For decades pop music has created queer icons, inspired LGBTQ+ people and allowed us to escape into our own worlds of fantasy whenever we need to.
“I’ve been taught by pop stars my whole life,” Kim Petras tells GAY TIMES. “I’ve always been studying them. I can’t deny that Madonna is my biggest influence ever.”
So when Kim sent over her Pride Anthems playlist, we weren’t surprised to see it full of golden pop classics.
From all-time favourites by Whitney Houston and Madonna, to more recent hits by Sam Smith and Lady Gaga, Kim’s selection is brimming with empowerment and escapism.
Naturally it begins with her own pop banger of the moment, Malibu, which has been blaring out of our speakers ever since it was first released earlier this year.
“I started writing music because it made me happy, I could put my headphones on and listen to Love. Angel. Music. Baby. by Gwen Stefani and escape my real life,” she tells us.
“I think pop music especially has that power to it and that’s why I’m so obsessed with it. I’m just happy I’ve got this song at this time to drop.”
Pride Anthems is a series of playlists GAY TIMES will be releasing across summer on our Apple Music curator page, celebrating and supporting emerging and established LGBTQ+ music artists.
Some of the artists featured in this Pride-themed content series you will have previously seen come through our ongoing Elevate campaign.
Elevate – which is created by GAY TIMES in collaboration with Apple Music – aims to support and platform emerging LGBTQ+ music talent as they break through into the mainstream.
Rina Sawayama, Dorian Electra, Victoria Monét, Arlo Parks, L Devine, Carlie Hanson and Joesef are the artists who have featured so far.
You can listen to their music via the GAY TIMES Super Room on Apple Music now.