MUSIC MOVES

THE HOTTEST ALBUMS FEATURING LGBT+ ARTISTS & ALLIES

Kehlani – Blue Water Road

Release Date: Out Now

For years now, Kehlani has been creating some of the best altpop/R&B music anywhere, and if you haven’t discovered her yet, you’re seriously missing out. She’s modern, understands how to craft a hook, and is making it work without compromising who she is as a person or an artist. She may very well be the most famous out lesbian in pop at the moment, and deserves so much more recognition and respect than she already receives. Her third full-length Blue Water Road just produced a single with Justin Bieber titled “Up at Night,” which could help her reach new heights.

Florence + the Machine – Dance Fever Anitta – Versions of Me

Release Date: Out Now

Bisexual Brazilian pop musician Anitta may very well be the next star to take over the world, as her new album Versions of Me was crafted specifically for that purpose. On the set, which was released in April, she performs in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, which means she has widespread appeal in quite a few markets. The full-length features collaborations with musicians like Cardi B, Saweetie, Ty Dolla $ign, and more. It’s tailor-made for parties in the warm months. Among a project filled with potential hits, “Boys Don’t Cry” is a must-hear.

Harry Styles – Harry’s House

Harry Styles – Harry’s House

Release Date: Out Now

This isn’t just for the gays, as Harry’s House is easily one of the most highly-anticipated albums of 2022. The former One Direction member is hotter than ever, and this year is shaping up to be his biggest yet. Harry’s House, the singer-songwriter’s third solo full-length, has already produced the No. 1 smash single “As It Was,” which may very well end up becoming the song of the summer. He just headlined Coachella, he’s starring in his first film very soon, and he remains a steadfast ally (or possible member of?) the LGBTQ community, so yes, Harry’s House is required listening.

Release Date: Out Now

Florence Welch of the band Florence + the Machine has always been a favorite among the gay community, even if she herself doesn’t identify as being a part of the spectrum. Now, after a four-year hiatus, she’s returning to give the gays everything they want with her new album Dance Fever. This time around, she’s pushing everyone to leave their homes and find a dancefloor, and she’s enlisted the help of super-producer Jack Antonoff (known for crafting hits for the likes of Taylor Swift, Lorde, and Lana Del Rey) to ensure she seamlessly makes the transition from rock to pure pop.

OUT ON FILM

MADGE DIRECTS

The forthcoming biopic which is set to be directed and cowritten by Madonna herself, has found its leading star.

Over the past few years, music biopics have been all the rage. We’ve lapped up Freddie Mercury’s journey in Bohemian Rhapsody, featuring an incredible performance by Rami Malek and Elton John’s, Rocketman featuring Taron Egerton - both had huge success at the box office. Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis biopic, which premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival on May 25, 2022, and is scheduled to be theatrically released by Warner Bros., in the United States on June 24, 2022. The film has received generally positive reviews from critics, with Austin Butler’s performance of the King of Rock, garnering near-universal acclaim.

But there’s been a particularly noteworthy project waiting to join their ranks, and it’s just taken a major step forward in its production - the one we’re all dying to see - MADONNA The forthcoming Madonna biopic, which was announced in 2020, has picked Julia Garner (Ozark & The Assistant) to embody the superstar. The rigorous audition process has been a point of industry fascination for months, with plenty of Hollywood’s top actresses vying for the coveted role. What’s more, and particularly unique about the film, is that it will be directed by the iconic star herself, with a script cowritten with Oscar-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody (Juno) – a notable extension of the creative control often wielded by biopics’ subjects. The film, which will cover the early years of the pop star’s career, has been long awaited by her legions of fans. Commenting, Madge stated, “I want to convey the incredible journey that life has taken me on as an artist, a musician, a dancer – a human being, trying to make her way in this world … There are so many untold and inspiring stories and who better to tell it than me. It’s essential to share the roller-coaster ride of my life with my voice and vision.” As yet, no release date or other casting has been announced, but with its star set and with the icon herself on board, it’s sure to be one to look out for!

ver the past few years, music biopics have been all the rage. We’ve lapped up Freddie Mercury’s journey in Bohemian Rhapsody, featuring an incredible performance by Rami Malek and Elton John’s, Rocketman featuring Taron Egerton - both had huge success at the box office. Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis biopic, which premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival on May 25, 2022, and is scheduled to be theatrically released by Warner Bros., in the United States on June 24, 2022. The film has received generally positive reviews from critics, with Austin Butler’s performance of the King of Rock, garnering near-universal

But there’s been a particularly noteworthy project waiting to join their ranks, and it’s just taken a major step forward in its production - the one we’re all dying to see - MADONNA The forthcoming Madonna biopic, which was announced in 2020, has picked Julia Garner (Ozark & The Assistant) to embody the superstar. The rigorous audition process has been a point of industry fascination for months, with plenty of Hollywood’s top actresses vying for the coveted role. What’s more, and particularly unique about the film, is that it will be directed by the iconic star herself, with a script cowritten with Oscar-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody (Juno) – a notable extension of the creative control often wielded by

The film, which will cover the early years of the pop star’s career, has been long awaited by her legions of fans. Commenting, Madge stated, “I want to convey the incredible journey that life has taken me on as an artist, a musician, a dancer – a human being, trying to make her way in this world … There are so many untold and inspiring stories and who better to tell it than me. It’s essential to share the roller-coaster ride of my life with my voice and vision.” As yet, no release date or other casting has been announced, but with its star set and with the icon herself on board, it’s sure

OUT ON FILM

Stephen Dunn’s re-imagining of Russell T. Davies’ ground-breaking gay drama series, which originally premiered in the late 1990’s, when Queer as Folk quickly made waves as one of the first shows on television to depict explicit gay sex and the intricacies of the queer club scene at the time. The new reboot from NBC Universal’s streaming network Peacock, again centres on a group of friends, this time set in New Orleans.

In the first episode the friends meet at the local LGBT+ club, Babylon where there is that all too real occurrence in America, a Pulse-style shooting … the series follows the lives, loves, aspirations and of course the trauma of dealing with the aftermath of this horrific event, their lingering guilt and grief, and the unthinkable ways their lives changed that night. Queer as folk is about joy, even after violence. The show’s Executive Producer, Jaclym Moore commented, “In real life, tragedy and joy and laughter and tears are all very connected to each other”. Adding that “Queer joy doesn’t exist without trauma. I don’t know how to be queer or certainly how to be trans in 2022 in the United States of America and not face trauma. That doesn’t mean that I’m not joyful.” “Despite the heavy premise, the series as a whole is surprisingly light on its feet. Sure, here and there are painful excavations of trauma or equally tear-jerking moments of defiant joy. But for the most part, the series allows its characters to be every bit as messy or silly or sexy or serious after the shooting as they were before. And its refusal to define their lives through that tragedy feels like a gift, not only to the characters but also to an audience who has heard far too many news stories just like this one, or maybe even brushed up against some similar horror themselves,” said Angie Han from the Hollywood Reporter. Once again the new series revolves around a twisted, tangled web of LGBTQ friends. But the web this time around is far more inclusive than its predecessors. Peacock’s Queer as Folk unfortunately does not include any of the actors or writers from the previous series.

There is Brodie (Devan Way), a med-school dropout who returns home to New Orleans and attempts to make amends with the friends he left behind. Brody’s chosen family is a band of misfits,” Way said. “They are queer, they are full of expression and his adopted family, which is Brenda and Sterling, held him to this rigid performance aspect life where he had to be perfect. He had to get not just good grades but the best grades. It causes you to rebel and seek out family that will accept you as you are for who you are. I love that we get to explore both in this story.” Besides Brodie, there’s Mingus (Fin Argus), an aspirational drag star stuck in high school; Ruthie (Jesse James Keitel), a trans woman and teacher with a lot of growing up to do; Shar (CG), a nonbinary professor, Ruthie’s partner and soon-to-be co-parent; Noah (Johnny Sibilly), a dysfunctional lawyer; and Julian (Ryan O’Connell), a pop culture aficionado with cerebral palsy who also happens to be Brodie’s brother. Watch out for the scene-stealing work of iconic recurring actresses Kim Cattrall, remember her from “Sex and the City” and Juliette Lewis of the critically acclaimed Showtime series “Yellowjackets” fame. An important aspect of LGBTQ+ life in 2022 is nonbinary inclusion. Queer As Folk takes a few opportunities to address that; for example, Ruthie refuses to commit to the gender of her infants with Shar (CG). They agree their gender will be determined later in life.

“The medical community are so binary but are also in a place where they have to deal with so many people that live outside of that binary,” CG said. “There’s still the grand possibility that they won’t end up identifying as what is on their birth certificate.” The show was determined to take on several of the issues affecting LGBT+ people today. Queer As Folk writer Moore said she was raised as a boy and wishes her family and community could have been open to letting her determine her gender. She was determined that Queer As Folk share that message. Other issues include the challenges faced on the gay dating scene by disabled men like Julian (a very sweet Ryan O’Connell, also a writer and co-executive producer), who has cerebral palsy, or Marvin (Eric Graise in a prickly but touching performance), a bilateral amputee. The series also highlights the art of drag, so much a part of our community. The shows creator, Stephen Dunn said in an interview, ““Our actors put themselves, their heart, souls, bodies on the line for the sake of the story,” Dunn said. “They were not afraid. They’re a network, I think, that’s ready to make some big, bold choices.” Ultimately the new Queer as Folk, by telling a wider and more disparate set of stories, manages to produce a narrative that’s broader and deeper — and significantly queerer — than its predecessors.

Brodie Mingus