‘Thicc’
Shygirl
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teUaaZ4EVp4
31-year-old London-based singer Shygirl has a sultry voice which sails smoothly over bouncy basslines, seamlessly pairing ‘90s and ‘00 dance flavours with hyperpop. She’s been pumping out the dance tracks since 2016 and every one is a banger. Shygirl’s latest release is a remix album called Club Shy, which is available on hot pink 12” vinyl, digital download and in a YouTube playlist and features new takes on her tracks by the likes of Logic1000 and Fedde Le Grand. Having just discovered Shygirl a few months ago, my favourite is last year’s Thicc, which is pure dancefloor euphoria.
’40-40′
Vetta Borne
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk5OY8Hq8KQ
Closer to home, Naarm queen Vetta Borne is also serving strong ‘00s club sounds. She’s collaborated with some of the world’s most accomplished producers including Styalz Fuego (Troye Sivan, Khalid), M-Phazes (Remi Wolf, Ruel) and Djemba Djemba (Sia, Madonna), is a long-term collaborator of Young Franco, was hand-picked by Troye Sivan for the World Pride SongHubs writing camp and is currently songwriting for some of Korea’s biggest K-Pop artists. And did we mention that Charli XCX covered her song On Fire for Triple J’s Like A Version? Vetta’s new EP Afterlife has just dropped featuring CPR (pictured) and first single 40-40.
‘Shooting Star’
Nick Ward
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N145SHxWl2Y
This unashamedly poppy song by Sydney bedroom recording artist Nick Ward is catchy-but-short at just two-and-a-half-minutes (Padam?). The music video, featuring formerly Canberra-based models Lui Burns and Izaäk Bink, alongside other locker room hotties, is a statement on the imagery and symbols of Australian masculinity that form our national identity.. but from a queer perspective. In other words: “Feeling like you’re not stacking up against it,” says Nick. It’s sexy, it’s cute, it’s fun and it reclaims those sunkissed sporting vibes for those gay boys who really appreciate it.
