Over the years, if you asked anyone to name a sapphic artist in the alternative/pop sphere, their answer would probably be just one band: Tegan and Sara. It’s undeniable that they paved the way for all the incredible sapphic artists that are able to thrive today, and that pool continues to get bigger and bigger.
As the world has gotten more accepting, more and more artists have felt comfortable coming out and incorporating their truth into their music. Recently, it feels like there has been more sapphic alt-pop coming out than ever before, giving the queer community the music we’ve been craving for so long.
With so much music to enjoy, it’s easy for some to get lost in the shuffle, so here’s the best-of-the-best of the most recent wave of incredible queer alt-pop to add to your playlist:
1. What I Want – MUNA
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 05: (L-R) Naomi McPherson, Katie Gavin and Josette Maskin of MUNA (Photo by Sarah Morris/WireImage)
I’m gonna make up for it all at once / ‘Cause that’s, that’s just what I want
After being dropped by their label following the release of their second album (Saves the World), this all-queer trio was picked up by Phoebe Bridgers’ Saddest Factory Records. With a new label and a seemingly new confidence and outlook, MUNA’s self-titled third record is the best music of their career. The album’s second track “What I Want” feels like the spiritual sister to the trio’s 2016 single “I Know A Place.” Though instead of a wholesome tale of a safe space for heartbroken queer people, it’s a tale of finally throwing caution to the wind and experiencing the type of second adolescence that comes from discovering yourself and gaining confidence in yourself and your queerness. It’s empowering, addicting, and the perfect soundtrack for all your post-Pride parties.
2. Girls Make Me Wanna Die – The Aces
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – OCTOBER 24: (L-R) Katie Henderson, Cristal Ramirez, Alisa Ramirez and McKenna Petty of the pop/rock band The Aces (Photo by Scott Legato/Getty Images)
She’s killing me with desire for someone else / These girls that make me wanna die
Currently working on their third outing, the Utah foursome broke onto the scene in 2018 with their hit “Stuck.” On their first album, When My Heart Felt Volcanic, the themes of queerness and same-sex love were a bit more implicit; “Bad Love” questions why someone could ever think a certain type of love is bad, but it all stays between the lines. With their sophomore album Under My Influence, the group, which is made up of three queer members (and their favorite ally), made things much more explicit. With songs like “Kelly,” “Thought of You,” and “All Mean Nothing,” The Aces weren’t pulling their punches anymore, and their latest single is no different. A short, fun romp, “Girls Make Me Wanna Die” is sure to be stuck in your head for the rest of the summer.
3. Her Body is Bible – FLETCHER
MANCHESTER, TENNESSEE – JUNE 19: Fletcher (Photo by Erika Goldring/WireImage)
Amen, oh, her body is bible / The only heaven that I’ll go
FLETCHER, once an X-Factor hopeful, has now become a pillar of the sapphic pop scene. Similar to The Aces, her music began with quieter and more implicit lyrics but has eventually evolved into the loud and proud music she’s been putting out in the past few years. What started with her first album THE S(EX) TAPES, an album where all the visuals were shot by the ex-girlfriend the songs were written about, has evolved into her upcoming second record Girl Of My Dreams. The first single, “Her Body is Bible,” is a triumphant tribute to women, as well as a balm for anyone suffering from the religious trauma inflicted on queer people who grew up heavily religious. It’s clear that when Girl Of My Dreams drops in September, FLETCHER will continue to deliver sapphic pop that is pure perfection.
4. This Hell – Rina Sawayama
INDIO, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 23: Singer Rina Sawayama. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images for Coachella)
This hell is better with you / We’re burning up together / Baby, that makes two
Another song that offers a balm for those with that pesky religious trauma, “This Hell” turns every anti-gay slogan into a cheeky line punctuated by an infectious alt-pop beat. With hints of Shania Twain, in both the country-inspired guitar and the “Let’s go girls!” reference, Sawayama blurs the lines between alternative, pop, and country, blending all the genres together to create something incredibly unique and incredibly addictive. That’s hardly surprising for fans of her debut album SAWAYAMA, released in 2020 and featuring a number of genre-bending hits and inspired lyrics. Her second outing, Hold The Girl, is scheduled for a September release as well.
5. She’s My Religion – Pale Waves
BERLIN, GERMANY – SEPTEMBER 07: Heather Baron-Gracie of Pale Waves (Photo by Joseph Okpako/WireImage)
She’s forever angry at the world / She’s no angel but she is my religion
“She’s My Religion” is another entry into the canon of queer artists reclaiming religious trauma, highlighting sapphic love through those religious references. Pale Waves, led by Heather Baron-Gracie, makes music that feels like the queer answer to Avril Lavigne’s particular brand of pop punk. 2021’s Who Am I? even features an album cover that harkens back to Lavigne’s masterful Let Go. Their newest record, Unwanted, is expected in August of this year and features some incredible songs like “Jealousy” and “Reasons to Live,” which, paired with “She’s My Religion,” make for perfect additions to your queer pop-punk playlist.
6. <maybe> it’s my fault – WILLOW
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 15: Willow performs onstage for iHeartRadio ALTer EGO presented by Capital One at The Forum on January 15, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Met her at a party, I said she seems nice / Every time I thought about it, I got butterflies
Far from being known as just Will and Jada’s daughter, WILLOW has made a name for herself in the punk rock scene, and her latest release is no different. Following her alternative 2021 outing lately I feel EVERYTHING, which featured Travis Barker-backed “transparent soul,” “<maybe> it’s my fault” encapsulates the next step for this burgeoning rock star. Leaning even further away from alternative and more heavily into rock, the guitars on this track will make you want to whip your hair in a head-bang, pun intended. With the casually sapphic lyrics, WILLOW’s latest single feels recent and relevant while still maintaining a hint of that early-2000s punk vibe she embraced last year.
8. Boyfriend – Dove Cameron
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 15: Dove Cameron (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Michael Kors)
Thinking I’m gonna steal you from him / I could be such a gentleman
If you’ve been living under a rock, you might still picture Dove Cameron as the blonde-haired Disney darling known for Descendants and Liv and Maddie. While she’s definitely not trying to erase that part of her history, she has since come out as queer and fully embraced her new role as a sapphic-pop powerhouse with her latest batch of music. “Boyfriend” took TikTok by storm earlier this year, and her newest single, “Breakfast,” seems to be having a similar rise. “Boyfriend,” which shares its name with songs by the likes of Justin Bieber and Big Time Rush, stands out as a sapphic banger in the midst of boyband staples.
8. TikTok’s Rising Stars
CHINA – 2022/05/10: In this photo illustration, a Tik Tok logo is displayed on the screen of a smartphone. (Photo Illustration by Sheldon Cooper/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Pink Slips – Jenna Doe
I’ll wear your sweater, for her I unzip / You write me love letters, while she gets pink slips
Jenna Doe first flew onto my radar with a cover of Taylor Swift’s “The Way I Loved You,” which she blended into her song “Pink Slips,” effectively taking that song and putting a queer spin on it. The video went viral on TikTok, leading to Doe releasing the full version of “Pink Slips” not long after. Most recently, Doe has put out a full-length EP titled Diary Entry, which contains this song as well as two other sapphic alt-pop songs. With an addictively punky guitar and a bridge that’s to die for (“And it seems we’re in the same boat / Clinging to something that could never float”), Jenna Doe is an artist to watch as she moves into the future of her career and flourishes outside of their TikTok roots.
Leah – Seeing Double
Leah, you’re breaking my heart and I’m letting you / Oblivious beauty, I’m betting you don’t even know what you’re doing to me
Seeing Double, an up-and-coming band from New York is bringing sapphic lyrics to Fleetwood Mac-style rock on their single “Leah.” Finding their niche on TikTok, “Leah” has now accumulated hundreds of videos on the platform, as well as success on streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. With only two songs to their name, the catchy nature of their first single will leave you wanting more, with only their second single “Don’t Wait” to tide you over. Hopefully, the band will release more music sooner rather than later, but until then, “Leah” is the perfect sapphic soundtrack for the dog days of summer.
