Pride month is right around the corner, and several artists are gearing up for June with recent releases of peppy, celebratory queer anthems. I’m certain I’ll have a plethora of those to recommend next month, but if that’s not what you’re in the mood for at the moment, I’ve also got a handful of slow, introspective pickings for you below. I hope you enjoy this May roundup, and may your Pride season be a safe, fun and loving one!
“This Hell”—Rina Sawayama
Have you gotten your invitation to eternal damnation yet? If not, Rina Sawayama’s got you covered. The pansexual pop goddess’s new single, “This Hell,” from her upcoming album, Hold the Girl, is the fiery queer self-love anthem we all need, just in time for Pride festivities. Sawayama is masterful when it comes to combining kitschy early-2000s pop sounds with heavy rock and metal, and this time she’s added a splash of country to the mix. It’s a celebration in hell for everyone condemned for committing the sin of being themselves—and with this track as its theme song, it sounds like a pretty irresistible party. You’ll find yourself having the sudden urge to ride a mechanical bull surrounded by flames in the middle of a Pride parade after hearing “This Hell.”
“Look in Your Eyes”—Emeli Sandé
Is anyone immune to ’80s dance pop? Are there individuals on this planet who are completely unaffected by a mean synth riff? If those people are out there, they’re certainly stronger than me, because Emeli Sandé’s “Look in Your Eyes” had my heart bursting at the seams with joy. Featured on the queer Scottish artist’s new album Let’s Say for Instance, Sandé is channelling some serious Janet Jackson energy on “Look in Your Eyes,” while bringing her own unique charm to this throwback of a tune. She details the exciting spark of infatuation that comes from meeting someone new, accentuated by the glamorous, shiny production and soulful vocals. The track will make you want to go out and fall in love with a stranger, even if just for one night.
“Jackie in the Kitchen”—Sister Ray
Edmonton-born queer musician Ella Coyes, better known as Sister Ray, explores the complicated emotions of guilt and blame that stem from breakups, and the honesty of looking at these emotions with full force on their debut album, Communion. This is especially prominent on the song “Jackie in the Kitchen,” a slow-burning acoustic guitar ballad where Coyes sings about both parties of a relationship being pulled in different directions—toward different people. They admit to almost having kissed someone else when their partner was in a different room, a type of confession you don’t get to hear in breakup songs every day, and Coyes doesn’t sugarcoat the narrative. “Jackie in the Kitchen” is raw and honest, even if the truth is hard to confront.
“dance (end of the world)”—mxmtoon
mxmtoon wants you to dance! And with the bisexual singer-songwriter’s tune “dance (end of the world),” she doesn’t make it difficult to want to. Coming off of her new sophomore album, titled rising, California-born musician mxmtoon, whose real name is Maia, sings a short and sweet celebratory pop track about dancing the night away with people you love as though it’s humanity’s last night on earth. It’s a bubbly, bite-size track riddled with modern disco influences and a cute, endearing atmosphere. If you’re in need of some springtime optimism and positive vibes, this is for you.
“Michael”—Remi Wolf
Known for her explosive, quirky pop and expressive vocals, Remi Wolf switches it up on her new single, “Michael,” with a stripped-back indie rock sound. Included on the upcoming deluxe version of her 2021 debut album, Juno, the bisexual singer-songwriter ruminates over a tumultuous love on “Michael.” It’s a delightfully bittersweet plea for attention from the object of Wolf’s desire, and she pulls off the intimate bedroom rock sound with ease and personality, complete with heavy, crashing symbols, an understated, smooth guitar line and possibly one of the softest vocal performances from Wolf yet. “Michael” showcases Wolf’s musical chameleon abilities, and that she’s able to shift from genres and blend them together with versatility.
“Sun Bleached Flies”—Ethel Cain
There’s a lot you can express in a seven-minute-and-36-second song, and on “Sun Bleached Flies,” Ethel Cain doesn’t waste any of it. A good majority of the songs featured on the trans singer-songwriter’s album Preacher’s Daughter are lengthy and portray intricate snapshots of her life in the U.S. South. The track “Sun Bleached Flies” moves slow like honey, but puts listeners directly into Cain’s point of view as she reflects on growing up in the church, her relationship with God and remembering a lover from the past. Cain’s rich alto vocals and the droning of an organ in the background provide a melancholic warmth to the song, and if sunlight streaming through stained glass windows in a cathedral could sound like anything, it would certainly sound like this.
“NAKED” —Michael Medrano
Self-proclaimed “disco dad” Michael Medrano’s latest single, “NAKED,” has arrived just in time for raunchy summer nights ahead. The gay L.A.-based singer knows how to craft an infectious electro-pop jam that will have anyone listening to it wishing they were in a brightly lit gay club. On “NAKED,” Medrano indulges in some unabashed, horny, no-strings-attached fun. A meaty bassline and staccato flashes of synths reflect the flirtiness in Medrano’s lyrics and vocals as he beckons you to join him on the dance floor. “NAKED” is fun, glittery and a proclamation of sexual freedom—what more could you want from a good pop song? It’s a gay one-night-stand anthem for the ages!
Why you can trust Xtra
