Written by: Aayushi Agarwal
As a queer individual, I often search for artists who are like me, who make art for people like me. Be it heart wrenching lyrics about struggling with one’s identity, or a display of queer joy, there is so much to cherish in these musical artists’ work. Here are some of my favourite LGBTQ+ artists of colour along with my favourite songs by them to add some variety to your playlists!
1. Rina Sawayama
Favourite Songs: Tokyo Love Hotel, Cherry
An openly pansexual Japanese-British singer and songwriter, Sawayama is a popstar you cannot afford to miss out on. With elements of 00’s pop, rock, and R&B, among other genres, Sawayama’s music is uniquely hers. Her last album Hold the Girl is a narrative of introspection that aims to heal her inner child, with honest lyrics like “If I could talk to you / I’d tell you not to rush, you’re good enough / You don’t have to lose what makes you you.” I got the chance to see her live last December, and she truly is a force to be reckoned with, balancing lively dance performances with raw seated acoustics.
2. Raveena Aurora
Favourite Song: If Only
Raveena is a bisexual Indian American singer-songwriter, producing music combining elements of R&B, soul, and jazz. With lyrics about themes like identity politics, sexuality, and mental health, she has described her songwriting process as a kind of catharsis, one that definitely resonates with her listeners as well.
3. Omega Sapien
Favourite Songs: SEXY NUKIM (feat. RM of BTS), JUST FUN!
Omega Sapien is a South Korean rapper, who is also a member of the alternative music collective Balming Tiger. Blending an expanse of sounds and genres beyond rap and hip-hop, Omega Sapien crosses boundaries with his music with influences from his third culture upbringing.
4. UMI
Favourite Songs: everything will be alright, Love Affair
Born to an African American father and a Japanese mother, UMI is described as having a “lo-fi, alternative, laid back R&B style.” She names Frank Ocean, D’Angelo, Jhené Aiko, and SZA as her biggest influences. The music video for her single “wish that i could” was released during Pride Month last year, featuring three queer couples, including UMI and her partner/producer Vron.
5. Hope Tala
Favourite Song: Leave It On The Dancefloor
A British singer-songwriter, Hope Tala describes herself as genre-less, though her songs regularly draw from R&B, soul, alternative, pop, and Bossa Nova. In her words, “I’m someone who doesn’t like being put in boxes. I think most people would probably say that, but I’m a mixed race person, I’m a queer person, I’m a gender-queer person. So saying ‘I’m just this one thing’ is never how I’ve been since the day I was born.” To be queer is to live outside the box, and there is so much art and wonder to be found there if one only tries to look.
You must be logged in to post a comment.