7 Great LGBTQ+ Tracks From The 2020s

By Dylan Mann-Hazell, Content Writer and Marketing Intern

With each passing decade, LGBTQ+ music only seems to become a more prominent feature in the charts. After being silenced for so many decades, we’re suddenly receiving songs and lyrics from the perspective of people whose stories have not been told. New ways of thinking, new sounds, and new voices. From musicians currently topping the charts, to up-and-coming indie artists who deserve a lot more recognition, here are 7 great tracks from LGBTQ+ artists from the 2020s so far.

Arlo Parks – Black Dog

London-based singer Anaïs Marinho, better known by her stage name Arlo Parks, recently rose to prominence with her debut album Collapsed in Sunbeams. This R&B soul record tackles mental health, past relationships and depression, receiving four-star and five-star reviews across the board.

The ‘Cola’ singer identifies as bisexual, and frequently uses she/her pronouns in songs referencing romantic partners. Performing as the support act for musicians like Billie Eilish and Florence and the Machine during their global tours, Arlo Parks is gradually climbing the ranks and gaining the respect and popularity she deserves.

Her heartbreaking track Black Dog aims to open up conversations about tackling mental illnesses. Named after Winston Churchill’s metaphor to describe depression, the R&B song is simple in production yet immensely complex in lyricism. “I would do anything to get you out your room,” Parks begs repeatedly throughout the track. For any listeners suffering from depression, or friends and family members of those with the illness, this song expresses an all-to-familiar experience. Yet it also acts as an odd form of reassurance – that you are not alone in these feelings.

Lady Gaga - Babylon

If you haven’t heard of Lady Gaga at this point, it’s time to come out from under that rock and stick on Born This Way. Currently one of the biggest pop stars in the world, Lady Gaga’s influence on LGBTQ+ rights and acceptance is monumental.

Openly bisexual, the singer and actress launched the Born This Way Foundation in 2012, a nonprofit organization focused on removing stigma from discussing mental health and supporting young people. It is named after her 2011 album Born This Way, which many critics cite as the start of a new era of openly queer pop music. Lady Gaga continues to produce critically acclaimed dance, pop and electronic music, revered by much of the LGBTQ+ community, and features in award-winning movies such as A Star is Born and House of Gucci.

Her most recent album Chromatica brought back the electronic dance style she rose to fame with, after a short departure with the introspective country-inspired Joanne record. Among these pop songs is the tremendously camp Babylon, which consists of 2 minutes and 41 seconds of pure, escapist fun. A track that could easily have been a part of FX’s Pose, during a particularly lavish ballroom scene, Babylon was the perfect way to close Gaga’s triumphant return to fist-pumping dance music.

Troye Sivan – STUD

Real ones remember a young Troye Sivan collaborating with the likes of Tyler Oakley and Zoella during the YouTuber golden age. His coming out video was one of the first of its kind on the social media platform, inspiring hundreds more to express their identities in the following years. Now more recognizable for his pop music contributions, Sivan has consistently released passionate, unapologetically queer music for 7 years now.

With collaborations including Ariana Grande, Charli XCX and Mark Ronson under his belt, the pop singer also took to the big screen in the 2010s. Starring in LGBTQ+ centered movies like Boy Erased and Three Months, Sivan has accumulated an impressive resume at just 27 years old. Though it’s interesting that his most personal work yet is perhaps his most unknown too, with the vastly overlooked In A Dream EP from 2020.

The record shows Sivan’s introspective side, reflecting on his teenage years and his nostalgia for his home. In the particularly sultry track STUD, he references a common experience in queer men – matters of body confidence. In the lyrics, he sings to a conceptual hunk “What's it like to be so big and strong and so buff? Everything I'm not, but could I still be a hunk to you?”, bringing up those conflicting feelings of being naturally attracted to a body type you don’t possess, and the mental strain that can have.

Mawness – Carbon Monoxide

Mawness is an up-and-coming queer artist, ready to take the pop world by storm. Based in Brighton, this innovative artist immediately sets herself apart from other contemporary artists with her unique vocal performance. There’s a certain resilience in her delivery, already displaying strength and confidence at such an early stage in her career.

The release of her debut single Carbon Monoxide is instantly promising, offering an irresistible pop tune reminiscent of the very best of Years and Years and Foxes. “Can you be the one that holds the storm? I feel one coming your way...” she implores. With her debut track already providing something new and exciting, it is already quite clear that Mawness is one to watch out for in the near future.

Lil Nas X – Sun Goes Down

Lil Nas X is taking over the modern music industry – and it’s beautiful. Currently the artist with the longest running number 1 single in chart history, the Old Town Road singer and rapper is unabashed in his queerness. He came out on the last day of Pride Month in 2019 on Twitter, and was met with a conflicting response. Many claimed they wouldn’t listen to his music anymore, but millions of people rose to his defense and stood alongside him as he began his journey into authenticity.

When the first single from his self-titled album Montero referenced the queer romance Call Me By Your Name, we were given the first sign that Lil Nas X was not planning to sweep his sexuality under the rug and continue as usual. What followed was a number of tracks pertaining to the rapper’s identity, detailing the path he took in coming to terms with who he was. Among them was his most honest song to date: Sun Goes Down.

“These gay thoughts would always haunt me, I prayed God would take it from me,” he sings on the pensive R&B single. Throughout the track, he delves into the insecurities that have plagued him since childhood. Mentioning his race, his sexuality, his family and his mental health, it provides such a rare insight into the queer struggle of someone in the rap industry. Lil Nas X had already made music history by the age of 20 – who knows what other surprises he has up his sleeve?

Foxgluvv – 1:00am

Nu-Disco has taken off more than ever in recent years, with the likes of Kylie Minogue and Dua Lipa doing their bit to bring back the groovy glory days of the 70s and 80s. Taking this concept and innovatively combining it with the ever-expanding bedroom pop craze is outrageously stylish pop star Foxgluvv.

Releasing their first single in 2017, Foxgluvv has consistently provided listeners with camp eccentricity, using 80s inspired synths and lo-fi beats to draw a perfect line between relaxation and captivation. Her 2021 disco track 1:00am is their funkiest chapter yet as she reveals the brooding thoughts she has in the dead of night: “I’m not tough enough to get over, I need closure...”. With the recent release of their single titled Lesbians On The Beach, Foxgluvv shows that they know exactly who their audience is, and we love it. Keep an eye on her in the years to come!

Years and Years – Night Call

Singer Olly Alexander has already contributed so much to LGBTQ+ representation. Between his gut-wrenching performance as Richie Tozer in the Channel 4 AIDS drama It’s A Sin and his documentary movie Growing Up Gay, which shined a spotlight on the difficulties of coming out queer in the 21st century, he’s certainly using his platform to inspire progression.

Last year it was announced that the electropop band, originally consisting of three members, would continue with only Alexander at the helm. Following their third album, the deliciously extravagant Night Call, fans were reassured that the quality of music remains excellent even without the full band. The album’s title track is a particular highlight, providing 3 minutes of pure queer pop perfection. Catchy, groovy, and just a bit naughty, this record stands out as the fun-loving and confident highlight of Alexander’s career so far. Entirely different to his first two albums, it’s anyone’s guess what style the pop star is going for next, but one thing is for sure: we’ll be listening!

Sam Smith and Kim Petras - Unholy

Breaking gender boundaries and topping the charts, Sam Smith and Kim Petras came back on the scene earlier this year with their gritty hyperpop track Unholy. Smith achieved instant success with their number one 2014 debut album In The Lonely Hour, and though their most recent releases haven't faired as well, their new collaboration with trans pop icon Kim Petras has seen a return to popularity for the Stay With Me singer.

Petras has been slowly gaining more and more recognition for her outstanding contributions to pop. With camp, catchy singles like Coconuts and I Don't Want It At All up her sleeve, this collaboration with Smith only confirms her versatility as an artist. The track is about liberation, freedom and finding confidence in your identity, and suits both singer's perfectly - sonically and meaningfully. Unholy serves as the lead single for Smith's upcoming album Gloria, which will hopefully be filled with more unapologetic anthems, and collaborations with underrated LGBTQ+ artists.