Wet Leg’s Rhian Teasdale opens up about writing songs for her non-binary partner: ‘It feels so different’
Rhian Teasdale of Wet Leg says it was ‘important’ to write love songs for her non-binary partner. (Getty)
Rhian Teasdale of Wet Leg says it was 'important' to write love songs for her non-binary partner. (Getty)
Wet Leg’s lead vocalist Rhian Teasdale has said that it felt “important” to write love songs for her non-binary partner on the band’s second album, moisturizer.
On the British rock group’s new record, several of the songs feature lyrics about the soaring highs and nail-biting lows of falling in love with a new partner.
Tracks including “Liquidize”, “Pond Song”, “Pokemon” and second single “CPR” all nod to Teasdale and her relationship.
“Is it love or suicide?” she belts on the pre-chorus of “CPR”, and then on the bridge: “Hello, 999. What’s your emergency? Well, the thing is I… I’m in love.”
Speaking to Variety about the inspiration behind moisturizer, Teasdale said that writing about love now that she is in a queer relationship felt “so different”.
“I’ve never wanted to write a love song about a man. And I don’t even really enjoy listening to love songs from a woman to a man. I feel like, historically, they’re not so empowering,” she said.
“I feel like when you’re writing an album, it is like a diary entry or a snapshot in time of where you are. And on a very personal level, it felt important for me to write love songs to my partner, who is not a man — they’re non-binary. It feels so different.”
Rhian Teasdale, who identifies as queer, went on to explain that writing the songs helped her in “exploring and figuring out how I felt about love”.
“I just think queer love in particular is just so interesting to me, because there’s no blueprint for it. In the heteronormative sphere, there’s so many movies and so many books and, in the media, it’s all very straight-leaning. I feel like there are no rules in a queer relationship,” she shared.
“There are no rules, no kind of preconceived things that you’ve subconsciously absorbed along the way — it all gets rewritten when you are in a queer relationship, I think.”
Teasdale first spoke about her relationship with her unnamed partner back in April, telling The Guardian that they met in Portugal at the end of 2021.
“It was love at first sight,” she told the paper. “Literally. It was just an energy. It was just like: Oh. Ohhh! Because of course I wasn’t looking for love, in any capacity, at all. But that’s what they say, isn’t it? It always comes when you least expect it.”
“It’s not very mysterious,” she added. “The thing with queer love, as well, is that, if you’re female-presenting, people assume you’re best friends.”
Wet Leg have become one of the UK’s most talked about groups since their debut, self-titled record was released back in spring 2021.
The album hit number one, and was followed by a stream of accolades, including a win in the Best New Artist and Best British Group categories at the 2023 Brit Awards (plus a nomination for Best British Rock/Alternative Act).
The band’s song “Chaise Longue” also won a Grammy Award in the Best Alternative Music Performance category, while Wet Leg was named Best Alternative Music Album.
Wet Leg’s moisturizer is out now.
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