Monday Mixtape: New music by Barry Manilow, Orville Peck and AZUL

Queer Music News is a smattering of what’s going on in music by LGBTQ+ artists and the artists we love. Here’s a wrap-up of new music we’ve received in recent days for your Monday Mixtape.

Barry Manilow unveils new video single with a tour announcement

Award-winning music icon Barry Manilow released a video earlier this month for his new single “Once Before I Go.” The track was produced by Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds and Demonte Posey, and written by Peter Allen and Dean Pitchford. The video was filmed at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, home to Manilow’s record-setting residency and is directed by Jamie Thraves.

The single arrived as the singer prepares for a series of farewell performances in nine U.S. cities this January. These dates mark his final concerts in each market to celebrate a remarkable five decades-long career. No tour dates were announced for Dallas or Texas.

Watch “Once Before I Go” below:

Orville Peck dropped the new EP Appaloosa with a new video

Earlier this month, queer country artist Orville Peck released Appaloosa EP, a cinematic set of Western tunes about love and luck, action and ennui, youthful spirit and grown-man emotion via Warner Records. The seven-song set includes a brand new duet with Noah Cyrus and also arrives alongside a music video for the lead single “Drift Away.”

“Appaloosa — the spotted horse — is a collection of songs created to honour the power of singularity. A celebration of uniqueness and performance. An archive of love and fear,” Peck said in the album’s press release.

A key inclusion on the EP harkens to his Broadway debut. Peck sings “Maybe This Time,” made famous by Liza Minnelli in the 1972 film adaptation of Cabaret. Peck appeared as the Emcee in a five-month, 128-show run of Cabaret this summer.

Watch “Drift Away” below:

Queer pop artist AZUL announces latest EP, Death, Love & Disco

Raleigh-based pop singer-songwriter AZUL announced that her latest studio release, Death, Love, & Disco will be dropped across all platforms on Thursday, Dec 4. The five track release features her singles “Lies” and “Stress Dreams.”

Blending her Argentinian roots with her influence by jazz, Broadway, soul, gospel,
blues, disco, and Latin folk rock, AZUL brings big femme, queer, energy to the indie music landscape.

“I’m so excited to finally present the music from this record in its full form,” she said of the EP in a press release. “I’m going to be sharing the stage with artists I love and admire, so I want everyone to come out and enjoy it in their flashiest disco attire.” 

Listen to “Stress Dreams” below:

Concert calendar:

Nov. 28 and 29: David Byrne at The Music Hall at Fair Park.

Nov. 29: Sidepiece at SILO Dallas.

Nov. 30: KATSEYE at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory.

Dec. 2: The Aces at The Kessler.

Dec. 2: 106.1 KISS FM’s Jingle Ball”, Shinedown, Zara Larsson, Reneé Rapp and more at Dickies Arena.

Dec. 4: Jonas Brothers at Dickies Arena.

Dec. 5: Jim Brickman at Texas Hall.

Dec. 6: Brandy / Monica at Dickies Arena.

Dec. 10: Erykah Badu at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory.

Dec. 10: Lady A at Texas Trust CU Theatre at Grand Prairie.

 – Rich Lopez