Ryan Beatty is ushering in what fans are calling Sad Gay Summer. On June 5, the 30-year-old singer-songwriter released "Secret Language," a plaintive new single that has already struck a chord with his devoted following.

The New Single

"Secret Language" is a slow-burning track about words left unsaid and feelings buried beneath the surface. "Did you hear what my words couldn't tell," Beatty sings in the chorus. "I love you, I say it in a secret language." The accompanying music video, which Beatty described on Instagram as a "scorching dream sequence," finds him sprinting through forests, deserts, and Las Vegas, stripping off his shirt and thrashing in front of a rainbow. The visual hints at internal struggle, suggesting he may be running from himself and the confession he cannot bring himself to make.

Beatty co-wrote the track with Marshall Vore, a frequent collaborator known for his work with other indie artists. Fans on social media praised both the song and video, with one user writing, "It's sad gay boy summer apparently." The response marks an exciting return for the singer after his 2023 album Calico.

What's Next

The good news: there is much more to come. Beatty revealed this week that his fourth studio album, Sweet Fortune, arrives June 26. "We're coming in red hot and swinging music for the heat / from the heart / all for you," he wrote on Instagram alongside the announcement. The new material promises to continue the emotional depth and vivid storytelling that have defined his recent work.

A Career Built on Authenticity

Beatty has been crafting music since 2011, when he first gained attention as a YouTuber before moving into the Disney pop sphere. His career truly blossomed after he came out as gay in 2016, writing in a now-deleted Instagram post: "Proud to be a raging homosexual. It's taken 20 years of suffocating in the closet for me to become comfortable enough to say it. But now I can finally breathe." Since then, he has built a devoted following through three studio albums, collaborations with the collective Brockhampton, and recently, co-writing work on Beyonce's 2024 album Cowboy Carter. His reputation for raw, homoerotic songwriting and striking visuals continues to define his sound.

Source: Queerty

Cover photo: PatrickSchranck, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

indie-pop

Ryan Beatty Returns With Moody New Single, Announces Fourth Album