QMN: Monday Mixtape with new music by Evann McIntosh, Marielle Kraft, HERDD

Queer Music News is a smattering of what’s going on in music by LGBTQ+ artists and the artists we love. Here’s a wrap-up of music we’ve received in recent days for your new Monday Mixtape.

HERDD drops a cover of Rough Trade’s ‘High School Confidential’

Montreal-born, Sudbury-based artist HERDD released his new single, a cover of Rough Trade’s hit ‘High School Confidential.’ HERDD reimagines the Canadian band’s signature track with modern queer energy. The single is now available on all streaming platforms.

“It was such a privilege to share a bill with [Rough Trade’s] Carole Pope, a Canadian music icon and a pioneer for queer representation, at Pride Toronto’s The Q Musicale,” HERDD reflected in a press release. “That moment meant so much to me, and coming back a year later to debut my cover of her most famous song was truly full circle.”

“High School Confidential” was a Top 20 Canadian hit in the early 80s, and its bold celebration of queer desire earned it induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Listen to HERDD’s “High School Confidential” below:

“Stay Soft” is the latest single by queer indie artist Marielle Kraft

Marielle Kraft, the queer independent indie-pop singer-songwriter just announced her first coast-to-coast headlining tour in support of her debut full-length album, The Right People Will Love You released last month. The singer released her album on hand-restored vintage iPod Shuffles that she personally sourced, refurbished, and loaded with her music before mailing them to 40 fans.

She is a former middle school English teacher turned full-time artist. She’s keeping music in the family being arried to fellow singer-songwriter Kate Yeager.

The Right People Will Love You puts forth an unapologetically queer perspective and celebrates themes of stable love, emotional growth and the comfort of finding your person.

“This album is for anyone who’s found themselves holding onto wonder, even when life gets messy,” says Kraft. “Every song is a story from my life, but I hope it resonates as part of someone else’s soundtrack too.”

Listen to “Stay Soft” below:

Evann McIntosh’s “Free Ride” highlights the pulse of Chicago’s alt-pop scene

Queer alt-pop singer Evann McIntosh returns with their new single “Free Ride” that captures the restless freedom of youth in motion: cruising with the top down, music blasting, friendships forged on the fly. The new single came out last Wednesday. Produced by Abe Rounds (Joni Mitchell, Meshell Ndegeocello, Blake Mills), the single release comes ahead of a string of November shows supporting John Splithoff across California.

“’Free Ride’ was written about going to dorm parties, making friends and being the only person with a car,” McIntosh shared in a press release. “It was born after I saw Madison Cunningham at Thalia Hall and spent a lot of time with Revealer. When I brought it into the studio, it was obvious who inspired the composition — and Abe thought it’d be cool to ask if she’d want to play on it. And she did.”

Watch the video for “Free Ride” below: