‘Diamonds’ is a must-have for any Elton John fan, and it’s always in heavy rotation on my turntable. Elton’s music brings me so much joy and comfort. “I’m Still Standing” has always been my Pride anthem; it represents getting back up again after heartbreak or a big letdown. My queer experience has been so shaped by the music I love, and the connection I have to music written and/or performed by LGBTQ+ artists like Elton John is unique, but also shared with millions around the world, which is so special. I’m so grateful to have grown up with Elton’s music, and I can’t wait to see him live again this fall at Dodger Stadium in LA!

Kristina Waters (She/Her/Hers)

Marketing Director, UMe

“Call Me Maybe” is an anthem, and I’ve never seen as much LGBTQ+ joy as I saw at Coachella when Carly performed this song. It’s one of those songs that everyone knows and will sing every word of without fail. The 10 Kings vs. Ollie Green remix of this song is exactly what I need to put on the turntable after a long day to pump myself back up! Carly’s catalog is loaded with pop perfection, and I couldn’t be more excited that these remixes are finally available on vinyl.

Kristina Waters (She/Her/Hers)

Marketing Director, UMe

'The Muslims are an all queer, all Black and Brown punk band hailing from Durham, North Carolina. The multiplier of marginalization that occurs from being both queer and a racial minority means dealing with a lot of bullshit to simply exist. Institutions that uphold cis-male whiteness as the ideal, legislators attacking trans / queer civil rights and abortion rights. The list goes on. The Muslims exemplify that anger and frustration, channeling it into gleefully antagonistic pop-punk that hits like a brick to a cop’s face.

Michael Lopez | (they/them)

Coordinator, Production | UMe  

Despite the ideals of punk, it’s far from inclusive. Undoubtedly it was difficult in the 90’s for Jason Gnewikow as a rare out gay man in the scene. He served as guitarist and graphic designer for the influential emo band The Promise Ring. Bands from that scene were often derisively accused of being gay due to their emotive music. Their final album Wood/Water saw the band working to expand their sound from the genre. Relying more on cues from alt-country and indie rock, they created arguably their best record in the process. Gnewikow later founded Athletics, a design agency in NYC.

Michael Lopez | (they/them)

Coordinator, Production | UMe  

‘E=MC²’ has to be one of my favorite album offerings from Mariah Carey and the first Mariah album I truly recall being a part of the era in fully growing up watching the “Touch My Body” music video on my then family’s dial-up internet connection in Southern Alabama. The opener of this album “Migrate (feat. T-Pain),” which by far is one of her most underrated songs to date in my opinion, serves as the perfect introduction to this body of work pulling you in with its infectious up-tempo production from Danja married with Mariah’s signature vocals & whistle register, serving as the perfect anthem for any Pride celebration. With songs like album cuts & singles like that “I’m That Chick,” “I’ll Be Lovin’ You Long Time” & “Stay in Love,” I highly recommend this album to anyone looking to get into Mariah’s extensive catalog of music for the first to see how she how she masterfully balances up-tempo, mid-tempo & ballad records on an album. Mariah has always been one of my favorite artists of all-time, and her undying support for the LGBTQIA+ community and the love she shows her Lambs as we’re called never goes unnoticed for me, as a young queer kid growing up in the South that support & love means the world as a listener & fan.  

Nicholas Davison (He/Him/His)

Senior Design Coordinator, Global Creative, Capitol Music Group

So I caught Spice Mania quite late in my life. Being that I was super young when the Spice Girls rose to fame, I of course knew of the magnitude of the group, but never truly got into their music outside of what I would hear in passing. That was until I moved to LA for my first time for my first summer internship and one day decided to finally get into their discography while working, and boy was I in for some of the most infectious tunes I could ever ask for. Their last album ‘Forever’ is one of my personal favorites from them heavily on the strength of “Holler,” the lead single from the album with one of Darkchild’s best productions to date. Some more of my favorites from this album include “Tell Me Why,” “Right Back at Ya,” and “Wasting My Time,” and it truly is one of their most underrated gems of an album that the world’s biggest girl group has to offer! When I saw this was getting pressed on vinyl, I never pre-ordered a vinyl more quicker in my life and it sits pretty in my vinyl collection! While it was a late case of Spice Mania I acquired, I’m so glad as I did as I’m able to go back, get into their beautiful catalog of music & learn through their music videos, interviews & more just how solid their collective allyship for the LGBTQIA+ community is which makes this album a perfect Pride pick for me!

Nicholas Davison (He/Him/His)

Senior Design Coordinator, Global Creative, Capitol Music Group