10 New Albums and Songs to Celebrate Pride Month

With Pride month in full swing, we thought we’d recognize some of the new music coming out of the queer community. From longtime sex-positive advocates such as Madonna, to indie breakout artists such as Shamir, there is incredible depth to what the queer community has to offer.

Of course, music from this community is to be enjoyed all year long. But some artists reserved their new albums and songs to be streamed and enjoyed especially for this month. Here are just ten of the Best New Albums and Songs to Celebrate Pride Month in 2023.

Sam Smith and Madonna, “Vulgar”

Pop music hit-makers Sam Smith and Madonna have come together for the club-ready banger “Vulgar.” With clap-heavy lyrics and a thrumming, persistent pulse, “Vulgar” has the potential to worm its way into several party playlists this summer.

Brought to us largely by the same team who put together “Unholy,” “Vulgar” is already experiencing a high amount of fame and listening. Using Bollywood-influenced strings to add a signature refrain, Smith, Madonna, and the rest of the pop hit-makers surrounding them have produced quite the gem.

Sam Smith Tickets

Big Freedia, Central City

For those of you unfamiliar with Big Freedia, allow me to give you a quick introduction. Launched out from the 90s drag scene, as well as the height of hip-hop, Big Freedia helped pioneer the music style of bounce. They are an ambassador of twerking, and freedom, and even used block parties and dances to help rebuild the New Orleans music scene post-Katrina.

Big Freedia is, above all, a big deal.

Last month, Big Freedia released “Bigfoot,” “$100 Bill,” and “Central City Freestyle.” A more aggressive version of bounce, we anticipate these songs bounding from club to club all summer long. These new singles mark the return of Big Freedia, and the announcement of a new album and their first in seven years. The new album, Central City, is due out later this year.

Big Freedia Tickets

Jordy, Boy

Though it technically debuted in April, we would be remiss to exclude Jordy’s Boy from this list. Jordy, a rising pop singer who first debuted with 2021’s Mind Games, ventures into more vulnerable territory on this latest record.

The album’s lead single and centerpiece, “Story of A Boy,” allows Jordy to reveal more about his queer experience and the pains—and joys—of growing up gay. We think it would be an excellent album to pay attention to this month. From ballads such as “Love You And Let Go,” to the dance-pop George Micheal-esque “Dry Spell,” Boy plays the full gamut of human experience.

Janelle Monáe, The Age of Pleasure

We didn’t know how Janelle Monáe would follow up 2018’s Dirty Computer. It turns out, Janelle Monáe’s approach was to dream up a saga. Her latest, which arrived in time to fuel many early Pride month celebrations, are sounds from an imagined world. If the femme dissidents from Dirty Computer succeeded in their rebellion against totalitarianism, then became The Age of Pleasure.

The Age of Pleasure brings together some of the leading minds in the music industry to help create Janelle Monáe’s Pan-African utopia. With the help of Wondaland co-producer Nate Wonder, Sister Nancy on “The French 75,” and a running thread of Ethiopian EDM beats, The Age of Pleasure defies and soars. It’s more than we could ever hope for in Janelle Monáe’s fourth LP.

Janelle Monáe Tickets

Dua Lipa, “Dance the Night”

Off the forthcoming Barbie: The Album is “Dance the Night” from Dua Lipa, a disco song perfectly suited to contemporary pop. We were elated when we first heard Dua Lipa would make an appearance on the Barbie soundtrack, and “Dance the Night” doesn’t disappoint.

“Dance the Night” was produced by Andrew Wyatt, the Picard Brothers, and Mark Ronson. Notably, you can hear the funky bass—Mark Ronson’s signature instrument. “Dance the Night” was accompanied by a music video featuring clips from Barbie, its starry cast, and the director Greta Gerwig. Oh, and a lot of pink.

Christine and The Queens, Paranoïa, Angels, True Love

Genderqueer, French art pop artist Christine and The Queens has just released their fourth studio album. The record, Paranoïa, Angels, True Love, is primarily in English and features several appearances from Madonna, 070 Shake, and more Mike Dean.

Having recently lost his mother in 2019, Chris’ Paranoïa, Angels, True Love became an album journeying through grief and its varying sounds. It uses Tony Kushner’s 1991 play Angels in America to channel a national longing felt here in Chris’ community. Christine and The Queens new album is, without a doubt, one you have to dive into this month.

Christine and The Queens

Shamir, “Oversized Sweater”

The incredible amount of releases coming from the queer community continues with Shamir and the announcement of his ninth album, Homo Anxietatem. The Las Vegas native has been on the scene since 2015’s Ratchet, but we are anticipating this to be his biggest release to date.

Homo Anxietatem is due out August 18th and is led by the single “Oversized Sweater,” a folk-pop song that signals much of a departure from his heavier material. His first new album post-lockdown, we can only imagine what creative influences Shamir has deployed for Homo Anxietatem. We can’t wait to hear the rest, later this summer.

Adam Lambert “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)”

The American Idol groomed Adam Lambert continues to claim his own right as a pop star. His latest, “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real),” is a cover of the 1978 classic disco party anthem by LGBTQ+ pioneer Sylvester. It has become, quite quickly, the anthem of London Pride.

There are few artists who are more comfortable in their own skin than Adam Lambert, and we are here for it. His latest in his solo repertoire, High Drama, is an expansive roster of glam-rock covers (what he does best) and pop originals. Now on tour with Queen, Lambert will be showcasing his once-in-a-generation all summer long. Get ready for more live performances of “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real),” as well.

Queen & Adam Lambert Tickets

VINCINT, “Take Me Home”

In the genre of Pride pop, VINCINT is a mainstay. Now, he’s back with another certified bop, the heart-pounding single “Take Me Home.” The new offering follows up another club-ready banger, “Romance,” which dropped back in February.

“It’s the continuation of the best night of your life,” VINCINT explains. “It’s the moment in the night when you’ve let go of reality, taken the shot you shouldn’t have, and start dreaming of a life with the person you’ve been dancing with for 10 minutes; it’s blind romanticism smothered in glitter and psychosis!”  We hope there are several opportunities to get down to “Take Me Home” this month.

Renee Rapp, “Snow Angel”

American actress and singer Reneé Rapp has released the new, titular single “Snow Angel.” The artist revealed in a tweet how a traumatic experience informed the making of the song, a beautiful and emotional ballad that has become one of the album’s masterpieces.

While working on Snow Angel, Rapp was also filming the screen adaptation of Mean Girls: The Musical, in which she plays the role of Regina George. She also appears as Leighton in the TV show The Sex Lives of College Girls. “Snow Angel,” a ballad about resilience and strength, definitely pertains to the experience of celebrating Pride. We hope you lean into these singles and albums all June, and then all year, long.