Wafia - "Heartburn"

In honor of PRIDE month this June I will spotlight only LGBTQIA+ Artists to show you one more way in which we should be grateful for to the Queer Community and how without it we would not have the world or nation that we love so much. We should be grateful and proud.

Often skirting under the radar, Wafia Al-Rikabi aka Wafia is the Aussie singer-songwriter you need to check out. Her dance-pop synths and smooth choruses offer plenty reason to get invested in this up-and-coming creative. The 27 year-old blends electronica, R&B, and soothing vocals to drawn out her own tidy musical style.

So today, with a grin, I choose Wafia’s “Heartburn” as my, acidic, bright, venomous, song for a, sweet, sticky, salty, Tuesday.

Years & Years - "King"

In honor of PRIDE month this June I will spotlight only LGBTQIA+ Artists to show you one more way in which we should be grateful for to the Queer Community and how without it we would not have the world or nation that we love so much. We should be grateful and proud.

As the frontman of British synth-pop band Years & Years, Alexander (along with bandmates Mikey Goldsworthy and Emre Türkmen) has delivered two of the most stunning albums of the latter half of the last decade. Palo Santo, their 2018 concept album, was a heady exploration of the intersection where religion and sexuality often meet, all wrapped up in a glossy, provocative dance-pop package. We literally can't wait to see what they do next.

So, with my crown tucked away, I choose Years & Years’ “King” as my, control me, hold me, taste me, song for a, pull my strings, oil my joints, brush my tangles, Monday.

Christine and the Queens - "Tilted"

In honor of PRIDE month this June I will spotlight only LGBTQIA+ Artists to show you one more way in which we should be grateful for to the Queer Community and how without it we would not have the world or nation that we love so much. We should be grateful and proud.

French singer-songwriter Héloïse Letissier has been amassing legions of fans with her pristine electropop for nearly a decade now, but it's not too late to discover her magic for yourself if you're late to the party.

So today, wearing my crown, I choose, Christine and the Queens’ “Tilted” as my, open up, lift off, turn it on, song for a, here we go, one more again, life is happening, Friday.

Chely Wright - "Damn Liar"

In honor of PRIDE month this June I will spotlight only LGBTQIA+ Artists to show you one more way in which we should be grateful for to the Queer Community and how without it we would not have the world or nation that we love so much. We should be grateful and proud.

Chely Wright (born Richell Rene Wright is an American activist, author and country music artist. She initially rose to fame as a commercial country recording artist with several charting singles, including the number one hit, "Single White Female." She later became known for her role in LGBT activism after publicly coming out. She has since sold over 1,500,000 copies and 10,000,000 digital impressions to date in the United States.

Raised in Kansas, Wright developed aspirations to become a country singer and songwriter. Yet, as a young child, she discovered her homosexuality and realized it conflicted with her Christian faith and her hopes of becoming a performer. Determined to become successful, she vowed to hide her sexuality and continued performing. Wright moved to Nashville, Tennessee following high school graduation and was cast in stage productions at the now-defunct Opryland USA amusement park. She eventually signed her first recording contract in 1993 with PolyGram/Mercury Records and released two albums. With limited success, Wright switched record labels and had her first hit with 1997's "Shut Up and Drive." It was followed in 1999 with "Single White Female," and a gold-certified album of the same name.

At her commercial zenith, Wright continued living a closeted life and became increasingly unhappy. She engaged in a long-term relationship with a woman but ultimately separated at the risk of being outed by members of the Nashville community. In 2006, Wright began suffering a emotional collapse and nearly took her own life. She then realized she needed to come out publicly and started working on projects that would help her come to terms with her sexuality. In 2010, Wright released the memoir, Like Me: Confessions of a Heartland Country Singer, and the album, Lifted Off the Ground. Both projects centered around her coming out process and the acceptance of herself.

Wright became involved in LGBT activism following her 2010 decision. During that time she moved to New York City and released a documentary which chronicled her coming out titled, Wish Me Away. She would later establish a charity "Like Me," which helped provide assistance to LGBT youth. She has since been a spokesperson for programs such as GLSEN and other activism-related programs. Wright would also marry and have two children. Wright also continued her music career, but transitioned more towards Americana and folk. She has since released 2016's I Am the Rain and 2019's Revival.

So today, truth being told, I choose Chely Wright’s “Damn Liar” as my, break the chain, lift to the light, sing your truth song for a, break away, lighten up, listen to your truth, Thursday.

Kim Petras - "Icy"

In honor of PRIDE month this June I will spotlight only LGBTQIA+ Artists to show you one more way in which we should be grateful for to the Queer Community and how without it we would not have the world or nation that we love so much. We should be grateful and proud.

Kim Petras was born in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. While she was assigned male at birth, her parents said that from the age of two, Petras knew she was a girl. Her parents sought professional help and found the head of the psychiatric unit at Frankfurt Hospital, Dr. Bernd Meyenburg.

In 2006, Petras, then aged 13, appeared on a German television current affairs show in which she discussed her medical gender transition. At age 14, Petras appeared in a documentary and a talk show, in a push to get permission for early gender confirmation surgery at age 16, before the minimum age of 18 in Germany. These appearances resulted in international media coverage of her transition, touting her as the "world's youngest transsexual". Petras may have been one of the youngest people at that time to undergo transgender hormone therapy.

In September 2007, she was a model for a German chain of hair salons. Petras announced in November 2008 that she had completed her gender confirmation surgery at 16 years old. The Daily Telegraph claimed Petras was the youngest person in the world to have had that surgery at the time. About her surgery, Petras stated "I was asked if I feel like a woman now – but the truth is I have always felt like a woman – I just ended up in the wrong body".

In an interview with BuzzFeed, Petras stated that the first song she ever wrote was "about this dude in second grade who didn't like me back".

So today, truth in my heart, I choose Kim Petras’ “Icy” as my know your truth, live loud, stay proud song for a, keep fighting, ours is the future, like the dawn, Wednesday.

Orville Peck - "Legends Never Die (feat. Shania Twain)"

In honor of PRIDE month this June I will spotlight only LGBTQIA+ Artists to show you one more way in which we should be grateful for to the Queer Community and how without it we would not have the world or nation that we love so much. We should be grateful and proud.

Fringe-masked cowboy Orville Peck rode into virtually every music outlet’s Best Of 2019 list (and our gay AF heart) with his debut album Pony. The mysterious crooner sings of gay love and loneliness by coalescing elements and ethos of shoegaze, punk, and country music. Orville Peck is truly the gay, goth-country cowboy the world desperately needs.

He’s got a sound between Cash and Williams and somehow it still fits with his lanky broken hearted crooning. Save a horse …

So today, with a sly smile, I chose Orville Peck’s "Legends Never Die (feat. Shania Twain)" as my, shine up, shadows only form around the light, slide into the night, song for a, boots by door, hats on the post, spurs outside, Tuesday.

Jason Mraz - "Love Is Still The Answer"

In honor of PRIDE month this June I will spotlight only LGBTQIA+ Artists to show you one more way in which we should be grateful for to the Queer Community and how without it we would not have the world or nation that we love so much. We should be grateful and proud.

The 40-year-old pop star sparked a firestorm of speculation after writing a love poem to the LGBT community for Billboard which included the line: “I am bi your side.”

It flew under the radar as Janelle Monae and other large artists came out at the same time, but it was a beautifully important moment for BI visibility.

Link to the Poem: Poem

Link to the article: Article

Every voice is important, even those that speak softly.

So today, with a whisper, I chose Jason Mraz’s "Love Is Still The Answer" as my, sing your heart out, love letters, alphabet mafia, song for a, little miracles, follow your truth, one more dream to go, Monday.

Big Freedia - "Karaoke (feat. Lizzo)"

In honor of PRIDE month this June I will spotlight only LGBTQIA+ Artists to show you one more way in which we should be grateful for to the Queer Community and how without it we would not have the world or nation that we love so much. We should be grateful and proud.

Big Freedia has been showing the world who she is for decades and we’re stoked that the greater public has finally caught on to her magic. Truly something sublime and joyous in her that the world needs to see.

So today, with a bounce in my bubble, I chose Big Freedia’s “Karaoke (feat. Lizzo)” as my, light up the sky, crack the earth, swallow the oceans, song for a, little by little, inch by bloody inch, one more broken road to go, Friday.