Queer Jams of the Week
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As you prepare to watch Rihanna dominate the Super Bowl halftime show this weekend, why not get up-to-date on some of the latest offerings from your favorite LGBTQ 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 Kelela’s return to the album format to Ashnikko’s biting new single, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:
Kelela, Raven
After five long years away from the mic, Kelela makes her full return today. Raven, the electro-R&B star’s sophomore album, follows Kelela as she asks you to open yourself up to the possibility of love. Equal parts therapy session and night out at a rave, Raven mixes and morphs together sounds from dance (“Missed Call”), jazz (“Let It Go”) and R&B (“Enough for Love”) to craft a testament to the power of vulnerability and emotional availability. Artists looking to make a comeback, take note: Kelela is doing it right.
Ashnikko, “You Make Me Sick!”
You wouldn’t like Ashnikko when she’s angry — you’ll love her. While past tracks from the rising alternative star have seen Ashnikko gleefully shredding her foes to pieces, few have gone quite as far as “You Make Me Sick,” her frenzied new single. Throughout the apoplectic new song, Ashnikko rages against a former lover, scream-rapping about their manipulative behavior and dissecting them piece by piece. If you’re feeling even the slightest bit upset today, allow Ashnikko to help you channel that.
Dove Cameron feat. Khalid, “We Go Down Together”
Peanut butter and jelly, macaroni and cheese, Batman and Robin and now, Dove Cameron and Khalid — some things just go great together. On “We Go Down Together,” Cameron and Khalid sound like a match made in heaven as they sing to one another about unwavering commitment. Cameron’s soft, smooth falsetto blends perfectly in with Khalid’s sonorous baritone, making “We Go Down Together” a must-listen musical experience.
Tove Lo, “Borderline”
Valentine’s Day often comes as a mixed bag — for some, it’s a wonderful day to celebrate your love for your partner; for others, it’s a bit much. Luckily, Tove Lo crafter a song for both those camps; “Borderline” sees Lo accessing the darker parts of love on this pulsating dance-pop bop. Pair that with the robot-revenge-fantasy sequel video to her 2022 video “No One Dies From Love,” and you’ve got another winner on your hands.
Pabllo Vittar feat. Anitta, “Balinha De Coração”
Don’t threaten Pabllo Vittar and Anitta with a good time, because they will take you up on it. “Balinha De Coração” (which translates to “Heart Candy”) sees these two Brazilian superstars going full chaos mode, embracing a hyperpop aesthetic to deliver you the pop treats you’ve been craving. The glitching beats and pitch-shifting vocals keep you on your toes throughout this wild track, as Pabllo and Anitta ask if you’d like a taste.
Rebecca Black, Let Her Burn
For the last few years, pop singer-songwriter Rebecca Black has been exploring as many new avenues as possible when it comes to new music, finding sounds that worked or didn’t. Let Her Burn, the singer’s long-awaited debut album, feels like the answer she’s been looking for. Infused with an electro-pop sensibility throughout and informed by Black’s own queer awakening, Let Her Burn takes the star to new sonic highs — and it is well worth your time.
VINCINT, “Romance”
Pop singer-songwriter VINCINT has made it a habit to write about love — the tender highs, the bitter lows and all the drama in between. But something about his latest single, “Romance,” feels different. Singing to a prospective, recently single partner, VINCINT confidently asserts that “I can give you romance.” But the music — a banging house beat with some of the singer’s sharpest vocals to date — gives the track a feeling of sexual urgency. There’s a confidence and swagger to this new VINCINT sound, and we can’t help but dig it.
Zolita, Falling Out / Falling In
Like it’s title might suggest, Falling Out / Falling In is an EP about duality. Rising pop singer Zolita splits her time evenly on the new project between pop-punk “f–k you” anthems (especially with the raucous single “Crazy Ex”) and tender sweet love songs (“Ashley,” in particular will pull at your heart strings). In this dichotomy, Zolita finds a clear narrative, telling her own story of moving through, out of and in between relationships; a pretty stellar feat to accomplish in six songs.
Moore Kismet feat. Anna Dellaria, “Three Little Words”
At a time of year where we often find ourselves talking about love, Moore Kismet wants to remind you that sometimes, love is toxic. “Three Little Words,” the rising dance phenom’s newest single, is filled to the brim the the bright, crisp sounds that the star has become so associated with. But listen to the words being sung by guest Anna Dellaria, and you’ll hear the story of a relationship you should not be in, yet just can’t help it. It’s fitting, then, that the song itself quickly becomes irresistibly catchy — no matter how hard you try to pry yourself away, you’re just going to want more from Kismet.
Chrissy Chlapecka, “I’m So Hot”
It’s time for an anthem for the bimbos of the world! Chrissy Chlapecka, the proud leader of Bimbo TikTok, wants you to wake up every day and declare “I’m So Hot,” as she does on this delicious new pop track. A campy, dance-fueled ode to the self, “I’m So Hot” oozes with the confidence and hilarious comedic energy that Chlapecka has perfected in her online videos, while also flexing a technical and creative prowess that proves she’s here for the long haul.
Check out all of our picks on Billboard’s Queer Jams of the Week playlist below:
Has the weather got you feeling a little chilly? Let us help you warm up with some new tunes 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 Boygenius’s surprise return to Arlo Parks’ stunning new single, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:
Boygenius, “$20,” “Emily I’m Sorry” & “True Blue”
When fans saw that Boygenius — a queer indie supergroup made up by Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker — would be a featured act at this year’s Coachella, whispers of a new album began materializing on social media. But nothing could have prepared fans for the release of three new singles, alongside an album announcement from the trio. Ahead of the long-awaited new set The Record, Boygenius returned with a Baker-led soft-punk anthem of resilience (“$20”), a Bridgers-led lovelorn apology to an ex (“Emily, I’m Sorry”), and a Dacus-led coming of age ballad (“True Blue”). Providing something for everyone with the promise of more to come, Boygenius made sure that their comeback was as triumphant as fans could’ve hoped.
Arlo Parks, “Weightless”
Ever since the release of Arlo Parks’ critically-lauded debut album Collapsed in Sunbeams, fans of the U.K. indie singer-songwriter have been waiting with bated breath for what comes next. This week, the singer delivered — alongside the announcement of the sophomore album My Soft Machine, Parks unveiled “Weightless,” a hypnotic, instantly thrilling new single off the project. Fans of Parks’ top-tier songwriting will be delighted to find it has only sharpened in the two years since Sunbeams; anyone eager to hear her sonic evolution will find themselves delightfully surprised by this chillwave, synth-pop dreamscape the singer has crafted around her. Put those together, and you have a song that magnificently reintroduces a must-listen artist to the world.
Kim Petras, “Brrr”
Time to dance, queers. Kim Petras is back at it again with “Brrr,” a hyperpop-infused pop track that sees Kim hopping back into the driver’s seat and begging her lover to prove why he thinks he’s “so cold.” With clattering production work from rising superstar ILYA, Petras sounds as good as fans would have hoped as she sings “You should pull me up closer/ Turn the heat up in your Rover/ Why don’t you take it out on me?”
Sam Smith, “Gloria”
With every new release off of their forthcoming album, Sam Smith has been giving fans a little taste of something new. With the album’s title song “Gloria,” Smith ditches the sweaty, club-ready jams that have come out of their last two singles, instead going for something soft and sweet. Joined by a full choir, this chorale of self-confidence sounds less like a pop song and more like a religious hymn to yourself, as Smith and their fellow voices resolve to “be yourself so loud tonight, they’ll hear you from the stars.” Glory to “Gloria.”
Kelela, “Contact”
With Kelela’s long-awaited new album Raven due out in a few short weeks, she wants to make sure that you’re ready for what’s coming. “Contact,” the latest single off the new project, simultaneously manages to hypnotize and fire up the listener all at once, as the pounding club beat plays perfectly off of Kelela’s sultry vocals. Things heat up quickly, as the songstress makes her intentions perfectly clear: “I’m floatin’ away, far and away/ You tryna stall and delay, but I wanna play.”
Mazie, “It’s Not Me (It’s U)”
There’s nothing worse than hearing your partner reach for the cop out when they try and end things, saying, “honestly, it’s not you! It’s me!” Turns out indie pop singer Mazie is sick of hearing it, too — on “It’s Not Me (It’s U),” the psychedelic singer dips even further into her hazy bedroom pop sound to tell her lover exactly where they can shove their fake humility. If you’re feeling a little bitter and need a song that’ll validate your anger, look no further.
Cub Sport, “Keep Me Safe”
Cub Sport has always thrived when it comes to front-facing, emotionally resonant indie pop songs. So it’s no surprise that their latest single, “Keep Me Safe,” is exactly what you want to hear from them and more. This tender, gorgeous love song immediately takes hold of your feelings with the opening chords, as a distorted voice sings about driving forever. By the time lead vocalist Tim Nelson comes in with a stirring story of forbidden romance, you’re already caught up in the song’s sonic web — and by the time it’s over, you’ll be reaching for the replay button.
Khai Dreams, “Panic Attack”
There’s something idiosyncratic about writing a song called “Panic Attack” and making it sound as calm and collected as Khai Dreams’ new single does — or at least that’s what you might think for the first few moments of the track. But as this delectable new single keeps chugging along, the production and the lyrics slowly pick up the pace, before eventually you find yourself in a chaotic chorus about bad dreams, irrational fears and intrusive thoughts — and you’re feeling exactly what Khai is talking about. “Panic Attack” won’t simulate the experience of a real-life bout with anxiety, but it will give you a fun and catchy insight into what’s flooding someone’s mind while it’s happening.
Check out all of our picks on Billboard’s Queer Jams of the Week playlist below: