By Vandana Bansal
LGBTQ individuals
round the world
are going to be joining together all month to celebrate love, acceptance, diversity and what it means to be queer. But this Pride Month is different; as this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots of 1969 that inspired the creation of Pride month, celebrants everywhere
are going to be brought face to face with the history of the queer heroes who brought us to where we are today.
As with any celebration, queer people
are going to be trying to find music to ring
during this year’s Pride Month. Here are top LGTBQ pop artists your playlist is incomplete without!
Gia Woods
It’s
rarely that artists
begin to their families through song, but that’s exactly what Gia Woods did
together with her song “Only a Girl” back in 2015. Since then, the young star has been providing her fans with
a gentle stream of pop jams, only further proving that she is on the precipice of becoming
subsequent superstar in
pop .
Sounds like: The queer lovechild of Dua Lipa and Lorde
Check out: “New Girlfriend,” “One Big Party”
https://youtu.be/c5DraYZFFDs
Rob.B
Hip-hop
may be a tricky world for queer artists to shine, but Rob.B is making it work for him anyway. The rapper doesn’t
recoil from his queerness on tracks like “What’s Your Lyfe Lyke,” and shows off his superior flow on the regular, making him
one among the foremost exciting queer rappers currently
within the game.
Sounds like: Put Logic, Drake and Cardi B
during a blender, and out pops Rob.B
Check out: “What’s Your Lyfe Lyke,” “701”
https://youtu.be/xw-hFSiv5bc
Siena Liggins
Siena Liggins’ brand of bubblegum pop makes her
an ideal candidate for your summer playlists — whether it’s
getting to the beach or having a picnic with friends, Liggins’ pristine vocals offer
the right soundtrack to the summertime.
Sounds like: The voice of Britney Spears singing the discography of Carly Rae Jepsen with
the arrogance of Mariah Carey
Check out: “Laws of Attraction,” “Flowerbomb”
https://youtu.be/rMLfpDkMsAU
Mila Jam
Trans artist and activist Mila Jam refuses
to keep faraway from the important issues she cares about, especially in her music. If you’re
trying to find an artist
getting to make social change
together with her music, then Mila Jam
is that the person
you would like on your next playlist ASAP.
Sounds like: Pop-tinged R&B music
within the vein of H.E.R. & SZA
Check out: “Bruised,” “Twilight Zone”
https://youtu.be/vjr1ysPaAzg
KERA
Formerly of Kera & the Lesbians, singer-songwriter KERA is making what they call “bipolar folk” music for the soul. From a depressing breakup track to her latest single,
that she teamed up with folk star Devendra Banhart, KERA is unapologetically making the music she wants, when she wants.
Sounds like: Kera’s particular brand of music
is tough to define, but would
be fitted to a playlist with Brandi Carlile and Sufjan Stevens
Check out: “Bright Future Ahead,” “I’m Late”
https://youtu.be/tCleh2wihtA
Grayson
Even if you haven’t lived their specific experience, non-binary indie pop singer Grayson
features a way
of creating you understand their point of view. Especially on their breakout single “Brother,” Grayson makes relatable synth-pop
which will have you ever tapping your foot and
brooding about your own life.
Sounds like: Grayson’s bright synth-pop jams would easily pair with artists like Grimes and MARINA
Check out: “Brother,” “Cherry Pits”
https://youtu.be/9Hne4XdiTK0
Girl in Red
Norweigan indie pop-rock singer Girl in Red, known offstage as Marie Ulven, offers up
the type of honesty and flippant lyrics
that you simply would expect from a 19-year-old. What
you would not expect
is that the singer's almost expert command of her identity and sound.
sometimes sarcastic, at other times earnest, Girl in Red is giving
the center finger to what's expected of her,
and that we live for it.
Sounds like: The indie rock stepsister of Clairo
Check out: “Dead Girl
in the Pool," "Girls"
https://youtu.be/_BMBDY01kPk
TR/ST
If you’re
trying to find the weirder side of EDM, look no further than TR/ST. With their unique
combat electronic music,
along side a history
of creating music about gay nightlife, TR/ST is an absolute must for your next big party.
Sounds like: Darkwave contemporaries like Austra and iamamiwhoami
Check out: “Gone,” “Sulk”
https://youtu.be/Xru_SI60aUw
Choker
With his inventive brand of R&B-hip-hop tracks, Choker is one
to observe . His visual styles, from his music videos to his fashion sense, are inventive and new, while his music
is that the perfect soundtrack to
a soothing summer day
Sounds like: Many have already compared him (accurately) to Frank Ocean. Add
during a touch of Brockhampton's Kevin Abstract,
and you have got Choker.
Check out: "Lucky," "Petrol Bliss"
https://youtu.be/jS2nxAyV9eE
Wrabel
You have likely already heard a song written by Wrabel. The star has written for the likes of Kesha, Ellie Goulding and Adam Lambert,
along side achieving viral success with the music video for his song “The Village.” After a featured spot on P!nk’s latest album, Wrabel is primed for
a serious breakthrough, and you
need to get on board for when he finally does
Sounds like:
a mixture of Lauv, Sam Smith, Troye Sivan and Adam Levine
Check out: “The Village,” “Love
To love U”
https://youtu.be/tilsrO-3gcQ
Nakhane
When Madonna refers to you
together of her “favorite artists,”
you recognize you've got made it. Such
is that the case with South African singer Nakhane— the rising star may have
began as an actor in his film The Wound, but now he’s making waves
together with his own inventive brand of music, shifting the definition of genre to mean whatever he wants it to.
Sounds like: With a sound that’s almost constantly changing, it’s hard to pin Nakhane down
Check out: “New Brighton,” “Clairvoyant”
https://youtu.be/ucfuAffsIjE
