Tom Rasmussen has consistently been a multifaceted individual. (Quite literally, sometimes: the performer initially gained recognition in the broader scene as their previous drag persona, Crystal, a vocalist born in Russia and raised in Lancashire with a fondness for headpieces.) They’ve authored two books, co-created a musical, and even contributed as a columnist on sex and relationships for Vogue. However, the role they’ve always felt most at ease in—and which they wholeheartedly returned to a few years prior—was in pop music. “I find it mortifying to say, ‘I’m a storyteller,’ because it’s what bothersome people declare,” Rasmussen remarks, with their signature self-deprecating humor. “Yet, I believe that’s what I’ve achieved throughout all my endeavors, and it truly became prominent once I began composing my own music, just for myself.”
In 2023, Rasmussen came out with their introductory album, Body Building, on Globe Town Records: an exhilarating, dance-pop journey of a record where the euphoric instances were balanced by incredibly vulnerable lyrics depicting the highs and lows of revealing one’s nonbinary identity, and the paradox of being visible. Now, just a year and a half later, Rasmussen has returned with its sequel, Live Wire—and is prepared to openly express their feelings in a distinct, more optimistic manner. “I’m really supportive of grand and beautiful, expansive emotions,” Rasmussen notes regarding the more reflective nature of the new album, which explores the smaller, quieter aspects of their existence—from casual encounters to marriage and their closest friendships. “I’m humorous, but I’m also quite emotional and actually quite genuine.”