Pride Month: Have a Happy Pride with these LGBTQIA+ Artists

HAPPY PRIDE! Yes, June is Pride Month so shouts out to all my LGBTQIA+ brothers, sisters and non – binary folks. Music history is full of LGBtQIA+ artists who gave millions of people representation in a largely male / straight dominated industry. Representation is important and these brave artists challenged hate and demanded that society face their prejudices. We will highlight some LGBTQIA+ artists who you may not have listened to, so you can celebrate their amazing music all year!

Christine and the Queens: Doesn’t Matter

Christine is a French artist who is constantly challenging views on gender and sexuality. Their heavy synth and electro percussion on this track are hard an angular, which is a great contrast to their soaring vocal. Christine has a new record out, so be sure to give that a listen.

Against Me!: Transgender Dysphoria Blues

The lead singer and guitarist, Laura Jane Grace, came out as a transgender woman right before the release of this record in 2014. This title track documents the conflicts and hate transgender people endure in order to be who they are. Grace has a killer punk vocal and Against Me! uses the punk genre to explore issues of identity and prejudice head on…plus they just kick ass.

Janelle Monáe: Float

Monáe has spent the last few records singing about living their truth as a non-binary black artist is challenging both gender and race. Float is a track about the liberating feeling of living your own truth in the face of hatred and others’ expectations. Monáe’s vocal power really comes through on this track and makes this an easy record of the year.

Frank Ocean: Solo

Coming out as gay within such a traditionally masculine genre as hip hop and R&B cannot be easy. Frank Ocean did exactly that to the ridicule and hate of other artists. Out of that he came out with one of his most powerful records, blond. His track Solo is in repose to that hate and calling it out, while also talking about the emotional toll it takes on you. A powerful song off of an amazing record. Speaking of coming out in hip hop….

Lil Nas X: Montero (Call Me by Your Name)

First off, this track is fire. A track about sex and drugs from an openly gay man within a genre dominated by heterosexual men singing about the same themes. This turns the genre on its head and showcases his vocal and lyrical power. This track is mesmerising and just hits.

Indigo Girls: Closer to Fine

Pioneering folk artists, the driving force behind the Lilith Fair movement in the 90s and LGBTQIA+ activists, the Indigo Girls made incredible music. Their mix of traditional folk with pop hooks dominated the college scene in the 90s and quickly made them a staple on everyone’s mix tapes. Questioning gender, spirituality and identity were all major themes of their work.

Anohi and the Johnsons: Hope There’s Someone

Anohi, is a transgender woman who has been putting out amazing music for over a decade. Her recent work has showcased her fragile, beautiful and dramatic voice. Hope There’s Someone is a song about longing and hope for love. A longing to find someone to spend her life with who loves her for who she is. This is an emotionally impactful song that gets at the core of human existence.

G Flip: Be Your Man

Punk drummer and vocalist G Flip questions gender and sexuality as she sings about love and breaking traditional gender roles. THis Australian artist is taking the country by storm as her music becomes more complex and hard hitting. She is relatively new the the scene, but there is another LGBTQIA+ Australian artist who has been ripping it up

Courtney Barnett: Nameless Faceless

First of all, Courtney Barnett is a national treasure. Her slacker punk and Dylan-esque song writing is transcendent. THis track takes on nameless and faceless men on the internet who spew misogynist and homophobic hatred from behind an avatar on Twitter. Her feminist lyrics call this out and show the impact of such hate on the world, but she still has power regardless. Courtney Barnett is my hero.