In an effort to build a space for queer people like myself, every Tuesday I’ll be posting interviews, opinion pieces, listicals, reviews, and more focused on the LGBT community (and occasionally about the Latinx community since I am Latinx.) Welcome to Queerly Not Straight! Enjoy and leave a comment below if you have a suggestion for what I should cover next.
HAPPY PRIDE MONTH! Expect more posts this month, from interviews to reviews and more!
Here at Queerly Not Straight I love music. It’s what lifts up my mood when I’m feeling down and inspires me to write and create when I find a lack of motivation has taken a hold of me. And in my music listening journey of 2021, I’ve made it my mission to listen to more and more LGBTQ+ artists. But it’s not like I can keep this to myself! So, here are 7 LGBTQ+ artists you should check out this Pride!
1. Joy Oladokun
Bio: With a guitar in hand, baseball cap over her eyes, and hooded sweatshirt loose, a woman sings with all of the poetry, pain, passion, and power her soul can muster. She is a new kind of American troubadour. She is Joy Oladokun. The Delaware-born, Arizona-raised, and Nashville-based Nigerian-American singer, songwriter, and producer projects unfiltered spirit over stark piano and delicate guitar. After attracting acclaim from Vogue, NPR, and American Songwriter, her words arrive at a time right when we need them the most. (via Joy Oladokun official website.)
Follow Joy Oladokun on Twitter and Instagram
Favorite tracks: Breathe Again, Taking the Heat
2. Claud
Bio: Debuting as one-half of the dream pop duo Toast, the Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter known as Claud crafts warm, synth-based indie pop. Following the 2018 release of the Toast EP, Claud branched out on their own, sharpening production and revealing a more personal lyrical side with beat-forward songs like “Never Meant to Call” and “If I Were You.” Singer/songwriter Phoebe Bridgers took note, and made Claud‘s full-length debut, 2021’s Super Monster, the inaugural release on her Saddest Factory label. (via allmusic)
Follow Claud on Twitter and Instagram.
Favorite tracks: Soft Spot, Never Meant to Call
3. Joesef
Bio: Drawing inspiration from jazz and blues, Joesef is a 25-year-old singer from Glasgow who’s gotten comparisons to big stars like Sam Smith and Amy Winehouse. The Sound of 2020 nominee released his EP, ‘Does It Make You Feel Good’, last year—an eclectic collection of songs that showcase his husky voice. ‘Comedown’ is one of the best of the lot. (via Popjuice)
Follow Joesef on Twitter and Instagram.
Favorite tracks: I Wonder Why, Everything Belongs to You
4. Seeva
Bio: London-based Seeva holds a mirror to his experiences as a queer South Asian man, bringing them to life through shimmering electro-pop. He sparked plenty of conversation with his debut album We Need to Talk (out now) – highlights include ‘Hopscotch’, about his HIV diagnosis.
Follow Seeva on Twitter and Instagram.
Favorite tracks: Young, Heartstop
5. Thao & The Get Down Stay Down
Bio: Thao Nguyen, an openly queer Vietnamese American singer-songwriter, formed the folk-rock band Thao & The Get Down Stay Down in 2003, and their latest album is the first to be released since Thao’s coming out. While Thao & The Get Down Stay Down are known for their Americana folk and country sounds, Temple features an innovative incorporation of hip-hop and electronic beats that welcomes new listeners without alienating longtime fans. Also showcasing a wide range of lyrical themes, the album delves into the exploration of identity and the trauma of coming out while in the public eye. (via OutSmart Magazine)
Follow Thao & The Get Down Stay Down on Twitter and Instagram.
Favorite tracks: Holy Roller, Phenom
6. carpetgarden
Bio: Non-binary wunderkid carpetgarden introduces themselves as somebody who sings “songs for losers like me.” Losing never sounded so winning and the Gen-Z singer’s future is looking very bright, indeed, with their new EP, The Way He Looks, due to be released on 10 February (via House Anxiety). (via Attitude)
Follow carpetgarden on Twitter and Instagram.
Favorite tracks: No Emotion, Westside
7. MAY-A
Bio: A self-described “overwhelmed artist”, MAY-A might only be 19, but the singer is Sydney’s soon-to-be star. For fans of Girl in Red, Arlo Parks, and Mallrat, MAY-A seamlessly fits in with her counterparts with her cleancut soft, alt-pop sound. Peeling back the layers with queer-coming-of-age story Apricots, the singer showcases her talent in songwriting and stringing up an immediately likeable track. With only a handful of singles to her name, it’s only a matter of time until MAY-A is a breakout name. (via GayTimes)
Follow MAY-A on Twitter and Instagram.
Favorite tracks: Green, Swing of Things
Queerly Not Straight posts every Tuesday with opinion pieces, listicals, reviews, and more focused on the LGBT community (and occasionally about the Latinx community since I am Latinx.)
