With summer in our rearview mirror, gear up your playlists for the fall with some new songs from your favorite queer artists. Billboard Pride is proud to present the latest edition of Queer Jams of the Week, our roundup of some of the best new music releases from LGBTQ artists.
From Dove Cameron’s new team-up with Marshmello, to Tinashe’s long-awaited new album, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:
Dove Cameron & Marshmello, “Other Boys”
Dove Cameron is sick of flirting with the “Other Boys” — she’s ready for someone new to come along and sweep her off her feet. This slick, pulsating new song from Cameron and the track’s official DJ, Marshmello, sees the star pining for the love of the one person who’s not giving it to her. Cameron lets her cool, slinky vocal glide with ease over the chilled-out, relentless beat, singing that her “heart can’t be satisfied by anyone but you tonight.”
Tinashe, BB/ANG3L
R&B-pop star Tinashe is back, and she’s ready to groove. On BB/ANG3L, Tinashe is getting all the way in her R&B-pop bag and delivering a sonic universe of entrancing, introspective jams to help you vibe your way into the weekend. Whether she’s boosting her own confidence on “Talk To Me Nice,” or letting herself get vulnerable with someone new on “Uh Huh,” Tinashe commands every moment of BB/ANG3L — and you’ll want just a slice of that conviction for yourself.
Romy, Mid Air
After a winning career as the lead singer of The xx, it should not come as a surprise that Romy Madley Croft’s debut album Mid Air is as good as it is. Yet it bears repeating that this electronica-suffused, trance-heavy new project sees the singer boldly taking herself into new territory, whether she’s embracing groovy disco sounds (“She’s On My Mind”), or going full turn-of-the-century Eurorave with Fred again.. (“Strong”). Mid Air is the kind of reintroduction that succinctly and joyfully reintroduces fans to an artist they already loved in a brand new light.
Allison Russell, The Returner
Where her Grammy-nominated debut Outside Child sought to reckon with the trauma of her past, Allison Russell’s latest LP, The Returner, makes the case for living right now. Brimming with rich polyrhythmic texture and an emboldened folk sound fused with funk, disco, pop and rock, The Returner is an ode to joyfully remaking the world around you in your own image. Russell fights against oppression on the anthemic “Stay Right Here,” dismisses her innermost fears on “Demons” and vows to accept the gifts the world gives her on the titular track. Uplifting, inspirational and unabashedly itself, The Returner is the feel-good soundtrack you’ve been needing.
Blondshell, “Street Rat”
After releasing one of the best indie-rock debuts of the year back in April, Blondshell is already back for more with “Street Rat.” No, she’s not talking about the lovable rogue from Disney’s Aladdin — instead, the fast-rising indie star tries her hardest to break through an unyielding cycle of bad habits that just won’t die. Floating over dreamy guitars and a relentless beat, Blondshell gives into the romanticism of her negative traits by the song’s end, making “Street Rat” a perfect dose of seratonin — even if it’s wrong, it just feels right.
Baby Queen, “Quarter Life Crisis”
There comes a moment in every young adult’s life where you start to realize that the glittering days of youth are about to be over, and you start to feel some panic set in. If you’re currently there, don’t worry; Baby Queen has a song to soundtrack your predicament. On “Quarter Life Crisis,” the rising pop star contends with her life experience and lack thereof, feeling stuck in the middle of youth and wisdom. It helps that the lilting-yet-angsty music accompanying her only adds to the drama, making this particular “Quarter Life Crisis” one we’re happy to ride out.
Anjimile, The King
“There’s a flood of flame,” Anjimile’s voice cries out on his new album’s opening track. “And it calls your name.” Thus begins the spiral of anger, confusion and sadness that is The King, the indie singer-songwriter’s masterful expression of grief. Written during the height of the 2020 protests against police brutality, Anjimile calls out the systems of power that protect corrupt cops (“Animal”), while also mourning from his own personal traumas (“Mother”) and wondering when if and when the world is going to meaningfully change (“The Right”). A portrait of rage and sorrow in the midst of dark times, The King is one of 2023’s most vital albums — and an instant classic from Anjimile.
Boyish, Little Demon Boy
Looking to dive headfirst into the melodrama that is queerness in the modern day? Look no further than alt-pop duo Boyish’s new EP Little Demon Boy. Throughout this smart, empathetic and carefully-crafted project, India Shore and Claire Altendahl explore everything ranging from codependency (“Split Up”) to societal expectations (“Girls Are Mean”) to the endless need for validation (“Doomscroller”), all while giving us top-tier production and deliciously dreamy guitar licks. Boyish prove definitively on Little Demon Boy that they are the next big thing in the queer indie scene.
Check out all of our picks in Billboard’s Queer Jams of the Week playlist below:
