First Out

As we head towards the end of the year, take some time to listen to some new tunes from your favorite LGBTQ artists. Billboard Pride is proud to present the latest edition of First Out, our weekly roundup of some of the best new music releases from LGBTQ artists.

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From Brockhampton’s lead single of their final album, to Pabllo Vittar’s victory song, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:

Brockhampton, “Big P—y”

With the looming release of Brockhampton’s final album The Family later this month, the group is prepping their fans for what’s to come. “Big P—y,” the first taste of the project, sees Kevin Abstract taking center stage, rapping openly about the fact that, no, this is not a joke — after The Family, Brockhampton is done. With a bombastic beat and some of Abstract’s best flow to date, “Big P—y” promises an explosive finish to a dynamic career from this fan-beloved hip-hop boy band.

Pabllo Vittar feat. Gloria Groove, “AMEIANOITE”

After a contentious election in Brazil over the last few weeks that say right-wing populist Jair Bolsonaro get unseated by leftist trade unionist Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, drag superstar Pabllo Vittar is ready to celebrate. She’s doing so on “AMEIANOITE” (translated to “ATMIDNIGHT” in English) with fellow Brazilian drag queen Gloria Groove. Taking on the persona of a witch being burned at the stake, Vittar brings a hard-hitting club vibe to the new track, basking in revolutionary ideals and nonconformist messages. It’s a fitting theme song for an important moment in her country’s history.

Cavetown, Worm Food

The cosmic insignificance of the human condition has long been a running theme of art — so it’s fascinating to watch as indie-pop star Cavetown takes the concept and carefully examines it on Worm Food. On what could have been a deeply nihilistic album, Robin Skinner instead looks at life through a semi-hopeful lens, comforted by the understanding that we’re all headed for the same destination (as he spells out on the title track, serving as the album’s thesis). Skinners takes listeners on a journey through love (“Frog”), heartbreak (“Wasabi”), anxiety (“Heart Attack”) and so much more, on an album as sonically diverse as the subject matter being tackled.

Fletcher, “Suckerpunch”

Fletcher may have just gifted her fans with an entire album of heartbreak-to-healing anthems with Girl of My Dreams, but that doesn’t mean that she’s done. “Suckerpunch,” the first song off the upcoming deluxe version of the album, builds on the project’s narrative, this time taking listeners back to the origins of the relationship that inspired the entire album. Walking fans through the emotional euphoria of first love, Fletcher delivers a dance-pop anthem for anyone feeling themselves falling in real time.

Billy Porter, “Stranger Things”

Singer/actor Billy Porter doesn’t hold back, ever — so it’s fitting that his latest single, “Stranger Things,” takes a maximalist approach to its call-to-action. The soulful new anthem sees Porter flexing every inch of his impressive vocal range, while commenting on the state of affairs around the world (in summary: things are looking bad). But in the brassy, exhilarating chorus, Porter makes clear that to despair in the face of hard times is to relinquish control; and he’s not willing to do that. “I’mma make the world see/ And be more than a memory/ ‘Cause stranger things have happened to me,” he wails.

Carlie Hanson, “Illusion”

“We plan, God laughs” may as well be the tagline of Carlie Hanson’s new single “Illusion.” On the revelatory new pop anthem, the singer-songwriter contends with feeling stuck in a life that she didn’t anticipate, despite her best efforts. Putting her pen to good use, and her voice to an even better one, Hanson speaks for anyone who has ever felt lost when she belts on the infectious chorus, “This isn’t what I thought it’d be like/ Just an illusion, doesn’t sit right.”

Bob the Drag Queen feat. Ocean Kelly & Basit, “Black”

On “Black,” Bob the Drag Queens’s pounding anthem to Black pride featuring fellow stars Ocean Kelly and Basit, the Drag Race winner and TikTok phenom laces her stellar bars with gas for her people and venom for anyone who would try and shame her. Not only does Bob flex her lyrical acuity with lines that land (“Cause this Mary is a Mac, and I’m sick of wearing black/ Keep dodging silver bullets, cause they coming for my back” stands out immediately), but her production (courtesy of Kelly and longtime collaborator Mitch Ferrino) is on a whole new level. Bow down, because the queen has arrived yet again.

Happy Halloweekend! If you’re looking for some new tunes to fill your party playlists this weekend, look no further: Billboard Pride is proud to present the latest edition of First Out, our weekly roundup of some of the best new music releases from LGBTQ artists.

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See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

From Dove Cameron’s latest entry in her new era to Cat Burns’ excellent Estelle cover, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:

Dove Cameron, “Bad Idea”

Ever since releasing “Boyfriend,” Dove Cameron’s been hard at work promoting her “villain era” of music. But on her latest song, “Bad Idea,” the villainy takes a back seat to some poor decision-making based purely on lust. Cameron’s voice sounds effortlessly excellent throughout the entire track, while the bouncing, jazzy instrumentation gives us a slightly different flavor of her new sound — it may not be as nefarious as her latest music, but it certainly makes us want to hear more.

Cat Burns, “American Boy (Estelle Cover)”

UK singer-songwriter Cat Burns has been on something of a hot streak lately — and it’s not stopping now. The star’s Spotify Singles session, along with giving fans an acoustic version of her bubbly single “People Pleaser,” delivered a stunning rendition of Estelle’s “American Boy. (Before you ask, in light of recent events, no, she doesn’t include the Kanye verse). This gorgeous, slowed-down version of the iconic track shows off every inch of the rising singer’s voice, as she bathes in the rich sonics of the original song, while giving it her own delicious spin.

Cakes Da Killa, Svengali

If you’ve found yourself in a bit of a house music drought since Renaissance dropped, Cakes Da Killa is here to relieve your tension. Svengali, the sophomore album from the hip-hop innovator, is a tour de force of raw talent for the rapper, as he makes like the titular mesmirizer and hypnotizes listeners with the combined skills of stunning flow (specifically on standout track “Ball and Chain”) as well as some extra-dimensional production flourishes (like on the vibe-fueled single “Drugs Du Jour”). So give in and let Svengali send you down a blissful spiral immediately.

Kaash Paige, “Doubted Me”

If you’re in need of some additional Rihanna vibes after listening to “Life Me Up,” we have just the song for you. Fast-rising R&B singer Kaash Paige’s “Doubted Me” exudes the same breathless confidence and vocal acuity that you’d come to expect from the Bad Gal herself, but does so with a different flavor of unabashed flair. On this psychic, gas-powered anthem, Paige lets her haters know where they can stick their nasty comments — it’s her time to shine, and she takes up every inch of spotlight that she can find on this self-confident track.

Corook, “Smoothie”

Everyone has had plenty of moments of putting off self-worth — up-and-coming pop singer-songwriter Corook wants to remind you that it’s a practice. On “Smoothie,” the singer takes all the parts of her personality, good and bad, and blends them together (get it?) to find that she hasn’t “felt this good since I was 18.” Add into that the fact that the song is a deliciously fun pop-rock genre blend, and you’ve got a verified banger on your hands.

Nakhane feat. Perfume Genius, “Do You Well“

When you put two artists like Nakhane and Perfume Genius together, you’d be forgiven for expecting something slow and tragically beautiful as a result. Instead, the pair pivot in the opposite direction on “Do Me Right,” a bright-eyed, sex-positive anthem of hedonism and wish-fullfillment, backed by a beat that refuses to be denied. Nakhane channels their resonant voice into peak performance, while Perfume Genius’ Mike Hadreas backs them up beautifully. Dip your toe into this joyful noise, and you’ll find yourself diving back in for more in no time.

When you’re not tuning into Taylor Swift’s latest album, take a breather and listen to some new tunes from your favorite queer artists.  Billboard Pride is proud to present the latest edition of First Out, our weekly roundup of some of the best new music releases from LGBTQ artists.

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

From Tegan and Sara’s return to form to Kelela’s smooth-as-butter new single, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:

Tegan and Sara, Crybaby

No, Crybaby may not be the 10th studio album from an established pop act everyone is talking about this particular week — but that doesn’t make it less worthy of your attention. Canadian duo Tegan and Sara took the sounds that have defined the last two decades of their lives — euphoric pop, grungy punk and earnest folk — and mashed them all together into an all-encompassing project that feels like it was specifically engineered to light up your dopamine receptors. The frenetic energy of “I Can’t Grow Up” bleeds seamlessly into the dark-pop vibes of “All I Wanted;” the glitching, chaotic sounds of “Yellow” offer a perfect balance to an early-career retrospective on “Smoking Weed Alone.” Crybaby encourages you to revel in the sounds of a pair who’ve found their sound yet again.

Kelela, “Happy Ending”

It’s not an easy task to create a song that is simultaneously breezy and invigorating, yet Kelela has somehow managed it. On “Happy Ending,” the latest offering from the R&B star after her return to music last month, Kelela’s voice oozes the sensual vibe she’s curated throughout her career. But the production stands in stark contrast — with a frenetic drum pattern and scattered synth line that permeates the new song, “Happy Ending” sounds like self-induced euphoria that keeps your heart rate climbing.

Jake Wesley Rogers, Love

“Escapist” pop music tends to be the kind that removes you from reality so as not to focus on it — but that’s not what Jake Wesley Rogers is doing. Love, the new EP from the rising singer-songwriter, could be more accurately described as idealist pop music; it doesn’t ask you to disregard the darkness of the world we live in (as shown on project closer “Dark Bird”), but instead wonders why that’s the only thing we’re interested in focusing on. Tackling romantic determinism (“Lavender Forever,”) learning from missed opportunities (“Hindsight”) and much more, Rogers paints the world around him in broad, colorful strokes with this heartfelt EP.

Pvris, “Animal”

Pvris is back, baby. Their latest double single is fueled by contempt and introspection — and while the latter concept is excellently executed on “Anywhere But Here,” it’s on “Animal” that the rock project takes you careening into a rage-spiral with them. Lynn Gunn’s voice seethes with rage on “Animal,” as she furiously fights back against a controlling lover, growling into the microphone that she won’t be told “what I feel, what I do, what I want.” It’s a welcome return for Pvris — be sure to welcome them back with open ears on this absolute banger.

Cavetown, “Frog”

While we would not normally encourage calling your significant other a “Frog,” it does work for Cavetown. The new track from the indie star (which is helping to raise money for LGBTQ organizations) charts his relationship with his girlfriend, and how even after coming out as trans, their love is still the stuff of fairytales. Throw in some double entendres referencing the famed story of a princess and a frog, and you’ve got a bonafide romantic ballad on your hands.

Michelle, “Pulse”

After making headlines with their stunning album After Dinner We Talk Dreams earlier this year, NYC indie-pop collective Michelle is ready to offer fans a coda. “Pulse,” the infectious new single from the band, drips with groove and swagger, as the group details a sweaty night out over chunky house pianos and a bass line that simply refuses to relent. “I feel your pulse from outside of the room/ Feel you radiate a mood,” they sing. “Can you feel my pulse too?” The answer is an assured yes.

Gay Meat, “Bed of Every”

Karl Kuehn’s wistful new song “Bed of Every,” off the upcoming EP of the same name from his new project Gay Meat, is an existential crisis wrapped up into a gorgeously-composed melody. The airy guitars compliment Kuehn’s voice as he croons about moments that have passed him by, intrusive memories of his childhood, and a longing for simpler times. Practically a lullaby for the discontent, “Bed of Every” is the best kind of refrain a weary soul could ask for.

As we head into the weekend, why not start it off right with a few songs from your favorite queer artists? Billboard Pride is proud to present the latest edition of First Out, our weekly roundup of some of the best new music releases from LGBTQ artists.

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

From Girl in Red’s continuation of an old classic to Tove Lo’s masterful new single, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:

Girl in Red, “October Passed Me By”

Despite already having a song about the month of October in her repertoire, Girl in Red is ready to revisit the autumnal season with her latest single. “October Passed Me By,” at its core, feels like a follow-up to her breakout song “We Fell In Love In October,” reflecting on the relationship that inspired the latter with a wistfulness unbecoming of her age. The bare-bones production gives way to the singer’s high-quality lyricism, as she looks back on a love that she thought would define her.

Tove Lo, “Grapefruit”

With her highly-anticipated new album Dirt Femme due out in a week, Tove Lo is making sure her fans are as ready as possible with “Grapefruit.” The new synth-driven, infectious pop track sounds like an in-line offering from an artist making a dance-pop comeback. It’s writing marks something much deeper; Lo gets incredibly real as she sings honestly about bulimia, as she painfully counts out the reasons she despises being stuck in the abusive cycle of living with an eating disorder.

Doechii, “Stressed”

For her last few releases, alternative hip-hop star Doechii has been making sure to let fans know exactly how much of a boss she really is. On “Stressed,” though, the singer takes a step back to address a moment of insecurity. Letting her words flow effortlessly out, Doechii spits on maintaining a public image of composure and confidence, while internally battling doubt and distress. It’s a tender moment backed up by the kind of R&B production that will have you immediately vibing right along with with her.

MUNA, Live at Electric Lady

Not everyone is going to get the chance to see MUNA while they embark on the rest of their U.S. tour. So, the band is making sure everyone gets a taste of their live sound. With their new Live at Electric Lady EP, the group takes five songs — three from their latest self-title album, one from their sophomore effort Saves the World, and even a cover of a fan-loved Taylor Swift track — and interprets them live in studio. It sounds even better than you would expect, proving yet again the trio’s penchant for performance.

Hope Tala, “Stayed at the Party”

Neo-soul star Hope Tala has been singing a lot about parties lately, and it makes sense why; parties act as microcosms of human interaction, making them rife for storytelling. Enter “Stayed at the Party,” Tala’s latest track that takes a left turn at the concept and examines why she’s at the party in the first place. Set as a quiet, internal dialogue between her and a romantic interest, “Stayed at the Party” forces Tala and her audience to come to terms with the things that they’re avoiding, rather than dancing the night away.

Betty Who, BIG!

For Australian pop act Betty Who, revelation is the name of the game. On her latest album, aptly titled BIG!, Who takes massive swings only to see them regularly pay off. Whether it’s on her anthem of self-acceptance (“Big”), a sweeping ode to moving on (“Someone Else”), or a heartbroken ballad of losing friends over time (“Grown Ups Grow Apart”), BIG! never feels unwieldy — it’s always squarely in the singer’s corner.