Drag Up Your June Tunes
This pride month, let your listening history go gay. Drag performers are known for all kinds of artistic fancy, but lately they have been hot in their musical pursuits. From bustling R&B by up and coming queens to RuPaul’s iconic discography, drag’s vibrant queer presence in the music industry is something to be celebrated.
In RuPaul’s Drag Race, on which all of these queens have competed, there are singing challenges throughout the season, markedly using RuPaul’s own music in maxi challenges. However, in each episode’s star moment, the “lip-sync-for-your-life,” two queens battle it out on the runway to powerhouse artists from Whitney to Britney. When walking the runway, the queens strut to a RuPaul song every episode, like season 7’s “Sissy That Walk.” Sometimes, they’re challenged to write and perform their own songs, such as season 9’s top 4 “Category Is” challenge, where Peppermint, Trinity the Tuck, Sasha Velour, and Shea Couleé break it down with original verses.
A lot of Drag Queens pursue musical careers outside of Drag Race, but often gain a platform after competing on it. Trixie Mattel, makeup guru and RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 3 winner, has made musical moves, known for her country cover of “Video Games,” by Lana Del Ray. Alongside her TV show, Trixie Motel on Discovery+, and cosmetics line, Trixie Cosmetics, she has four studio albums and has spent the past year on the road performing music on Trixie and Katya Live with her season 7 sister Katya Zamo. Notably, Trixie has collaborated with Orville Peck on “Jackson” and Shakey Graves on “This Town.” Trixie even hosts a drag singing competition, Queen of the Universe, alongside Drag Race judge Michelle Visage. Coming from small-town Wisconsin, Trixie has worked impeccably hard to be able to grace us with her wit and stardom.
Moét X Change, Twinner of All Stars 4, released an EP in 2019, Unapologetically, and struck a chord with the audience of her All Stars 7 opera performance of La Sonnambula, by Vincenzo Bellini in the season’s talent show. “Here to put some bass in your face,” RuPaul introduced her, and jaws were on the floor within the first few notes of her bellowing voice. She made her Opera debut in The Daughter of the Regiment in February, launching her into a deserving spot in her career. Watch her perform “La Calunnia” from Rossini’s The Barber of Seville below.
All Stars 6 Winner Shea Couleé has been a standout performer from her original appearance on Drag Race season 9. Coming back for the all winners season alongside Monét, All Stars 7, Shea gave a drop-dead rendition of her song “YOUR NAME” in an all-out Janet Jackson fantasy. This year she released the glowing album 8, and “YOUR NAME” is, thankfully, track number 1. Shea brings a level of confidence that inspires fans and is also known for her taste in fashion. Shea has been on the cover of Vogue and continues to model alongside her musical career.
Jinkx Monsoon, or The Queen of All Queens as you may know her, said once upon a time in season 5 that her dream was to perform in drag on Broadway one day. Ten years and two crowns later, the “All-Stars All Winners” winner made her sweeping debut as Matron “Mama” Morton in Chicago. Jinx’s eccentric comedy and quirky attitude translates beautifully into her theatrical persona, and it is no wonder she is such a beloved figure. She has three of her own albums out, and is known for her iconic challenges on Drag Race. Jinx won snatch games on season 5 and season 7 as well as sweeping the competition with her stand-up comedy. It is exciting to see such a face in the world of music, bringing light to the joy of queer art and the validity of trans identity in the media.
These trans, gay, and nonbinary superstars bring people together via fierce performance, but also outspoken advocacy for the community. This month and every month, these queens are working hard to fight anti-lgbtq+ legislation and protect the right to do drag in their hometowns. Behind the fabulous makeup, outfits, personalities and vocals lie strong, proud queer people. Listening to their music not only lifts their personal platform, but makes space for drag in all genres and musical spaces. Stream music from these hardworking queens below, and keep up with Trixie, Monét, Shea, and Jinx’s tours, products, and more on their websites.
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