While we often see bands and musical groups split up to allow for the rise of one member, it’s not as common to see the opposite, where separate, successful, independent artists come together to form a group. However, when this rare occurrence takes place, it can create something amazing. Such is the case with the indie rock group boygenius, stylized in all lowercase. Composed of some of the most famous names in the indie/queer music scene, Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus started boygenius in 2018. The three artists came together as friends and decided to make music together before they all set off on tour.
Arts & Entertainment
Queer Next Up: Heather Muriel Nguyen
Heather Muriel Nguyen (they/them) is an asexual, non-binary, and Vietnamese-American filmmaker passionate about visceral stories that center queer and trans characters of color grappling with intergenerational trauma and self-love. Their films build a multiverse of unapologetically queer stories with captivating platonic relationships.
“I Know You Want Some”: A Review of Club Eat’s Electropop “Bubblegum”
The 2010s was one of the greatest eras that music has ever seen, where bubbly pop reigned supreme and the music at nightclubs peaked in quality. Though I will listen to virtually any kind of music, I’m a sucker for anything with an infectious, danceable groove and a catchy melody. While not technically a 2010s-era pop duo, Club Eat’s single “Bubblegum” takes me back to those glory days. “Bubblegum” is an electronic pop song with wistful lyrics that capture the feeling of being used through the metaphor of chewed-up bubblegum. Cloaked in synth and saturated in glitter, the track pulsates with its relentlessly upbeat groove.
Queer Next Up: Jxckson
Jxckson (he/him) is an Austin-based alt-pop artist who seamlessly blends elements of different genres of Pop to create a fresh and modern sound that still pays homage to the classic earworms of the past. His delivery, complete with a sly smirk, adds an extra layer of attitude and swagger to every track.
Scissor Me, Daddy Ass: Queerness, Homophobia and the Acclaimed
The queer messaging of the Acclaimed — the two tag team champions for the professional wrestling company All Elite Wrestling (AEW) — veers in enough different directions that it’s hard to pick out a unified message. The fictional world of wrestling, whose staged theatrics and over-the-top characters often shade towards campiness, complicates the real-world impact of that message even further.
Being the Gay Bachelor: Colton Underwood’s Past and Present
You might know Colton Underwood as the first gay Bachelor. He was the token golden boy of “The Bachelor” Season 23 (2019). In the Netflix docuseries “Coming Out Colton,” the reality TV star revisits his time on the show, as well as his coming out journey, reliving the scrutiny that came from the spotlight.
Annelle Staal: Now Streaming
When most people think of the popular live streaming platform Twitch, they think of “Fortnite” fiends or online chess tournaments. The platform, however, is also a thriving hub for musicians who put on powerful performances for eager audiences, live from their bedrooms. Annelle Staal, who boasts nearly 60 thousand followers, is one such savant.
Queer Next Up: D’Andre Adonis
D’Andre Adonis (he/him) is a recording artist. With a mesh of R&B, Hip Hop and Pop with a sound that still has its own character, D’Andre Adonis has one goal: to make you feel something when you listen to his music. Based in his hometown of Chicago, IL he takes pride in his city and loves to grow with his peers.
“It Was Never That Serious”: Noah Schnapp’s Coming Out and Who We’re Leaving Behind
In January, Noah Schnapp posted a TikTok that read, “When I finally told my friends and family I was gay after being scared in the closet for 18 years, and all they said was ‘we know.’” The sound he lip syncs to says, “You know what it never was? That serious. It was never that serious. Quite frankly, it will never be that serious.” He captioned it, “I guess I’m more similar to will than I thought,” a reference to Will Byers, the character he plays in the show “Stranger Things,” who was confirmed by Schnapp to be gay in an interview with Variety last year.
Queer Next Up: SHILPA
SHILPA (she/her) is an independent musician from Los Angeles, California. She writes funk, neo-soul, and indie tunes, often touching on complex emotions and themes of growth and solitude. She recently released her debut single, a touching homage to her grandmother — this song features poetic, lyrical writing, and is the first project of many more to come.