Troye Sivan, “Easy (with Kacey Musgraves feat. Mark Ronson)”
It’s not often that a remix fundamentally improves on an original — but on Troye Sivan’s new remix of his track “Easy,” featuring none other than country-pop superstar Kacey Musgraves and pop auteur Mark Ronson, that is exactly the case. The new, dizzying synth sound pairs perfectly with Musgraves’ new verse, as the two imbue the song with an even deeper “crying on the dancefloor” feel than the original. Add onto that the mullet-filled, Nashville-based music video, and you’ve got a sure-fire winner on your hands.
K.Flay, Don’t Judge a Song By Its Cover
No one necessarily asked for a cover of Limp Bizkit’s “Break Stuff,” or The Offspring’s “Self Esteem” in 2020. But when those covers are done by alt-pop darling K.Flay, you know it’s going to be good. The reimagined covers place K.Flay’s alternative stylings front and center, as she completely changes even the concepts of each song. The standout of the three-track EP comes on her cover of Green Day’s “Brain Stew,” where K.Flay slows it down, deconstructs the melody, turning it into a spooky, strange pop track that will haunt your head for the next few days.
Channel Tres, I Can’t Go Outside
On his latest mixtape I Can’t Go Outside, Channel Tres is publishing a diary of his time in quarantine. Filled to the brim with the DJ’s most personal lyrics to date, I Can’t Go Outside paints a portrait of someone wading through their own memories (“2000 Chevy Malibu” & “Skate Park”), while others burn with searing honesty about making it as a black artist in America (the incredibly palpable “Fuego” with Tyler, the Creator). It’s on highlight “Take Your Time” where Tres teams up with Tinashe that the project shines brightest, as the DJ urges everyone to slow down, take care of themselves, and wait this pandemic out. “You should just take your time, and I know you’ll find your way,” he sings.
Chika, “FWB”
The trope of the “friends with benefits” may be well-worn, but it feels brand new when taken on by Chika. On “FWB,” Chika flexes her vocals more than ever, embracing a silky R&B sound to let her lover know that she’s down for whatever, even if she’s not ready to catch feelings. The Grammy-nominee’s songwriting remains sharp as ever, as she poetically lets her significant other know that she’s down to “roll it up and we can catch a vibe,” while also telling them not to put too much stock in this: “I just need a lover and a friend to pass the time.”
Big Freedia “Better Be (feat. Flo Milli)”
Tired of Christmas music sounding stuffy and sincere? Big Freedia and Flo Milli are here to change that with “Better Be,” their booty-shaking, Christmas-inspired bounce anthem. Freedia lets her holiday trade know that “I ain’ f–k no Tiny Timmies,” while Flo Milli checks off her wishlist for the holiday; if it’s not princess-cut diamonds, a private jet or a Mercedes-Benz, don’t bother. If you’re looking to turn your quarantined holiday party into a full-on dance symposium, look no further than “Better Be.”
Isaac Dunbar, “Intimate Moments”
To some degree, everyone’s a little scared of revealing too much of themselves. But pop wunderkind Isaac Dunbar makes it clear that he is petrified of “Intimate Moments” on the newest single off his upcoming EP Evil Twin. The pounding pop track sees Dunbar fighting back tears in front of his lover, begging them to look away so his pride can be spared. “I hate the fact that I look weak, I know I’m strong, yet you can’t see,” he wails in a verse. “I have a fear of intimate moments — if you’re around, why am I down?”
Siena Liggins, “Safeword”
In short, no, Siena Liggins is not going to take it easy on you. “Safeword,” the latest single from the rising pop phenomenon, takes on a darker, more rock-twinged aesthetic than her past tracks, as Liggins lets her lover know that things are about to get rough and rowdy. Sure, she’s going to take a “safety first” approach and says you can try out all of the codes you want — “pineapple,” “Topanga,” “bicycle,” and “Power Rangers”appear as just a few of her personal favorites — but that’s not going to kill the slick, sexy confidence she oozes on this track.
DDm, “Stop My Bag”
Baltimore rapper DDm is finished with people attempting to get in his way. On “Stop My Bag,” the rising queer star flexes his witty lyricism and lets his haters know that when it comes to taking over, he simply will not be stopped. The subsequent video for the track only doubles down on that idea, as DDm flaunts his fabulous fashion to put a stylish period on the end of that sentence. “‘Stop My Bag’ is about creating your own lane despite what others think you should be doing,” DDm says of the song. “Defining your own idea of glamour and what success looks like.”
Alanis Morissette, Such Pretty Forks In the Mix
Queer icon Alanis Morissette’s new EP of remixes is peak LGBTQ content. Teaming up with queer-inclusive dance music label He.She.They Records, Morissette gets the remix treatment to some of her favorite songs off of Such Pretty Forks in the Road, courtesy of queer acts like MUNA (offering a woozy, alt-pop take on “Ablaze”), Girlpool (taking “Reasons I Drink” to a distorted new level of experimental dance-pop) and many more.
