Conchita Wurst: The Glamorous Voice of European Pop

Conchita Wurst is the powerful stage persona of Austrian singer and drag artist Thomas "Tom" Neuwirth. Hailing from Gmunden, Austria, this artist achieved global fame by winning the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest for Austria with the soaring ballad "Rise Like a Phoenix," which charted across Europe and reignited the country's musical presence on the international stage.

Early career

Born in 1988, Tom Neuwirth first entered the public eye as a contestant on the Austrian talent show Starmania in 2006. After a brief stint in the boy band Jetzt Anders!, Neuwirth developed the Conchita Wurst persona—a glamorous, bearded woman symbolizing tolerance and artistic freedom. The character made its initial television appearance in 2011, setting the stage for a bold musical journey.

Breakthrough

The defining breakthrough came in 2014 when Conchita Wurst, selected through a national final, represented Austria at the Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen. Performing the dramatic Rise Like a Phoenix, the act won the competition with 290 points, delivering Austria its first victory since 1966. The winning single subsequently reached top ten chart positions in several European countries and was certified gold in Austria and Germany.

Key tracks

Rise Like a Phoenix — The 2014 Eurovision-winning power ballad that propelled Conchita to international stardom and became an LGBTQ+ anthem.

That's What I Am — The lead single from the debut album, this pop track solidified the artist's message of self-acceptance and empowerment.

Firestorm — A collaboration with the Russian t.A.T.u. producer that showcased a harder, more electronic-edged sound.

Trash All the Glam — A later single highlighting a more experimental, synth-pop direction in the artist's evolving discography.

Following the Eurovision triumph, Conchita released the debut album Conchita in 2015, which debuted at number one on the Austrian albums chart. The artist has since performed at major events like the Eurovision final in Vienna and the Life Ball, while collaborating with artists such as the Wiener Symphoniker and appearing on the soundtrack for The Book of Love. A second studio album, From Vienna with Love, featuring classic film songs with orchestral arrangements, was released in 2018.

Fans of Conchita Wurst's blend of theatrical pop and powerful vocals might also enjoy the music of Christina Stürmer, another major Austrian pop-rock singer with chart-topping success. The dramatic flair and anthemic quality can be found in the work of Lena Meyer-Landrut, the German singer and fellow Eurovision winner. For the glamorous aesthetic and dance-pop sensibility, explore Kim Petras, the German pop artist known for her catchy hooks. The powerful balladry and message-driven music also connects to the Swedish icon Loreen, another multi-time Eurovision champion.

Conchita Wurst's empowering pop anthems are a staple on European pop radio stations and dedicated online radio streams that celebrate Eurovision and contemporary chart music. The artist's catalog, from the iconic Rise Like a Phoenix to later releases, receives regular airplay across various formats.

You can hear the music of Conchita Wurst on radio stations featured on our website. Listeners can discover this unique Austrian pop artist by tuning into the diverse selection of international radio stations available on onairium.com.