Few artists embody Pride Month quite like Jimi The Kween. The vocalist, DJ and drag performer kicks off a huge international run of shows across Los Angeles, Amsterdam and beyond alongside the release of her new single, Full Speed — a sparkly, euphoric dance-pop anthem created with acclaimed Naarm producer Lucy Blomkamp.
As the first artist signed to POOF DOOF Records, Jimi enters what she describes as the “next phase” of her career. Growing up in rural New Zealand without much queer representation in music, she now uses her platform to create spaces built on visibility, freedom and connection. Ahead of a Pride Month spent performing on some of the world’s biggest queer stages, Futuremag caught up with Jimi to discuss Full Speed.
Futuremag: Full Speed feels like a celebration of movement and momentum. What was happening in your life when you wrote this track?
Jimi: Yeah, I mean, it really is quite literally what is happening to me right now. I wrote it in December, so it wasn’t that long ago. It was one of the first writing sessions I’d been set up with where we hadn’t worked together before, so working with Lucy for the first time was incredible. They’re amazing. All of the lyrics that were flying to me and my mood that day was just kind of like, life is hurtling by so quick. Then we shared references about living back as teenagers in the 2000s and stuff, and how it feels to be living ourselves truthfully now. Having that shared experience is how the song came about.
Futuremag: It’s also about charging ahead without hesitation, which can be quite hard sometimes. Is that a mindset you’ve recently embraced, or was it something that was harder to do?
Jimi: Yeah, definitely. Recently, I took a little break from releasing music for a while because it really freaks me out, basically. It’s really vulnerable and there’s lots of emotions in there. So I think now you’ve got to look forward, you’ve got to keep your eyes on the prize and go as fast as you possibly can towards there. Don’t get distracted and just go full speed, baby. Fully free.
Futuremag: You’ve built a career spanning music through DJing and drag performance. How do these creative outlets influence one another?
Jimi: Oh, good question. I think it’s really fun, especially bringing the drag persona into lyric writing and music because some of the lines I’m coming from the queen. Other lines I’m just being my true bedroom self. So having that spectrum of perspective within one artist I think is really interesting. And people are slowly thinking she can do this and that. She can do it all, baby. Definitely also having the DJ aspect, I want to be able to play my tracks in the club and get them remixed and all that kind of stuff. So I think having all those different angles makes it pretty fun.
Futuremag: You grew up in rural New Zealand without much queer representation in music. How important is it for you now to be creating that safe space and visibility for other queer people?
Jimi: Oh, it’s so important. It really is. When you’re younger and you’re looking for inspiration or even just role models, if those people are there and accessible to you, that’s amazing. Streaming services now are incredible. You can find artists so easily that you can relate to. I never had someone that inspired me in that way. Obviously there was the Spice Girls and I was like, “I want to be Baby Spice,” but I think it drives me a lot, trying to be that representation for younger people — that you can live however you want to live and be whoever you want to be and have an awesome time doing it.
Futuremag: This Pride Month sees you performing internationally, including Los Angeles and Amsterdam. How does it feel to take that message onto a global stage?
Jimi: Oh, it’s so fun. I mean, here in LA, every time I’m in the car I put my head out the window and play Party in the U.S.A. by Miley Cyrus. It’s truly like living the dream. Every little step that you take to get to where you are today has led you there. All I can say is you’ve got to take the big leaps. You’ve just got to go for it. Then you never know where you’re going to end up. You can be travelling the world during Pride Month like me, and it’s amazing.
Futuremag: This release also marks you becoming the first artist signed to POOF DOOF. What excited you about joining at such an early stage?
Jimi: Oh, it’s so great. Me and POOF DOOF go way back. I’ve been working with the POOF DOOF crew for so many years. To have them at my back and their support from that team going, “Yes, we love this music. Yes, we love the project,” it kind of allows me to have people on your shoulders that are pushing you upwards, you know? Having that backing means you can focus more on what’s next rather than, “How am I going to put the song out?” Because you’ve got to keep moving forward, as I keep saying. Having Poof Doof Records there with me means the support’s right there and people can get a hold of it really easily at the clubs. Yeah, it’s cool.
Futuremag: Pride can be joyful, but it can also carry a deeper meaning. What does Pride represent to you today in 2026?
Jimi: Oh yeah. I think today, Pride for me… I feel like I’m a fully formed queer person now. I don’t think I’m fully searching for myself anymore. I feel like Pride now comes from a more motherly place than it did before. I’m not that old, but you know what I mean. I think now it’s important to speak to people who are on their own. If I see someone by themselves at a festival, I’m like, “Hi.” That interaction might be their first interaction of the day.
More than ever, with social media, there’s so much information available to us and unfortunately some of that information isn’t what we want to hear. Everyone’s opinions and perspectives are out there, which can make things more difficult, so I think being the loudest voice in the room and making sure it’s positive is part of my Pride ethics these days. Just making sure everyone around me is having the time of their life.
Futuremag: That’s such a good point. You never know if that small interaction could completely change someone’s day.
Jimi: Exactly. Congratulations for coming out of the house and being who you are and being around people that love and support you. We don’t have to be friends, but I love you. That’s what Pride’s all about for me anyway. I remember when I was really young and seeing those people and thinking, “Oh my God, how am I going to get to be like those people?” And now I am those people. So it’s my job to make sure young people feel loved and supported.
Futuremag: For listeners discovering your music through Full Speed for the first time, what do you hope they take away from it?
Jimi: That I’m sickening. That I’m amazing [laughs]. I hope people can sense that there’s been a long journey for me to get to where I am now. It’s been a rollercoaster, baby. If Full Speed is the first song you’re hearing from me, there’s a really sweet journey to discover there. I’ve got songs in lots of different genres and it’s taken me a long time to figure out where I fit sonically. That might not be forever — it might just be for now. So if you listen to Full Speed for the first time, delve deeper. There’s more sugary sweetness in there, too.
Futuremag: With these international shows introducing you to new audiences, what’s next when you return to Australia?
Jimi: Put on shows, baby. Give them what they want. I never stop working and I never stop writing and creating. Every time I come back from LA specifically, it has this sense of everyone being larger than life and it kind of brings you out of your shell. If I’m around maximalist people, suddenly I become like, “Oh my God, yeah, I could do anything.”
If I can bring some of that back to Australia and get stuck back in the studio with collaborations and give people more music, that’s the goal. There’s so much more music to come. My perspective has really shifted into, you know, I can be that bitch if I want to be.
Futuremag: Because it’s Pride Month, we also wanted to spotlight some Australian queer artists. Is there anyone you’d recommend we should have on our radar?
Jimi: Oh, there’s so many good ones. Robert Baxter is amazing. Shout out to Rob Baxter, love. Not sure if queer, but JACOTÉNE is some serious, serious business. I’ve got so many names flying around my head, but let’s rock on with Robbie Baxter.
Futuremag: Is there anything else you’d like people to know about this release or what’s coming next?
Jimi: Yeah. This single is the start of the next phase for me. I’ve got so much coming up, lots of surprises to come, lots of touring to come. So if you like this, then just you wait, because there is some sweet stuff on the way, baby.