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? TA Inskeep is generously keeping an archive of all music featured on this Spotify playlist.
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- Quirky trans indie rock band Um, Jennifer? seek to bring humor to trans life and “Went On T” is no different. The crunchy power pop hooks sweep us along the awkwardness and self-affirmation of beginning HRT.
- Seems a little unfair to pair Amythyst Kiah and SG Goodman. Does anyone stand a chance against two of the most epic singers of our generation? Kiah is readying her next album for October 25th, and “Play God and Destroy the World” gives us a tantalizing taste of the muscular, intense ride Kiah will surely take us on.
- Hayley Rose Harrington soothes our souls after a breakup on “Best Company.” After all, the most important relationship we need to worry about is the one with ourselves.
- Liv Greene sings a song for those of us who are often incapacitated by emotions. “Deep Feeler” hits the bullseye, a lovely and delicate anthem in favor of feeling emotions, even when they’re tough.
- I learned about Chicago’s Olivia and the Lovers through a clever TikTok that my friends sent me (my brand is strong.) That wit is apparent on “Falling in Love at the End of the World,” a two-stepper that embraces living in the moment without fear.
- I’m not totally sure how I came across Rachel Cambrin, but I’m glad I did. Their most recent recordings seek to capture the magic of their busking performances on Vancouver’s Granville Island arts community. Their cover of “Sunday Morning Coming Down” packs more mournfulness than even the original.
- After listening to Brittany Davis‘ performance on NPR’s World Cafe, I knew I had to include them on this playlist. “Sepricon” is a statement of self-love from an artist who’s been doubted: they are Black, nonbinary, and blind, and they are here to shatter our expectations.
- Once again, my brand is strong and someone told me about Danae Hays‘ comic queer country music. “Dick In My Nightstand” is perfect pop country — plus some classic yearning, and a love story to warm your heart.
- Mo Kenney has made an art of combining folk and pop, and their new song “Signs of Life” is a shining example of their haunting music.
- Katie Gavin closes us out with folk pop perfection on “Aftertaste.” Sometimes you just can’t resist that person whom you know you’d be better off without, and Gaving makes that pull difficult to ignore on this catchy song.