20 Songs by Lesbian and Bisexual Artists That We Loved in 2020

2020 has been…a year. Stressful to say the least. But although we could not attend concerts for most of the year, plenty of great music has still been released. Here are 20 songs that we loved this year, written and performed by lesbian and bisexual artists. The songs are not listed in any particular order; we loved them all. There’s something for everyone in this list, whether you love dance pop, country, r&b, or anything in between.

Chika: “U Should”

Despite how difficult 2020 has been, it has been a successful year for Chika’s musical career. The 23 year old rapper released her EP, Industry Games, in March, and has been nominated for a 2021 Grammy for Best New Artist.

Industry Games is a must-listen, with tracks such as “Crown,” that you’ll want to play on repeat. We were particularly taken by her August release, “U Should,” which is sung to her female love interest.

Victoria Monét: “Touch Me”

Even if you’re not familiar with Victoria Monét, you’ve probably heard her work. She earned 2 Grammy nominations for her work as a co-writer on Ariana Grande’s 2019 album Thank U, Next.

“Touch Me” is the final track on Monét’s debut album, Jaguar, which was released in August. Fans of the steamy song might especially love the remix, which features Kehlani. The two singers confirmed via twitter that the song is about their past sexual relationship.

Alex the Astronaut: “I Think You’re Great”

Australian singer Alex the Astronaut made a splash in 2017 with “Not Worth Hiding,” a song about accepting her sexuality. In August this year, she released her first studio album, The Theory of Absolutely Everything. The highlight: “I Think You’re Great,” a joyful, drum-heavy song that celebrates being there for someone you care about.

Shura & Ivy Sole: “elevator girl”

Back in January, Shura and Ivy Sole teamed up with fans to create a Spotify playlist, which Shura described as a “collaborative lesbian sex playlist.”

Then in May, Shura and Ivy Sole teamed up again to release “elevator girl,” a dreamy sounding tune, which Shura has said is “about the elation of a first date- the fact that it can make you feel kind of high without drugs.”

Katie Pruitt: “My Mind’s a Ship (That’s Going Down)”

“My Mind’s a Ship (That’s Going Down)” is the second track off of Katie Pruitt’s debut album, Expectations, which was released in February. In the album, she deals with themes such as growing up gay in a Catholic family. You can hear how her sound is influenced by her Southern roots, as well as the influences of artists like Brandi Carlile.

Arlo Parks: “Black Dog”

Arlo Parks wrote her May release “Black Dog” about feeling depressed during the pandemic. The song will feature on Collapsed in Sunbeams, her upcoming debut studio album. The album is set for a January 2021 release.

Rebecca Black: “Closer”

Yes, that Rebecca Black. The singer of the infamous 2011 song “Friday” is back to making music, and it’s actually quite good. Earlier this year, Black revealed that she had recently broken up with a woman.

Her song “Closer,” released in March, features quick electronic beats and speaks to feeling a level of closeness in a relationship that she has never felt before.

Starley: “Arms Around Me”

You might know Starley from her song “Love is Love,” her 2018 pride anthem. The Australian singer released her debut album, One of One, in September.

In March, she released “Arms Around Me,” which is about rekindling romance. The song’s beat will have you missing the days of going out dancing, and if you’re a fan, there are plenty of dance remixes available.

Donna Missal: “Hurt By You”

“Hurt By You” is the second song off of Donna Missal’s second studio album, Lighter, which came out in July. The track kicks off with a compelling drum beat and features triumphant lyrics about moving on from the end of a painful relationship.

Tayla Parx: “Dance Alone”

Tayla Parx has written hits for multiple artists, such as Christina Aguilera and Panic! At the Disco, and she played Inez in the 2007 musical film Hairspray. Like Victoria Monét (who was featured earlier in this list), Parx was a co-writer and background vocalist for the hit Ariana Grande album Thank U, Next, which earned her a nomination for the 2020 Grammys.

Her second studio album, Coping Mechanisms, was released in November. It is hard to pick merely one great track off the album, but “Dance Alone” is one to come back to.

King Princess: “Only Time Makes it Human”

King Princess pairs sad lyrics with upbeat music in “Only Time Makes it Human,” her October release about longing for a woman who broke her heart. We have previously covered the music video for her November single “Pain,” which you can read about here.

Fans should check out King Princess’ April Tiny Desk concert, in which she performed from her self-proclaimed “quarantine shed” and gave intimate performances of 3 songs off of her 2019 debut album Cheap Queen. The deluxe edition of the album was released in February.

Rina Sawayama: “LUCID”

Dance pop track “LUCID” is a single off of the deluxe edition of Rina Sawayama’s debut album, Sawayama, which was released in April. Sawayama has said that the track is “about living a different life through dreaming, whether it’s to be with the dream girl or to be the dream girl.”

Siena Liggins: “Wait on Me”

Siena Liggins’ single “Flowerbomb” put her on the map in 2018, and she’s been steadily releasing quality music since then. She told Billboard that her May single “Perfect” was written to be an affirmation that women can sing to themselves.

However, we were particularly taken with Liggins’ January release, “Wait on Me.” Good news for fans of the single: Liggins confirmed via Twitter that she’s working on an album.

G Flip: “Hyperfine”

The Australian singer (who can almost always be seen sporting her signature baseball cap) released “Hyperfine” back in May. She told Music Feeds that the track was written after fighting with her girlfriend. You can hear that in the lyrics, which ask her partner to do a better job at communicating her feelings when frustrated.

G Flip announced via Instagram that her 2019 song “I Am Not Afraid” was featured in YouTube’s end of the year campaign for 2020.

Tia Carys: “Intro”

“Intro” is the opening to British rapper Tia Carys’ EP Enroot, which was released in November. The track tells the story of Carys realizing and coming to accept her attraction to women.

girl in red: “two queens in a king sized bed”

Thanks to TikTok, “Do you listen to girl in red?” became a euphemism for asking whether another woman is same-sex attracted.

The Norwegian singer released “two queens in a king sized bed” in November, as the second single off her upcoming debut studio album. The album, which will be called World in Red, does not yet have a release date, but we will be on the lookout for it in the new year.

Abisha: “Body to Body”

“Body to Body” is the third track off of Abisha’s EP Scorpio, which was released in February. The track features sensual beats and lyrics that express longing. The English singer has an active Instagram presence, where she gives some behind the scenes info about her songs, such as her October single “Time Alone,” which is one for the introverts.

Zolita: “Loveline”

Lesbian witch Zolita released her first studio album, Evil Angel, at the beginning of December. “Loveline,” the second track on the album, draws from her aesthetic, referencing psychics and her love for women with a cancer moon. Fans of “Loveline” might want to check out her previous hits about her love for women, such as her 2015 song “Explosion.”

070 Shake: “Guilty Conscience”

070 Shake appeared on the scene in 2018, when she sang on Kanye West’s songs “Ghost Town” and “Violent Crimes” off his album Ye.

Her first studio album, Modus Vivendi, was released in January. “Guilty Conscience” is a standout track on the album. A few months later, the song was even remixed by Tame Impala.

Phoebe Bridgers: “If We Make it Through December”

How better to round out a tough year than Phoebe Bridger’s November release, “If We Make it Through December.” Bridgers released her second studio album, Punisher, back in June. She was nominated for 4 Grammys at the upcoming 2021 awards, including Best New Artist and Best Alternative Music Album.