In an effort to build a space for queer people like myself, every Sunday I’ll be posting interviews, opinion pieces, listicles, 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.
P.S. I, Lyra Hale, do not give any site permission to copy or repost my work in any form. If you are reading this on any site besides Fangirlish, it has been stolen.
Music is a revelation that guides us, makes us feel seen, and connects us to those around us. That’s why music is so special to the LGBTQ+ community. Through music, we have normalized our experiences while introducing others to the reality that love is love.
That’s also why I’m always on the hunt for new music artists that are pushing the boundaries of their artistry. And if it goes well, maybe I’ll turn it into a monthly post. Because even if these artists don’t have TONS of songs, everyone deserves a spotlight.
1. Jackie Lipson
Mini-bio: Jackie Lipson is a queer pop singer from Los Angeles. She uses her voice to “share vital messages of LGBTQ+ joy and the vibrance of the Queer creative community.” Lipson also uses her music to explore the inner manifestations of fear, how it connects to mental health, and body image.
Stand-out lyrics: Ain’t it crazy how your world can turn / Ain’t it wild how fast we learn / It’s a confidence I’ve never earned / But someday – from “Someday”
Other songs to check out: “Pool Party” & “Bully”
2. Del Ro’Yale
Mini-bio: Del Ro’Yale is a Virginia-based R&B artist. Some of his musical influences are Frank Ocean, Brandy, and Usher. And his music ranges from being ghosted to the complexities of love and relationships. For Earmilk, his music was described as “giving off vibes that are meditative yet somehow brimming with explosive energy.”
Stand-out lyrics: What would you do / Do if I move like you do / Hit me up / Only when it’s convenient for you – from “Ghost”
Other songs to check out: “Only One” & “Situation”
3. Tangina Stone
Mini-bio: Tangina Stone is a Brooklyn-based artist who explores the ups and downs of her life through her music. The breakups, the move to NYC, and getting back up every single time after being knocked down by life. Her music ranges from feeling like she’s “rolling in a field of flowers” or a sad song that transformed into something funny and full of self-discovery.
Stand-out lyrics: Can’t get any younger babe / But I guess that’s nice – from “Petty” (while she looks loving up at the other person)
Other songs to check out: “Last Hours” & “Anxious”
4. Reece
Mini-bio: Reece is an impressive musician who can switch gears between “raw, honest and contemplative emotions” and then how there’s no crying in a ho phase. It’s that ability that has endeared him to fans. On top of that, he understands his music’s power to “help continue the normalization and acceptance of LGBTQ people in our society.“
Stand-out lyrics: I wanna go back / Back to the days when I liked myself / And I knew I’d be okay / And I wasn’t so fucking scared of everyone and everything
Other songs to check out: “No Crying in a Ho Phase” & “Don’t Go”
5. Trevi Moran
Mini-bio: Trevi Moran is a music artist who has faced demons pertaining to substance abuse, fallen under their spell, and risen up to conquer them on her terms. And her one-way ticket to NYC was “the best decision I’ve ever made in my fucking life” which gave her perspective on life and influenced her music and shift to career.
Stand-out lyrics: Though it was fire at the start / Lately, it’s embers on this charcoal heart – from “too hot to be this hungover”
Other songs to check out: “Crisis” & “Now You Got Me”
Queerly Not Straight posts every Sunday with opinion pieces, listicals, reviews, and more focused on the LGBT community (and occasionally about the Latinx community since I am Latinx.)
