Queer Jams of the Week: New Music from Troye Sivan, 070 Shake, Chappell Roan & More
Written by djfrosty on September 22, 2023
TK. 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 Troye Sivan’s stunning new single to Kim Petras’ surprise-release new album, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:
Troye Sivan, “Got Me Started”
After coming down from the “Rush,” Troye Sivan kicks things right back into gear on his latest pop banger “Got Me Started.” This glittering, laid-back jam teems with sexuality and good vibes, as well as a sample of Bag Raiders’ viral hit “Shooting Stars” all throughout the track. It’s a fitting entry into Sivan’s latest era, as he croons to his lover “Boy, can I be honest?/ Kinda miss usin’ my body/ F–k it up just like this party did tonight.”
070 Shake, “Black Dress”
Hip-hop star 070 Shake is in mourning — but damn, she knows how to make it sound good. On “Black Dress,” the latest ethereal ode to lost love from Shake, the rapper-singer-songwriter finds herself in the wreckage of a relationship at its end, questioning what’s supposed to happen now. As a relentless guitar accompanies her delicate vocal, punctuated by some gothic ’80s synths to amp up the atmosphere, Shake embraces the darkness, singing that “Even when it’s dark out/ I still can see your bone structure.”
Chappell Roan, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess
After spending years building a dedicated, feverish fanbase, DIY pop star Chappell Roan is ready to take her throne. The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, the rising star’s debut album, makes good on the promise of Roan’s chaotic singles. Throughout this whimsical joyride, Roan injects her songs with pop adrenaline (“Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl”) and disco fervor (“After Midnight”), all while delving deep into her own emotional worldview (“Picture You”). With this album’s release, we’re happy to witness this Midwest princess’ rise — but we certainly don’t see a fall in sight.
Kim Petras, Problématique
Feeling a bit on ennui? Wanting to bid your troubles adieu? Kim Petras has an album for you that will make you say “C’est bon!” Problématique — Petras’ once-lost, now-revived French-pop album — is a headfirst dive into delicious pop ecstasy. Petras revels in her brattiest tendencies (the titular funk track), while partying her way through gay Paris (“All She Wants), and she does it with a signature sound that her fans have come to love. In a word, the latest Kim Petras LP is magnifique.
Doechii, “Pacer”
If you finish listening to Doja Cat’s scarlet and are feeling in the mood for some more horror-adjacent rap, we strongly recommend Doechii’s spine-tingling new single “Pacer.” Throughout this furious, chaotic anthem from the Florida rapper, Doechii rages against her detractors and boasts her own glory. Transforming her signature flow into screaming “fits” with each verse, the rapper earns her anger with this thrilling new single.
Slayyyter, Starf–ker
With her sophomore release, Slayyyter would like to reintroduce herself as the bonafide diva that she knows she is. Starf–ker delights in its own narrative, as Slayyyter embraces the chase of fame, the loss of love, and the wild, sexy, drug-fueled journey to the top. Whether she’s lampooning L.A. (“I Love Hollywood!”) or falling down a K-hole (“Purrr”), Slayyyter keeps this character-driven LP as delightfully chaotic as possible for all 35 minutes.
Dua Saleh, “Daylight Falls”
Capturing a personal crisis in the form of a song can be a uniquely difficult process — but Dua Saleh makes it look easy. On their mesmerizing new song “Daylight Falls,” the multi-hyphenate performer ushers listeners through their own panic with top-shelf songwriting and their most emotive performance to date. The gorgeous but unyielding guitar backing only adds to the mounting tension, before Saleh explodes on the chorus; “I’m freaking out in the dead of the night,” they wail. Figure it out/ ‘Cause I’m gonna cry/ F–king me up in the dead of the night.”
Morgxn, “My Revival”
Rebirth is a recurring theme for Morgxn — so it’s only fitting that he dedicate his latest single to reinvention. “My Revival,” the latest single off their forthcoming album BEACON, sees the rising star reflect on his journey thus far as an independent artist; embracing the famous “Hero’s Journey” by Joseph Campbell, Morgxn claims his own story for himself, promising that “I don’t plan on stopping/ My spirit’s never dropping.” Add in the fact that Morgxn’s voice has never sounded better, and you’ve got a winning new track on your hands.
Check out all of our picks on Billboard’s Queer Jams of the Week playlist below: