SPECIAL THANKS TO STEPHANIE DUNCAN-BOSU

“I really think I’m serving,” says Nelly Furtado. We can confirm that that is quite correct: over the past year, the Canadian Prime Minister of Pop, Folk-Pop and Urban [insert any genre here, really] has been having a well-deserved resurgence (thank f**k) with her exhilarating techno-house anthem ‘Eat Your Man’ and the Tove Lo, SG Lewis-assisted dance banger ‘Love Bites’, both of which will be included on her upcoming seventh studio album – her first since 2017’s fan-favourite The Ride. With her new material, which she describes as “super melodic” and non-stop “bangers”, Nelly wants her fans to feel – in her word(s) – “ugh!”: “I’ve served with this [new album]. I’ve been doing this for 25 years and I think I’m really in the zone right now.”

Following her recent stint on Canada’s Drag Race, in which she was celebrated as one of the best judges in the franchise’s history, Nelly is set to appear in another legendary rainbow-hued space this summer at Mighty Hoopla. Taking place at Brockwell Park, London (1 June), Nelly teases a headline set of her most iconic hits, from ‘I’m Like a Bird’ to ‘Turn Off The Light’ and ‘Try’. More incoming, because the amount of hits is just far too much: ‘Maneater’, ‘Promiscuous’, ‘All Good Things (Come To An End)’ ‘Say It Right’, ‘Give It To Me’, ‘Broken Strings‘ and ‘Big Hoops (The Bigger The Better)’.

All of the above is discussed in this interview, as well as Nelly reflecting on her history with the LGBTQIA+ community and Loose (2006), her seminal third studio album that still stands as one of the most successful eras in pop music history. Oh, and exclusive incoming: Nelly reveals that her new album (still untitled with release date TBA) will feature an icon within the drag community. Yeah, “serving” feels right.

Nelly Furtado, I’m so excited to talk to you about this new music. I won’t lie to you, I’m a bit hysterical that you’re back.

Really? Tell me about that! I like that.