The Pride Month Anthem for These F*cked Up Times 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Singer/songwriter Rae Isla has been holding down the queer Americana scene in Los Angeles for several years now, and she’s just delivered the perfect anthem for this fucked up, beautiful, and very necessary Pride Month. And she’s not doing it alone.

“Real Wealth” is a collaboration between Rae and her fellow queer Americana, Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter friend Ali Angel. The two of them first toured together in 2025, and now they’ve written and recorded this beautiful song that helps us show our love and appreciation for the queer friends and loved ones that sustain us as we face a renewed fight against our rights. As if that dumpster fire wasn’t enough, the very act of just living gets more and more expensive for everyone all the while — fueled by the greed, malice, and ineptitude of those at the top.

In short, it’s not cute.

Thankfully, Rae and Ali are here to remind us what “Real Wealth” looks like, and they’re leading by example with this new collaboration. Add it to your summer PRIDE playlists and enjoy this conversation with Rae:

“Real Wealth” is such a hopeful, and breezy, queer love song! Why did you want to release “Real Wealth” for Pride month 2026? What is the message you hope to send having two queer voices teaming up on this track?

There are so many queer songs (and films, books) about heartbreak, yearning, and despair. And I’m partially to blame as I’ve written loads of them. When Ali and I got together to write it just felt so joyful and fun, which I think is a reflection of our friendship, and queer friendship in general. We hope that when people listen to it, it makes them see their relationships, their community, and the love in their lives as the real signals of wealth.

You and Ali Angel are two queer Americana artists based in Los Angeles, and you told me that scene is small. What did you think and feel that first time you played a show together at the Moroccan Lounge?

It felt like an oasis in the desert to meet someone in the LA scene who was on a similar path as me. First of all, her music is awesome and she’s really serious about her work. She’s also paving the way as an independent and queer artist in Americana. It’s a dream to find someone so aligned to befriend and now collaborate with. We’d also like to use this moment to shout out some of our foremother/fathers who we both love and thank for their pioneering: Brandi Carlile, Brandy Clark, Tracy Chapman, Indigo Girls, k.d. Lang, Lavender Country, to name a few

When we think about wealth and money in 2026, it’s hard not to think about the wealth gap that’s only widening in America between billionaires and the rest of us. Money is tight and prices are rising for everyone. How have the lyrics of “Real Wealth” played out for you finding meaning and support with your loved ones — even when times are tough?

I’m glad you asked this as the current economic hellscape definitely inspired us. Ali and I often talk about how it’s like every step we take professionally or personally also feels like a step back. This never ending chasing of “more” that makes us feel like we’re further and further behind (especially as indie artists). I think everyone is feeling that to some degree right now. This song helped us sit with those uncomfy feelings and write down what is actually valuable in our lives: the people we love.

You’re playing a show at The Troubadour in Los Angeles very soon. What does that venue mean to you since you are so drawn to analog sounds — like the sounds you and Ali are making on “Real Wealth.”

June 10th!!! Playing live is everything to me. It’s the “why” of all the other work that goes into being a musical artist. The Troubadour feels like the exact right place to bust out a 7-piece super band, debut new songs, and make some life-long memories with the LA music community. Sadly, Ali will be out of town spending quality time with her girlfriend’s family, which is basically playing out “Real Wealth” in real-time. I am proud of her for that.