Six of the best never felt so good
James Barr has the musical cure for when the festivities get a bit too much
Many of us can expect a lot of awkward conversations when visiting our happy heterosexual relatives this Christmas. “Do you have a girlfriend yet?” or “What do you think of Brexit?” Maybe even: “Why does your t- shirt say Dom Top?” Sometimes you just need a connection to your queer life, so here are six joyful and triumphant gays to save us from scrolling through Eastbourne’s “off erings” on Grindr during the Queen’s speech.
LA electronic producer, art disrupter and animator
nicopop’s fresh new track Below the Ceiling feels like living inside Andrew Haigh’s iconic movie Weekend. It’s the perfect escape from reality. Check out his clap- back to a cheating boyfriend on Elephant too! With cuts like these, he’s well on his way to becoming a gay pop icon.
If you’ve had lots of gay relationships that start with everything and lead to nothing ( I can relate), listen to out LA electronic singer
Jordy. Just Friends is a huge “bye Felicia!” to that guy who’s afraid to commit.
Gay conversion therapy movie Boy Erased should hit UK cinemas in February, but we’ve already been blessed by Troye Sivan’s soundtrack offering Revelation, a beautiful, liberating reminder of how perfect and precious we are. If you feel fragile or alone this Christmas, Troye will save you. As for the film itself, hopefully it will help erase this harmful and evil practice from society for ever.
Lauren Jauregui’s first single since leaving Fifth Harmony deserves some serious respect. Our bisexual sis just threw down a seriously defiant slow jam in the form of Expectations, and it’s a diss at blue tick f * ckboys!
Meanwhile, 23- year- old London singer Ryan Ashley has so much soul he’s basically the Queer Miguel. Chest, Shame and his latest single Care for You are all beautifully crafted pop masterpieces perfect for a chilled Christmas.
And Vancouver- based Austin Neufeld is super up and coming, and his tranced- out heartache anthem Haunting fights the pain of a visit from the Ghost of Christmas Past and you’ll love it. Yep, girl got ghosted.
Finally, celebrate the end of Twenty- GayTeen with our “Albums of the Queer” from Troye ( yes, again), Years & Years and MNEK.
Happy Holigays. Love, James x