There’s a certain kind of song that doesn’t just play — it transports. It smells like sunscreen, tastes like salt, and feels like dancing barefoot at 3 a.m. under fairy lights strung between palm trees. For international drag performer and vocalist Violetta J’Adore, capturing that feeling was the heartbeat of her newest single, WAVE, set for release on May 10.
Written during a whirlwind summer tour through Europe in 2024, WAVE is more than a pop song. It’s a postcard from paradise — a reflection on freedom, fleeting romance, and the sensory highs of travel. “I was performing in Gran Canaria last summer, and every night felt like a dream,” says Violetta. “There was something electric about the island’s nightlife and the people I met. That energy stayed with me. WAVE is me bottling it up and sharing it with the world.”
Violetta — known for her powerhouse live vocals, theatrical aesthetic, and fierce embrace of her Greek identity — has steadily built a name for herself across the UK and Europe’s drag and live music scenes. In 2024, she toured extensively in support of her breakout single Rule the Night, a neon-drenched electro-pop anthem celebrating queer liberation. The track not only opened doors for a slew of Pride performances but also earned her a coveted spot opening for alt-pop darling Chappell Roan in London and headlining EuroPride’s main stage to a sea of waving rainbow flags.
Songwriting, for Violetta, is far more than just a part of the process — it’s the soul of her artistry. “I write the lyrics to every one of my songs,” she says. “From Rule the Night to My Everywhere and now WAVE, each track is a piece of me. These lyrics are the expression of my identity, of my deepest truths. They’re not just words — they’re stories I’ve lived.” Her ability to blend personal experience with universal emotion has become a signature — one that’s already beginning to shape her first full-length album, quietly in the works.
But perhaps the most emotional moment in her career so far is yet to come. This year, Violetta will return to Cyprus — her island of origin and the place where she grew up — to headline Cyprus Pride as the only drag artist on the main stage. “It’s surreal,” she says, visibly moved. “My mum’s side of the family still lives there. Cyprus is where I discovered music, where I became who I am. To go back and to perform my own original music on that stage, as a drag artist alongside Greek pop stars Evangelia and Katerina Stikoudi… It’s the full-circle moment of a lifetime.”
The single’s sound, produced by Kieran Armitage, is a fusion of tropipop, Latin grooves, and traditional Greek amanes — a vocal style known for its soulful ornamentation and emotional depth. It’s an unlikely combination that works beautifully, giving WAVE both an international flair and a deeply personal signature.
But behind the music is also an entrepreneurial story. As an independent artist, Violetta manages everything from songwriting and brand development to tour bookings and digital promotion. “It’s a full-time job times five,” she laughs. “Drag already combines fashion, music, theatre, and activism. Add to that running your own business, and it becomes a lifestyle of constant reinvention.”
Now, she’s preparing to launch WAVE with a summer tour that includes stops on the main stages of Cyprus Pride, Thessaloniki Pride, and a UK circuit covering London, Manchester, Brighton, and Birmingham. Fans can also catch her celebrating WAVE’s release with an official launch party at The Divine in London on May 22, produced by Suprema Productions.
If the last few years were about building her name, this summer seems to be about widening her horizon. WAVE doesn’t just invite listeners to dance — it invites them to travel, to feel, and to get lost in something sunlit and hopeful.
“I think we all need that escape sometimes,” Violetta adds. “Music lets you feel like you’re somewhere else — and sometimes, that’s exactly where you need to be.” Ahead of its release, WAVE is already gaining buzz on social media, with fans jumping on the #RideTheWave teaser campaign — including a moment featuring Violetta’s 74-year-old Cypriot grandmother reacting to the track for the first time. “She cried. Then she danced. That’s exactly what I want people to feel,” Violetta shares.
“WAVE” by Violetta J’Adore drops May 10 on all major streaming platforms.
For press inquiries, bookings, or promotional materials, contact:
Email: info@violettajadore.co.uk
Website: www.violettajadore.co.uk
Instagram: @violetta_jadore
Hashtag: #RideTheWave
Photos by Davey Tyler and Beth Dubois
