Exclusive Premiere: Alaska’s New Single, “22”

Today (December 21), we are happy to premiere the newest song from the famed drag queen, Alaska Thunderfuck (who we recently profiled here).

Check out the new thoughtful track, “22,” below.

Of the new single, Alaska said: “We transported ourselves back in time to talk to myself as a young person—up in my bedroom, hiding away and drawing pictures by myself as a means to escape my feelings of isolation and alienation.

“This is a song to that young person, and any young person who has ever felt like she didn’t belong.”

The new single marks the sixth release from the artist ahead of her forthcoming LP, Red 4 Filth. “22” begins with rhythmic electric guitar as Alaska drops in, singing about her childhood as a lonely (queer) kid, writing solemnly in a bedroom.

No matter what they tell you, Alaska sings. Just don’t fade away. The pictures that you’re drawing will be real some day.

Over the past few months, Alaska (born Justin Andrew Honard) has released several singles, including the track “Red” (below). For that song, Alaska talked to American Songwriter about her inspiration in music and in drag. She got her big break on the now-famed reality show RuPaul’s Drag Race.

“The [new] music is really fun,” Alaska told American Songwriter a few months back. “And it’s all going to be referencing and drawing upon the music that comes from the ‘90s and early 2000s because that’s the time I fell in love with music.”

She added, “There’s my life before Drag Race and my life after Drag Race. It changed completely. It’s a phenomenon that has changed the world. So, to get to have been a part of it, at the time when I did, it defies any logic or explanation. It’s something I’m really grateful for every single day. It’s amazing. I love the show, I still watch every episode.”

Check out Alaska’s Full Slate of Tour Dates Below (and buy tickets here):

JAN 19 – ORLANDO, FL – THE ABBEY ORLANDO

JAN 20 – TAMPA, FL – CROWBAR

JAN 21 – ATLANTA, GA – HELL AT MASQUERADE

JAN 22 – WASHINGTON, DC – HOWARD THEATRE

JAN 23 – CHARLOTTE, NC – NEIGHBORHOOD THEATRE

JAN 26 – RICHMOND, VA – CANAL CLUB

JAN 27 – PHILADELPHIA, PA – FOUNDRY AT FILLMORE

JAN 28 – NEW YORK, NY – SONY HALL

JAN 29 – BOSTON, MA – PARADISE ROCK CLUB

JAN 30 – HAMDEN, CT – SPACE BALLROOM

FEB 2 – TORONTO, ON – LEE’S PALACE

FEB 3 – TORONTO, ON – LEE’S PALACE – SOLD OUT

FEB 4 – DETROIT, MI – MAGIC STICK

FEB 5 – CHICAGO, IL – LINCOLN HALL

FEB 6 – INDIANAPOLIS, IN – IRVING THEATRE

FEB 9 – DES MOINES, IA – WOOLY’S

FEB 10 – MILWAUKEE, WI – MIRAMAR THEATRE

FEB 11 – MINNEAPOLIS, MN – STUDIOB

FEB 12 – KANSAS CITY, MO – RECORDBAR

FEB 13 – ST. LOUIS, MO – RED FLAG

FEB 17 – TULSA, OK – VANGUARD

FEB 18 – OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – TOWER THEATRE

FEB 19 – AUSTIN, TX – 3TEN AT ACL LIVE (EARLY)

FEB 19 – AUSTIN, TX – 3TEN AT ACL LIVE (LATE)

FEB 20 – DALLAS, TX – TREES

FEB 24 – PHOENIX, AZ – CRESCENT BALLROOM

FEB 25 – SAN DIEGO, CA – HOUSE OF BLUES

FEB 26 – LOS ANGELES, CA – THE BELASCO THEATRE

MAR 3 – SAN FRANCISCO, CA – THE INDEPENDENT

MAR 4 – PORTLAND, OR – HAWTHORNE THEATRE

MAR 5 – SEATTLE, WA – NEUMOS

MAR 6 – VANCOUVER, BC – HOLLYWOOD THEATRE

MAR 11 – SALT LAKE CITY, UT – SOUNDWELL

MAR 12 – BOULDER, CO – FOX THEATRE

MAR 13 – DENVER, CO – THE BLUEBIRD

Photo by Albert Sanchez / KP Publicity Group