Let’s get loud and proud this Pride month with a playlist that will make you feel fearless! Beyond the colorful festivities, this month-long celebration continues to make queer voices heard, spread awareness, and share our pride. Team EnVi rounds up artists who make you feel seen with their empowering lyricism and riveting visual films. So hit play and get ready to paint your day with the vibrant shades of the rainbow!
Holland – “NUMBER BOY”
Iconic Korean pop star Holland is the face for South Korea’s LGBTQIA+ community and a rising trailblazer in the K-pop industry. Along with being acknowledged for his devotion to being the voice for LGBTQIA+ youths, Holland is also well recognized as the first openly gay K-pop artist.
Dripping in synths and the notable kick-and-snare drum beats, “NUMBER BOY” is a powerful electro-pop single encapsulating messages of self-love, personal growth, and self-liberation. The electro bounce track nods to the ‘80s pop sound as it gives the impression of a comforting nostalgia. In “NUMBER BOY,” Holland sings about the measuring of human worth against popularity and achievements. Singing raw lyrics such as “Numbers affixed to someone like me / Unknown digits / Pounding relentlessly / Reasons to make me stop / If my worth is in this manner / If this is love / Would you value me more?,” he confronts society. Through this track, too, Holland grows into a person who embraces all that he is regardless of what others might think. The shimmering music video not only includes Holland’s close friends, but most notably includes ZEROBASEONE’s vocalist and actor Ji-woong, who makes a surprise feature during an emotional encounter.
Trúc Nhân – “SÁNG MẮT CHƯA? (Eyes Wide Opened)”
Vietnamese singer Trúc Nhân shines as the voice of tomorrow and is a must-add to your rotation. Using humor to tackle sensitive subject manners, the openly gay artist sings on topics deemed taboo. He regularly pushes the boundaries within the Vietnamese music scene other artists rarely talk about. Highlighting the artist’s expressive singing style, the catchy pop song “Eyes Wide Opened” paints itself unique with its alternating tempo and Trúc Nhân’s tailor-made singing style. The music video follows a comical story of Trúc Nhânn attending the wedding of his ex-boyfriend who is marrying a woman. Playing the role of a jealous past lover, Nhânn threatens to reveal the groom’s past homosexual relationship and steal him away. Spoiler warning: instead of crashing the groom’s joyous event, Nhânn wishes the couple well in their marriage.
Originally released in 2019, the music video has amassed over 143 million views on YouTube with the LGBTQ community praising Trúc Nhânn’s bold social statements. Behind the comedic plot and mischievous message, Trúc Nhânn speaks of a situation which remains in societies — gay men marrying women. Homoesexual marriage is a social taboo in Vietnam (and many other countries), and due to overwhelming family pressure and cultural expectations, closeted men condone traditional practices. Yet instead of expressing unhappiness, “Eyes Wide Opened” is full of celebration for the future yet to come.
Hayley Kiyoko – “Girls Like Girls”
Named by the LGBTQ+ community and her fans as the “Lesbian Jesus,” queer synth-pop queen Hayley Kiyoko breaks down barriers as an active advocate for LGBTQ+ sphere. Accumulating 115 million views on YouTube since its original release in 2015, Hayley officially came out to the public as lesbian with her female pop anthem “Girls Like Girls.” Hayley sends out a powerful message to youths struggling with their journeys of individuality and sexual identity. Singing impactful lines such as “We will be everything that we’d ever need / Don’t tell me, tell me what I feel / I’m real and I don’t feel like boys,” the artist conveys a universal message of acceptance of your identity and pure self, reassuring that these colorful emotions are to be treasured.
Directed by Hayley and director Austin S. Winchell, the coming-of-age music video tells the story between two young girls’ friendship blossoming into a romantic relationship. The narrative follows the secret emotions possessed by the two, yet both fear crossing the line and taking the first initiative. While one girl actively shows her love, the other stays in her toxic heterosexual relationship. Fortunately for everyone, the girls muster up the courage to share a sweet kiss. Girls like girls like boys do, nothing new!
Raveena – “Love Overgrown”
Queer Indian American artist Raveena Aurora is well versed in the ebb and flow of romance. Centering her music around spirituality and healing, Raveena creates a portal that transports listeners into another realm through her ethereal melodies and vulnerable lyricism. Coming from her experimental pop album Asha’s Awakening, folk soul-pop song “Love Overgrown” follows the falling in and out of love between two lovers. Raveena self-directed the track’s experimental modern Bollywood princess short film, which follows the singer and her female love interest’s relationship. Throughout the epic romantic shots, the two women exchange loving gazes and tender caresses.
The contemporary R&B track gives off a relaxing soundscape with its soft acoustic and deep bass. Raveena initiates an intimate listening experience with her airy vocals and psychedelic soundscape. The simplistic yet heavy lyrics “But why wait ’til it’s overgrown? / Wait ’til it’s said and done? / Wait ’til we’re broken / Wait ’til we’re so in love” exhibits the other side of love’s passionate affairs — the cruel dissolution of emotions. Yet in spite of this, Raveena holds onto thankfulness as she reassures listeners they are not alone in their heartache.
Enno Cheng – “第一次遇見花香的那刻 (Fragrance of the First Flower)”
Taiwanese Indie-pop singer Enno Cheng puts her versatility on full display through her odes to love and her emotionally-stirring melodies. After creating waves with her coming out post in 2016, the iconic queer artist sends messages of hope and inspiration to the many who struggle. Enno composed the original song for the Taiwanese drama series Fragrance of the First Flower — a romance story between two women and their forgotten love left behind with their youth. The emotive ballad “Fragrance of the First Flower” talks about the first time you realize your true feelings. Based on the budding love of the main couple in the show, Enno expresses the discovery of love during adolescence as she describes the foreign moment full of first experiences, longing, and confusion. Through the song’s simple arrangement and realistic narration with lyrics like “I can fool myself for no longer / To feel you is the desire of life / Even if we are doomed to perish / How could I deny it? It would be the day I unveil the world,” Enno reassures listeners it’s alright. You can keep moving forward, for time will be the only factor that will lead us in life.
Conan Gray – “Heather”
Everyone has experienced jealousy, no matter what form it takes. And Conan Gray is no stranger to jealousy’s cunning tricks. Standing as one of his most popular tracks to date, pop king Conan Gray sings of unrequited love and its deeply rooted hook on an aching heart in his song “Heather.” A cut from his debut album Kid Krow, Conan composed the song from a personal experience that has left an impactful impression on him. In “Heather,” Conan is in love with another who is in love with Heather, a woman he admits to loving yet hating. Expressing his frustration, jealousy, and grief, Conan wishes to be Heather, as he sings, “Why would you ever kiss me? / I’m not even half as pretty / You gave her your sweater, it’s just polyester / But you like her better, wish I were Heather.” The ballad’s sorrowful story realistically narrates an experience many LGBTQ+ members face to this day — unreturned affections and empty outcomes. It mirrors when you reject what makes you who you are in order to become someone you are not in the name of love.
Chappell Roan– “Good Luck, Babe!”
Queer pop princess Chappell Roan broke the internet with her sapphic desires and anguishing emotions in her hit single “Good Luck, Babe!” Heavily reminiscent of the classic ‘80s alt-pop sound, Chappell produced a timeless track describing the consequence of denying your true self feelings. Alongside the undeniably addicting synths and chorus, “Good Luck, Babe!” sympathizes with the struggle of compulsory heterosexuality. With its iconic bridge, “When you wake up next to him in the middle of the night, with your head in your hands you’re nothing more than his wife / And when you think about me all of those years ago / You’re standing face to face with ‘I told you so,’” the song holds rage, nostalgia, and acceptance as Chappell embraces all of these emotions.
Mad Tsai — “Boy Bi”
Mad Tsai creates a song for bisexual awareness where he discusses the complexities many bisexual people experience. Behind the witty lyrics & upbeat pop sound of “Boy Bi,” Mad Tsai dives deep into the emotional turmoil when you have maybe found acceptance of your identity. With thought-provoking lyrics such as “And love can be hard / For someone who doesn’t know what they want / I’m missing a part / For all of my life got a hole in my heart / And love could be / A winning game to those who are straight but / I’m perfectly complete,” Mad Tsai reflects the mind of a bisexual boy. He also shows the internal struggle of coming to terms with his sexuality in a way that members of the LGBTQ community can relate to.
Other tracks featured in our “Glow With Pride” playlist include “Material” by drag queen Shea Couleé, “Free Somebody” by Korean singer Luna, and “wish that i could be” by R&B singer UMI. Listen to everything mentioned and more, curated by Team EnVi only for you on Spotify.
Together We Glow
In allyship, Team EnVi has gathered a non-exhaustive list of non-profits who provide resources, aid, and fundraise for the LGBTQ+ community, families, and youth.
- LGBTQ+ Legal Assistance Organizations:
- Advocating and Supporting LGTBQ+ Families and Members:
- LGBTQ+ Youths:
- LGBTQ+ Elderly:
- Education on LGTBQ+ Issues:
Family Acceptance Project (San Francisco State University)
Looking for a rotation full of affection and sweet emotions? Check out our love-filled playlist here!
