On June 15 — or 615 Day, in the metro area that claims that area code — we opted for an extra, concentrated dose of Nashville pride by celebrating all queer artists living and working here in Music City. Kicking off the daylong highlight of fabulous LGBTQI+ singers, musicians and DJs was a full hour of locals during #ThematicStatic!
Listen back for the special hour of music and voices when you stream the archived show (👇) and make future requests for these artists, themes, specific songs or what-have-you by leaving us a voice memo at wnxp.org/feedback!
#ThematicStatic Playlist – 6/1/23
Jackie Shane – “Cruel Cruel World” – Steve Haruch gave us the perfect lead-off for this special Thematic Static, given that Jackie Shane was an early LGBTQI+ superstar in Nashville back in the 1960s. Jewly Hight profiled Shane’s incredible life and career in last June’s Originators of the Month series celebrating both Pride and Black Music Appreciation Month!
Daisha McBride – “Birthday” – We covered Let Me Get This Off My Chest last year and eagerly lapping up new singles like the viral hit “Birds” since then. Don’t miss McBride at Eastside Bowl on Friday, June 30. Or on the BET series Queen Collective, hosted by Queen Latifah, highlighting The Rap Girl’s rise in Middle Tennessee (episode streaming here).
Becca Mancari – “Over and Over” – Dillon’s request could not have more timely, as Mancari had just released their lead single off the forthcoming LP Left Hand Out, which will drop in late August. The next single we get will feature Brittany Howard, Mancari’s Bermuda Triangle bandmate and BFF. The official video for “Over and Over” features other WNXP faves like Liza Anne:
Julien Baker – “Faith Healer” – Lindsay requested this specific song from former Nashville Artist of the Month Julien Baker, who will play with trio boygenius at Re:Set Nashville on Sunday, June 25 in Centennial Park (boygenius’s debut LP The Record was released earlier this year). But Baker also lent backing vocals to the Becca Mancari song I previously played, and I neglected to mention this fun fact on-air, doh!
Houston Kendrick – “Look at Us” – Another former Nashville Artist of the Month, Kendrick released Small Infinity in 2021. Here, he played a couple of those new songs in a special session for us, shared across NPR Music.
corook – “your mom” – Whomever is running the Infinity Cat Recordings Instagram threw out local love for some corook, an artist who’s been making waves on the radio and on the internet this year. Their Ahchoo! EP was our Record of the Week last summer, and now they’ll be playing Nashville Pride Fest on Sunday, June 25! (See the full performance line-up for Pride below.) Here’s corok with partner Olivia Barton with viral hit “If I Were a Fish”
Joy Oladokun ft. Tim Gent – “Fortune Favors the Bold” – C.R. on Instagram requested some Joy, and we’ve been fans of hers for a long time, happy to oblige! She was our second ever Nashville Artist of the Month and we’ve covered both of her records, too. Find all things Oladokun on WNXP here.
Aaron Lee Tasjan – “Traveling After Dark” – ALT had just played the Ryman opening for Indigo Girls when this show first aired, and the singer-songwriter has since strummed at a Metro Council Meeting. Tasjan is consistently vocal in support of human rights and also fellow Nashville artists. Follow along on Twitter.
Bantug – “Everyday Sunday” – Bantug’s 12 Songs About Loneliness was our Record of the Week in 2021.
Rock Eupora – “I Love You Because I Want To” – Singer-songwriter-guitarist Clayton Waller introduced his own song on this special 61Pride edition of #ThematicStatic. Rock Eupora is currently touring the southeast but I hope we can hear these songs locally sometime!
Brittany Howard – “Goat Head (EARTHGANG Remix)” – Since the very moment we turned 91.ONE to WNXP’s Music Discovery programming, you’ve heard the voice of Brittany Howard. The Jamie Reimagined album, featuring this remix, was covered as Record of the Week in 2021.
Wyn Starks – “Dancing My Way” – Another Nashville Pride performer in 2023 is this incredible vocalist! (Find the list of Pride Fest artists below.)
Katie Pruitt – “Out of the Blue” – I cannot wait for the follow-up to Pruitt’s debut record, Expectations, which includes this gorgeous tune.
Fancy Hagood and Devon Gilfillian – “Let Me Be” – Fellow powerhouse vocalist Kree Harrison, also based in Nashville, requested Fancy Hagood. This message of hope and love (featuring ally and former Nashville Artist of the Month Devon Gilfillian) seemed like a great way to wrap up the inaugural 61Pride #ThematicStatic show!
Nashville Pride Festival Entertainment
As found on NashvillePride.org, below are the daily line-ups for music at this year’s Pride Festival. The official Pride Parade will kick off downtown at Broadway and 8th Ave at 10am on Saturday, June 24.
