Atwood Magazine is thrilled to present our Editor’s Picks column, curated and penned by Editor-in-Chief Mitch Mosk. Each week, Mitch will highlight a selection of songs, albums, and artists that have resonated with him. There is a wealth of amazing music out there waiting to be discovered, and all it requires from us is an open mind and a readiness to listen. With our Editor’s Picks, we aspire to illuminate our own musical discoveries and feature a varied mix of new and recent releases.
This week's Editor’s Picks showcases Vienna Vienna, Petey USA, Tennis, Felly, Self Esteem, and JERUB!
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“God Save the Queens” by Vienna Vienna
“How can Heaven be better if we’re not fitting together?” Vienna Vienna passionately sings into the microphone, his electrifying voice elevating alongside the pounding drums. “Somebody go tell the priest – God save the Queens!” In this moment, the self-described “glimmer rock” artist from Clovis, California—a newcomer in every sense—asserts himself as a voice for not only his community, but for his generation and anyone who values boldness, authenticity, and living without apologies.
I spotted a man in Hollywood, holding a sign
That declared he hated me, and I responded, “Please, join the line.”
He began to question me,
asking, “Do you know Christ?”
I replied, “Maybe I do; does she work night shifts?”
He said, “No, I mean Jesus,”
To which I noted, “That guy was cool,
but I don’t live in a city founded on your falsehoods.”
He sought to save me,
Yet someone already did just last night.
They called themselves Alex,
and they illuminated my path.
Released in January through PULSE Records and Pete Wentz’s DCD2 label, “God Save the Queens” is an uplifting, passionate, and completely enchanting queer anthem—an intense rallying cry that you want to belt out loud at the top of your lungs, one that loops in your mind rent-free for months and ignites a fire deep within your soul. With an infectious beat and allusions to legends of the LGBTQIA+ community—including a playful reference to the well-documented relationships of President Abraham Lincoln—Vienna Vienna crafts a timeless, catchy, and unforgettable track that delivers impact and ensures it will be etched in memory.
For the artist, who unveiled his debut EP Wonderland on National Coming Out Day (October 11th) last year, “God Save the Queens” conveys unfiltered passion and unadulterated joy.
How can Heaven be enhanced
if we’re not fitting together?
Someone should inform the priest
God save the Queens
And all the in-betweens
Why are you afraid of love, love, love?
God save the Queens
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
“JOY!! DO YOU HEAR ME??? JOY!!!!” Vienna Vienna’s James Barre expresses to Atwood Magazine. “There are far too many sad narratives about us Queens. We ought to have the chance to smile. Forget subtlety—I want it bold and immediate! The countless individuals who perished fighting for the right to be themselves are innumerable. I’m tired of waiting for the respect that will never come. I refuse to fear desire and existence any longer. I'm finished pleading to a man-made version of Christ for love. I’m angry.”
“But within all of this, what stirs my unrest the most is the knowledge of how they mock us, while sporting those awful cargo shorts. Without hesitation, ‘God Save The Queens’ puts the blame right back on them. Corny individuals.”
I envisioned Heaven through the pearly gates
I observed Freddie kissing Bowie, clad in roller skates
Mr. Lincoln donning leather, even he was gay
Princess Di gazed into my eyes and said,
“Go show them the path.”
Little Richard in the choir, alongside Marsha P
All the women loving women right next to me
Then I woke up in a daze,
thinking that was a bit odd
With a message on the mirror
reading, “Wish you were here.”
Barre doesn’t hold back as he powerfully sings the song’s chorus, channeling a message of empowerment and exuberance. “God Save the Queens” transcends being merely a queer anthem; it serves as a call to action and a celebration of visibility—an intense, sparkling salute to shame, and a sacred homage to the dreamers, warriors, icons, and everyday heroes who dared to live boldly.
How can Heaven be better
if we’re not fitting together?
Someone go tell the priest
God save the Queens
And all the in-betweens
Why are you afraid of love, love, love?
God save the Queens!
With its playful yet bold jabs, heartfelt affirmations, and unapologetic
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Selected by Mitch Mosk, this week's Editor's Picks includes tracks from Vienna Vienna, Petey USA, Tennis, Felly, Self Esteem, and JERUB!