What a flourishing year this has been for LGBTQ+ artists! Queer and trans artists such as Boygenius, Troye Sivan, Sam Smith, Kim Petras, and MUNA have been on the radar for their continued historic feats, creating opportunities and a haven for up-and-coming LGBTQ+ musicians. We’ve scoured the web to bring together a curated list of artists from across the globe from the community, each pushing the boundaries of music with finesse.
Idman – ‘Hate’
Following a handful of indelible releases in the past couple of years, the Somali-Canadian singer-songwriter Idman made her way into 2023 with ‘Hate.’ This lead single from her debut EP takes on an ardent monologue journey from Idman to her ex, conveyed within a slick R&B number that emotes the singer’s plight. The verses set up a beautiful, haunting, jugular-hitting pre-chorus, propelled by Idman’s sincere delivery. “‘Hate’ highlights feelings I contemplated as I came to terms with the ending of my last relationship,” said the artist.
Bashar Murad – ‘Ya Lel’
Palestinian pop artist Bashar Murad is one of the cardinal artists voicing their disdain for the Israeli occupation and their experiences as a queer Palestinian person through a political and personal approach to music. ‘Ya Lel’ or ‘The Night’ sees Bashar’s yearning for darkness to heal and be solitaire in the night.
“And when I need someone
I will call, you’ll hear me
Exiled, yet content
I don’t need anyone,” croons the artist in an up-tempo ballad set-up.
Tuimi – ‘Ha Noi’
From her sophomore album, ‘Shimmer,’ comes the melodic hip-hop offering, ‘Ha Noi.’ German-Vietnamese singer/rapper/producer Tuimi aka Pham Thuy talks about lost connection since leaving ‘Ha Noi,’ laid down in a flowing exchange in English and Vietnamese. While Tuimi is only heard singing in this song, her eclectic voice provides a genuine base to the heartfelt matter. The artist has been sharing her experience as a queer Vietnamese and German woman since her debut.
Kinari – ‘Baahar’
Kinari exudes confidence on their newest single, ‘Baahar.’ Taken from their upcoming debut album ‘KATTAR KINNAR,’ Delhi-based trans rapper Kinari ropes in producer Faichan to serve a delicious dose of catchy bars in Hindi and English. The artist has released a series of solid releases under the alias FINSTA, including hits like ‘PURRRRR,’ ‘COOCH TAACH,’ and the EP ‘QUEERBOPS.’
DouYa – ‘LOSE IT’
If you ever feel the need to lament over your situationship at 1 AM, DouYa has got you covered with her single ‘LOSE IT.’ Setting the scene with minimal Lo-Fi beats and thoughtful synths, Brooklyn-based Mando-pop artist DouYa delicately describes her disbelief over losing her mind over a person. With six singles under her belt released throughout the year, the queer musician from China seeks to modernize Mando-pop and fuse Eastern and Western influences.
Binoy – ‘Boyhood’
Kicking off with the percussive beat of a tabla, Binoy’s ‘Boyhood’ quickly transforms into a classic pop number rich in pulsating rhythms and a distinct synth melody. In the recesses of this upbeat instrumental, Kenyan singer-songwriter Binoy describes the tribulations of growing up queer and struggling with bullying, accepting gender norms and familial pressure. “My goal with “Boyhood” was to create a song that embodied my own strange amalgam, blending the influences of my taste, culture, where I grew up, and my identity as a queer person of color,” shared Binoy about the song in an interview. ‘Boyhood’ is taken from his May 2023 EP of the same name.
SuperKnova – ‘Later’
SuperKnova, the moniker of Ellie Kim, is an American-Korean transgender artist producing top-notch queer pop music driven by impeccable electric guitar solos amidst an electronic pop realm. Off her album ‘superuniverse’ comes the single ‘Later,’ which has SuperKnova describe the electrifying yet awkward glimpses of a new relationship. She has since released her latest single, ‘Ava Gardner,’ while simultaneously working on her second full-length album.
Artists mentioned in the list: Idman | Bashar Murad | Tuimi | Kinari | DouYa | Binoy | SuperKnova
You May Also Like:
Record Labels for LGBTQ+ Artists
6 Transgender DJs That You Should Know
Unique LGBTQ+ Events Across The World
