After rising like a phoenix in Austria, 'Eurovision' 2014 winner Conchita Wurst is bringing her glamour, beauty and beard down under.
The pop singer and drag queen will headline Adelaide’s annual Feast Festival – heralding its 19th year in the festival scene – with 'The Art Of Drag: A Night With Conchita Wurst'. With a book and an album already under her belt, Conchita has taken her sudden success to brilliant heights.
“Over the last one and a half years, I’ve found out that people are very interested in my story,” she says. “I’ve been doing drag since I was 14, but never in a regular way. In 2011 I got this opportunity to host a burlesque show weekly. I decided to be a bearded lady, because I hate my face beardless. That was so much fun and I thought ‘I've never looked better’.”
© Thomas Ramstorfer Conchita began experimenting with music and exposing herself to the industry when she was 17 – before cross-dressing as Tom. Tom participated in a talent show, but came second.
In order to gain an audience and a following, Conchita started a boy band at 18, but says audiences could feel a lack of energy, and she learned a valuable lesson. “You can pretend as much as you want, but people will sense that there’s something not really right.
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“After collecting these experiences over the years I found, for me, the best way and the best truth to be able to have a life on stage.”
A fan of 'Eurovision' for as long as she can remember, Conchita decided to enter in 2012 where she finished second in the national finals, a feeling she knew all too well. “Giving up was not an option for me, though. I gave it another try, and the second time went quite well.”
Quite well is an understatement; the performer’s win on the world-renowned 'Eurovision' stage was a pivotal moment in rights and recognition for the LGBTI community all over the globe.
© Markus Morianz“It’s still something that hasn’t sunk in. Most of the time in my little career I spent not being successful, and not famous...The fact that I’m allowed to travel the world is overwhelming, crazy and great all at the same time.”
Conchita says her win was not only a personal achievement, but also a beautiful moment. “For me obviously, it changed my life, but for society it was a huge statement. We still have a long way to go, but I think we’re on the right way.”
‘Gay icon’ and ‘role model’ are words that Conchita has had thrown her way more than once since her rise to fame, but she says although it is flattering, she doesn’t feel it. “If you’re a role model or an icon, I think there’s some kind of effort put into it. It does not take any effort to be who I am or to say what I say.”
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Conchita says she stays true to herself as much as she can, and has put her words of wisdom into a book, ‘Being Conchita’, and her self-titled album. The album made it into Australia’s Top 30 charts, and went straight to #1 in Austria. The performer is already planning a second album, and hopes to go on tour soon.
The theme for Adelaide’s Feast Festival this year is 'Come As You Are', so what exactly does that mean for Conchita?
“I think the title basically says it all,” she says. “Just be the kind of person you want to be today, or you want to be in the situation you’re in right now. It’s basically about being the best version of yourself.”
It’s Conchita’s second time down under, and she’s got quite the show planned for the festival. “This is definitely a premiere for me to play a longer set, and just be able to interact with the audience and get to know them a little bit better.”
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Conchita will perform songs and 'glue them together' with stories about her life. She is also attempting to break the Guinness World Record for the 'Largest Drag Queen Stage Show' along with Adelaide icon, Vonni. “There are actually people so far away knowing my name, loving what I do, and I’m more than happy to hopefully be able to meet as many of my fans as possible.”
'The Art Of Drag: A Night With Conchita Wurst' performs George Street 15 November. Feast Festival runs from 14-29 November.
