Every week, Rainbow Rodeo brings you the best new queer country music! Listen to this playlist on Spotify! Thanks to Elliott for making a parallel list on Apple Music! Listen to the parallel list on Tidal. Missed a week? Thomas Inskeep is generously keeping an archive of all music featured on this Spotify playlist.
Flamy Grant — “Fortune Teller”
Flamy Grant’s seductive new song “Fortune Teller” delves deep into the politics of pleasure. For such a soft-spoken song, it packs a heavy punch. Rejecting restrictive religious straitjacketing in favor of a spirit of erotic inquiry, “Fortune Teller” aligns mysticism and revelry in knowing oneself and what one is capable of.
Leyla McCalla — “Zanj (ft. Alynda Segarra)”
Leyla McCalla is not LGBTQ+ but Alynda Segarra’s resonant harmonies are an impactful part of this song. McCalla has been steadily releasing a stream of singles that consider her Haitian roots. “Zanj” uplifts the story of political protest singer Manno Charlemagne, who spoke out against the repressive Devalier regime. But the strident lyrics resonate in many ways now, particularly those that challenge us to uplift the voices of those society would rather sweep aside.
Willi Carlisle — “Critterland”
Taking the flip side of the same coin, Willi Carlisle’s “Critterland” celebrates those forgotten corners of society. Carlisle’s resonant baritone celebrates abandoning the dreams his parents had for him, reveling in being an outsider and pledging to defend the communities he loves from the homogenizing power of the wealthy and the cruel.
Chris Garneau — “Out of Love”
Chris Garneau brings a dreamy flair to his new song “Out of Love.” The song certainly leads to the poppier side of the country realm, but the strings cleverly evoke the sweet Nashville Sounds of the ’60s. This maximalism only serves to isolate Garneau as he navigates his broken heart.
Danah-Lee — “Equal”
Danah-Lee’s song “Equal” came out a few months ago, but I just found out about via Threads. (It might be a good platform for music, actually???) Nevertheless, Danah-Lee’s protest song is as pointed as it is gentle. As Danah-Lee calls for equality, she also tries to meet listeners on her level. Danah-Lee, who describes herself as a Christian Contemporary Music (CCM) artist, levels well-deserved critique at the church, but also understands you catch more flies with honey. The result is devastating and empowering.