5 Recent Albums by Sapphic Artists That’ll Light Up Your Summer!

We’ve got 5 recently released albums by sapphic artists like Janelle Monáe and Kehlani for you to check out. Tune in for some big feelings and even bigger bops!

Are you in need of a playlist refresh? Well, you’re in the right place! The following albums are just what you need to liven up your pool/beach/tanning sessions. All five albums were released in the last year or two so you should be able to find something new to tickle your fancy. Let’s jump in!

 Janelle Monáe – The Age of Pleasure (Released: June 9, 2023)

From start to finish, this album gives us summertime vibes. The Age of Pleasure is perfect laying-by-the-beach listening. The transitions from song to song are so subtle that the entire album passes by without you realizing the tracks changed. Monáe’s videos for “Lipstick Lover” and “Water Slide” are so vivid and queer that they make us want to throw our own pool party. “Champagne Shit” and “Haute” are basically guaranteed to make you strut around in the sand. The Age of Pleasure will be on repeat all summer long.

Fletcher – Girl Of My Dreams (Deluxe) (Released: September 16, 2022)

Girl Of My Dreams (Deluxe) is ideal for driving down the PCH, windows down, and scream-singing the lyrics to “20 Something” with your best friend. If you’ve got big feelings this summer, you need to listen to this album. Got a crush on someone that knocks your socks off? Play “Suckerpunch” until the sun sets, and then play it some more. Did you have a terrible breakup? Give “Better Version” and “Guess We Lied…” a try; Fletcher might just help you cry it out. “Girl Of My Dreams” and “For Cari” are just the self-love tunes that everyone should hear this summer. Sad girl summer!

Kehlani – blue water road (Released: April 29, 2022)

If you want to spend the summer in a bubble of love and groove, Blue Water Road is the album for you. Arguably Kehlani’s most grown-up album yet, the songs will make you feel on top of the world, and in charge of it. Love songs “Little Story” and “Everything” are tender, warm, and hopeful. “Wish I Never” and “Any Given Sunday” are great for when you need to get into the zone creatively. Save “Tangerine” and “More Than I Should (feat. Jessie Reyez)” for those late night bonfires or when you’re up to no good. Also, check out the multi-part documentary blue water road trip; it offers listeners lots of insight into the making of the album.

Hayley Kiyoko – PANORAMA (Released: July 29, 2022)

Hayley Kiyoko’s voice is like a snow cone at the height of the day’s heat. This album is giving us Britney Spears vibes with its peppy beats and snappy lyrics. You’ll like this one if you’re in the market for straightforward pop songs that are guaranteed to put you in a carefree state of mind. “Sugar at the Bottom” is a poppy kiss-off song about that girl that broke your heart. Sing it at the top of your lungs for therapeutic benefits. Play “Underground” and “For the Girls” when you’re getting ready to go out this summer. The final sweeping track “Panorama” will make you excited for the future and remind you of all that you’re capable of.

Grace Gaustad – PILLBX: whts ur fantasy? (Released: June 2, 2023)

Grace Gaustad’s PILLBX: whts ur fantasy? is moody dance music if ever there was any, as evidenced by the song “Moment.” Think Lana Del Rey meets Lady Gaga, but with more rainbows. PILLBX, like all of Gaustad’s work, deals with difficult topics like depression and negative self image, but they turn their pain into a beautiful musical tapestry. Gaustad brings us “Gaga” as a fun homage to the pop music that pre-dates them. Be sure to check out their video for “Disappear.” It’s a sweet song, almost like a lullaby, that’ll keep you cool on those warm summer nights. The video also features a cameo from the iconic Mariska Hargitay. Overall, PILLBX: whts ur fantasy? is a great album for those long summer nights when you’re all alone and thinking big thoughts.

Are any of these a new favorite for you? What is your soundtrack of the summer? We’d love to share music recommendations with you on Twitter @AfterBuzzTV!