In need of some new music from your favorite LGBTQ+ artists? Allow us to help: 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 Shygirl’s stunning new collaboration to Kesha’s gorgeous new ballad, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:
Shygirl feat. Isabella Lovestory & PinkPanthress, “True Religion”
Since experiencing a new level of cultural breakthrough in 2024 thanks to her opening slot on Charli XCX & Troye Sivan’s Sweat Tour, UK DJ Shygirl is ready to hook you for good with her latest single. “True Religion” boasts everything fans of Shygirl have come to hope for from her music — a singularly catchy hook (don’t be shocked if you randomly start singing “webcam, webcam, webcam girl” to yourself this weekend), impeccably-chosen guest stars (both Lovestory and PinkPanthress thrive on this bouncing, laid-back track) and a beat that you cannot shake. If “True Religion” doesn’t make you believe in the power of Shygirl, then we’re not sure what will.
Kesha, “Dear Me”
For her contribution to the new documentary Diane Warren: Relentless, Kesha decided to strip back the artifice and sing from the heart. The result is “Dear Me,” a Warren-penned, Guy Roche-produced ballad where Kesha looks back on her younger self and offers some salient advice — primarily, to know that she can get through whatever pain comes her way. It’s no surprise that Kesha sounds as good as she does here; it is surprising, though, to get such a poignant song in a week when so many of us need to hear this.
Lord Huron feat. Kristen Stewart, “Who Laughs Last”
If there’s a rule of thumb for 2025, it’s expect the unexpected. Lord Huron, the indie-rock group slowly gaining steam over the last couple yeas, took that advice to heart when they teamed up with actress, queer icon and now songstress Kristen Stewart for their new single “Who Laughs Last.” Stewart may not sing on the actual track, but her spoken word verses bring an air of mystique and prestige to this certified rock banger, marking one of the most gloriously left-field collaborations we’ve heard in a minute.
Nessa Barrett, “Does God Cry?”
If you’ve been looking for some Aftercare since alt-pop star Nessa Barrett’s stunning 2024 album of the same name, then we have some good news for you. With her new track “Does God Cry?” off the forthcoming deluxe edition of the LP, Barrett delivers a heart-rending, ambient pop single that poses bigger questions through bigger sounds. More to the point, the track takes the dark sonics of her breakout album and twists them into something new and fascinating — as winning a formula for any deluxe track as we’ve seen.
Sophie Powers, “Goals”
Alright, we’ve all had a rough week, so let’s end this list with something unabashedly fun. Rising pop singer Sophie Powers’ latest track “Goals” immediately comes across as 2007 Avril Lavigne-meets-Charli XCX’s Brat, as Sophie snidely declares that she is the bar her haters just can’t reach. A chant-along chorus, glitchy production and gloriously spunky attitude make Powers’ “Goals” a must-listen for anyone who needs to unplug after an otherwise hard few days.
Check out all of our picks below on Billboard’s Queer Jams of the Week playlist:
