Queer Jams of the Week: New Music From Troye Sivan, Boygenius, Brittany Howard & More
Plus new tracks from Jozzy, Chelsea Cutler & Billy Porter
Troye Sivan
With fall fully in effect, there’s no better time to cozy up with a new playlist of 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.
From Troye Sivan’s long-awaited new album to Boygenius’ second act of 2023, check out just a few of our favorite new releases from this week below:
Troye Sivan, Something to Give Each Other
Troye Sivan is arguably best known for his ability to convey love and heartbreak into soft, intricate indie-pop track. That is, until now — on Something to Give Each Other, the Australian star’s latest LP, Sivan proves that he can bring the party just as well as any pop star currently working. Diving headfirst into dance-focused songs, Sivan tries out long distance love (“What’s The Time Where You Are?”), late night hookups (“Honey”), and experimentation with straight guys (on the fabulous album standout “One of Your Girls”). Once you make it through Something to Give Each Other, you’ll find that “something” is nothing short of unbridled queer euphoria wrapped in delectable dance-pop.
Boygenius, The Rest
After watching their debut album The Record received cultural and critical acclaim in early 2023, Boygenius — the trio comprised of Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus — figured they might as well thank their fans with a little more. The Rest, a 4-track EP of brand new songs, sees the trio embracing the complex themes they’ve been grappling with since their self-titled 2018 EP, be it untapped potential (“Black Hole”) or reevaluating your own worth (“Voyager”). Each of the three stars gets their own chance to show how much they’ve grown together in the last few months, and to reclaim their image in the way they see fit; if The Rest is a victory lap for one of the year’s most exciting groups, then it’s a well-deserved one that we’re more than happy to watch.
Brittany Howard, “What Now”
Simply put, Brittany Howard is done f–king around. On “What Now,” the lead single off her upcoming solo album of the same name, the former Alabama Shakes frontperson scorches the earth and gives her former flame a stinging kiss-off through blistering lyrics and a relentless melody. A syncopated groove beat and fuzzed-out guitar line perfectly compliment Howard’s raw voice as she bluntly lets her ex know that she’s “f–king up my energy,” and that she’s had enough. “If you want someone to hate then blame it on me,” she sneers on the scathing chorus.
Fred Again.. & Jozzy, “Ten”
What happens when you take one of the most in-demand Dj-producers on the scene and partner him with a criminally underrated songwriting superstar? You get “Ten,” the excellent new track from Fred Again.. and Jozzy. Throughout this laid-back, instantly catchy banger, both Fred and Jozzy flex their respective skills, with lyrics hitting at the feeling of out of place and a meandering beat and production that facilitate the journey back home.
Chelsea Cutler, Stellaria
Chelsea Cutler may have made a name for herself as a confessional singer-songwriter — but she’s never gone quite as far inward as she does on Stellaria. Throughout this contemplative new album, Cutler wrestles with her demons in full view of the world, whether she’s struggling with self-worth (“Loved by You”), her own communication skills (“Men on the Moon”), or the weight of the modern world’s constant disappointments (“Hunting Season”). Stellaria opens up a new world of inner reckoning for Cutler, making it one of her best works yet.
Billy Porter feat. Lady Blackbird, “Children (What Time It Is)”
If you’re in need of a pick me up heading into the weekend, allow Billy Porter to give you the boost you’re looking for. With a reimagined version of his song “Children (What Time It Is),” Porter effortlessly blends his worlds of entertainment and activism into a disco-pop banger meant to activate the fire inside you. With a new feature from Lady Blackbird punctuating Porter’s incredible voice, “Children” resonates with a renewed fervor, ready to get you running to the nearest dance floor in no time.
Check out all of our picks on Billboard’s Queer Jams of the Week playlist below:
