Jenna Cornell, general manager
Let’s be honest: Pride should not be the only time of year we highlight Queer musicians. But this summer is the season of “gay pop,” so it feels like the right timing.
In the era of Chappell Roan, Billie Eilish, and Reneé Rapp, the 2024 BillBoard Hot 100™ has seen many hits by Queer artists. Not to mention Queer music’s growing popularity on social media, with even JoJo Siwa’s not-so-well-received song, “Karma,” trending online for weeks.
Creative illustration of (from left to right) Reneé Rapp, Billie Eilish and Chappell Roan. Images courtesy of Polyester and Getty Images. Created by Jenna Cornell.
While it would be easy to write an entire article about the “holy trinity” of Queer music today (Roan, Eilish, Rapp), there are many other artists who deserve the same love. Keep scrolling to learn about some of my current favorites.
Steve Lacy
Even if you don’t know his name, you’ll likely recognize Steve Lacy’s songs “Dark Red” and “Bad Habit.” With 27 million monthly listeners, Lacy is the most popular artist on this list.
“Bad Habit” from Lacy’s 2022 album “Gemini Rights” rose to no. 1 on the Hot 100 in October 2022, and became the first song to top five other Billboard genre charts. Two years later, it remains his second-most streamed song on Spotify.
While Lacy has yet to release an album since, fans are eagerly waiting for new content from him. Lucky for us, Lacy has teased a new project on social media, and some speculate that it will be a second part to “Gemini Rights.”
Jenna’s pick: “SOME”
Troye Sivan
Early this year, “One of Your Girls” by Troye Sivan started trending on TikTok for Sivan’s appearance in drag – and you’re probably lying if you say you haven’t seen it.
Besides the catchy pop tune, the song references a situation that is familiar for many Queer people in the dating world, which ultimately sparked candid conversations and shared experiences online.
Other hits of Sivan include songs “Rush,” “Angel Baby,” and “Got Me Started.”
Jenna’s pick: “ONE OF YOUR GIRLS”
WILLOW
WILLOW first became known for her song “Whip My Hair” in 2010 but has since grown up and gone in a different direction with her music. In a 2021 interview with E!News, the singer said, “the angst, darkness and the moodiness were very important to me [in music].”
“Empathogen”, WILLOW’s latest release, has 12 tracks that mix a wide range of genres from R&B to alternative rock. But they have yet to beat her most-listened song on Spotify, “Wait a Minute!” with over a billion streams.
Jenna’s pick: “between i and she”
Kevin Abstract
Most known for his role in starting the rap collective Brockhampton, Kevin Abstract has been creating music on his own since the group’s disband – which deserves the same recognition.
Abstract’s newest album “Blanket” is entirely indie rock, a change from what he worked on with the former band. In an interview with Vulture, Abstract said his inspiration for the release was Taylor Swift’s “folklore,” but punk.
While not safe to play on-air, Abstract’s most popular song is “Peach,” with two hundred million streams.
JENNA’S PICK: “EMPTY”
Rostam
Rostam Batmanglij, known as Rostam, is a growing Queer artist in the alternative and indie genres, with about 400,000 monthly listeners.
Before his solo career, Rostam was a founding member of the popular band Vampire Weekend, with hits such as “A-Punk” and “Campus.”
It has been a few years since his last release (in 2021) but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t listen. Popular songs include “A 1000 Times” and “In a Black Out,” which are both perfect additions to your crying playlists.
JENNA’S PICK: “IN A BLACK OUT”
There are many more Queer musicians not featured here. If you want to learn about other artists in the LGBTQ+ community, check out this article by Them.
If you made it to the end of this article, we have a special treat for you (yes, it’s a playlist):
