LOS ANGELES, CA- Queenie has always thrived in spaces where pop and club music blur into something uniquely hers. Emerging from New York’s queer nightlife, first as one half of the duo Sateen, she built a following on unapologetic glamour and boundary-pushing performance. Now stepping out fully on her own, Queenie seems determined to show just how many directions her sound can go. Her latest single, “VASALINE,” may just be the most compelling step in that journey.
At its surface, “VASALINE” doesn’t come wrapped in elaborate production. The song leans on a straightforward framework: breakbeat drums, simple chord progressions, and instrumentals that feel intentionally minimal. But that restraint works in Queenie’s favor, letting the emotion of her voice and the intricacy of the songwriting cut through. The hook drifts delicately, almost fragile, before the chorus blooms her singing in her head voice that can be felt through the sonic pulses through your speakers.
Just to reiterate… for me… what makes the track really stand out is Queenie’s vocal delivery. She moves in and out of head voice with a precision that never feels showy, instead carrying a kind of fragility that makes the song hit harder. There’s a vulnerability in the way she sings, a willingness to let the cracks and breathiness become part of the texture… and that choice turns this cut into something personal. It’s the kind of performance that sneaks up on you and then refuses to let go.
The lyrics add another layer of depth. Lines like “If I sit still too long, I might break my heart” and “everything’s pretty when you squint your eyes” are deceptively simple but resonate with emotional weight. They capture that uneasy space between clarity and denial, where beauty and pain blur together depending on how you look at it. The chorus, with its yearning repetition of wanting to run and hold on at the same time, gives the song its emotional core: the contradiction of wanting escape while still clinging tightly to what matters.
Queenie has released a handful of solo singles in recent years, each pulling in slightly different directions. Some have leaned harder into glossy pop, others into dark wave territory. What makes “VASALINE” feel significant is how it manages to distill those impulses into a track that’s both bold and intimate. For listeners who may have dipped in and out of her catalog, this is the song that could keep them coming back.
It’s also worth noting that Queenie’s artistry doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Beyond music, she’s built a reputation in adult entertainment, recognized by her peers for her work in that field. Rather than sidestep that part of her identity, Queenie’s approach to music seems to carry the same confidence. She really exhibits a refusal to play small, reframed through melody and performance. “VASALINE” isn’t about spectacle, though. It’s about honesty, delicacy, and a fearless willingness to put herself on the line.
The accompanying video leans into this sensibility, offering a visual world that matches the track’s sleek minimalism and emotional sharpness. It’s less about narrative than about mood, creating a space where Queenie’s presence is the focal point. She doesn’t need elaborate staging to command attention; her charisma carries the weight.
For an artist still defining her solo path, “VASALINE” feels like a statement piece. It’s confident without being heavy-handed, intimate without collapsing inward. More importantly, it shows that Queenie’s future as a solo artist doesn’t need to be pinned down to one lane… but if she chooses to build more songs from the blueprint she’s sketched here, I’m here for the ride.
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