Sam Smith, MUNA, & 6 More New Songs by LGBTQ+ Artists You Can't Miss

Here Are 8 New Tracks From LGBTQ+ Artists

New Music Friday is here and while we're all freaking out about Beyonce's world-stopping visual album, Black Is King, here are a few fire new releases of the week by some of our favorite LGBTQ+ musicians. 

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"Bodies" - MUNA, The Knocks

Talk about a power duo. MUNA and The Knocks combined their queer powers on the breezily nostalgic single "Bodies," an explosive yearning for summers past made all too appropriate of an anthem while we're still on lockdown. "'Bodies' was born of a nostalgia for the early-mid aughts," said MUNA. "For house parties in the suburbs, for school and summer vacations, for being young. Almost instantly, it took on another meaning. It became about missing…well, everything. Normal life had been suspended. We hit pause. We began to miss the unceasing togetherness of touring. We missed one another. The song became about the helplessness and loneliness inherent to this peculiar, terrifying era. We decided to capture that loneliness by shooting a one-shot video of Katie—masked up, rollerblading in slow motion—early in the morning on a quiet street in Pasadena in early May.”

"My Oasis" - Sam Smith, Burna Boy

While we patiently await Sam Smith's delayed third studio album, the crooner dropped a hypnotic new song with Nigerian musician Burna Boy. "This track has been a beautiful release of emotions for me during this time," they said. "I've been a fan of Burna Boy for years now and so happy to have a tune with him, I hope you love it like I do."

"bon iver" - mxmtoon

mxmtoon settles into a hauntingly peaceful breeze on new song "bon iver." The track is thick with plucky guitar and heavenly vocals, the title an obvious nod to the reclusive "Skinny Love" singer-songwriter. “When we think of nightfall, we often associate it to the 'end' of something," said mxmtoon. "The 'bon iver' music video is meant to counter that notion, and to spark thought over the possibilities that are ahead instead. A day does not just end when the sun goes down, you continue to find wonder and joy despite the dark, and a whole other world awaits you as the moon glides overhead. New beginnings are not limited to a rising sun, your world is what you make it whenever you choose to begin."

"Hard 2 Forget" - VINCINT

VINCINT is living in our heads rent-free with his new disco-inspired dance track "Hard 2 Forget." The song might mark the dancey beginnings of a new era for the synth-pop star, complete with his usual stunning vocals and a euphoric key change. We can't wait to dance a gay bar to this banger. 

"I Know the End" - Phoebe Bridgers

Charge your crystals and prepare to feel everything, Phoebe Bridgers video for "I Know the End" is bristling with ennui. Bridgers' voice glides over haunting strings and the angsty electric guitar builds to an explosive finale sealed with a kiss, making this one of the unique and relatable songs of the week.

"The Real Wild Ones" - Phoebe Ryan

High off the release of her debut album How It Used to Feel, Phoebe Ryan catalogs all of her unbound exes in the reflective ballad "The Real Wild Ones."

"Susie said she loved me but she says that to all the girls," she sings. "People think I'm crazy but I think I'm having fun."

Make sure to check out Ryan's new album, a breezily poignant and heartbreakingly fun catalog of expired relationships. 

"Self Aware" - Karmin, Durand Bernarr

Karmin and Durand Bernarr are amazing and yes bitch, they're aware. The duo flex on the haters by living their most carefree lives in the video for "Self Aware," an outrageous flaunt of their creative and vocal prowess. You can't help but feel just as amazing as them.

"Mateo" - Tove Lo

Tove Lo desperately hangs on to a flame in "Mateo," a fan favorite track on last year's Sunshine Kitty album. Earlier this week, she compiled fan submissions into a quarantine karaoke video featuring fans from all over the world, drag queens, and even collaborators Pabllo Vittar and ALMA. "I always knew I wanted to do a visual for it," she said. "So much of the last few months has been about what can’t happen, doing the quarantine karaoke challenge was a way to still connect with my fans and give everyone something to safely do while locked down."