RuPaul's Drag Race superstar Nicky Doll has become an even bigger name as the host of Drag Race France a celebrity status that led her to perform alongside other French drag artists at the Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This Friday, she unleashes her debut album, APOLLO ARTEMIS, with a total of 10 tracks.Sign up for the Out Newsletter to keep up with what's new in LGBTQ+ culture and entertainment delivered three times a week straight (well) to your inbox!Starting with "How Do I Look," a pop music banger that reenergizes "Flawless" by The Ones into an even draggier bop, Nicky Doll's first studio explores two sides of herself which, here, are categorized as APOLLO and ARTEMIS.The APOLLO side keeps things bright, loose, and upbeat including some of the most radio-ready bops of the project. The ARTEMIS side dives into a more reflective exploration of what it means, at least for this musician, to be feminine.In an interview with Out, Nicky Doll spills the tea about her long journey toward, and eventual arrival, at the world of APOLLO ARTEMIS.Out: You've released original songs before, but this album is your first actual body of work. You're clearly very passionate about music, and very good at making it. Why did it take you this long to release your debut album?Nicky Doll: I wanted to make sure I would be proud of what I put out. I have worked for years on this project. Every time I was decided to release it, it wasn't good enough, and I would postpone.As a queer artist, I also wanted to make sure I wasn't wasting an opportunity, because we don't always have that many. It needed to be perfect, in my eyes, and I am extremely proud of it.The album title references the Greek gods Apollo and Artemis, who are twins. It feels like a reference to the lives of most drag artists who exist in these binaries of "male" or "female." But you tell me: Why did you choose APOLLO ARTEMIS as the name of your debut album?That is exactly it, but not just that. APOLLO ARTEMIS defines who I am as a whole. I not only have a duality in identity, gender expression, and emotions, but I also have a very light side and a dark side. I wanted to show that we don't have to pick and choose and that even my music project can have different sides to it. Apollo and Artemis are the divine twins, and I believe that [out-of-drag name] Karl and Nicky are also both, and coexist inside of me.Do you feel more connected to one of those sides at this point of your life? Or do you still feel a kinship to both Apollo and Artemis in equal amounts?Very good question! I think that, thanks to Nicky, I become a more powerful, complex, human being. She allows me to explore happiness to the fullest, but also find power in my darker sides.See on InstagramYou and other French drag artists performed at the Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. So many fans were thrilled to see you there, but you also made headlines with the accusation that the segment was "mocking The Last Supper." Even though the performance was referencing a Bacchanal, conservatives insisted on the misunderstanding and used it to push anti-drag and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric even further. Let's take it to the start: When and how were you invited to be a part of that moment, and was it a collaborative process?I was lucky to have been asked to be part of the Ceremony by the International Olympic Committee. Given my impact both in and out of the country, they wanted to showcase French people in its totality, and queerness is part of our culture. I was extremely thankful for the experience.If I had to do it again, I would in a heartbeat. The ignorance that followed which represented not even 15 percent of the reactions didn't affect me whatsoever. As queer people we're used to be pointed out and excluded from spaces. Not on my watch!What was it like to walk out of that performance I assume feeling amazing and seeing so much nonsense from conservatives?Walking out of that bridge was a surreal moment. We were all extremely proud to have lived this together. Regardless of the rain, regardless of some of the backlash, we were standing alongside other artists to represent our community, to show that we exist, our lives are valuable and that we are sickening!There's one specific man who made wild claims about the drag artists after seeing that performance in the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Olympics. He was previously sued by Crystal, of Drag Race UK, and lost the case to Crystal. Any update about your case?Indeed, one thing I wasn't going to tolerate was to be called a "pedophile." I think that this stigma is extremely toxic and has been weaponized to villainize homosexuals. If someone was going to use his platform to share that kind of ideas, I needed to show him that words have meaning. And that, if we fought for our rights, I intend to use them. As of now, there isn't update on the case, but I remain hopeful that justice will be served.See on InstagramI love how "naughty" and sensual the songs in the album are. But I wonder: Where are these vibes coming from? A romantic relationship that's spicing things up? Enjoying life, living it up, and meeting trade? Spill the tea, Nicky!Some songs definitely are spicy, but so am I! [laughs] I feel like I wanted to show all my sides in this project. You can find some disco, some electro, some dance, some pure pop. The performance of them are sometimes glamorous, sometimes over-the-top and theatrical, but also dangerous and sexual. It's a journey, and I'm glad people will embark on it.What is it about Seine City that made you want to create a song about it? It is also the closer of the entire album.I was doing a residency in Vegas for RuPaul's Drag Race Live!, and the song title just came to me. Sin City might be in the U.S., but Paris by night is just as naughty and exciting. So I wrote Seine City with Kalika who's an incredible hyper pop artist. And, who knows, maybe some visuals of that song are on the way? We shall see!This might be a little clich because a lot of people feel the same way, but "How Do I Look" is still my favorite song of the entire project. Why do you think "How Do I Look" is resonating so much with fans? Do you have a favorite song from this album?I think "How Do I Look" feels familiar; it's not overwhelming, and has an empowering message of self-love, which is why I wanted the lead single to be that song. We often seek validation elsewhere. Why not self-provide confidence and feel flawless at all times but for ourself, first?One of my personal favorites is "Come With Me," which is a song I wrote to my inner child. It was a very painful and cathartic song to write. I did it with two amazing souls: Lexxe and Florio. Apologizing to your inner child for leaving in order to come back stronger is something I think a lot of people can relate to. I hope everyone will like this song as much as I do.See on Instagram"I Feel the Love" might come off to most listeners as a song about a romantic partner who made you feel that way. However, given the outpouring of love you have received since being on Drag Race season 12, and then hosting Drag Race France and being so incredibly successful on that platform, this song could also be about your relationship with the fans. What's take on the song?That is exactly what came to mind when I wrote this song. It was about the intense relationship I have with my fans. The adrenaline to go on stage and feel the energy sent right back at me when I'm performing. I also wanted to create an anthem of positivity god knows we need it right now.How does it feel to not go as far as you'd want to in season 12, but still build this stunning, powerful, enormous platform with Drag Race France, which is literally turning drag artists into huge superstars even the ones who don't win?I was always a wild cat. I always did things my way, and never really fit any mold. To be the host of a franchise feels correct, to be completely honest, because Drag Race is a succession of challenges that mimic what the industry can throw at you in the real world.I have worked relentlessly, and handled so many situations, that I inject some of that into my own franchise. I am incredibly proud to also show through my talented girls that winning isn't always the ultimate goal. Many contestants are killing it and didn't win their season Just like me!Is music something that you love doing and plan to continue making more of? Or are you satisfied with this body of work for now, and plan to focus on other things before diving into new music again? In other words: What's next for Nicky Doll?I will never stop making music. Writing, composing, creating brings me so much happiness. I hope this first album is one of many. It is incredibly hard to be taken seriously in the music industry when you are a drag performer, but I've always loved a challenge. So, yes, expect more music from me, but also many other projects. I've worked too hard to get here to limit myself. When you're fortunate enough to work with passion, it would be a waste to not do the most.Nicky Doll's debut album, APOLLO ARTEMIS, is now available on all music streaming platforms.