As Pride Month continues, take some time to refresh your playlists with the latest tunes from your favorite LGBTQ artists. Billboard Pride is here to help with First Out, our weekly roundup of some of the best new music releases from LGBTQ artists.
From Clairo’s contemplative new single to Vincint’s long-awaited debut album, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:
Clairo, “Blouse”
Since bursting onto the scene back in 2017, Claire Cottrill, better known onstage as Clairo, has proven herself to be particularly good at taking complex, hard-to-describe emotions and translating them into gorgeously penned musical numbers. Her latest single “Blouse” — the lead single from her upcoming sophomore album, Sling, produced by Jack Antonoff and featuring backing vocals by Lorde — continues that trend, as Cottrill contends with a former love and her ability to move on from it. “Why do I tell you how I feel?/ When you’re just looking down my blouse,” she croons over a lightly strummed acoustic guitar. “It’s something I wouldn’t say out loud/ If touch could make them hear, then touch me now.”
Fletcher, “She Said”
In her contribution for the soundtrack to season 2 of Love, Victor, pop singer Fletcher decided to offer some PG-13 content for her fans. On “She Said,” Fletcher details a flirtation-turned-seduction on the dance floor between her and another woman. The grimy synth chords add to the song’s sense of inner-grit, as Fletcher’s voice turns devilish, singing, “She said, ‘Here’s what you’ve been missin”/ Oh, she opened my eyes/ Ooh, shе hit it different.”
Vincint, There Will Be Tears
Make no mistake: The title There Will Be Tears is not a prediction; it’s a guarantee. On pop singer Vincint’s debut album, he weaves a stunning, dance-pop portrait of life for a queer man in the modern age. Some tracks on the album will produce the titular crying through sadness over what could have been (“What If”), frustration over being placed in the friend zone (“The Friend”), pure love in a whirlwind romance (“Getaway”), or the ecstatic euphoria of reuniting with your chosen family on the dance floor (“Kill My Heart”). You can try and fight it all you want, but Vincint’s debut album is worthy of your tears — and your undivided attention.
Pronoun, OMG I Made It
With her latest EP, Alyse Vellturo, known to her fans as Pronoun, finally answers the question that’s been asked to everyone during the pandemic: “How’ve you been holding up?” OMG I Made It, a rollicking pop-rock journey through the recesses of Vellturo’s time in isolation, seeks to be as honest as possible in answering that singular question, from displaying the panic of being stuck inside (“Sound the Alarms!!!1!”) to the sheer boredom of having nowhere to go (“Wasting Time”). Add to that Pronoun’s continued penchant for writing deliciously catchy melodies, and you’ve got an EP worth listening to ASAP.
K.Flay, Inside Voices
Try telling K.Flay to keep it down and see what happens. In all likelihood, she’ll spit out some of the lyrics to her delightfully irreverent new EP Inside Voices, a collection of angsty, rocked out pop-punk anthems that will have you banging your head and throwing up a middle finger in no time. Whether she’s railing against a lover who’s constantly disappointing her (“Dating My Dad”) or the patriarchy (“Good Girl”), K.Flay channels her rage into some truly inspired songs that will implant into your head for days to come.
Kidd Kenn, Problem Child
It’s surprising, to say the least, to see a 19-year-old rapper display the kind of skill and style that Kidd Kenn effortlessly offers on his latest EP. Problem Child, the rising star’s new project, is a thundering tour de force of Kenn’s rap prowess, showing a rising LGBTQ rapper taking up space and proving why he deserves to be there. One minute, he’s flexing on all his haters (“Problem”), and the next, he’s getting down and dirty (“B4”), before ultimately arriving at a feel-good anthem of positivity (“Good Day”). From beginning to end, Problem Child serves as a checklist of reasons why Kidd Kenn ought to be on your radar.
Source
