Nominations for the 2023 Grammy Aawards were livestreamed by the Recording Academy on Tuesday (Nov. 15) and quite a few queer artists made the cut. Here’s a breakdown of the openly LGBTQ+ acts on the list and what they’ve done for our community, along with some honorary ally mentions.
Celebrating 25 Years of the Queer Magic of Janet Jackson’s “The Velvet Rope”
This October marked a quarter of a century since the release of Janet Jackson’s landmark sixth album, “The Velvet Rope.” Beyond just being the most ambitious and beautiful LP of Jackson’s career, “The Velvet Rope” was also the vital release where she fully embraced her status as a gay icon and LGBTQ+ ally.
Queer Next Up: KFIR
An irresistible mix of pop, dance, and soul, KFIR (he/him) is a timeless pop ambition and dancefloor gospel that celebrates all things.
Queer Next Up: wsteaway
wsteaway (Tea Wise, they/them) is a 21-year-old nonbinary singer, songwriter and producer.
King Princess “Hold On Baby” Tour – October 26th at The Theater at Ace Hotel
Lesbian icon King Princess lit up their first hometown stop on her Hold On Baby tour last night!
“What’s Their Name Again?”: This Ain’t No Picnic 2022 Queer Rewind
Sandwiched between the Rose Bowl Stadium and the backdrop of the San Gabriel Mountains, a music festival sprung from suburbia.
Queer Next Up: Kevin Atwater
Kevin Atwater (he/him) is a singer-songwriter from a small town in Illinois called Downers Grove. He gained a significant following on TikTok, and is known for sharing his personal and confessional songwriting with the world.
Queer Joy: A Soundtrack
Queer yearning and trauma are common themes through many of pop’s greatest hits from “Sofia” by Clairo to “TALK ME DOWN” by Troye Sivan. But, queerness is not just struggle, sacrifice, and heartbreak. Queerness is bold, vibrant, and exciting. And, while it may be cathartic to sob along to songs alone in bed, sometimes we need music to remind us that queer joy exists. Here are ten songs by queer artists about the queer experience that radiate sunshine and serotonin.
Palomino Festival Displays Country Music’s Progress Toward Diversity
Photos by Liza Jane (left), Rachael Polack/Palomino Fest (center/right) As a queer Indian-American, the country genre has always seemed antithetical to my existence, a mix of hypermasculinity and overwhelming whiteness. Observing country artists like Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan, I…
EXCLUSIVE: Up-And-Coming Queer Artist D’arcy Releases New Music Video “Crazy”
Still from D’arcy’s music video “Crazy” **Trigger warning for depictions of overdose, implications of suicidality and hospitalization** Pre-save “Crazy” Queer electro-pop artist D’arcy releases her new single “Crazy” tomorrow, but we have the exclusive opportunity to give you all early…