Eliza Legzdina [@ElizaLegzdina] drops her empowering debut EP, Iron Curtain Golden Pussy

Eliza Legzdina has jumped in the deep end and dropped Iron Curtain Golden Pussy, a project that aims to tie together and explain who she is to the world.

Iron Curtain Golden Pussy is a four track introductory EP from the new voice on the block Eliza Legzdina. The project features her two previously released singles ‘Tom & Jerry’ and ‘Jelly’ as well as two new cuts ‘Honey’ and ‘Tic Toc’ the latter of which also had its video released today. The EP is strong on its themes of empowering women and reclaiming the female body as something that women and femmes should be proud about, especially when viewing their bodies as sexual. Amidst this strong, positive message it would be easy to assume on reading that that was all it is, but it also hits its primary goal – being great music.

“We should be proud of our bodies, for as long as hip hop culture has existed in the mainstream, our bodies have been discussed from the male perspective. It’s our opportunity, our turn to ask for what we want, claim good health, and pride in our pussies.”

Eliza on the importance of subverting gender norms

Iron Curtain Golden Pussy encapsulates varying sides of women’s experiences but what underpins it all is an overwhelming confidence of a woman on the rise doing what she wants. Floating between uptempo, bouncy rap cuts and more R&B/Neo-Soul infused bops the project is extremely sonically diverse considering its length. It is the project of the modern woman and mirrors the reclaiming of female sexuality taking centre stage with the likes of Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, City Girls and more.

The name may still have you wondering, Eliza has actually had the name for years. Iron Curtain Golden Pussy serves to encapsulate both her as an individual but also the message she represents. The Iron Curtain portion refers to the region the Soviet Union aimed to cut off from contact with the West from the end of the Second World War until the end of the Cold War. The fallout from which was still felt in her home nation of Latvia which she also grew up in. The Golden Pussy section, well I’ll let a quote from Eliza explain that.

“…what I have to share is so valuable. Love, tenderness and sensuality worth more than my weight in gold and it’s not something I own it’s something I have inherited.  This pussy really golden”

That duality of being both iron and gold is something I’m sure a lot of women can relate to but don’t often speak out on, and that’s what the message of the project really is. Women’s voices are important in every context, they should be heard, respected, and most importantly acted upon. Iron Curtain Golden Pussy is for women, by a woman. It’s also for everyone else to learn and become accustomed to the fact that women can be and do whatever they want and everyone should simply accept that, without judgement or feeling entitled to express an opinion on it.

Gender equality is still something we strive for and issues like domestic abuse are a huge factor in Eliza taking up the mantle to speak out so openly. Sadly we are still a ways off from it as even during the short time we’ve been in lockdown Refuge has said they’ve had increased by close to 50%.

“Our bodies can no longer be battlegrounds for traumatised and mentally unwell partners.”

Eliza on reclaiming the female body

With that at the forefront of her mind Eliza understands that her roles is extremely important beyond the music. It’s why she is so unafraid, and dominant in her choices of musical direction in both content on tracks and the visuals she pairs alongside it. So whilst it may seem like sexual liberation is being used as a means simply to unite women, which it should, it also seeks to serve another purpose. Rejecting social shaming.