Will power
Never a sandwich short of a picnic, James Barr rounds up the best of this month’s new music
Happy Pride month y’all. I’m celebrating by blasting new music from some of the world’s biggest queer icons while tucking into an LGBT sandwich. I am guacamole and proud.
Will Young’s back with a claim to the twentynine- queen iron throne. His new album Lexicon feels like a perfect continuation of Leave Right Now, and sees the star reuniting with producers and writers from Echoes, his 2011 album. All the Songs lives out the horror of seeing your ex with someone new, while Scars is an electronic track that nails the “lustful and loud” mood and hints at Will’s very public porn and alcohol addiction: “You’re the high I can’t replace.” Freedom is a stand- out moment, with lyrics “Everything is changing, yet everything remains the same” perfectly describing the disconnect between LGBTQ acceptance ( shout out to that M& S sandwich again) and the reality of holding hands with your same- sex partner in public. This is an album of growth, new beginnings and a sense of belonging. Will’s become a better man and we love him all the more for it.
Meanwhile, Kylie’s getting ready for her headline show at Brighton Pride with a huge celebration of Stonewall 50. New York City samples Gloria Estefan, takes a train to the big bad city and heats up the anthemic feel- good escapism. The only question being, why are you taking a train? You’re Kylie. Take an Uber- copter!
Madonna’s back too and thank GODNEY: our fave has fi nally embraced her truth and stopped chasing desperate trends — no shade. The Madame X era vibes heavy inspo from her new life in Portugal. Lead single Medellin is a fi ery peri- peri Nando’s bop, and features the most relatable gay culture lyric of the year: “Sipping my pain just like champagne.” Let’s not deep dive on that. This is Madonna’s greatest moment in a decade.
If you’re single and scrolling through Instagram hating on perfect couples, you’ll love Californian cutie Conan Grey. Crush Culture starts out spilling some pretty vicious tea,
“No one’s gonna call you, quit checking your volume,” but continues into a celebration of being bitter, sad and lonely. A mood. Stylistically, Conan feels a bit like Lorde and Troye Sivan and his debut EP Sunset Season explores a perfect spectrum of millennial queer identity.
Will has become a better man and we love him all the more for it”