From Brittany Howard to AppleTV+’s Argylle, here are all of the most exciting LGBTQIA films, music, and books coming out this month
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGES BY APPLETV+ AND ALBUM COVERS
Can you believe we’re already in February? It feels like New Year’s Day was only yesterday! The second month of 2024 promises us even more queer goodness. From Lotte Jeff’s new book to L Devine’s new album, here are all of the most exciting LGBTQIA releases coming out in February.
TV and film
Fitting In
2 Feb
Molly McGlynn’s highly anticipated new film Fitting In is coming out this month! Starring Maddie Ziegler, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Djouliet Amara, and Ki Griffin, the film explores a teen girl who is diagnosed with a reproductive condition that upends her plans to have a sex life. The film explores women’s health, navigating teen life, and exploring your sexuality.
Argylle
2 Feb
We absolutely cannot wait for this AppleTV+ film! Starring queer icons like Dua Lipa and Ariana DeBose, Argylle follows a reclusive author who writes espionage novels about a secret agent and a global spy syndicate. Things start to go awry when she realises that the the plot of the new book she’s writing is mirroring her own life.
Music
L Devine – Digital Heartifacts
2 Feb
Known for tracks like Girls Like Sex and More Life, the star’s latest album is one of her most vulnerable and authentic projects to date. L Devine – Olivia Rebecca Devine – is best known for her pop star status, and fans can’t wait to hear her new tracks.
The Last Dinner Party – Prelude To Ecstasy
2 Feb
If you haven’t been listening to The Last Dinner Party recently, where have you been?! The indie rock band has already been crowned the BBC Sound of 2024, and they haven’t even released an album! With songs like Nothing Matters and Sinner going viral on TikTok, we know that this album will blow up overnight.
Kitty – Tread Water
2 Feb
BRIT school graduate Kitty is back with a new track from her upcoming EP Swimming For Dummies. “Tread Water is about a breakdown in communication I was having with my girlfriend in our relationship,” the singer revealed. “The chorus is a desperate plea for us to have a sincere conversation about our feelings so that we could move on from the conflict we were having, instead of letting it push us further away to our opposite corners of London.”
Brittany Howard – What Now
2 Feb
Brittany Howard is practically lesbian royalty. The Alabama Shakes star is back once again with a fantastic new album What Now. This new album marks her second solo project, and the titular single has already entranced fans. “‘What Now’ is maybe the truest and bluest of all the songs,” she said in a statement. “It’s never my design to hurt anyone’s feelings, but I needed to say what was on my mind without editing myself. I like how it’s a song that makes you want to dance, but at the same time the lyrics are brutal.”
Lorne Balfe, Ariana DeBose & Boy George – Argylle (Soundtrack from the Apple Original Film)
2 Feb
If you’re excited about the new Argylle film, get ready for the gorgeously queer soundtrack that is going alongside it. Featuring the likes of Ariana DeBose and Boy George, this album is sure to provide a gripping backing to the spy film!
Holly Blair – Used To Dying
9 Feb
LA-based multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and filmmaker Holly Blair is back with a new single entitled Used To Dying. The song is written from the perspective of an AI trying to understand her own consciousness, honing in on a central idea of belonging.
Holly said: “The title of the song Used To Dying refers to a line in the song where I am describing her [AI’s] awareness of constantly being reset and starting over as a blank slate intended to learn for the benefit of something larger than her. The cycle of life and death is something I don’t think we are wired to fully grasp as humans, and yet it is truly the only truth we know exists.”
Lambrini Girls – God’s Country
15 Feb
After the overwhelming success of debut EP You’re Welcome, Lambrini Girls are back with new single God’s Country. Speaking on the track, the band explained: “Gods Country is our long, overdue call-out of the government and rise of the far right. We wrote this a few months back, when the political landscape had evidently reached a global boiling point.”
Crawlers – The Mess We Seem To Make (Deluxe)
16 Feb
After going viral online for their powerful song Come Over (Again) the rock band from Liverpool will be releasing their debut album The Mess We Seem To Make. From singing about trauma to politics, this album is expected to follow on the same trajectory as their previous singles (aka to the top of the charts).
LuxJury – Couple’s Therapy
21 Feb
Following the release of their debut single Hot Mess, London indie-pop trio LuxJury are back with their new single Couple’s Therapy. Lead singer and founder Nicole Fermie said: “Couples Therapy was initially inspired by a girl at work who’s mere presence upended my life for a few months and drove me to end a long term relationship I was in. I wrote the track months later reflecting on the absurdity of intimacy, and how words and skin carry equal weight in how close we feel to people.”
Jazmin Bean – Traumatic LiveliHood
23 Feb
The highly anticipated debut album from the non-binary, London-based phenomenon Jazmin Bean is coming out in February. Fans can expect this offering to track Jazmin’s previous music endeavours, switching between pop metal, hyperpop and grunge in its brilliant exploration of genre.
Books
How to Live Free in a Dangerous World: A Decolonial Memoir by Shayla Lawson
6 Feb
Shayla Lawson’s eloquent prose takes readers on a global journey exploring love, time, and self-discovery. From encounters in Venice to reflections on Blackness in Zimbabwe, Shayla delves into the complexities of life and love. Through trials and travels, they discover transformative lessons, highlighting the strength of friendships and the pursuit of freedom across diverse landscapes.
This Love – Lotte Jeffs
8 Feb
Embark on a compelling journey of queer friendship and chosen families as Mae and Ari’s magnetic connection unfolds during their final year at the University of Leeds. Through laughter, tears, and unexpected challenges, the duo navigates toxic relationships, hidden secrets, grief, and a longing for family. Amidst the relentless past and inevitable future, they strive to build something beautiful from their boundary-breaking love.
The Fox Maidens by Robin Ha
13 Feb
In this graphic novel fantasy, Kai Song dreams of becoming a warrior in 16th-century Korea, defying societal norms. Trained by her father, the commander of the Royal Legion, Kai grapples with rumours of her lineage as the granddaughter of Gumiho, the nine-tailed fox demon killed by her father. As she unravels the truth about her identity and confronts her destiny, Kai discovers unexpected compassion and love, crafting a timeless tale of resilience and self-discovery.
The Night Alphabet – Joelle Taylor
15 Feb
In the futuristic setting of 2233 Hackney, Jones, adorned with tattoos, seeks a final inking to create a unique map connecting her body art. As two artists work on her, she recounts the extraordinary stories behind each tattoo—a doorway to various lives she has experienced, from dystopian cities to 19th-century coal mines. Spanning geographies and timespans, The Night Alphabet intricately weaves Jones’ life with tales of violence against women, offering a bold exploration of human nature.
In The Shallows – Tanya Byrne
29 Feb
In this exquisitely written sapphic second-chance love story, Mara is captivated by her enigmatic ex, Nico. When Nico goes missing and is rescued with no memory, fate brings them together again on New Year’s Day. As they navigate a second chance at love, Mara and Nico confront the mystery behind Nico’s accident and the hope that one day, her memory will return, weaving a tale of longing, loss, and the quest for truth.
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