Photo by Thomas Chinarro
Queer Next Up is a series originally posted to our Instagram. We feature smaller queer artists who we think deserve your love, support, and dedication.
Thomas Chinarro (he/him) is a 19-year-old British & French singer-songwriter. Previously featured on emerging artist Opaline’s track “To Be Yours,” his new single “violets,” written and performed with mac gray, is an expression of queer yearning, suffering, longing, and passion, asserting Thomas as an artist to watch closely in the near future.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
That it gets better. That the right people will love you for who you are and will help you grow, not make you feel like you don’t belong. I’d also say that dreaming big and working hard are probably the best things you can do for yourself — what’s the point of living a life where you miss out on what makes you happy?
What does your work mean to you?
I believe that music is an amazing way to convey messages and express what means the most to me. It’s often easier to write down feelings than to say them out loud. With “violets,” my friend mac & I tried writing about what it’s like growing up queer and how difficult it can be. Honestly, the main message of the song is that love always wins. It’s a bit cliché, but it’s true.
What have you learned about yourself through the artistic process?
Writing music has made me more confident — and has confirmed that music is the most beautiful thing in the world, in my opinion. I’ve also learnt to be more patient… I’m still working on that one lol — but the time and work that go into releasing music are really underrated, especially as an independent artist.
Follow him on TikTok and Instagram (@tomchinarro) and listen to his music on Spotify!