As the sweltering days of August 2025 give way to the promise of autumn, the music world is buzzing with a fresh wave of releases that capture the spirit, struggles, and triumphs of LGBTQ+ and ally artists. From folk duos in Montana to pop rebels and genre-defying icons, this week’s new music offers a tapestry of emotions and stories—each track a testament to the creativity and resilience of its creators.
On August 8, 2025, Billboard Pride rolled out its latest edition of Queer Jams of the Week, spotlighting some of the most anticipated and talked-about releases from LGBTQ+ artists. Leading the charge is Ethel Cain, the enigmatic singer-songwriter who first captured listeners’ imaginations with her haunting debut, Preacher’s Daughter. Now, with her sophomore album Willoughby Trucker, I’ll Always Love You, Cain takes a daring turn. According to Billboard, the album doesn’t just continue her family’s tragic saga—it dives deeper, exploring a doomed romance from earlier in her character’s life. The result? An expansive, atmospheric record that balances the warmth of young love with an undercurrent of darkness, inviting listeners to lose themselves in its complex, immersive world.
But Cain isn’t content to rest on her laurels. As Yahoo Entertainment notes, she’s also dropped the ethereal single "Dust Bowl," transporting fans to another place and time with her signature blend of storytelling and sonic experimentation. It’s a move that has cemented her status as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary music—one who isn’t afraid to zig when the world expects her to zag.
Meanwhile, Lucy Dacus, fresh off the March release of her critically acclaimed album Forever Is a Feeling, surprised fans with two new singles: "Bus Back to Richmond" and "More Than Friends." Both tracks, highlighted by Billboard and Yahoo Entertainment, showcase Dacus’s knack for gentle harmonies and devastatingly honest lyrics. On "Richmond," she confides, “You said, ‘please give me a chance’/ You didn’t know that I already had,” a line that perfectly encapsulates her ability to turn heartbreak into art. "More Than Friends" is equally poignant, with Dacus reflecting, “When you die, I’ll be a wreck/ When I die, don’t pine until you’re dead.” It’s no wonder Billboard calls her a generational songwriting star.
Not to be outdone, Sasha Keable’s new project Act Right takes the well-trodden path of heartbreak in R&B and makes it feel fresh. According to Billboard, Keable’s expressive voice and raw production choices cut straight to the heart of betrayal and self-discovery. It’s a project that doesn’t just wallow in pain—it charts a course through it, emerging stronger on the other side.
The folk scene, too, is seeing a renaissance, thanks in part to Buffalo Traffic Jam, a duo hailing from Bozeman, Montana. As reported by MELODIC Magazine, Frankie Cassidy and Nathan Ross began as college friends jamming in their dorms, eventually finding viral success with "Forgot Your Roots" and landing a deal with Arista Records. Their debut single with the label, "Comfort in Misery," is a masterclass in emotional honesty. With lines like, “Just tell me that you need me / Just tell me that you won’t leave / There’s lies in your nicotine / God damn it, I can’t breathe / Cheap cigarettes and gasoline / You find comfort in misery,” the song captures the suffocating feeling of being stuck in a rut. Cassidy explains, “Sometimes, rough patches in life seem like they’ll never end. Days are exactly the same each time you wake up, and you feel stuck. This rough patch slowly becomes all you know, and there’s no escape. Opportunities can present themselves, yet you don’t care for them because you find comfort in the misery. This is exactly what our new single ‘Comfort in Misery’ explores.”
The duo’s journey is just beginning—they’re set to join rising country star Dylan Gossett on The Westward Tour, with their first performance slated for September 22, 2025, in Pittsburgh. Stops in Indianapolis, Detroit, Denver, and Phoenix promise to introduce their heartfelt sound to new audiences across the country.
Elsewhere in the musical landscape, Big Thief’s “Los Angeles” brings a sun-soaked, celebratory vibe to the mix. According to Billboard, it’s a lush ballad that revels in the simple joys of enduring love, with Adrianne Lenker’s vocals weaving through live instrumentation like a gentle breeze. It’s the kind of track that feels instantly familiar, yet entirely new—a rare feat in today’s crowded music scene.
Daya, once known for her bright pop anthems, returns with “Agnostic,” a single that sees her embracing a moodier, alternative sound. As Billboard describes, Daya paints a vivid portrait of lost faith in love, using a slick bass line to underscore her emotional uncertainty. It’s a bold new direction for the singer, signaling a willingness to take risks and reinvent herself.
And then there’s Big Freedia, the New Orleans bounce icon whose new album Pressing Onward blends her signature dance sound with gospel influences. Billboard praises the album’s emotional depth, noting that Freedia uses it as a space to grieve the loss of her long-term partner earlier this year. The result is a record that’s both sonically ambitious and deeply personal—a celebration of life, love, and community in the face of hardship.
The week’s releases don’t stop there. Yahoo Entertainment rounds up a slew of other notable tracks: Maggie Lindemann’s pop flirtation “one of the ones,” Vincint’s empowering “I Forgot,” Amaarae’s vibrant album Black Star (featuring the infectious “Fineshyt”), JoJo Siwa’s playful “Raspy,” Cavetown’s tender “Baby Spoon,” Rochelle Jordan’s danceable “Doing It Too,” Wild Wild’s steamy “Boiler Room,” and collaborations like Guitarricadelafuente with Troye Sivan on “midsummer pipe dream,” and Isaia Huron with Kehlani on “See Right Through Me.” PARTYOF2’s “JUST DANCE 2” adds a chaotic political edge, underscoring the diversity and dynamism of today’s music scene.
With each new release, these artists are not just making music—they’re telling stories, challenging norms, and building communities. Whether it’s through the haunting narratives of Ethel Cain, the raw vulnerability of Buffalo Traffic Jam, or the joyful resilience of Big Freedia, this week’s tracks remind us that music remains a powerful force for connection and change. As summer fades and the leaves begin to turn, there’s no better time to update your playlists and let these songs carry you into the next season.
