Rainbow Ruckus 8/13: Ty Herndon, Sug Daniels, Joy Oladokun, and More!

Every week, Rainbow Rodeo brings you the best new queer country music! Listen to this playlist on Spotify and Tidal! Thanks to Elliott for making a parallel list on Apple Music! Listen to the parallel list on Tidal. Missed a week? TA Inskeep is generously keeping an archive of all music featured on this Spotify playlist.

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• Ty Herndon and Ashley McBryde team up for a classic tear-jerker of a country song on "A Man Holdin' On (To a Woman Lettin' Go)." The '90s throwback documents the stages of a relationship – from the fiery beginning to its long-term denouement. In my opinion, the pair should cut a whole damn album – wow!
• Sug Daniels kicks it old school on "Brand New Day." The cheery song showcases Daniels' rich voice, of course, but the way it seamlessly blends '90s optimism, '70s grooves, and '80s electronica is the real magic trick here.
• "Swim Practice" finds Mariel Buckley perfecting her signature mix of poignant nostalgia and tragedy. Her songs always fill me with both a sense of regret and a confidence that no matter what's getting us down, we can push through. Here, Buckley explores her closeted adolescence and reaching for something she didn't have the language for.
• Tuxis Giant brings a spirit of mournful contemplation to "Huey." If Nirvana played grunge music, it might sound like "Huey." The guitar is warm while the lyrics are strained – a fond memory that can never be regained.
• Joy Oladokun sings the fuck out of "War Games." The brooding synths, syncopated drum track and Oladokun's layered vocals build on their remarkable album OBSERVATIONS FROM A CROWDED ROOM. Oladokun is headlining Americanafest, but this song shows their is confidently transcending narrow marketing devices like gender and putting their full voice out there.