Queers in the Club: Recent Episodes
George Baxter
A new music podcast with an LGBTQ+ focus. Host George showcases new drops from queer artists, producers, DJs and songwriters, spanning a variety of pop, hip-hop, indie and alternative genres.
Released on 9th September, Hideous Bastard is the debut solo album from Oliver Sim, who makes up one third of The xx. Coming in at just 34 minutes, the album is quiet yet deeply confessional, as Sim explores his own anxieties and shame - Hideous Bastard opens with the line: ‘I’m ugly’. Mapping elements of the queer experience, Sim discusses his HIV status, body image, performative masculinity and draws a lot of inspiration from queer horror films.
In all, Hideous Bastard, is a simple yet effective and elegant debut project that highlight’s Oliver Sim’s beautiful voice and fluid writing style. Production from Jamie xx proves to be pared back, building out dreamy synth soundscapes with moody piano lines and vocal harmonies in a stylish mix. For a project that deals with some interesting ideas around shame and horror, the album does lack in sonically providing some of the substance to go with all the style, but Oliver Sim’s debut shows tons of potential for the future.
Hold On Baby is the second album from up-and-coming artist, King Princess, aka Mikaela Strauss. Strauss said that her previous work has focused more on the heartbreak done to her, however, she expressed that this record marked how she ‘finally reached a point where I had to turn the barrel on myself’. What that means then for Hold On Baby, is a turning inwards, a move towards self-reflection and occasionally self-critical. Incorporating, aspects of indie pop, indie rock and electropop, Strauss is at her best when she makes songs full of tension and release (like Change The Locks or Dotted Lines).
I actually wrote my dissertation on Mike Hadreas’ (aka Perfume Genius’) last two records, and it’s a shame that Ugly Season hadn’t been released, because it’s so rich and dense that I could pick it apart for days. On the album, Hadreas begins to expand into new, more abstract territory, navigating the pleasure of dark and light spaces. Ugly Season is highly textural, as Hadreas deploys his stunning falsetto over tracks composed of celeste, chimes and clarinet, of saxophone, strings and synths.
Check out my dissertation! https://georgebaxterwrites.blogspot.com/2022/06/bodies-in-flux-dissertation.html
Since the release of her last record, 2020’s Whole New Mess, Angel Olsen has undergone several journeys. Mid-pandemic, she came out as queer and just three days later, her father died; soon after, she lost her mother too. Having found love and lost it so drastically, her latest project ‘Big Time’ serves to contemplate feelings that would be indescribable to most. Hurt and healing intertwine on this country-tinged project, highlighting Angel’s talent as a songwriter and co-producer.
Released back in April, I’ve been returning to the latest studio album by Kae Tempest (they/them). The Line Is A Curve is a highly meditative album experience, totalling 40 minutes of lyrical flows, set to moody electronica and hip-hop inspired beats. Kae tackles various issues within contemporary British society, and documents their own personal struggles. I found the record even more intriguing after reading Kae’s first non-fiction book ‘On Connection’, the perfect companion piece to reflect their talent as a poet and spoken word artist.
Last week’s episode was called Six Songs for Summer but with this album, I think I should replace it with these Sixteen Songs for Summer. On her latest seventh studio album ‘RENAISSANCE’, Beyoncé weaves a rich tapestry that celebrates queerness and blackness, collaborating and sampling from some of the most exciting underground artists of colour, including trans icons Honey Dijon, T.S. Madison and Big Freedia. The album is an ode to disco, dance and to the ballroom scene, with Beyoncé playing the role of emcee. Category: Queers in the Club.
I'm back! Just in time for the British heatwave, Queers in the Club is back as I run through what I've had on repeat during these hot days. Spanning different genres but all featuring a queer presence in some form, these songs are perfect playlist material.
Songs Played:
Big (feat. Big Freedia) by Tank and the Bangas
Spitting Off the Edge of the World (feat. Perfume Genius) by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Couldn't Help Myself by ARXX
El Alma Que Te Trajo by Safety Trance & Arca
Idkwntht by Tomberlin
Cardboard Box by FLO
For this April Pt.1 episode, I'm looking exclusively at the newest singles by queer artists, like Angel Olsen and ANOHNI amongst others. I’ll be saving my album reviews for separate uploads so subscribe for those (I’m very excited for the Kae Tempest one!). Meanwhile I talk about a track by Sufjan Stevens from 2017, and continue the gay icon segment with the ever-quotable Cher.
Music Played:
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Running With The Angels by Brittany Howard & Tia P.
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Poisonous Storytelling (with ANOHNI) by Hercules & Love Affair
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Follow Me by Pablo Vittar & Rina Sawayama
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All The Good Times by Angel Olsen
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Strangers by Ethel Cain
Taken from the Library:
Tonya Harding by Sufjan Stevens
It’s Time for a Gay Icon: Cher
Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves
Believe
I was previously unaware of Josef Salvat until earlier this year, when I heard the song ‘Promiscuity’ on GAY TIMES’ Queer & Now playlist. I did some research and found that this was the lead single off his album Islands, released on February 18th. Salvat is an Australian singer-songwriter who, having previously been shackled to a major music label, is newly independent. The album Islands is relatively simple but effective pop music. It spans the colourful and the melancholic, as Salvat explores themes of his sexuality, regret and broken promises.
Songs Reviewed:
Promiscuity
Sunbeams
My Score: 6.5/10
Duality is at the heart of Squeeze, the second album by queer indie rock artist SASAMI. Just take the slightly threatening album art, in which SASAMI appears as a snake with the head of a woman, a representation of a deity from Japanese folklore, who would offer a small bundle resembling a baby to potential victims: the story goes that the spirit would kill those who discarded the bundle, but spare those who held the bundle. The conflict between explosive nu-metal rage and maternal gentleness is highly evident in this new album Squeeze.
Songs Reviewed:
Say It
Call Me Home
My Score: 7/10 (extra .5 for Call Me Home)
‘LIFE ON EARTH’ is the eighth album from Hurray for the Riff Raff, aka. Alynda Segarra, Segarra described this album as ‘nature punk’, not in that it’s a climate action album but it more so summarises the sound of this highly contemplative album backed by raw, earthy instrumentation. It’s a piece of indie rock that shimmers with Springsteen-esque hooks. Segarra is a queer woman who was born in the Bronx and raised by her Puerto Rican aunt and uncle, and themes of being a Latinx immigrant in the US make their presence known on this powerful project.
Songs Reviewed:
Pierced Arrows
Precious Cargo
My Score: 8.5/10
On the album cover of Shamir Bailey’s February record, Heterosexuality, we see Shamir sat with antlers and hooves in a pink skirt. It’s a mythological being, undefined by gender. And if you couldn’t tell from such song titles as ‘Gay Agenda’ and ‘Cisgender’ the album Heterosexuality is ironically and unapologetically, queer. Spanning industrial, indie rock, folk and pop songs, Shamir’s approach to genre seems to be the same as their approach to gender – a transcendence above them all.
Songs Reviewed:
Caught Up
Cisgender
My Score: 8/10
Yeule is an avant-garde, non-binary electronic artist originally from Singapore, whose whole musical ethos is based in the future. Glitch Princess was their latest project, dropped back in early February, and it sees Yeule building a cyber world, as the name might suggest. Through their electronic sounds and mechanical lyrics, Yeule moves into post-gender and post-human terrority, without sounding esoteric or cold.
Songs Reviewed:
Don’t Be So Hard On Your Own Beauty
Eyes
My Score: 7.5/10
AURORA has dropped a track called 'The Woman I Am’, from the deluxe version of her album 'The Gods We Can Touch' which I reviewed back in January. The album sees AURORA shedding some of her typically ethereal, reverb-y sounds for a more punchy, pop driven album. She retains some eccentric sounds that makes for enjoyable listening, such as the retro-pop lead single 'Cure For Me', inspired by the fight against conversion therapy. This feels particularly prevalent given that the UK government has green lit a non-legislative ban on conversion therapy, albeit not for trans people.
Songs Reviewed:
Cure For Me
A Temporary High
My Score: 7/10
Fresh off the release of the 'papi bones' music video release, I'm reuploading my review of FKA twigs' latest mixtape, CAPRISONGS. As part of my January review, I took a look at the project, which featured collaborations with queer artists including Arca. An ally herself, twigs' previous music has been heavily influenced by avant-garde electronic production, classical vocal stylings and pop melodies. CAPRISONGS shifts towards lo-fi alt-pop sounds, incorporating elements of afrobeat, trap and R&B.
Songs Reviewed:
papi bones (feat. Shygirl)
thank you song
My Score: 9/10
March has sprung! And with it comes new releases from big pop girls and indie darlings alike. This week, George looks at songs from Tyler, the Creator, Luna Li and we have a very special guest to come and talk about the albums of two people who might be considered gay icons of the future...
Music Played:
NEW TRACK 1: Open A Window by Rex Orange County and Tyler, the Creator
Luna Li – Duality
a. Flower (In Full Bloom) [feat. Dreamer Isioma]
b. Alone but Not Lonely
NEW TRACK 2: Romance With a Memory by Oliver Sim
Madi Diaz – Same History, New Feelings
a. Forever (with Angel Olsen)
b. Resentment (with Waxahatchee)
NEW TRACK 3: Anything But Me by MUNA
FUTURE GAY ICON:
a. Twice by Charli XCX
b. SAOKO by ROSALÍA
In today’s episode, I wrap up February’s final releases, featuring Bree Runway, Omar Apollo, SASAMI and Hurray for the Riff Raff. In today’s ‘It’s One from The Library’ section, I talk about a song that I discovered while watching one of my favourite films of all time. If that’s not camp enough, Freddie Mercury is this week’s Certified Gay Icon. What more could you ask for?
Music Played:
NEW TRACK 1: Pressure by Bree Runway
Hurray for the Riff Raff – LIFE ON EARTH
Pierced Arrows
Precious Cargo
NEW TRACK 2: Beg For You (feat. Rina Sawayama) by Charli XCX [A. G. Cook & VERNON OF SEVENTEEN Remix]
SASAMI – Squeeze
Say It
Call Me Home
NEW TRACK 3: Invincible (feat. Daniel Caesar) by Omar Apollo
Josef Salvat - Islands
Promiscuity
Sunbeams
Taken from the Library: Pass It On by The Knife
GAY ICON: Freddie Mercury (Queen)
I Want To Break Free
Bohemian Rhapsody
George rounds up the best new queer music from the first half of February, talking about new albums from Shamir and Yeule, an EP from Kim Petras, the library is opened up for Alabama Shakes before taking a dive into the world of the gay icon herself, Madonna. Strike a pose.
Music Played:
NEW TRACK 1: Kissing Lessons by Lucy Dacus
Shamir – Heterosexuality:
Caught Up
Cisgender
NEW TRACK 2: Say Nothing (feat. MAY-A) by Flume
Kim Petras – Slut Pop EP:
XXX
NEW TRACK 3: Silver Into Rain (feat. Beabadoobee) by Luna Li
Yeule – Glitch Princess:
Don't Be So Hard On Your Own Beauty
Eyes
Taken from the Library: Gimme All Your Love by Alabama Shakes
GAY ICON: Madonna
Hung Up
Vogue
Welcome back to Queers in the Club! This week is the first episode proper, as George recaps the best new music of the past month, selects an old track from the library and discusses the O.G. gay icon, Judy Garland. We've also got an interview with Gareth to talk about AURORA's album release performance!
Music Played:
NEW TRACK 1: More Pressure (feat. Kevin Abstract) by Kae Tempest
FKA twigs – Caprisongs
papi bones (feat. Shygirl)
thank you song
NEW TRACK 2: Go by Cat Burns
Lazarus Lynch – Sanctuary
Queen Mona
Holy Ghost
NEW TRACK 3: Lights Out by Fred again…, Romy & HAAi
AURORA - The Gods We Can Touch
Cure For Me
A Temporary High
Taken from the Library: JUST LIKE WE NEVER SAID GOODBYE by SOPHIE
GAY ICON: Judy Garland
Come Rain or Come Shine
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Welcome to Queers in the Club! What better to start the year than reflecting on the one just been. George takes you through his personal top 20 singles from 2021 that have a queer feature. From hyperpop to post-punk, the list includes the likes of Angel Olsen, Arca, SPELLLING and Kim Petras.
Songs Played:
20) Man in Me by Madi Diaz
19) Silk Chiffon by MUNA (feat. Phoebe Bridgers)
18) Zombie by Orla Gartland
17) My House by Jodie Harsh
16) Photo ID (feat. Dominic Fike)
15) Always by SPELLLING
14) Coconuts by Kim Petras
13) Don’t Go Puttin Wishes in My Head by TORRES
12) No Regrets by Namasenda
11) I Do This All The Time by Self Esteem
10) Blouse by Clairo
9) Paprika by Japanese Breakfast
8) Describe (A. G. Cook Remix) by Perfume Genius
7) Jackie by Yves Tumor
6) Haunted by Laura Les
5) Head Cheerleader by Pom Pom Squad
4) Incendio by Arca
3) Thumbs by Lucy Dacus
2) Like I Used To by Angel Olsen & Sharon Van Etten
1) Pay Your Way In Pain by St. Vincent