The launch of Alaska Thunderfuck 5000’s first headlining tour in North America – in support of her fourth studio album “Red 4 Filth,” released Sept. 23 – couldn’t come at a better time. It kicks off in Orlando Oct. 25 and moves to Tampa Oct. 26, the perfect precursor for Halloween.
“Halloween is wild,” the drag icon says. “October 1 happens and everyone is like, ‘Let’s go! Let’s do it!’ I feel like I do Halloween all the time because I always dress up as a different person, but Halloween is a chance for people to be cheap, be slutty and be an animal.”
Alaska – who rose to fame as a finalist on the fifth season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” in 2013 and returned to win “All Stars 2” three years later – celebrates all of those things and more through her art. That’s particularly true in “Red 4 Filth,” billed as “an album of addictive pure pop confections harkening back to the 90s and early 2000s.”
“With this album we were heavily referencing the music that made me who I am, and we talk about love and relationships and friendships in a way that I never have before in my music,” Alaska says. It’s a departure from her previous studio albums, which include fan favorite hits like “Your Makeup is Terrible” and “Nails,” which use a more spoken word approach.
“It was really interesting to do this album because I wanted to do songs that I’m actually singing on,” Alaska says. “I hadn’t really ever done that before. Some people were like, ‘Why aren’t you writing songs about hair, nails and eyelashes?’ and I was like, ‘well, because I’ve done that and I’ve done that for 10 years, which is great.’ It’s awesome and I love performing those songs, but I want to venture into new territory.”
Billboard celebrated Alaska’s creative choice after she dropped “Red” last year, the album’s first single. “Alongside being one of ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’s’ biggest stars, Alaska Thunderf**k knows how to put together a banger,” they shared.
“Nowhere is that more clear than on ‘Red,’” Billboard continued. “A thumping electro-pop banger through and through, with Alaska offering some stellar vocals (as well as her signature talk-singing in the song’s second verse) to bring home this early-2000s-style bop.”
“Red is the color of blood, and the heart, and the color of love,” Alaska explained at the time. “This song and this album are dedicated to the time when I first fell in love with music — around the turning of the century. We’re drawing upon the sounds and textures of the 90s and early 2000s, with pop songs that are about love and friendship. I love the music and I can’t wait to share it with you all.”
That shines through in “All That She Wants,” Alaska’s most recent video and the cover of Ace of Base’s hit song. The Swedish pop group first released their chart-topping single in 1992.
“Recording it was such an honor,” Alaska says. “I love Ace of Base’s music. That was the first cassette tape I ever had.”
The video features Bosco, Alaska’s “Drag Race” alum via season 14 and the self-described “Demon Queen of Seattle.” It’s a celebration of the era’s pop music and sci-fi tale with tones of intentional horror.
“The video is the story of an outer space ingenue – the perfect specimen of womanhood trapped in a space pod by a diabolical creator,” Alaska teased its release. “But when the mystical creation becomes too powerful, her creator flies into a rage. Does her creator destroy her? Or does the outer space woman break free once and for all?”
“Grueling, unforgiving and emotionally taxing,” Bosco described the experience. “I spent months preparing for the role and don’t know if I’ll ever be normal again.”
“All That She Wants” was the fifth video from “Red 4 Filth.” In addition to “Red,” it also followed “beautiful (night 4 a breakdown),” “wow.,” “XOXOY2K” and “Girlz Night,” featuring the drag trio Stephanie’s Child. Alaska calls it an overdue departure finally focusing on – what else? – the filth.
“The video is so weird, cool and I really enjoyed telling my story with it,” she explains. “The album is called ‘Red 4 Filth’ and all these videos I’d done so far have looked clean, nice and pretty. I’m like, where’s the f**king filth?
“I wanted the whole second act of the music video to just be the filth category, so I had [“The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula” fan favorites] Abhora and Dvvsk come out and be mud monsters with me,” Alaska continues. “It was so fun.”
The entertainer says fans have expressed that the entire album is. “I’ve heard from people that they love it. They love to work out while listening to it. I don’t know,” she muses, “I guess everyone likes time traveling to the year 2000.”
Nearly 40 audiences throughout North America will get to experience that firsthand on Alaska’s tour. It promises to “feature her performing the entire new album and other fan favorites with a barrage of sickening high fashion backup dancers (2000’s pop-star style) as well as her signature brand of comedy for a must-see show.”
“I want to tell a story with the tour, which is going to be a challenge and I hope it works,” Alaska says. “This album is very theatrical and the music goes to all these different places, so I want to do that with the show. It’s pretty exciting.”
The tour will also allow Alaska to bring her unique brand of drag to the masses. Tickets begin at only $25, with VIP experiences available at higher costs.
“I love that drag is everywhere and everyone is kind of looking at and paying attention to it,” Alaska notes. “I only see that as a good thing, but I think that drag is really like expensive now. Everyone looks really good, really polished and really fancy, but I have sort of an affection for cheap and horrible drag.
“I don’t think that it is necessary for drag to be expensive, difficult to attain or only available if you know the right people or have people building your exquisite ensembles,” she continues. “I like to remind people that drag can be cheap and easily accessible to everyone.”
Fans can experience that by purchasing “Red 4 Filth” tickets at AlaskaThunderfuck.com. The tour opens in Orlando Oct. 25 at The Abbey, located at 100 S. Eola Dr., Unit 100 and moves to Crowbar in Ybor Oct. 26, located at 1812 N. 17th St. in Tampa. “Red 4 Filth” is now available for purchase and/or streaming on all major music platforms.
