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Queers in the Club

Queers in the Club

by George Baxter

Performing Arts Music Commentary Music History

Season 2

Hideous Bastard: Oliver Sim's Queer Confessional Reflects on Masculinity

Released on 9th September, Hideous Bastard is the debut solo album from Oliver Sim, who makes up one third of The xx. Coming in at just 34 minutes, the album is quiet yet deeply confessional, as Sim explores his own anxieties and shame - Hideous Bastard opens with the line: ‘I’m ugly’. Mapping elements of the queer experience, Sim discusses his HIV status, body image, performative masculinity and draws a lot of inspiration from queer horror films. In all, Hideous Bastard, is a simple yet effective and elegant debut project that highlight’s Oliver Sim’s beautiful voice and fluid writing style. Production from Jamie xx proves to be pared back, building out dreamy synth soundscapes with moody piano lines and vocal harmonies in a stylish mix. For a project that deals with some interesting ideas around shame and horror, the album does lack in sonically providing some of the substance to go with all the style, but Oliver Sim’s debut shows tons of potential for the future.

Hold On Baby: King Princess’ Slice of Sincere Indie Pop

Hold On Baby is the second album from up-and-coming artist, King Princess, aka Mikaela Strauss. Strauss said that her previous work has focused more on the heartbreak done to her, however, she expressed that this record marked how she ‘finally reached a point where I had to turn the barrel on myself’. What that means then for Hold On Baby, is a turning inwards, a move towards self-reflection and occasionally self-critical. Incorporating, aspects of indie pop, indie rock and electropop, Strauss is at her best when she makes songs full of tension and release (like Change The Locks or Dotted Lines).

Ugly Season: Perfume Genius’ Abstraction of Art Pop

I actually wrote my dissertation on Mike Hadreas’ (aka Perfume Genius’) last two records, and it’s a shame that Ugly Season hadn’t been released, because it’s so rich and dense that I could pick it apart for days. On the album, Hadreas begins to expand into new, more abstract territory, navigating the pleasure of dark and light spaces. Ugly Season is highly textural, as Hadreas deploys his stunning falsetto over tracks composed of celeste, chimes and clarinet, of saxophone, strings and synths. Check out my dissertation! https://georgebaxterwrites.blogspot.com/2022/06/bodies-in-flux-dissertation.html

Big Time: Angel Olsen's Lost and Found Love

Since the release of her last record, 2020’s Whole New Mess, Angel Olsen has undergone several journeys. Mid-pandemic, she came out as queer and just three days later, her father died; soon after, she lost her mother too. Having found love and lost it so drastically, her latest project ‘Big Time’ serves to contemplate feelings that would be indescribable to most. Hurt and healing intertwine on this country-tinged project, highlighting Angel’s talent as a songwriter and co-producer.

The Line Is A Curve: Kae Tempest Contemplates, Meditates, Retaliates

Released back in April, I’ve been returning to the latest studio album by Kae Tempest (they/them). The Line Is A Curve is a highly meditative album experience, totalling 40 minutes of lyrical flows, set to moody electronica and hip-hop inspired beats. Kae tackles various issues within contemporary British society, and documents their own personal struggles. I found the record even more intriguing after reading Kae’s first non-fiction book ‘On Connection’, the perfect companion piece to reflect their talent as a poet and spoken word artist.

RENAISSANCE: Beyoncé’s Celebration of Queer Black Excellence

Last week’s episode was called Six Songs for Summer but with this album, I think I should replace it with these Sixteen Songs for Summer. On her latest seventh studio album ‘RENAISSANCE’, Beyoncé weaves a rich tapestry that celebrates queerness and blackness, collaborating and sampling from some of the most exciting underground artists of colour, including trans icons Honey Dijon, T.S. Madison and Big Freedia. The album is an ode to disco, dance and to the ballroom scene, with Beyoncé playing the role of emcee. Category: Queers in the Club.

Six Songs for Summer

I'm back! Just in time for the British heatwave, Queers in the Club is back as I run through what I've had on repeat during these hot days. Spanning different genres but all featuring a queer presence in some form, these songs are perfect playlist material. Songs Played: Big (feat. Big Freedia) by Tank and the Bangas Spitting Off the Edge of the World (feat. Perfume Genius) by Yeah Yeah Yeahs Couldn't Help Myself by ARXX El Alma Que Te Trajo by Safety Trance & Arca Idkwntht by Tomberlin Cardboard Box by FLO

Season 1

April I 2022 Singles: Brittany Howard, Pabllo Vittar, Ethel Cain, Cher.

For this April Pt.1 episode, I'm looking exclusively at the newest singles by queer artists, like Angel Olsen and ANOHNI amongst others. I’ll be saving my album reviews for separate uploads so subscribe for those (I’m very excited for the Kae Tempest one!). Meanwhile I talk about a track by Sufjan Stevens from 2017, and continue the gay icon segment with the ever-quotable Cher. Music Played: 1. Running With The Angels by Brittany Howard & Tia P. 2. Poisonous Storytelling (with ANOHNI) by Hercules & Love Affair 3. Follow Me by Pablo Vittar & Rina Sawayama 4. All The Good Times by Angel Olsen 5. Strangers by Ethel Cain Taken from the Library: Tonya Harding by Sufjan Stevens It’s Time for a Gay Icon: Cher Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves Believe

March 2022: Luna Li, Madi Diaz, Rosalía and Charli XCX (with Oli Bricknell).

March has sprung! And with it comes new releases from big pop girls and indie darlings alike. This week, George looks at songs from Tyler, the Creator, Luna Li and we have a very special guest to come and talk about the albums of two people who might be considered gay icons of the future... Music Played: NEW TRACK 1: Open A Window by Rex Orange County and Tyler, the Creator Luna Li – Duality a. Flower (In Full Bloom) [feat. Dreamer Isioma] b. Alone but Not Lonely NEW TRACK 2: Romance With a Memory by Oliver Sim Madi Diaz – Same History, New Feelings a. Forever (with Angel Olsen) b. Resentment (with Waxahatchee) NEW TRACK 3: Anything But Me by MUNA FUTURE GAY ICON: a. Twice by Charli XCX b. SAOKO by ROSALÍA

February II 2022: Hurray for the Riff Raff, SASAMI, Josef Salvat, Freddie Mercury.

In today’s episode, I wrap up February’s final releases, featuring Bree Runway, Omar Apollo, SASAMI and Hurray for the Riff Raff. In today’s ‘It’s One from The Library’ section, I talk about a song that I discovered while watching one of my favourite films of all time. If that’s not camp enough, Freddie Mercury is this week’s Certified Gay Icon. What more could you ask for? Music Played: NEW TRACK 1: Pressure by Bree Runway Hurray for the Riff Raff – LIFE ON EARTH Pierced Arrows Precious Cargo NEW TRACK 2: Beg For You (feat. Rina Sawayama) by Charli XCX [A. G. Cook & VERNON OF SEVENTEEN Remix] SASAMI – Squeeze Say It Call Me Home NEW TRACK 3: Invincible (feat. Daniel Caesar) by Omar Apollo Josef Salvat - Islands Promiscuity Sunbeams Taken from the Library: Pass It On by The Knife GAY ICON: Freddie Mercury (Queen) I Want To Break Free Bohemian Rhapsody

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