boyish alternative press recommendations
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9 artists that Alternative Press editors and writers are listening to right now                                               

Every month, Alternative Press writers and editors join forces to share their favorite rising artists. From raucous hardcore to mesmeric bedroom pop to anthemic indie rock and more, we know you are sure to find a new band to love. Your playlists are about to get even better with these additions. 

Read more: 10 emerging Scottish bands who are innovating alternative music

This list originally appeared in issue 395 and showcases AltPress’ favorite emerging LGBTQIA+ artist picks in celebration of Pride Month.

Tokky Horror

Check out: “Girlracer”

Tokky Horror are a band that are “not making electronic music any better, just making punk music worse.” Partially deriving their name from The Rocky Horror Picture Show, this trans-led band fuse together queercore pop-punk and digital hardcore influences. With tongue-in-cheek songs about hypermasculinity, dance culture, society and more, get ready for some good energy when you press play on Tokky Horror. Augusta Battoclette

Dream Nails

Check out: “Kiss My Fist”

“Not all fucking women have vaginas” is a statement from “Women And Non-Binary People To The Front (Skit),” preceding feminist power anthem “Vagina Police” on Dream Nailsdebut LP. Whether you’re into the raw energy of old-school punk/riot grrrl, 2000s pop punk or even breezy surf punk, the witches from London’s DIY queercore scene are a band to love. Both in music and in real life, Dream Nails are about standing up against injustice and celebrating who you are—both of which are and will always be essential to real change. Giedre Matulaityte

MAY-A

Check out: “Swing Of Things”

Aussie native Maya Cumming is creating an indie-pop phenomenon through her unconventional take on what love looks and sounds like. Adopting the stage name MAY-A, the 19-year-old singer-songwriter injects her unique storytelling with an imprint of her life in any given moment. She bears it all on her forthcoming debut EP, Don’t Kiss Ur Friends, set to drop Aug. 6. With a string of singles to her name, MAY-A is leaving a lasting impression with her honest approach to emotions, sexuality and growing up. Paige Owens

Regrown

Check out: “Cuffed”

On their debut EP Closed Casket Material, New Jersey-based outfit Regrown shine for their economical approach to songwriting. The longest track on the record, “Deep End,” clocks in at 3:41, eclipsing tracks such as opener “Low Point”—just over a minute in length. Despite their no-frills approach, the group pack a depth of experience into their songs. Each track is like a universe in miniature. Along the way, they construct an EP that is equal parts anthemic and emotionally charged, chock full of neatly intertwined guitar riffs, heart-wrenching breakdowns and sing-a-long group choruses that are sure to get your fists in the air at the show. —JP Ervin

OK Cool

Check out: “Hypervigilant”

If you long for a charming union of noodly math rock and queer-themed shoegaze, look no further than emo duo OK Cool, aka Bridget Stiebris and Haley Bloomquist. Their latest EP, Surrealist, is an emo paragon that ranges from bouncy open-D jams reminiscent of Marietta to punk riffs that wouldn’t be out of place on a Joyce Manor album. These Chicago shredders not only play twangy riffs deep enough to be in a Foxing song, but they also prove their shoegaze mastery through beautifully reverberated telecasters and transcendent vocal effects. Joshua Carter

Boyish

Check out: “Superstar”

Brooklyn-based queer indie duo Boyish offer the lo-fi sounds that should undoubtedly serve as the soundtrack to your summer. Lead vocalist India Shore will evoke feelings of nostalgia and serenity in casual listeners through her enthralling voice. However, if you listen closely to each lyric, you’ll empathize with their deep narratives encompassing self-reflection, existentialism, sexuality and more. Guitarist Claire Altendahl underscores these messages with brilliant melodic lines sure to make you think deeply about your past, present and future, particularly on their brand-new EP, We’re all gonna die, but here’s my contribution.Maria Serra

ENTITY

Check out: “Play Me (Don’t)”

ENTITY, the project of singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Natalie Diaz, contributes to a lengthy tradition of LGBTQIA+ electronic dance music. Diaz’s work is striking for her unique ability to capture the queerness of electronic music within her songs, writing music that is both a soundtrack for and a document of queer experiences. Setting confessional lyrics over brooding electronics, Diaz describes her journey to accepting her sexuality and the romantic challenges faced by many people within the LGBTQIA+ community. In this sense, her music also echoes her broader social vision: to promote self-acceptance and create a space for free expression. JP Ervin

tip/toe

Check out: “lilypads”

Based in Burlington, Vermont, singer-songwriter-producer Con Meehan’s music feels just as breezy and bright as the Green Mountain State itself. Self-described as “melancholy pop,” his work lures listeners in at the pace of a tip-toe, as he full-on sprints toward his seasoned writing via the “existential lens” he says he holds a pen under. Sonics aside, tip/toe has begun venturing off into other mediums. Most recently, he celebrated the launch of his ABSURDIAN MINDF#%K exhibition and proved himself as a multidimensional force in Burlington’s DIY scene. Brenton Blanchet

Partner

Check out: “Big Gay Hands”

Partner have crafted their own unique indie-rock style. The duo, made up of Lucy Niles and Josée Caron, have swiftly changed direction in their music since 2014. Shining a new light on the topic of being in the LGBTQIA+ community, Partner flirt with fresh ways of modifying their sound. Their new album, Never Give Up, is dynamic while dancing over those themes in a comical way. Tabitha Timms

Which new artist are you adding to your summer playlist? Any recs for us? Shout out in the comments below!