Join DPL in celebrating the contributions of LGBTQ+ people throughout history and today. Check out these excellent albums by LGBTQ+ musicians!
Omar Apollo releases his second studio album, God Said No via Warner Records. God Said No was executive produced by Teo Halm and features musician Mustafa and actor Pedro Pascal. The album title is Omar’s interpretation of “lo que sera, sera” which translates to “whatever will be, will be” or “it is what it is.” The phrase embodies the album with Omar’s tongue-in-cheek humorous outlook on the suffering that comes from surrendering and accepting whatever is thrown at you by life, a relationship or lover.
What Now is Brittany Howard's second solo studio album and the Alabama Shakes frontwoman's debut for Island Records. The album was critically acclaimed when released in 2024 and features the single, What Now.
This is Venezuelan experimental diva Arca’s stunning self-titled, her first album that put her delicate vocals in the foreground and sung entirely in Spanish.
Formed by Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus – three singer/songwriters each already deep into successful solo careers – alt-rock group boygenius first showcased Dacus' wit, Baker's emotionally active style, and Bridgers' darkly confessional lyricism on their self-titled 2018 EP. The three artists became friends as their paths overlapped during similarly-paced rises to fame – they would see each other by chance on the road, growing closer through the unique shared experience of being young indie musicians in the process of breaking through to larger audiences. A plan was eventually hatched to form a collaborative group, based on the idea of a three-way co-headlining tour that took place in November 2018. After a three-year hiatus following the boygenius EP, their long-awaited debut album the record was released on March 31, 2023. (Summary by Interscope Records)
American indie-pop luminary Clairo returns with third album, co-produced by Clairo and Leon Michels (of the Dap-Kings and El Michels Affair). Evoking balmy summer evenings and tête-à-têtes in plush conversation pits, this is a collection of warm, '70s-inspired grooves that move lithely between jazz, psychedelic folk, and soul.
Some of these are forgotten classics, some are dollar bin finds, and there’s also a brand new Dijon track, sprinkled with her usual mustard-hot flourishes and lightly seasoned with some more recent efforts by Wajeed and Kiko Navarro. This can be consumed on a dancefloor, in the back of a cab or relaxing at home with a glass of something cold (or, if you must, hot). (Summary by K7 Records)
Amy Ray and Emily Saliers are Indigo Girls. Together they write, arrange, record and perform music which over the course of 40 years has become a vital part of the lives of their legion of devoted fans around the world. Their first new studio album in 5 years, Look Long, is a testament to their storied career. Produced by John Reynolds at Peter Gabriel's Real World Studio in England, Look Long, features 11 brand new tracks all written by Ray and Saliers.
(Summary by Rounder Records)
Other music by this artist is available streaming on Freegal Music+
Released in May 1972, Honky Château is the fifth studio album by Elton John, including singles ‘Rocket Man’ and ‘Honky Cat’.
Invincible Shield is the nineteenth studio album by British heavy metal band Judas Priest. Announced onstage at Power Trip festival in California, the new record marks the band's first release in 6 years, having recently celebrated 50 years in music and 50 million records sold. Judas Priest is Rob Halford, Ian Hill, Glenn Tipton, Scott Travis and Richie Faulkner.
(Summary from JudasPriest.com)
Whilte We Wait 2 is Kehlani's latest mix tape and features guest appearances from Lucky Daye, Lil' Mo, Vince Staples, Destin Conrad, Dixson, Flo and Ludmilla,
Raven is the long-anticipated sequel to Kelela’s impeccable studio debut, Take Me Apart. The new album finds her more certain and at ease with her creative fluidity’s exceptionality, no matter how high or wide its waves.
Ravyn Lenae with her sophomore album Bird's Eye. The album - executive produced by Grammy-winning producer, Dahi (Drake, SZA, Kendrick Lamar) - is heralded by two new songs, "Love Me Not" and “Love Is Blind.” “Love is Blind” reminisces about a past relationship with regret but also hope for personal growth. While “Love Me Not” portrays a tumultuous relationship of desiring someone and rejecting the notion of dependence.“ "Bird’s Eye signifies returning to a place of self-trust and unbending intuition while acknowledging the paths and turns I’ve taken to get here,” Lenae says of the album. “Revisiting the most basic parts of my identity has allowed me to fully embrace them and be proud of where I’m going.”
A groundbreaking, genre-blurring singer, songwriter, producer, and performer, Janelle Monáe's inventive style melds a refined pop sensibility with an extraordinary postmodern mash-up of soul, funk, and rock ‘n' roll. The Grammy Award-winner follows-up 2018's critically acclaimed Dirty Computers with the highly anticipated 2023 album The Age of Pleasure, which comes introduced by the shimmering singles "Float" and "Lipstick Lover."
Jaguar II is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Victoria Monét released on August 25, 2023, via Lovett Music and RCA Records. The album was supported by three singles: "Smoke" with Lucky Daye, "Party Girls" with Buju Banton, and "On My Mama"
Muna is magic. What other band could have stamped the forsaken year of 2021 with spangles and pom-poms, could have made you sing (and maybe even believe) that “Life’s so fun, life’s so fun,” during what may well have been the most uneasy stretch of your life? “Silk Chiffon,” Muna’s instant-classic cult smash, featuring the band’s new label head Phoebe Bridgers, hit the gray skies of the pandemic’s year-and-a-half mark like a double rainbow.
(Summary by Saddest Factory Records)
Other music by this artist is available streaming on Freegal Music+
Meshell Ndegeocello’s 2nd Blue Note album No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin is a striking homage to the eminent writer and activist James Baldwin released on his Centennial: August 2, 2024. Ndegeocello’s transformative music and collaborative spirit ignites this genre-bending work that is at once a musical experience, a church service, a celebration, a testimonial, and a call to action.
(Summary by Blue Note Records)
Arlo Parks sophomore album is a deeply personal body of work; a narration of Parks' experiences as she navigates her 20's and the growth intertwined. It follows her highly praised debut album, Collapsed in Sunbeams, which received two Grammy nominations for Best New Artist and Best Alternative Music Album, won the BRIT Award for Best New Artist, won the BBC Introducing Artist of The Year Award, and was nominated for Breakthrough International Act at the BET Awards.
Other music by this artist is available streaming on Freegal Music+
Critically acclaimed, Orville Peck has long dreamed of making Stampede, a duets album with singers, songwriters, and fellow musicians he's long admired. And now, music icons, rebels and newcomers join hand-in-hand with Orville on his third full-length body of work to help create a two-part record that tips it's hat to music's past, present, and future. Orville just released the first part to this project Stampede: Vol.1 in May, with duets such as Willie Nelson, Midland, Elton John, Allison Russell, Noah Cyrus, Bu Cuaron and Nathaniel Rateliff. Slant Magazine describes Volume 1 as "a reflection of both the singer's dedication to the genre and his desire not to be confined by it."
Other music by this artist is available streaming on Freegal Music+
Glory has a pristine surface and a tender, roiling underside. Mike Hadreas’ seventh album is muscular, filled out by his partner in life and songcraft Alan Wyffels and longtime producer Blake Mills alongside the fiercest band Perfume Genius has ever assembled: guitarists Meg Duffy and Greg Uhlmann, drummers Tim Carr and Jim Keltner, and bassist Pat Kelly. These players marshall their power, and Hadreas his macabre imaginings and gallows humor, to humane ends. Perfume Genius pries open a mildewed den full of alienation, longing and desire and lets it bask in the sunlight.
A technicolor celebration of self-discovery and transformation, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess tracks Chappell’s cinematic journey of falling in queer love for the first time, while embracing all the messy and imperfect moments in-between. Penned by Chappell Roan alongside Dan Nigro.
serpentwithfeet’s third album GRIP is the latest presentation of his wide ranging artistic skills. GRIP finds its home on the dance floor of Black gay clubs and the intimate moments that happen there and afterward, no matter the location. For serpent, Black gay nightlife spaces “raised him a second time.” These clubs provided a different sense of welcoming that nurtured him in a new way exhibited on GRIP.
Troye Sivan's third studio album is a celebration of sex, dance, sweat, community, queerness, love, and friendship. Emerging from the tribulations of the last few years, Sivan found himself rewiring with the joy of human connection and dance music. He wrote the songs for the new album with Oscar Görres (Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Sam Smith), Ian Kirkpatrick (Dua Lipa, Britney Spears) AG Cook (Charli XCX, Beyonce) and Styalz Fuego (Khalid, Imagine Dragons).
The new album Javelin is Sufjan’s first solo album of songs since 2020’s The Ascension and his first in full solo singer-songwriter mode since 2015’s Carrie & Lowell. Sufjan uses the quietness of a solitary confession to ask universal questions in songs we can share communally.
(Summary by Asthmatic Kitty Records)
When the self-described “disco queen” known as Sylvester stepped on a New York stage opening for Chaka Khan, the local press was entranced. One newspaper approvingly noted that he made “David Bowie look like Lawrence Welk.” Nothing was too outrageous for Sylvester. But at his core, he was serious about music and about breaking down the walls of identity. In appearance and demeanor, the unapologetically gay San Francisco star challenged the gender binary long before such discussions were in the mainstream, going far beyond androgyny to create a striking persona all his own.
(Summary by Real Gone Music)
Celebrate Pride with your favorite anthems from pop icons Sam Smith FLETCHER, Hayley Kiyoko, Lil Nas X, Elton John, Kim Petras, Adam Lambert, and many more!