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music<br />
Queer Up Your Playlist<br />
Attention music nerds and lovers...<br />
This one's for you!<br />
by Jordan Occasionally<br />
Queer Up Your Playlist is our new series featuring cleverly curated music by LGBTQ artists—<br />
many of them local, all of them southern. Each issue'll have a freshly curated list by a local<br />
musician or music expert (available to listen via the QR code), starting with Jordan Occasionally!<br />
Jordan Occasionally (they/he) is a Memphis-based independent dance pop/R&B artist and<br />
activist with over 1.5 million streams. The recent Memphis Flyer 20 under 30 recipient serves as<br />
Artist Advisor on the Music Export Memphis Board, was featured in Genius Open Mic Stage, and was<br />
nominated for the Trailblazer Award in our 8th annual <strong>Focus</strong> <strong>Mid</strong>south Award ceremony. While you're<br />
listening to their top 8, be sure to check out Jordan’s new single, Say Less. It’s a vibe.<br />
Casual by Chappell Roan<br />
First of all, "knee deep in the passenger's seat and you're<br />
eating me out, is it casual now," is a lyric I wish I could've<br />
written. When I found out Chappell Roan was also from<br />
Tennessee, I was instantly obsessed. The music video for this<br />
song features a black siren who lures men to their death but<br />
makes out with women. It's just so sapphic. How could I not<br />
enjoy it?! There's a reason why they call her a princess.<br />
G.A.Y. by Chris Pierce<br />
First of all, the title of this song was enough to get me to<br />
press "Repeat." I found Chris Pierce on TikTok and met him<br />
in Toronto at last year's NXNE Festival when we were both<br />
headliners. Watching him perform "G.A.Y.," which stands for<br />
"Gay and Young," was a blast. His high-heeled boots and crop<br />
top shirt made me fall in love with the pride that this song<br />
brings. Such a hit.<br />
Glow 88 by Ariel J<br />
I'm always here for a feel-good rap anthem, and "Glow 88"<br />
by Ariel J is just that. It's about three minutes of confidence,<br />
and every lyric could be a caption. I love Queer rappers<br />
that know their worth, and Ariel J is definitely not one to be<br />
messed with. This song is perfect for any feel-good playlist<br />
because it's about self-worth and knowing what you deserve.<br />
I love when lesbians talk their ish.<br />
Green Ribbon by Louise Page<br />
"I wanna see you dance the way you dance in your<br />
kitchen!" Louise Page is full of feminist anthems. One<br />
thing Louise always does best is keep the spirit of live<br />
instrumentation on recordings alive. So many songs these<br />
days have fake instruments, but not Louise Page's. You'll hear<br />
a fiddle, a trumpet, and a live piano all on the same track.<br />
The music video features gorgeous drag queens, too, so you<br />
know I had to stan.<br />
Just We by Mak Ro ft.<br />
Jordan Occasionally<br />
Maybe I'm a little biased, but I had to add a verse to this<br />
song once I heard the Afrobeat feel. This song feels like<br />
drinking mimosas with your bae under umbrellas on the Miami<br />
beach. I'm a sucker for Mak Ro's breezy vocals layered over<br />
string instruments. It just screams "sex-y!" Definitely add this<br />
to your spring playlist.<br />
Papa Please by Talibah Safiya ft.<br />
MadameFraankie<br />
The Talibah Safiya and Madame Fraankie combo has yet to<br />
be topped. I got a chance to watch them perform this song<br />
before it was released at Talibah's album release party, and I<br />
was instantly hooked. Listening to this duo is always a spiritual<br />
experience, and the constant time changes in the song show<br />
so much skill that can't be put into words. They are singlehandedly<br />
bringing blues back to the mainstream.<br />
Tiptoe by Celest<br />
There's something so sultry about sweet singers like Celest.<br />
She just leaves me hanging on every word with this song.<br />
Knowing that she produced and wrote this all by herself is<br />
enough to make me a stan. Celest is bringing romance back to<br />
R&B. No shade to hook-up culture, but this song makes you want<br />
to fall in love and embrace cuddle season with matching pajamas<br />
and promise tattoos. Anyone else feel like falling in love?<br />
Warm by Tangela<br />
I first met Tangela when she was my roommate for the<br />
NXNE Festival. Moreover, when I first heard this song, my<br />
entire soul was warm. Tangela is a boss on the stage, mixing<br />
her vocals live and hitting notes that are out of this world. Her<br />
range is insane, and did I mention she's a rapper? Honestly,<br />
what can't she do? This whole E.P. is underrated, and I think<br />
everyone should give it a listen.<br />
photo by London Porchia (@Londonz.eye),<br />
courtesy Jordan Occasionally<br />
30 Nerd | <strong>Mar</strong>+<strong>Apr</strong> <strong>2024</strong> | focuslgbt.com
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