These Are Our Ten Favorite Albums by Queer Artists This Year
What a year for queer music it's been! Three different songs by queer artists hit number one on the Billboard chart ("About Damn Time" by Lizzo," "Bad Habit" by Steve Lacy, and "Unholy" by Sam Smith and Kim Petras), and more than ten queer artists got Grammy nominations.
LGBTQ+ artists continue to put out not just some of the best songs, but the best albums. A lot of our favorites are coming into the peak of their careers, growing and releasing better music than they've ever released before. There are also several new artists putting out debut albums that are already shaking up the industry.
Read through to see our list of the ten best albums by queer artists in 2022.
Steve Lacy - 'Gemini Rights'
Steve Lacy is who Harry Styles wishes he was. He combines classic and glam rock, the sounds of The Rolling Stones, Prince, Maxwell, and Bowie, as well as funk and pop perfectly. This album, featuring the number one song "Bat Habit" could've come out in any decade and been just as big of a hit.
Angel Olsen - 'Big Time'
After a year of big change (she came out, introduced her partner to her family, and each of her parents died) Angel Olsen has released a musical masterpiece about heartbreak, love, and resilience. Evolving from a more indie rock sound to a heartfelt and emotional alt-country one, Olsen shows off all the tricks and skills she's learned in a life as a musician, and a queer person.
Omar Apollo - 'Ivory'
Ivory is full of sexy guitar pop with Latin flair and hip hop flavor. It's his first full length album, and you can see the growth and maturity he's gained in just a few years in the industry. This album announced Apollo as a major sex symbol and pop star, and a Grammy-nominee.
Hayley Kiyoko - 'Panorama'
Lesbian Jesus has really come into her own on this sprawling and lush album. With bops like "For the Girls" and "Sugar at the Bottom" as well as introspective soundscapes like the self titled track and "Deep in the Woods," Kiyoko is a force to be reckoned with. Panorama is a beautiful vision showing Kiyoko's growth and maturity as an artist.
Fletcher - 'Girl of My Dreams'
If Hayley Kiyoko is Lesbian Jesus, Fletcher is Queer Mary Magdalene, seducing us and reminding us of the power of sex with her debut full-length album. She reached new heights this year with this album, featuring the internet-breaking "Becky's So Hot," as well as other bops like "20 Something," "Sting," "Serial Heartbreaker," and "Her Body is Bible." Watch out for even bigger things from Fletcher in the future.
Kehlani - 'Blue Water Road'
With her smooth, sexy voice, Kehlani is the current queen of queer baby-making music. On her best album yet, Kehlani, joined by guest appearances by people like Justin Bieber, Syd, Jessie Reyes, and Thundercat, takes us on a sexual and emotional journey that we'll return to every summer.
Muna - 'Muna'
Featuring the instant classic "Silk Chiffon" Muna established themselves as one of the best bands working today with this album. This album has rock, pop, alt, and even some country on it, and Muna nails every song - you won't skip a single track here. Muna is a queer masterpiece.
Orville Peck - 'Bronco'
The gay yeehaw agenda is alive and well in 2022. Peck takes full advantage of his beautiful baritone voice as he belts and yodels his way through brilliant story-songs full of queer themes. While he revels in the sounds of classic country and the romanticism of the West, Peck's queerness and pride are wholly modern.
Rina Sawayama - 'Hold The Girl'
Sawayama truly is one of the best pop artists making music today. With her second album, she continues to push boundaries and creatively mix sounds to create great dance-pop. Sawayama is certainly one of the most ambitious pop singers today, but her ambitions never outpace her skills. With singles like "This Hell" and "Hurricanes," you can relisten over and over and never get tired.
Shamir - 'Heterosexuality'
Shamir made a bold statement about his unapologetic gay agenda with his eighth studio album. Combining alt, industrial, synth-pop, punk, R&B, and rap, Shamir takes us on a journey about nonconformity and benign yourself. When Shamir makes pride anthems, he makes ones that will make you think and challenge you to be better, and on Heterosexsuality, he makes his best anthems yet.
