Today, we bring you disco, dance pop, alt and more…
BY ELEANOR NOYCE, IMAGE BY PIERRE-ANGE CARLOTTI
Happy Friday, folks! If you’re currently at Glastonbury: don’t talk to us. If you’re currently sat on the sofa embarking on a weekend of BBC coverage: same. This year’s line-up features an array of seminal LGBTQI talent, including Self Esteem, Kae Tempest, Girl In Red, Phoebe Bridgers, Beabadoobee, Courtney Barnett, Arlo Parks, Grace Petrie…the list goes on! Whack on the sunscreen and enjoy it, wherever in the world you are. Here’s our round-up of the week’s hottest releases, including an exciting come-back from Christine and the Queens, a love letter from Layke and an entire album release from alt-pop trio, MUNA.
Layke – XOXO
A love letter to the LGBTQI community, Layke returns with XOXO. Her forthcoming EP, Frequency, arrives on 29 July, featuring No One Can Stop Us, Help Me Out And More, exploring her bisexual identity, mental turmoil and experiences with anxiety. “It’s really an ode to the LGBTQI community. This song makes you wanna move, makes you wanna dance,” Layke states of XOXO. “It paints a vivid picture with lyrics like ‘prisms dripping light,’ ‘shining neon bright,’ and ‘we make the sun come out at night.’ It’s a true reflection of how enigmatic and beautiful each part of the community is.”
Christine and the Queens – Je te vois enfin
Now, this is the comeback we’ve been patiently waiting for. Translating to “I finally see you”, Je te vois enfin was imagined, written, produced and performed by Chris, marking Christine and the Queens’ first release since La vita nuova EP in 2020. Recently collaborating with Charli XCX and Caroline Polachek on New Shapes, the visuals for this latest instalment are queer AF. What a treat.
MUNA – MUNA
It’s finally arrived! The self-titled MUNA is the third album from – you guessed it – alt-pop trio MUNA. Channelling major queer vibes as ever, this sonic journey is the band’s most authentic yet. Kicking off strong with sapphic banger Silk Chiffon, the LP features hit singles What I Want, Home By Now, Kind Of Girl and Anything But Me alongside new tracks Runner’s High, Solid, Loose Garment and more. And if you’d like to hear Katie, Jo and Naomi discuss their latest endeavour in detail, delving into everything from queer euphoria to cult classic But I’m A Cheerleader, pick up the July issue of DIVA today. We promise, it’s a good’un.
Tove Lo – True Romance
Tove Lo debuted her latest offering, True Romance, with an accompanying picture of her wearing a glittery dildo on the ‘gram. Bad bitchery at it’s finest. Her fifth studio album, Dirt Femme, arrives on 14 October, featuring collaborations with Channel Tres, First Aid Kit and SG Lewis. The cover art channels major anal beads vibes, with her upcoming project exploring her femininity as a pansexual woman.
“I’m a pansexual woman married to a straight man. I believe masculine and feminine lives on a spectrum in all humans. There are so many more interesting nuances than most people want to accept. Songs on this album will contradict each other, will probably upset some of you, will make you want to dance, cry, fuck and drive your car really, really, fast. It’s extremely personal as always which is why it’s so hard to describe in just a few words. It’s all my feelings, thoughts and questions put together in under 50 minutes with no answers. But I know that I always feel relief and connection when a song just speaks to my emotions without telling me what to do about them. I hope this album reaches that little secret pocket in your heart where all the real stuff is hiding”, she expressed.
Crush Club & Amazonian Rockstar – Bohanna
We’re cheating somewhat with this one because it isn’t a brand-new release, but it’s fresh to our ears, at least. The lead singer of nu-disco band Escort, Amazonian Rockstar similarly writes and performs with Brooklyn-based dance duo Crush Club. A huge summer hit, Bohanna is set to be a floor filler, channelling classic disco vibes. In fact, Amazonian Rockstar featured on the latest release from Studio 54, Got To Have Loving, channelling the dopamine hit of a sweaty dance floor during the summer months. Watch this space.
DIVA magazine celebrates 28 years in print in 2022. If you like what we do, then get behind LGBTQI media and keep us going for another generation. Your support is invaluable.
