5 Pride Picks: Reigen, Lauren Sanderson, Kim Petras & More

8/28/2018 by Patrick Crowley

Pride Picks is a new weekly column where we choose five songs, events, shows and other items of interest that showcase the talent from the LGBTQ community. Check out our five picks for this week (Aug. 20), and stay up to date by following Billboard Pride on Instagram and Twitter.

Track: Lydia Ford, “Bittersweet”

Irish-born singer Lydia Ford was inspired to pick up the guitar at the age of nine by pop-rock goddess Avril Lavigne, but you don’t hear that influence in her latest track, “Bittersweet.” Instead, the track is a breezy, electro-pop confection perfect for a chill vibes playlist.

Music video: Reigen, “Ride”

Brooklyn-based indie singer/songwriter Reigen has dropped the video for his latest track, “Ride.” The clip follows a super-cute couple as they meet for a romantic late-night bicycle rendezvous."This track is about crushing hard on a friend, wondering if they know or feel the same, asking them silently, ‘do you know that I’m ride or die?’," Reigen explains to Billboard.

Track: Kim Petras, “All the Time”

Since last year’s debut “I Don’t Want It All,” Kim Petras has consistently delivered perfect bubblegum bop after bop. Her latest is no different, and it channels the carefree joy of The Fame-era Gaga.

EP: Lauren Sanderson, Dont Panic!

Self-made inspirational speaker-turned musician Lauren Sanderson has dropped her sophomore EP Dont Panic!, her first with Epic Records. Through the six-song collection, Sanderson blends rap, reggae and R&B to create a sound that’s uniquely hers.

Track: Venus and the Moon, “Beautiful World”

L.A.-based duo Venus and the Moon -- comprised of actress Rain Phoenix and Frally Hynes (the ex-wife of Ben Folds) -- have unleashed a synth-pop re-imagination of Devo’s 1981 hit, “Beautiful World.” Produced by Justin Raisen (Charli XCX, Kim Gordon), the track has the seal of approval from Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh, who says it’s “better than the original.”