Big Freedia has probably done more than any other artist to bring bounce music to a wider audience in recent years. Once confined to the music scene in and around New Orleans, the explosive bounce sound can now be heard on all corners of the globe, in large part thanks to the popularity of her recordings and high-energy performances.

Nowhere is Freedia’s star status more evident than in the ratings for her TV show, Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce. The documentary-style program, which debuted on Fuse in 2013, follows the Queen Diva as she brings her music to the masses while trying to keep her personal life in order. It’s also an award-winning program and, more importantly, the highest-rated show in the network’s 12 year history.

With so much going for it, it’s no surprise that Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce is coming back for yet another season. The first of those six episodes is slated for next Wednesday, September 30, when the bona fide hit returns to Fuse at 10pm CT. I caught up with Big Freedia–who appeared on the cover of our July 2011 issue–earlier today to talk about what’s in store for this season, how bounce music helped her heal after Hurricane Katrina and more.

What can we expect from the fourth season of Queen of Bounce?

I’m very excited. It’s a week away. We’ll be back on the air, so we’re gonna get some good ratings. We’re very amped to be going into season four of Queen of Bounce.

What are some of the things that arise during this season? What challenges do you face?

You’ll definitely get to see me travel internationally. You’ll see me touring and doing different things around the world. You’ll get to see my relationship unfold a little bit more. I try to fix some things with that and try to rekindle the relationship and make it better. You’ll also get to see some of my dancers venture out into their personal experiences with their lives, their families and so forth. The book will also be in season four. There’s a lot of good things happening and I’m very excited about it.

A lot of the first episode was focused on you putting together your book, God Save the Queen Diva, which came out over the summer. What was that process like?

It was awesome. It was very much a challenge since we were on a very tight schedule to do the turnaround for the book. But we got it done and it was exciting to bring back all of those memories and relive some of them, to go to some of the places where I grew up and connect with some of the people I haven’t spoken to in a while. It was very interesting to go back there for the book.

When people talk about “New Orleans music” they usually mean something fairly specific, either jazz or funk-based. What’s it like to go out into the world and represent New Orleans with a kind of music that most people outside of here aren’t familiar with?

It’s awesome because I’m in my own lane. I have my own type of music that I bring to the table and have people to listen to it. So it’s definitely an exciting moment, to be able to go around the world and represent a culture where you grew up from and where you live. It’s very exciting to represent and hold down the culture of New Orleans and bounce music.

How was bounce music received on your European tour?

Oh it was amazing. They loved it. I’ve been several times but each time I go back it keeps getting bigger and the fans are knowing the music more. They’re shaking their asses like crazy over there.

Do you notice the crowds, not just in Europe but everywhere, getting bigger with each tour?

Oh yeah, most definitely. You know, I have so many platforms to help with that. Keeping myself relevant with the TV show or the new music or the new book. All of that helps to draw crowds and bring my fans out. So it’s definitely been picking up all around the world, not just international but national as well.

Queen of Bounce is officially the most popular show in Fuse TV history. Did you anticipate that it would be that popular when you got started or have you been surprised by the success?

Not at all. I was very, very surprised.

Another thing that you touch on in this first episode is your “healing through bounce music” after Katrina. How did bounce music help you heal after the storm?

We had so many opportunities to be in so many places after Katrina hit and we were displaced all around the world. People were just fiending for the music, they were fiending for the bounce sound and we had missed so much throughout those months. So we started emailing and selling CDs all over. It just got more infectious. People from all of those places where people were displaced, they were wanting to know what type of music it was or what the background of it was or how to dance. So we got to spread the music a little bit wider and I got to travel to a few places to represent New Orleans and bring home to wherever those people were displaced at. So Katrina definitely helped us spread the music and the love all around the world.

Another thing that the first episode deals with is you trying to record an EDM (electronic dance music) track with the Showboys. How has branching out into the EDM world been going for you?

It’s been going good. I try to experience and open up a lot of doors in different directions. So listening to music and trying to open every avenue is very important to me. I’m a bounce artist and that’s where I started at, but I have so much more talent that I can spread out with different artists and different styles of music. Yeah, the EDM situation is going pretty good with me and the Showboys.

You’re working on a new album in the first episode. When can we expect that to drop?

We’re pushing for November. It hasn’t dropped yet but the new single, “Crazy,” off the album is out now so they have something to listen to for about a month. (Give the new track a listen here). The video for “Crazy” will be coming right after and then we’ll be releasing the album.

Is there anything else you have planned for the future?

I’m just excited about the new tour that’s happening. My new tour kicks off on October 20th and goes to November 15th. I may be coming to a city near you. We really excited about that and being able to go around the world once again and bring some bounce flavor. Your Freedia fix is on the way.