Ladyhawke
Ladyhawke’s on a roll in 2021 and it isn’t slowing down. Not only did she recently gift us singles “Guilty Love” and “Mixed Emotions,” but she’s about to drop a whole dang album: Time Flies. Ladyhawke takes the good parts of 80s pop and rock music – and let’s be clear, it’s not all good – and then makes it relevant today. Her catchy bangers are balanced by complex, confronting topics like mental health, postnatal depression, motherhood and cancer.
As for the title track to the new album, Pip shared, in a Girlie Action Media press release, “I wrote this song in one of my first sessions back in LA with producer Tommy English. I had lived in LA for a number of years, and when I flew back into LA for the first time since moving home to New Zealand I had this intense feeling of nostalgia – the song is an ode to being back in Los Angeles.”
Along with the pre-release of “Time Flies,” Ladyhawke has announced a new merch item: a Ladyhawke Game Cartridge Keychain “Time Flies” video game! “The video game takes fans on a quest to help Ladyhawke finish her album while encountering various characters from the “Time Flies” universe, and is soundtracked by gamified versions of the album’s biggest tracks,” Girlie Action Media explains. “[They are] Available in red, blue, yellow, green and grey.”
Ivy Sole
Ivy Sole’s new single “One More Night” (ft. Topaz Jones) is my favorite song she’s released. It’s made me nostalgic for sensual-style early-2000s RnB, except Ivy gets to take the active role of desire usually coveted by men, such as Usher or Ne-Yo. A man might rap in “One More Night,” but that’s like the female guest role in male-centred equivalents.
I’m not suprised the song is so, well, perfect, because it was actually three years in the making! “@topazjones & I started this song almost 3 years ago to the day😅 issa hit or naw?????” Ivy wrote on Instagram. “grateful for your talent & heart, T. big ups to @ethanxtomas & @kevstorey for seeing the vision early and often🥺🖤”
Abby Posner
The music video of “Low Low Low” by multi-instrumentalist Abby Posner, featuring the beautiful Constellation Quartet, is an experience. Abby is known for seamlessly blending genres of music, pushing the boundaries of what’s accepted or expected, and this collaboration is no exception.
The Abby Posner website promises Abby’s even better live: “If you have seen Abby perform live, you know she can play a mean lead-blues guitar solo, or throw down a complex Earl Scruggs banjo riff. You also may have spotted her playing drums, mandolin, or bass while using her looping pedal. In addition to her versatility, she puts passion and soul into everything she plays.” Check out her upcoming shows!
Gemma Laurence
Gemma classifies her music as “Sapphic folk” and has the cottagecore album art to prove it. I’d categorize half my Spotify playlists the same way and I know I’m not the only lesbian feeling a little called out for having the most stereotypically lesbian music taste. Thanks for defining it, Gemma.
“Adrienne,” the first single of Gemma’s that’s explicitly Sapphic, is about as gay as it gets. The song is inspired by Adrienne Rich’s poetry for crying out loud. Her haunting, candid voice, contrasted by the guitar plucking, is the material to melt any women-lovin’-woman’s heart.
Hollie Col
Sapphic singer Hollie Col’s newest single, “Reruns,” represents same-sex relationships by highlighting the love story of two women who meet and fall in love while on a roadtrip. The single, produced and co-written by Dylan Nash (Angus & Julie Stone) was released on National Coming Out Day (October 11th).
The youthful, first-love vibe is perfect for the youngens. It’s no wonder why Hollie teamed up with Minus 18, an Australian charity focused on supporting, protecting, and including LGBT youth, to celebrate the release. “I’m so passionate about using my music and videos to advocate for lgbtq+ youth and give them stories that look like theirs,” Hollie, quoted in a press release, said about the importance of working with Minus 18. “Growing up, I didn’t see much of that, and so three years ago, I self-directed my first music video about two women falling in love, and I used that to come out to my wider group of friends and family.”
“Fast forward to National Coming Out day 2021, it only felt right that I celebrate the release of my new music video ‘Reruns’ by fundraising for LGBTQ+ youth through Minus 18. I am so humbled and excited to be able to use my platform to raise money for Minus 18 so that they can continue to provide support, love and safety to LGBTQ+ youth and advocate for an Australia that celebrates them.”
