It’s PRIDE MONTH! While most companies use this month to bombard us with rainbow-themed products, let’s take this time to support genuine queer artists and their work, celebrating and honoring the diverse spectrum of LGBTQ+ experiences. This playlist focuses on lesbian and sapphic stories but is meant for everyone to enjoy. It features everything from indie sad girl tracks to dance hits, offering a wide range of emotions and styles ensuring that almost any woman-loving-woman can find something that resonates.
Honey by Kehlani
Starting off with this classic lesbian love song, Kehlani sings about love, heartache, devotion, and of course, beautiful women. This song captures the complexity of love and attraction, celebrating individuality and connection. Also Kehlani is really hot!
Naked in Manhattan by Chappell Roan
Chappell Roan truly gets lesbian pop and delivers every time. “Naked in Manhattan” perfectly encapsulates the excitement and anticipation of exploring queer attraction for the first time. It touches on the religious guilt and shame that many queer people are victim to, but boldly abandons it when she sings “could go to hell but we’ll probably be fine.” Chappell is unashamed in desire for this new flavor of intimacy. This song is a dance bop and should be on repeat this pride month. Also, Chappel is really hot!
Susie Save Your Love By Allie X and Mitski
In this epic collab, Mitski and Allie X come together as one voice to share about Susie, who is in an unfulfilling relationship with Marshall. The speaker begs Susie to save her love for someone worthy, perhaps a girl like herself? The speaker pleads that she stop being a “part-time Susie,” reflecting an experience many queer individuals may face. To truly show up as their full self, they must embrace their identity and sexuality wholeheartedly. Also, Allie X and Mitski are hot!
Pretty Girls by Reneé Rapp
“Pretty Girls” is the story of a gay woman who has flirtatious encounters with other women, often in relationships with men, who express their interest in her particularly when they are drinking. It delves into the temporary and superficial nature of these connections, noting how by the morning, these women will return to their heterosexual lives, but the speaker will be still hold and feel the attachment from the night before. This song has incredible production, the outro alone is enough to keep it on repeat and add it to every playlist. Also, Reneé Rapp is extremely hot!
Haunted by Madeline the Person
This heartbreaking song shares the story of a queer relationship that had to end due to one of the partners not being able to come to terms with their identity. There’s a deep sense of longing and frustration as the narrator grapples with the limitations and secrecy imposed by “the closet.” Madeline the Person captures the pain of losing this relationship with such eloquence and sorrow. This song, with its soul stirring instrumentals and vocals should not be overlooked. Also, Madeline the Person is really hot!
Lunch by Billie Eilish
Billie’s recent declaration of loving girls is a total win for the LGBTQ+ community. “Lunch” proves that while Billie has just publicly came out, she’s not new to the game. Her description of WLW intimacy is hot and real as fuck. On top of this song being super sexy, the production is top tier. “Lunch” will certainly go down as a sapphic anthem. Also, Billie is super hot!
Fast Car by Tracy Chapman
Can there be a lesbian playlist without this song? While not as explicitly queer, it was known as a lesbian anthem throughout the 90s. The song describes the dream of a life that is only attainable if the couple can leave behind where and how they were brought up. Chapman sings that in the arms of her partner she finally found the feeling of belonging. The universal, but especially queer desire for love and acceptance in the face of adversity is reflected in this incredible song. Also, Tracy Chapman is downright hot!
A few other honorable sapphic mentions:
Sophia by Clairo
Cherry by Rina Sawayama
Good Luck, Babe by Chappell Roan
All The Things She Said by t.A.T.u.
As a Houston native, I am passionate about the deep well of talent that Texas has to offer. From DIY shows to major label musicians, I just love to consume live music. I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to highlight and memorialize incredible artists through photography and writing. When not on tour, studying at the University of Houston, or at local shows, I can be found reading, writing songs, enjoying soft cheeses, planning themed parties, and rolling down the hill at Hermann Park.
