New year: new music. To celebrate the first week of 2018, we’re proud to present the sixth edition of Queer Necessities, our monthly LGBTQ-driven playlist from Billboard Pride where we catch you up on the latest and greatest bops by queer musicians and fierce allies.
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Each month’s selections will be curated by NYC-based DJ and tastemaker Jon ALi, who is the founder of pop music entertainment destination Jon ALi’s Blog. Don’t forget to follow Queer Necessities on Spotify to keep up-to-date on the best musical offerings from the LGBTQ community.
Greyson Chance, “Low”
Greyson Chance‘s first release since coming out as gay over the summer is truly his most impressive and personal outing yet, depicting the very relatable tendency we all have to continuously run away from real relationships.
Kim Petras, “Faded” (feat. Lil Aaron)
Transgender newcomer Kim Petras continues her rising pop princess dominance with this irresistibly breezy feel-good anthem that’ll have you wishing it was spring break all year long.
Charli XCX, “Out of My Head” (feat. Tove Lo & ALMA)
Charli XCX‘s latest mixtape Pop 2 features an abundance of praise-worthy moments, but airy romp “Out of My Head” with Tove Lo and ALMA is without a doubt another big, left-center pop moment from the genre-blurring songstress. The song shimmers with a classic kind of dance-pop sheen but manages to infuse some modern flare as well, making this collaboration, quite simply, a no-brainer.
Jax Jones, “Breathe” (feat. Ina Wroldsen)
Jones’ “Breathe” featuring the uncredited Norwegian vocalist behind Calvin Harris’ “How Deep Is Your Love,” Ina Wroldsen, hits a fine middle ground between the talented U.K. producer’s universally cleansed dance etiquette and his very own uplifting blend of melodic house music. Those irresistible chants throughout (“Dum-dum-da-da-da-da“) and that hazy trip of a chorus with its seductive, late night pulses — yeah, it’s a winner from the very first play.
One Bit and Noah Cyrus, “My Way”
Miley’s kid sister Noah fiercely channels her inner dance diva on yet another fire DJ collaboration, this time with U.K. producers One Bit.
Rae Morris, “Atletico”
Rae Morris‘ latest offering from her second studio album, Someone Out There, urges you to dance like no one’s watching. Sad disco at its finest.
Le Youth, “I Could Always” (feat. MNDR)
Talented producer Le Youth’s team-up with MNDR, “I Could Always,” is a warm, groove-heavy, roll-off-the-tongue dance throb that effortlessly marries MNDR’s captivating vocals with lush synths that wash over you like waves at the beach. Summer is calling!
Cardi B, “Bartier Cardi” (feat. 21 Savage)
Cardi B continues to to prove that she is certainly no one-hit wonder with this monster of a follow-up that debuted at No. 14 on the Hot 100. It follows a similar flow to “Bodak Yellow” with its street appeal, insanely catchy chorus and bar after blazing bar.
SOPHIE, “Ponyboy”
Following last year’s “It’s Okay To Cry,” PC Music’s rising star SOPHIE returns with her most hard-hitting and off-the-wall offering yet.
BØRNS & Lana Del Rey, “God Save Our Young Blood”
Miss Lana Del Rey provides her signature breathy magic throughout BØRNS’ song “God Save Our Young Blood,” the opening track off of his anticipated sophomore record, Blue Madonna, due this month.
Transviolet, “Pretty Head”
Rising band Transviolet have already attracted praise from a list of pop heavyweights including Katy Perry, Harry Styles and Lorde. Their mission is to transcend pop norms without the constraint of labels. Their latest single from their 2017 EP Kaleidoscopes, “Pretty Head,” reinforces that sentiment; it’s about the oppression of women in our society and their pressure to be pretty.
Rayvon, “Volume”
Following the release of “Can’t Fight It,” which saw this American Idol season 14 finalist publicly come out as gay, Rayvon Owen gets back into it with yet another soulful anthem encouraging self-love and uninhibited expression.
Chlöe Howl, “Do It Alone”
“Do It Alone” finds British alto Chlöe Howl working her way through a sticky situation that she wants no part in over an array of thrilling synths and garage house nods.
Cassie, “Don’t Play It Safe”
Cassie returns with a little help from out and proud alt-R&B producer Kaytranada on “Don’t Play It Safe.” Far from being trend-hop radio bait, the slow-burning seduction the kind of sensual magic you’d expect to hear on a Kaytranada project.
Pia Mia, “Off My Feet”
Pia is back an all on her own again with “Off My Feet,” an infectious electro-pop stomper that sees her laying down her sultry vocals over liquid synths, hi-hats and a bouncy dance groove that’ll indeed knock you off your feet and straight to the dance-floor.