5 queer artists to look out for in 2019
Leo Kalyan is one of our queer artists to look out for in 2019 (Leo Kalyan)
Want to see more queer artists in the music industry?
2018 saw the likes of Hayley Kiyoko bag an award, MNEK release a debut album, Christine and the Queens reinvent herself as Chris, and Janelle Monae come out as queer.
We’re hoping 2019 will pave the way for even more LGBT+ artists and bands to make headlines.
Here’s five up and coming queer artists we think you should stan in 2019.
ROB.B
Queer singer Rob.B on the cover for El Cucuy (Rob.B)
Hip-Hop and queerness are often seen as incompatible, but Rob.B has spent his musical career trying create a space and a sound for fans of the genre who still want to wave their rainbow flag.
He told PinkNews that he started making music because “it was suggested that my sexuality would hinder any chance I had at being successful.”
“I don’t like to be told there is a limit to what I can achieve,” he said. “My love for Hip-Hop and its culture propelled me to use the craft to tell my own story.”
Bronze Avery
Bronze Avery is queer artists to keep an eye on. Bronze is a breath of fresh air in a genre that often does not recognise the experiences of queer people of colour. His pop music is up-tempo, fun and sometimes flirty, described by Bronze as “bedroom sheets meeting the dance floor.”
Inspired by Ollie from Years and Years, you can expect rhythms and lyrics that make you want to emote on the dance floor.
Bronze told PinkNews: “The pop world is resistant to a black male singing true pop music, so much so that I’m always asked if I sing R&B music unless I’ve stated otherwise.
“But then the urban world is resistant to having a gay guy in their sessions. I will always sing pop music, and I will never apologise for who I am, where I’ve come from, or who I love.
“I’ll be open and unapologetic in my music forever and ever.”
PUSSYLIQUOR
Queer punk band PUSSYLIQUOR (PUSSYLIQUOR)
Firstly, what a name. The ‘Riot grrl’ image extends past the non-nan-friendly title, being a five-piece female punk band who create such a sound.
Musically, PUSSYLIQUOR are loud and energetic and lyrically they are unapologetically Feminist.
The lyrics to their bop “My body, my choice” was a mantra that 2018 could have done more with, so let’s hope their words can be heard in the new year.
PLAITUM
Electronic duo Matt Canham and Abigail Dersiley are exciting, young queer artists emerging from Colchester.
When asked to describe their style of music, they said: “Screeching and chomping.”
They said Pete Burns is their biggest queer inspiration and see him as an icon for his androgynous ways.
Leo KaLYan
Leo Kalyan is one of our queer artists to look out for in 2019 (Jahied Ahmed)
Leo creates a stunning concoction of pop sounds with undertones of RnB and a garnish of Bollywood.
Celebrating being queer and Muslim, his songs have no pronouns, which he told PinkNews is important to him because “I want my music to be a space where no-one feels ‘othered.’
“Pronouns and gender are used as weapons to exclude people, whether that’s incorrectly gendering trans people, or calling a young gay boy a girl for being flamboyant.
“In the world I make with my music that doesn’t exist”.
