The music industry’s precious little secret has gotten too big to strap down. Jesse Saint John has been a songwriter and creative director for a couple years now, working with music industry forces like Britney Spears, Charli XCX, and Selena Gomez to curate undeniably powerful bodies of work, along with launching a solo career as an artist whose sound is as personable as the narratives behind them.

Recently charting in the Top 10’s for R&B/hip-hop and rap songwriters for Billboard, Jesse Saint John has made 2019 his year. He’s followed up from debuting his solo artist career in 2018 with tracks like “Move,” “What Do You Like,” and “Fake It” by releasing don’t stop dancing. life gets sad. earlier this year — a forward-thinking pop EP that redefines the boundaries of traditional pop music and exposes his inner thoughts to the world. As a therapeutic form of acknowledging one’s darkness, the singer-songwriter synthesized what it’s like to strive to be the best in today’s fast-paced digital age, with societal pressures and all, within this project. Tracks like “Wiser,” a star-studded music video with friends and contemporaries, depict the push-and-pull struggle dealt with putting out music as an artist and selling yourself as an artist. With an innate knack for creativity (especially having been a visual creative director for other artists), the video shows different versions of himself which captures his close-to-manic feelings of unsettlement, as he sings on loop, “what if I’m not getting any wiser?”

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More recently, the co-written banger with Lizzo, “Truth Hurts”, has been the number 1 song on the Hot 100 for five weeks now, having overthrown the summer 2019 anthem of “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X which comfortably sat at number 1 for 19 weeks. “Truth Hurts” was released in 2017, however there’s a reason the two year old began to chart. The empowering lyricism and artistic vision set in stone for the track has rode the rising wave of queer perspectives being embrace for radiowaves, creatives, and allies. From talking about real feelings and situations, Jesse Saint John has made a name for himself as an artist both behind the scenes and in the spotlight to not only empower queer artistry, but also lead the music industry sonically in the right path.

Jesse Saint John is a product of his cultural and artistic inspirations and loved ones around him – Of course, with the sparky flair of his own unconventional thinking, he’s created his own image to hint at new paths and new aesthetics for up and coming artists gravitating around him. Take a look inside his mind with his curated Queeropedia playlist.

[su_quote]This playlist is made up of songs I’ve co-written or artists I’ve collaborated with, & a few of my idols. I’m super blessed to work with a huge spectrum of LGBTQ superstars & it’s one of my life’s missions to collab with & highlight LGBTQ talent cuz when I succeed it’s not just for me it’s for my community, & it’s especially for those underrepresented in the mainstream. I love us so much ♥️?[/su_quote]

All the previous episodes of Queeropedia are available on our Spotify profile.

It might be cold outside, but this playlist is definitely warming us up and making us bounce!

Let’s blend into music with drops of exquisite pop thanks to new tracks by the gentle Daniella Mason on the soulful “Nightshapes“. Enter deep into the night or at least “Try” with the soft-glowing KYZR BLUE.

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Anna Baines turns on the candy coloured lights and licks her “Vanilla Boy” with delight. Dreamy vocals lead us into temptation of Vera and her shiny “Diamonds”.

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Love is the language used by Lo-Fang on his post-valentine demo “I’ve Been On Your Computer”. And get rid of the cold and “Chase The Sun” in an amazing cover version by Kult Kyss.

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Berlin newcomer MXMVA dips us into their dark electric sounds on obscure electro-ballad “Stranger”. Venezuelan-American dream pop artist June Pastel pleases us with the slow motion “Without a Phrase”. Let’s finish with the exciting new pop single by Norwegian artist Hanne Mjøen called “Vanilla”.

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If you want to drink a bit more until you get tipsy, you should check him on Facebook and Soundcloud, and follow his regular posts on our site.

Subscribe to Deer Du Bois refreshing playlist on Spotify now!

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The track swings between a certain nostalgia and raw lyrics. The track was inspired by the story of being queer in the 80s told by songwriter Justin Tranter. In a “And the Writer Is…” podcast, he told the struggles of being a gay person in the music industry, specially during the 80s. About it, Sakima added:

[su_quote]”He talked about how especially since the AIDS pandemic of the ’80s, in the music industry being gay is seen as death. I think he literally said ‘gay is death’. The way he articulated that summed up so much of my entire career as an artist battling against homophobia in the industry, and it totally shattered me. And then I had this flood of lyrics come to my brain and ended up making this song about being queer in the music industry, but also just day-to-day life as a queer person.[/su_quote]

You can follow Sakima over Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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For the second playlist of the year, our curator doesn’t get tired of indie pop tracks, electronic sad bangers and everything in between!

Smooth but stingy love-pop is the flavor of the week with The Undercover Dream Lovers with “Feelin’ Left Out”.

Sad pop never sounded so sexy with the sounds of two mysterious newcomers: A L E K X A N D R based in London in track “SaltCrystals” and Hanel Kingson in track “Put On A Show”.

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London over Belgium rising superstar Sam Renascent brings us the brilliant “Kobotama”, blending his African roots with slick R&B. A guy to follow! Chenta Tsai aka PUTOCHINOMARICON pinches you in your dark side with his future-bubble-gum-pop on “Gente De Mierda”.

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Massachusetts-based AObeats brings the best singers of the moment together in “The Wave”, where things get intense thanks to the vocals of Satica and Sakima. And when we talk about affection we need to open up, and that is where “Love Locked Out” by talented singer Alessandro Ciminata is all about. Tender pop at his best.

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If you want to drink a bit more until you get tipsy, you should check him on Facebook and Soundcloud, and follow his regular posts on our site.

Subscribe to Deer Du Bois refreshing playlist on Spotify now!

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With this cold and snowy weather, there is nothing better than music to warm us up! Hopefully, our curator’s new playlist is here!

This week in music, we cover ourselves with warm blankets and even more soothing pop music by Young & Sick and his sickening version of Fleetwood Mac‘s “Dreams”.

Get cosy and moist in the arms of a “Daddy” with sensuous Sakima ft YLXR. If you are feeling more like a romantic, then “Pick Up Your Heart” with the delicate Paige Bea. But we won’t skip on the synth beats either with “Pussy Like That” with Swedish Italo Bitches.

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Another great cover comes from Vera and her take on James Blake‘s “Life Round Here”. Artist Von Sell sells sultry R&B in his newest track “Hell No”.

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Gender-bending artist Saint Torrente makes us heat up the night with “Calamus” and for one last wintery cover we go to Anna Christensen and her accoustic version of “Super Massive Black Hole” by Muse.

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If you want to drink a bit more until you get tipsy, you should check him on Facebook and Soundcloud, and follow his regular posts on our site.

Subscribe to Deer Du Bois refreshing playlist on Spotify now!

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The stars must be aligned in a dark-indie, but sensuous electronic way, as this new Deer Du Bois playlist is one for the night or the early dawn.

With the Berlin-based Norwegian-Australian electro-pop duo Lalume, we enter a poetic synth universe on their newest track “Clouds”. More poetic love comes from the goddess Ionnalee and her synth-spell “Simmer Down“.

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Electric fireflies lit up on the tones of newcomer Astrolemo ft. Sinne on their obscure pop anthem “Unknown”. Get poppy with Muki‘s new single “Friends Don’t Make Out”: yes, it is really awkward to make out with your friends indeed.

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And look who’s back, our blog’s favourite Sakima teams up with L.A. singer Satica on the tropical tones of “Dysfunctional”. Another sparkling discovery is London singer Rookes, who with her powerful beating track “The Heel of My Hand”, shows that she’s knows how create brooding heartbreak delivered with a distinctive pop edge.

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If you want to drink a bit more until you get tipsy, you should check him on Facebook and Soundcloud, and follow his regular posts on our site.

Subscribe to Deer Du Bois refreshing playlist on Spotify now!

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This week our Deer Du Bois playlist is curated by 4 artists from around the globe, each of them making music from the heart, telling their story, staying true to their ideas and talents, while creating a unique sound!

Meet this weeks picks by SAKIMA (UK) x LIYV (US) x THE LAND BELOW (SE) x TAFF (GR)

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From Sakima‘s picks, watch out for SATICA and her “high” energy slow-pop on “Honey Whiskey”. She will also release a track in collab with our dearest Sakima very soon. On “3 Times” by Marged, a soulful scream is unleashed and transformed into a powerful life lesson. Follow SAKIMA on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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Portland’s pastel pop singer Liyv got inspired by one of the most mysterious, yet progressive artists of the moment: Sevdaliza on her hypnotic masterpiece “Hero”. Her next pick, a collaboration between Starrah & Diplo on “Zoo”, perfectly reflects the deformed voices from the former song and also hints Liyv‘s drive on her latest album. Follow LIYV on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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Erik from The Land Below, known for his misty chill tracks, makes us discover the warm electronic soul of Solregn on “ONE”. And with Desta French, we melt the ice thanks to her rhythmic and uplifting pop on “Needing You”. Follow THE LAND BELOW on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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Greek newcomer TAFF, a film editor and director captures us again on his newest indie-tronic track “A Millions Waves”. He revealed having Empara Mi‘s newest song “Alibi” on repeat, a majestic track with a grand orchestration behind it. Follow TAFF on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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If you want to drink a bit more until you get tipsy, you should check him on Facebook and Soundcloud, and follow his regular posts on our site.

Subscribe to Deer Du Bois refreshing playlist on Spotify now!

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With Deer Du Bois this week, heartfelt voices and synth-drenched tunes are the base!

Pure emotions and ‘Pure Gold’ you’ll discover when listening to Marna. From pop-princess to touching songstress, Ofelia K stands out in both as you can discover on her recent lo-fi ballad ‘Killing Me (Go Sun Come Moon)’.

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We usually don’t like sadness but NJOMZA has no other choice than being ‘Sad For You’.

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With Alma the urban-beats sprout alongside her uplifting rhythms on the track ‘Phases’ thanks to vocals by French Montana. Brooklyn’s vocalist Raquel Undheim aka Asukal launches her debut ‘How It’s Gonna B’ with a worldly flair and delightful swiftness.

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Néonhèart teaches how to escape in their future-pop anthem ‘Prison Break’. Our recent discovery Sides, made up out of a mysterious London duo, delivers tasty synth beats with almost cinematographic effects in ‘Too Long’.

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If you want to drink a bit more until you get tipsy, you should check him on Facebook and Soundcloud, and follow his regular posts on our site.

Subscribe to Deer Du Bois refreshing playlist on Spotify now!

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