poisoning.

5. Your upcoming Edinburgh Fringe show, Who’s The Daddy, revolves around Teena being pregnant with her 19th child and searching for the father. What can audiences expect from the show, and how closely is it connected to the album?

Thanks for not calling me out on my immensely flat stomach during this album promotion. I know people are going to say that my pregnancy is a scam, yes, I’m Bored is very deeply personal, and that I’m using my pregnancy as an excuse to promote this record and Edinburgh Fringe show. I will be performing some of the songs in the show for sure. I am a storyteller. I love to tell stories. Stories that should be told. Have I told you the story about my sad new year before I moved to Liverpool? Sorry, next question.

6. Looking ahead, do you see Teena continuing to evolve beyond music and live performance, perhaps into the sitcom project you’ve mentioned, and what are your biggest goals for the character in the coming years?

Well, I already have my new child’s boarding school confirmed so they will be shipped off in a few weeks to be seen when they turn 18, and I will look forward to getting on to my next projects. I moved to Liverpool to study acting. Yes, I am studying at Act Up North and I will finish next year. I really want to do the Teena sitcom. I wrote it during COVID, the six episode arc is ready to go but all I demand is that I write the theme tune. Or I might start an Only Fans. Or go into politics. One of these is actually in the works, I can’t say anymore. I’m sorry but this interview has gone on too long, I need to go. Do you have everything you need? Can you make sure you tell me people to stream my album, and follow me on Instagram? @sheisveryfamous. Ok, I’m going. Ta.

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