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JoJo Siwa would like to set the record — for lack of a better word — straight. After a clip from her recent Billboard interview went viral, the “Karma” singer is making it clear that she did not invent the idea of “gay pop.” In a video published by TMZ, Siwa took a moment to […]
While Madonna‘s globe-spanning tour is meant to be a “Celebration,” the singer took a moment on Tuesday night (April 9) to have a serious conversation with her fans about one of the worst shootings in American history.
During her final show in Miami, Fla., Madonna delivered an emotional speech to her fans in honor of the victims of the 2016 shooting at Pulse nightclub, the second-deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. “I want to remind you that we have not all been so lucky,” Madonna said somberly to her audience, according to a fan-captured video. “I want to draw attention to that moment because nightclubs and music and dance are what bring us together. They shouldn’t be places or things that we do that bring us sadness and tragedy and murder and death and pain and suffering and trauma.”
Along with paying tribute to the 49 people killed in the attack, the legendary pop star also shared her support for the LGBTQ+ community, saying, “I will always stand for the gays, because the gays have always stood for me.”
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“That was the biggest terrorist attack in America after 9/11,” she said. “People getting together to dance in a club that was inclusive and full of love. It was Latin Night, people were dancing to Latin music, and some motherf–ker came in there with two guns and started shooting at people.”
Madonna went on to share that she invited survivors and their families, as well as the families of those who did not survive to attend her show that night, calling out a few of their names and thanking them for attending. In the middle of her speech, her voice began to crack with emotion. “I make dance music. My job is to bring people together, to make people dance, to make people happy, to not judge,” she said. “This s–t is not supposed to happen. Don’t forget about it.”
It’s far from the first time Madonna has honored victims and heroes during her Celebration Tour. When her trek stopped at New York City’s Madison Square Garden in January, the pop icon shared the stories of Ellen Matzer and Valery Hughes, two New York nurses who treated and advocated for AIDS/HIV patients at the height of the epidemic the 1980s.
Watch the fan-captured video of Madonna’s speech below:
Drag star Katya announced on Tuesday (April 9) that she’s taking a break from her career to focus on her health and sobriety. In a video posted to her Instagram, Katya shared that she is currently seeking treatment for her addiction, meaning that her upcoming tour dates with friend and fellow Drag Race star Trixie […]
In the final elimination week of RuPaul’s Drag Race season 16, the top four queens were given a crash course in an important part of their post-show lives — the art of branding.
On Friday’s episode (aired April 5), the remaining contestants showed off their personalities by creating covers and excerpts from their own faux memoirs, before giving a series of interviews with Las Culturistas’ Matt Rogers about their books.
For Nymphia Wind, the challenge turned into a triumph, with the judges praising the star’s vulnerability in her interview, as well as her stunning look she wore for her book cover — the queen earned her long-awaited third challenge win and a spot in the finale. Meanwhile, after much hair-splitting from the judges, queens Plane Jane and Q found themselves in the bottom after performances that didn’t quite stack up to those of Wind and Sapphira Cristál.
Lip synching to Tina Turner’s “Better Be Good to Me,” the queens used every weapon in their respective arsenals to try and win the last spot in the show’s grand finale. Ultimately, Plane Jane landed without too much turbulence, leaving fashion queen Q on the tarmac.
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Below, Q chats with Billboard about her time on the show, her approach to making some of the best runway looks on the show, speaking about life with HIV on national television, and how she’s taking online hate from the fanbase “one day at a time.”
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You made it all the way to the top four! How does it feel, looking back on your run, knowing you made it as far as you did?
It felt really great — it’s always been a dream to be on the show. Now, you know what happened, and here I am now, and I guess we’ll see what comes from it in the future.
I did want to check in with you — I know the fanbase was pretty rough on you, and you ultimately decide to deactivate your X account a few weeks back. How are you feeling since making that decision?
Honestly? I’m fine. I’m sort of trying to take all of this one day at a time. I have days where it’s not so great, and then other days where it’s truly not bothering me at all. But it definitely has not been nearly as bad since I left X, and deactivated that account. I don’t know, it definitely has … the online part of all of this has definitely shaped a large part of this experience for me.
People really have to learn to stop taking this show so seriously.
Yeah, for sure, I agree. Here’s hoping.
On the show, you got to show off your capability as a seamstress. Your approach to fashion, and more importantly style, feels really refreshing for the show — what do you think makes your skills stand out?
Well first, thank you. I guess, what I see as fashion and style is definitely a lot more theatrical than what somebody else would see as fashion and style. It definitely comes from my background in the theater, and so sometimes, I really try to lean into that, and try to make my costumes that much more grand and costume-y. And that’s where a lot of my taste level comes from, I think.
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Did you have a favorite look you wore down the runway this season?
Oh, man. Yeah, I really, really liked my floral runway. I think that was my absolute favorite I did all season.
This was a very different kind of challenge for this season, where you essentially were tasked not only with branding yourself, but with being really open and vulnerable. How challenging did that feel in the moment?
Honestly, it didn’t feel that challenging — I thought I did good until I hit the stage and got my critiques. But, because there were only four of us left, we literally all thought that we did really great this week before heading to the main stage. When you get there, that’s really the first time that you actually get a gauge on how you did when it’s that late in the competition.
You also had already shared a lot with your sisters already up to this point in the season — how did it feel speaking publicly about living with HIV back in episode 11?
Yeah, it felt really good! I did that because, I figured if I could help one person who felt the way that I felt when I was going through my diagnosis, then it would absolutely be worth it. Having people come up to me now, saying that it helped them, really helped me realize that speaking up about that on the show was really worth it.
What did you think of Plane’s now-viral response in the moment?
It really didn’t seem like as big of a thing in the moment as it has since become, to be honest. At that point, we had heard a lot more surprising things come out of Plane Jane’s mouth, so that felt like nothing!
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Before we let you go, I wanted to ask — is there any music you’ve found yourself listening to lately?
I mean, I am always the one with Artpop on replay all day since it came out. I’m big on “Venus,” personally.
Azealia Banks is playing matchmaker, and she wants to see Tyler, the Creator and Lil Nas X become music’s newest power couple.
Banks posted a lengthy message to Instagram on Sunday (April 7) explaining why she hopes the two talented creatives join forces romantically.
“I really think Tyler the creator and lil nas x should get over their obsession with broke white bussy and become a power couple,” she wrote. “I think the sensationalism of successful black gay men toting trailer a– rent man hookers as arm candy is played , predictable and they’re both obviously being objectified and plotted on by these boys for hire.”
“It would be way more monumental to see [two] young black gay men as an item. Even just for aesthetic reasons,” she added.
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The Harlem native continued to harp on why Tyler and Lil Nas “would shift culture so hard”: “Tyler can teach lil nas x how to rap so he can stop doing his Azealia Banks impression and fire all these weird white creative directors who obviously have no point of references or respect for the nuance, sheer musical opulence and political groundwork laid out for him to inherit.”
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Tyler hopped into Banks’ comment section laughing at the whirlwind of emotions from AB. “lmfao what the hell,” he wrote seemingly caught off-guard; the comment has earned more than 6,000 likes as of press time.
The Grammy-winning rapper has long been coy about his love life, but comedian Jerrod Carmichael recently opened up about how Tyler rejected his advances during an episode of his new reality show Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show.
“I fell in love with my best friend. one out of 10, don’t recommend,” Carmichael said on the program. “I knew I had to tell him. Things started getting kind of weird between us. I had these feelings… So I texted him. I remember saying, ‘I know you didn’t ask for this, but somewhere down the line I developed feelings for you and I don’t know what to do with that.’ Then I immediately turned my phone off and went into therapy. [Tyler] sent me a voice note. I was so nervous. It was like six seconds … He said, ‘Hahahaha, you stupid b–h.’ And I don’t really know what that means.”
Carmichael wanted Tyler to be his date to the Emmy Awards, but the California native declined the invitation. However, they hashed things out publicly during an interview together on the show. “It’s because I told you I had feelings for you, and we didn’t talk about it, ever,” Carmichael explained. “I feel like you left me hanging out there a little bit.”
Tyler replied with a laugh. “I did. Yeah, I did. And I think I just, like, brushed it off,” he said. “Getting news like that and then avoiding it is a way to avoid change.”
The IGOR rapper said he looks at Carmichael — who narrated on Tyler’s 2019 album — as “truly family” and a “brother.”
In need of some new jams from your favorite queer artists to freshen up your playlists? We’ve got you covered. 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.
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From Kehlani’s delectable dance anthem to Chappell Roan’s ecstatic synth-pop jam, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:
Kehlani, “After Hours”
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R&B superstar Kehlani is ready to take it to the dancefloor. “After Hours,” the singer’s new single, sees Kehlani embracing a bouncier, dance-inspired sound as she lets her lover know that she’s tired of beating around the bush — it’s time to make something happen. Utilizing an expertly-placed sample of Cordel “Scatta” Burrell’s “Coolie Dance Rhythm,” Kehlani makes a persuasive case for spending some extra time with her “After Hours.”
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Chappell Roan, “Good Luck, Babe!”
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Everyone’s journey to embracing their sexuality is different — and Chappell Roan would just like to wish everyone the best of luck in figuring it out. With “Good Luck, Babe!”, the rapidly-rising pop star pens a heartfelt message to the “babe” in question — a girl who, despite fooling around with Roan, still thinks she might be straight. The effervescent pop track benefits massively from Roan’s operatic vocals on the song’s undeniably catchy chorus, making “Good Luck, Babe!” an instant anthem.
Omar Apollo, “Spite”
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On his new song “Spite,” Omar Apollo is feeling a little petty. With a grooving melody filled to the brim with light guitar licks and pounding rhythms, “Spite” follows Apollo as he navigates through the confusing, often infuriating emotions of being in a long distance relationship. Oscillating effortlessly between desperately missing his partner and wanting to prove that he’s fine without them, the singer lands somewhere in a dangerous middle: “Every time I see you on my phone/ Hate that I still need you in my life,” he croons.
Orville Peck feat. Willie Nelson, “Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other”
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If you’re still looking a little more yee to your haw after spending a week with Beyoncé’s excellent Cowboy Carter, Orville Carter is here to help. Teaming up with country legend Willie Nelson, Peck reimagines Ned Sublette’s quintessentially queer country classic “Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other,” in which the pair detail a saga of gay gauchos on the frontier. With a pair of immediately recognizable voices blending perfectly on this subversive single, Peck and Nelson’s rendition of “Cowboys” is sure to make plenty of waves among country listeners.
Rainbow Kitten Surprise feat. Kacey Musgraves, “Overtime”
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When caught in the nebulous space between “on” and “off” in an on-again, off-again relationship, it can be hard to figure out just how you’re feeling. Yet Rainbow Kitten Surprise teamed up with singer-songwriter extraordinaire Kacey Musgraves to put those feelings into words on “Overtime,” the latest track off the band’s forthcoming new album. Giving a much gentler tone than RKS’ last song “Superstar,” the track sees lead vocalist Ela Melo trying to find her place in the new normal, pleading alongside Musgraves for just a hint of clarity amid a confusing bit emotional drama.
Zolita, “Small Town Scandal”
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“Still looking for more queer country music? Perhaps this country-pop jam from Zolita will help. Throughout the rollicking “Small Town Scandal,”Still looking for more queer country music? Perhaps this country-pop jam from Zolita will help. Throughout the rollicking “Small Town Scandal,” Zolita revels in a queer love affair that causes conservatives to shake in their boots, while riffing blissfully over a country-rock melody. With exquisite lyrics like “she’s a vers in the saddle,” and “save a horse, ride a cowgirl,” the rising pop singer is simply delighted to be creating her own “Small Town Scandal.”
JORDY, “Nice Things”
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With his latest single, pop singer JORDY would like to make it clear to all the dollar-dropping bros out there — money cannot buy class. “Nice Things,” a slick pop track that sees the singer making fun of the men who’ve “got a Benz, got a boat” and a “private jet every other weekend,” but don’t have his interest. Over a relentless beat complete with a ’90s R&B-style guitar lick, Jordy expertly calls out the “nepo baby” with a “mouth always bigger than the wallet” in a set of devastating lyrics: “I wouldn’t want it even if you paid me.”
Check out all of our picks on Billboard’s Queer Jams of the Week playlist below:
Canadian artists are speaking out against anti-trans legislation.
The Tegan and Sara Foundation has published an open letter signed by some of Canada’s best known musicians and entertainers, including Neil Young, Alanis Morissette, Elliot Page, k.d. lang, Sarah McLachlan, Carly Rae Jepsen and many more. The letter, titled Artists Against Anti-Trans Legislation in Canada, has over 400 signatories. Its publication date, Mar. 31, is also Trans Day of Visibility.
Led by indie pop siblings Tegan and Sara, the open letter is an explicit pushback on recent and in-progress legislation that limits trans rights in several Canadian provinces.
“We are trending towards more harmful anti-trans legislation in Canada, and we call on our communities and local and national policymakers to put a stop to this concerning surge in anti-trans policy,” the letter states.
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Saskatchewan and New Brunswick have both implemented policies that require parental consent for educators to use chosen names and preferred pronouns for students under sixteen. In February, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced plans for policy changes to LGBTQ+ health care, education and sports, including banning hormonal treatment and puberty blockers for trans youth. Smith’s policies would also require parental consent for students to participate in educational instruction that addresses sexual orientation and gender identity.
At the national level, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has made recent comments indicating he would support banning trans women from women’s sports and washrooms. With a federal election on the horizon, LGBTQ+ rights could face rollbacks across the country.
“Far right groups are tapping into fear and pitting us against each other so they can create a Canada where we’re afraid of difference,” reads the letter. “The government should never put themselves between parents, their kids, and evidence-based healthcare and supports.”
While the letter is primarily written to affect change within the country, it also combats the perception of Canada as a human rights haven. “The reality is that Canada is not immune to the global attack on the trans community and their access to inclusive spaces, healthcare and freedoms.” – Rosie Long Decter
Industry Remembers Trailblazing Booking Agent and Label Executive Pegi Cecconi
Pegi (Margaret Anne) Cecconi, a trailblazing Canadian booking agent and record label executive, died on March 28, at age 70. She had been battling PSP (Progressive Supranuclear Palsy).
Her immense impact on the Canadian music industry over almost five decades was rightfully recognized in 2020 when she received the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award at the Juno Awards, only the third woman to have received that prestigious honour.
An obituary posted by Cecconi’s family on her Facebook page noted, “As social convenor, Pegi booked bands for school dances, an undertaking that required serious grit when dealing with both performers and patrons. It was a quality that prepared her well for her trailblazing career in the male-dominated entertainment industry where she would thrive for almost 50 years.”
Female booking agents were rare in the 70s when Cecconi started, but she built her name to help establish SRO Management and later the record label Anthem. It started with a small roster spearheaded by Rush and Max Webster, alongside Liverpool and A Foot in Coldwater. Prior to Anthem, Rush was on Moon Records, and the three members, Geddy Lee, Neil Peart and Alex Lifeson, became associate directors of Anthem.
Decades of work with Rush is a clear highlight of Cecconi’s CV. On learning of Cecconi’s death, Rush frontman Geddy Lee posted this salute to Cecconi on Instagram: “Pegi Cecconi – whose laugh could be heard the moment she entered any venue. Thanks Peg, for 50 years of having our backs… wherever you’re headed they ain’t ready for ya!”
Over her long career, Cecconi took prominent roles in some of the Canadian music industry’s major trade organizations. She had long stints on the board of directors of both the Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA) and The Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent On Recordings (FACTOR), also serving as Chair and Treasurer at the latter. She also served on the Board of MMF Canada, receiving its Brian Chater Pioneers Award in 2015, and held positions with the Independent Digital Licensing Agency (IDLA) and the Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency (CMRRA).
Equally important was her invaluable role as a mentor and role model for women wanting to succeed in the male-dominated world of the Canadian music business. Effusive tributes to Cecconi on social media posts in the wake of her passing certainly testify to that.
Read more tributes from all facets of the Canadian industry here. – Kerry Doole
Last Week In Canada: New Funding Is Coming
Dionne Warwick may have once asked of listeners “Don’t Make Me Over,” but the judges on RuPaul’s Drag Race seem to feel differently.
On last week’s episode (aired March 29), the five remaining contestants of RuPaul’s Drag Race were tasked with giving members of the Pit Crew dancers from RuPaul’s Drag Race Live in Las Vegas full drag makeovers. Transforming hunky men into fellow queens — with a strong family resemblance, of course — the girls also had to teach their new drag daughters how to work the runway with a short choreographed number.
Continuing her winning streak, Plane Jane impressed the judges with her drag daughter Lazi Susan, earing her fourth challenge win of the season. Meanwhile, Sapphira Cristál stumbled in presenting her daughter Shakira Cristál, while Morphine Love Dion’s introduction of her protegé La Tina didn’t thrill the panel, putting both queens in the bottom two.
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Lip synching to guest judge Kelsea Ballerini’s “Miss Me More,” Sapphira’s less-is-more approach to the artform paid off in dividends, earning her a spot in the coveted top four queens of the season. Meanwhile, Morphine’s string of lip sync assassinations finally came to end, with the “BBL queen of Miami” finally leaving the competition.
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Below, Morphine chats with Billboard about her time on the show, making it this far in the competition without a challenge win, her viral lip sync against Dawn and her approach to drag makeup that fans have been fawning over since she entered the work room.
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Congrats on making it to top five, Morphine! How does it feel getting to say that all these months later?
You know, while filming I had such a great time — obviously, not winning any challenges or any mini challenges was tough. I was like, “Oh my god, the fans are going to think I flopped.” But, the love I’ve been receiving has been so immense and intense and amazing that, honestly, I don’t think they even care about my track record, I feel like a lot of people just fell in love with my personality. Honestly, my run was perfect — well, obviously I should have made top four, but otherwise I’m very happy with how everything went down.
We gotta talk about your mug. You have clearly perfected the art of drag makeup — what advice would you give to young queens looking to emulate your look?
So, funny enough, I just posted a photo of myself the first time I was in drag, and girl, it was crunchy. That should inspire everyone that it is possible to go from rough mug to really sickening paint — it does, in fact, get better!
But yeah, it was a lot of practice and watching a lot of YouTube videos of now-cancelled influencers online. I also just grabbed a lot of different inspirations. Like, I will always say that Valentina is my No. 1 mug inspiration, her paint is one of my favorites besides Raven. They both are just … they molded me into my mug. It just took me a while to kind of perfect my own face, and the fact that I’m getting so much love for it is amazing.
Your paint is so good that Trixie Mattel adopted you on sight via The Pit Stop.
I know! I want that Trixie Cosmetics sponsorship, honey. But that’s Mother, so whatever she wants to give me, she can put me on her list — she can make me co-signer for Trixie Motel, whatever she wants I will be there for her. Love you, Mom!
But the other you thing you became very quickly known for on this season was your killer lip syncs. Did you have a favorite lip sync you got to do?
Oh, mine is obviously “Body” against Miss Dawn. I literally felt the spirit of Megan Thee Stallion consuming my body; like, she possessed me. I remember Sapphira telling us that she started crying for Dawn before the song even started.
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Oh, Dawn herself told us that the only thing she could think about during the lip sync was which wig she would put in which suitcase once it was over.
You know, the thing was, it would not have mattered who I lip synced against; that song in particular plays in Miami almost as a national anthem. Every morning, I wake up by paying homage to the Hotties by playing that song. It’s literally built into my nervous system at this point. So, when they told us what song was happening that day, I was like, “Oh, okay. I’m safe another week.”
I mean, I started out doing amateur drag contests competing against other girls, and Miami is known for having some of the best lip sync artists ever. So, coming up getting to watch these queens perfectly execute timing, knowing how and when to do a reveal or a split or punch someone in the face, was crucial. I learned from all of them, and then I ended up using those same tricks on them in my competitions, and won almost every battle contest I competed in in Miami.
On this episode, you and the other girls were tasked with a makeover challenge, which very much seemed like your exact vibe. When you’re not under the pressure of a reality television show, are you the kind of queen who enjoys giving makeovers?
It is one of my favorite things to do, absolutely. I do it often, and I don’t want to be dramatic, but I can change people’s lives — at least makeup-wise! I have done my makeup on other queens before, and they’ve changed their entire approach as a result. Almost every person that I’ve done looks exactly like me, so I was excited for this challenge, because I thought I was absolutely winning the makeover challenge right at the end. I’ve done weddings, I’ve done quinceañeras, I’ve done it all.
It’s helpful that your partner Miguel was simply so hot, and you were very aware of that fact.
Girl! Straight up, I think that’s why I lost this challenge, because I was too busy ogling. I was fully ready to leave set and start a new life with him. What’s so funny is he has truly the manliest face. For some, that would have been the hardest challenge, but I was slowly falling in love with him and saying, “I will do whatever it takes to make this man pretty.” And I don’t know, he really just was … I was so lost the whole episode because he was just so fine.
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Before I have to let you go, I’d love to know — what music have you been listening to lately?
Other than “Body” by Megan Thee Stallion, I have been obsessing over the new Kali Uchis album, ORQUÍDEAS, because it is insanely good. And also, Ariana’s “The Boy Is Mine” is supreme. It’s a bop.
Hunter Schafer has confirmed that while she and Rosalía are currently good friends, they were definitely more than that a few years ago.
In a GQ interview published Tuesday (April 2), the Euphoria star revealed that she dated the “Beso” singer for about five months starting in the fall of 2019. According to Schafer, it took her a few hangouts to realize that she and the musician shared more than just platonic feelings for one another; as of now, though, they’re just good friends.
“I have really beautiful friendships with people that I was once romantically involved with,” Schafer told the publication. “She’s family no matter what.”
Schafer also noted the two-time Grammy winner gave her blessing to confirm their history in the new interview. “It’s been so much speculation for so long,” the Hunger Games actress continued. “Part of us just wants to get it over with, and then another part is like, ‘It’s none of anybody’s f–king business!’ … It’s something I’m happy to share. And I think she feels that way too.”
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Billboard has reached out to Rosalía’s rep for comment.
A couple years after dating Schafer, the “Despechá” artist got engaged to fellow Latin music superstar Rauw Alejandro; the pair split in July 2023. Recently, rumors have linked her to The Bear‘s Jeremy Allen White.
Meanwhile, Schafer says she’s still recovering from her breakup with her Euphoria season 2 co-star, singer-songwriter Dominic Fike. “I had a really beautiful relationship with [Fike], and it really opened me up in that way,” she said of the “Babydoll” artist, whom she dated on and off in 2022.
The Cuckoo star also touched on the death of another Euphoria cohort — Angus Cloud, who passed away last year of an accidental overdose. He was 25 years old.
“I’ve never had a friend that I was that close to and that was my age pass before,” Schafer told the publication. “It’s really surreal. It doesn’t make sense. And yeah, it’s new. It’s a new kind of grieving.
“People really fell in love with Angus,” she added. “He was really one of the heartbeats of Euphoria. It’s always the people that are just kind of a little too good for the world and a little too pure. He was a f–king angel. He was sunshine.”
After you’ve sufficiently yee’d your haw with Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, take some time to play a few tracks 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.
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From Doechii’s banging new single to Becky Hill’s infectious new pop track, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:
Doechii ft. JT, “Alter Ego”
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Leave it to hip-hop powerhous Doechii to create her own new genre for a new single. With “Alter Ego,” Doechii ushers in the era of what she calls “editorial rap” — a genre she describes as “if hip-hop and house music had a baby.” The result is an irresistible, Doechii-flavored banger, tinged with Eurodance synths and hard-hitting hip-hop beats, all accompanied by the Florida rapper’s unstoppable flow and in-your-face chorus. Add in City Girls’ JT for a fiery verse of her own, and you’ve got an A+ track on your hands.
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Becky Hill, “Outside of Love”
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It may only be March, but rising British pop star Becky Hill is ready to give you a summer dance anthem early. “Outside of Love,” the BRIT Award winner’s latest dance-pop single, leans all the way into the aesthetics and sounds that fans of Hill have come to love — her singular voice float over a thrumming beat through the song’s building verses, before exploding into a firework of electronic ecstasy on the thrilling chorus. If you’re looking for feel-good club vibes heading into your weekend, look no further.
St. Vincent, “Flea”
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St. Vincent is no stranger to the concept of lust — her seminal 2017 album Masseduction saw the singer-songwriter expounding on the topic ad infinitum. Yet “Flea,” the latest cut off St. Vincent’s forthcoming album All Born Screaming, still delivers something entirely different for Annie Clark. Bathed in blaring guitars and Dave Grohl’s bombastic drums, this “Flea” immediately burrows into you, toying with your pleasure centers as Clark’s writhing voice insists that she’s not letting you go without a fight — and after listening to this track, you won’t want her to let you go, either.
Blondshell feat. Bully, “Docket”
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If you’re ready to keep rocking, Blondshell and Bully have you covered with “Docket,” their infectious new single about the chaos of an imbalanced relationship. At the start, “Docket” presents itself as a hazy, mellowed-out piece of self reflection, where both Blondshell and Bully are looking for some validation about the push and pull of romantic ambivalence. By the time the first chorus hits, though, listeners find themselves in a full-blown rock song, with chunky guitar chords amping up the pair’s call for “a curse” or “a bug” to help their partner find “someone who’s more in love.” As catchy as it is deeply relatable, “Docket” lands as an immediate standout in both artists’ already-stacked catalogues.
Cakes da Killa, Black Sheep
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Much like the titular animal of his latest LP, Cakes da Killa has regularly found himself pushed to the margins of the music industry simply for being himself. So, why not give them a taste of what they’re missing? Black Sheep stands as one of the emcee’s best works to date, continuing his genre-defying style with renewed panache — jazz, house, R&B and rap all meld into one sound throughout the project — while his writing game reaches yet another career-high. Go ahead, keep underestimating Cakes; he’ll just keep showing you how wrong you are.
Stand Atlantic, PVRIS & Bruses, “GIRL$”
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Take a group of queer women and ask them to write a song about women, and magic can happen. Stand Atlantic’s latest alt-pop jam “GIRL$,” featuring fellow alt-rockers PVRIS and Bruses, sees a trio of women delivering a hearty middle-finger to misogyny, unrealistic body standards, femmephobia and plenty more. The song’s hooky verses build up the tension, only to let it release in total catharsis on the amped-up chorus. Need to vent? Just press play.
Check out all of our picks on Billboard’s Queer Jams of the Week playlist below:
