With Pride season well and truly underway, it’s time to craft the perfect queer playlist for summer. To help you out, here are some of the hottest, freshest LGBTQ+ artists to round out the gayest playlist possible for this year’s celebrations. 

Jesus At The Gay Bar by Cub Sport
Hailing from Meanjin (Brisbane), Australia, Cub Sport is a young indie quartet made up of Tim Nelson, Sam Netterfield, Zoe Davis, and Dan Puusaari. Known for their powerful live performances and lively fanbase, Cub Sport are described as “one of Australia’s most significant pop exports” and have just released their fifth studio album – Jesus At The Gay Bar. 

Cub Sport reported that the title of their newest album is inspired by Jay Hulme’s eponymous poem of the same name. Additionally, according to the band, Jesus At The Gay Bar, allowed the quartet to “celebrate love and life in all its manifestations”.

Check out Cub Sport’s latest record on Spotify!

They Call Me Names by Guilherme Cosme
Originally from Brazil, Guilherme Cosme is a Dublin-based avant-garde jazz artist who released his debut album Persephone and the Ghost Brother in October 2022. Cosme capitalised on the success of his first release by unveiling his second studio album, They Call Me Names, on April 21, 2023. 

They Call Me Names is described as “a conceptual album” that allows the artist to confront his demons which are largely based on his traumatic upbringing. Despite its heavy themes, the record also possesses a lot of hope for the future.

Add any of the 13 songs from They Call Me Names to your summer playlist on SoundCloud or watch the music video for the album’s title track below!

‘3AM’ by Elaine Mai (feat. MayKay)
Following the success of her debut album Home, which was nominated for two awards at the RTÉ Choice Music Prize, Elaine Mai released a radio edit of her hit song ‘3AM’ on May 3. 

While ‘3AM’ was never released as a stand-alone single, the huge reaction that the track garnered when performed live by Mai and MayKay inspired the pair to revamp it. Accompanying the release of the radio edit of ‘3AM’ is a new music video directed by up-and-coming director Cara Gaynor. 

‌Ahead of the track’s rerelease, Mai said: “‘We’ve created so many amazing memories performing 3AM. It’s one of the clubbiest tracks on the album and we wanted to showcase it with a new visual interpretation from the brilliant Cara Gaynor. The track celebrates female empowerment, togetherness, and chosen family. It’s an ode to losing yourself on the dancefloor, in music, and with others.”

Check out the new video for ‘3AM’ by Elaine Mai and MayKay below!

‘Don’t Let Me Fall’ by Elina Filice
‘Don’t Let Me Fall’ is the latest single from singer-songwriter and entrepreneur Elina Filice. It features an anthemic hook over an infectious beat while dealing with themes of mental struggles.

Filice herself stated: “We wanted to show a chaotic downward spiral of self-destruction and loss of control. Two people tangled in an inescapable bond, desperately begging someone to save you when they can barely save themselves.” 

Take a look at the brand new music video for ‘Don’t Let Me Fall’ below before adding it to your summer playlist!

‘Turn It Up’ by Viscose
Viscose has made a name for himself in the Dublin queer music scene thanks to his self-produced pop, house and dance tracks, including ‘Turn It Up’, which, prior to its official release, became a fan favourite track on TikTok. 

‘Turn It Up’ comes off of Viscose’s debut EP, Flawless. First released as a single on April 28, 2023, the song is described as “a fun, catchy track with subliminal lyrical content of Viscose’s insecurities in romantic and vulnerable scenarios. The playful instrumental masks the melancholic theme of body dysmorphia”. 

Listen to ‘Turn It Up’ and the rest of the tracks from Viscose’s Flawless EP on SoundCloud!

I want to sleep all day by Anthony Byrne
Limerick-based singer/songwriter Anthony Byrne is back with his long-awaited EP I want to sleep all day. Inspired by artists like Sinead O’Connor, Leonard Cohen, Depeche Mode and Eurythmics, I want to sleep all day combines catchy melodies with innovative technology for a new wave/synth pop sound reminiscent of the ’80s. 

Bryne’s latest EP features six tracks in total, including two previously released tracks, ‘Chasing’ and ‘Exhale’. According to Byrne, I want to sleep all day “explores themes of mental health, love, religion and queer rights”. 

I want to sleep all day released on May 26, and can be found on Spotify!

‘Over the Rainbow’ by JD Kelleher
Kelleher is a London-based, non-binary and gay Irish actor, singer and songwriter. Their song, ‘Over the Rainbow’, a rendition of the Judy Garland classic from the iconic Wizard of Oz, comes as part of their 2024 debut album Now is Our Time. 

“Like every child who’s seen [The Wizard of Oz], I was enchanted and mesmerized by the film, but The Wizard of Oz was also my first experience of theatre when I was taken to the Cork Opera House Panto as a child. It ignited a passion and love in me for the performing arts, singing, and music,” JD explained.

“As an LGBT adult, the song continues to resonate for the queer classic that it is. Over the Rainbowis coming out of the closet to shine beautifully without being condoned for who you are.”

Check out the video for ‘Over the Rainbow’ below!

That concludes our list of queer anthems to add to your summer playlist. What are you waiting for?! Get your headphones and start listening!