Q-Music; premiere and posthumous indie albums to hear

Here are some gay and queer music acts you may not yet know, but you should, like Willi Carlisle, who seamlessly blends his Missouri roots into music that draws on Americana and country and traditional folk. Also featured; Shamir, Frankie Grande, Frank Dain, and a posthumous release of songs by the late Jeffrey Runnings.

“Ratchet,” the fantastic 2015 debut album by queer singer/songwriter Shamir found a place on many end-of-the-year best-of lists. Since that time, the nonbinary artist has released six more full-length albums, including their latest “Ten” (Kill Rock Stars). Available on orange vinyl, the album is said to be their last as they explore other creative outlets.

The ten songs on “Ten” are examples of the way that Shamir has moved in different directions following the release of “Ratchet.” While there aren’t any electronic dance beats to be found, there is still much to admire including the joyously rocking celebration of camaraderie on “I Love My Friends,” the electrified, spiritual quest of “Die,” the acoustic romance of “Offline,” and the flood of emotions in “29.”
https://shamir.bandcamp.com/

Frankie Grande, the older, gay, half-brother of Ariana Grande, is not in an enviable position. Seriously, would you want to be the half-sib of one of the biggest stars of the 21st century? Nevertheless, Frankie gives his all on his debut album “Hotel Rock Bottom” (Casablanca/Republic).

Available on rainbow splatter vinyl and separated into top and bottom sides (Get it?), the album is a well-timed dance party beginning with “Rhythm of Love,” an uplifting club banger. “Sex Shop” is a suggestive as its title suggests, “Boys” is a threesome anthem, musical inferno “Hotter Than Hell” somehow manages to reference Dante, “Music and The Noise” is custom-made for tea dance and, in an unexpected sobering turn, the title track addresses the issue of recovery.
www.instagram.com/frankiejgrande/

Of “Piqued” (Independent Project Records), the final solo album by the late singer/songwriter and For Against front-person Jeffrey Runnings (who died in March 2025), the artist said that “it wasn’t made for anyone, it wasn’t even intended to be put out; it’s a record for its own sake.”

Nevertheless, we should be glad that this posthumous release is seeing the light of day. Runnings defined the music as “a mostly instrumental hi-fi/lo-fi baroque mashup with early 4AD,” which certainly comes through on opener “Batman Forever.”

But there is also a strong Joy Division/early New Order energy that runs throughout, especially on “Just Before Nothing,” “Demolition Blast,” “The Courage of Voluntary Trees,” “Threadbare,” and “Mayfair,” while “Heretofore” is in a league of its own.
www.independentprojectrecords.com/jeffrey-runnings

“I’ve Had a Love,” the second album by gay cabaret artist Frank Dain, and his first in 24 years, is dedicated to his late husband of 33 years, Bill Sensenbrenner, whom he lost to COVID in 2021. Such information makes this collection of familiar material a bittersweet affair.

Dain, the editor of “Cabaret Scenes” magazine, is well acquainted with the genre, and both his performance and song selection reflect that fact. Recommended tracks include “It’s A New World,” “But Beautiful,” “No One Ever Tells You,” “Sleepy Man,” and “Some Other Time.”
www.frankdain.com