Brandi Carlile gets political, David Archuleta & Esteman hook up, King Princess puts a cherry on top

MTV is dead but queer music is still alive and well. Follow Queerty on Spotify then check out this week’s edition of Bop After Bop…

“Church & State” by Brandi Carlile

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Lesbian country superstar and 11-time GRAMMY Award winner Brandi Carlile gets political in “Church & State,” the third song from her highly anticipated new album, Returning To Myself, out October 24.

“Freak Show” by Monaleo featuring Lizzo

Bisexual rapper Monaleo teams up with Lizzo to give pure freaky fab on this track from the up-and-comer’s brand new mixtape Who Did The Body, out today. It’s unapologetic, it’s playful, and it has just the right amount of nasty. These two know exactly what they’re doing.

“Crème Brulée (Bilingual Version)” by David Archuleta and Esteman

American Idol alum David Archuleta serves up seconds of his summer bop “Crème Brulée,” this time with a bilingual flair courtesy of gay Colombian songwriter Esteman. It’s smooth, flirty, and sweet enough to give you a sugar rush.

“Cherry” by King Princess

In an addendum to her album Girl Violence, which dropped last month, sapphic rocker King Princess shares “Cherry,” an empowering anthem about finding inner peace after a rocky relationship. In a statement, the singer says, “This song feels like the perfect resolution to Girl Violence — the cherry on top, if you will. It’s about yearning for someone toxic, but ultimately choosing yourself.”

Other noteworthy releases…

Electroclash diva Peaches is back with the new single “Not In Your Mouth None Of Your Business”, pop goddess Kim Petras dropped the pop banger “I Like Ur Look”, and ’80s icon Boy George released an entire EP of remixes of his summer hit “The World Is Cool.” Also, the 24-track (!) 10th anniversary edition of Canadian hitmaker Carly Rae Jepsen’s Emotion is finally here, as is genderfluid rap artist Ashnikko’s new album Smoochies.

Before you go…

This week, R&B artist Lee Lewis shared a queer reimagining of Nelly Furtado’s 2006 hit “Maneater.” The song is Lee’s first new release since his debut EP Something Burning in 2024.

“As a queer kid growing up in L.A., Nelly Furtado was one of my icons, and this song has become both a mirror and a release for me,” he tells Queerty. “It’s about a lover who fed off my softness, brilliance, and Blackness, someone magnetic and draining, seductive and destructive all at once.”

Lee adds, “In covering the track, I wanted to strip away some of its famed pop edges and pull it into the soul genre, where the pain, obsession, and sensuality could fully breathe.”

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