Welcome to the July edition of Monthly Tune-Up! I hope you’re having a splendidly queer summer full of music. But in case you’re lacking in that department, I’m here to help you out with my recommendations of six new songs released by LGBTQ2S+ artists this month. From indie rockers beadbadoobee and Julien Baker to the mind-blowing hyperpop of That Kid to much more, please enjoy this month’s selection of queer tunes.
“Pictures of Us”—beabadoobee
British bisexual artist Beatrice Laus, better known as beabadoobee, dropped her sophomore album, Beatopia, and the song “Pictures of Us” is an emotional and nostalgic ode to a childhood friend. Co-written by Matty Healy of The 1975, the track has a Midwest emo flair with its combination of plucking electric guitars and soft, strumming acoustic tones—a ’90s/early 2000s sound that’s sweet on the ears. The lyrics are interpretive and minimalistic, alternating back and forth between the same two sentences in the pre-chorus and chorus, but they manage to paint a vivid picture of a girl who was once important in Laus’s life. “Pictures of Us” will take you right back to your own childhood and have you reflecting on it deeply.
“Buttons”—Steve Lacy
With funk, R&B and a splash of psychedelic rock, Steve Lacy’s “Buttons” takes listeners on a slow-grooving journey. On this sensual track, coming off of Lacy’s new solo album Gemini Rights, the bisexual musician and lead guitarist of the band The Internet sings of a tumultuous relationship. It’s impossible not to get lost in the trippy, glimmering guitar and synth licks that sound straight out of the 1970s. Lacy’s vocal performance starts off delicate and lovestruck, but he grows progressively angrier and more bitter as he recounts letting his guard down in front of a lover, only for them to treat him poorly in the end. “Buttons” keeps its mellow atmosphere, but bubbles with resentment underneath the surface before building into a zesty finale.
“French Lessons”—Mykki Blanco featuring Kelsey Lu
Trans rapper and singer Mykki Blanco’s new single, “French Lessons,” featuring Kelsey Lu, is a dreamy proclamation of queer romance and the intoxicating feeling of a new relationship. Laid-back and atmospheric, reverberating synths and soft drums give “French Lessons” a loungey vibe, a sonic representation of the kind of gentle high one feels when they’re in the throes of a euphoric new love. Blanco is a self-proclaimed “talk singer” in the same vein as Tom Petty or Lou Reed. Their smoky narration is alluring and serves as a nice contrast to Kelsey Lu’s sweet singing in the choruses. If you need a song to fall in love to this summer, look no further.
“Full Throttle”—That Kid
Listening to That Kid’s “Full Throttle” actually feels like being throttled—in the best way possible, of course. Rapidly paced, glitzy and abrasive, this hyperpop track from queer singer-songwriter and producer That Kid sounds as though he gathered up all of the best parts of bubblegum pop and dance music and put them under a steamroller, compressing and contorting them into something entirely new, but equally exciting. Partying hard, fast and glamorous with all of the perks and downsides that come with it is what this one’s all about. Flashy, rave-like beats and blown-out production will get your heart pounding, even if you’re listening to it at home and not in the middle of a dancefloor.
“Vanishing Point”—Julien Baker
Lesbian indie rocker Julien Baker is a master balladeer with the ability to tear you to pieces with her music. “Vanishing Point” from her new B-Sides EP, which contains three songs from the recording sessions of her 2021 album, Little Oblivions, is no exception. It’s heartbreaking and confessional, as Baker conjures up an image of her sitting alone in her car with the headlights turned off and feeling “too far down to reach.” The track is lyrically sombre, but still sounds somewhat uplifting with its bright instruments that exude an exhilarating energy, much like the sensation of taking a late-night drive. Baker will break your heart and put it back together again on “Vanishing Point.”
“Maya, Please”—Macie Stewart
Queer singer/multi-instrumentalist and OHMME band member Macie Stewart released her debut solo album, Mouth Full of Glass, last year, and a new bonus track called “Maya, Please” is a beautifully eerie plea for forgiveness. The song is brief at only two minutes, but a haunting and enchanting string arrangement will have listeners getting lost in a whimsical universe. Stewart has described the song as asking for forgiveness from someone you’ve hurt, but also feeling angry “when you haven’t yet forgiven yourself.” This juxtaposition is illustrated in the soft and airy composition of the song, but also in the ghostly, almost uncanny undercurrent that creeps in the background. “Maya, Please” is mesmerizing and will captivate you, no matter what emotions it causes you to feel.
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