4 LGBT Artists You Should Know
By Keira Barry
The past month of October may have been dedicated to LGBT History, but it’s worth taking a minute to listen to a few LGBT artists who are making history now.
Troye Sivan
If the name sounds familiar, it’s probably because Troye Sivan was a public figure well before he rose to musical stardom. Although born in South Africa, Sivan grew up in Australia, climbing to fame through YouTube and Australian talent competitions. In 2013, he came out as gay on YouTube, and since then has been open about his identity and boyfriends.
Sivan’s music videos frequently feature LGBT themes, whether it’s footage of historical LGBT events or shots of Sivan with a male partner. He’s worked with artists such as Ariana Grande, Charli XCX, and Lauv, and even opened for Taylor Swift on her Reputation tour. Although his debut EP Dare to Dream was released in 2007, it’s his more recent albums that have turned the spotlight onto him here in the US. His most recent album, Bloom, sported an impressive performance on pop charts both here in the States and in Australia. But no data can quantify the effect of an album, such as Bloom, that proudly celebrates all kinds of love in a genre where popularity and heteronormativity often go hand in hand.
Hayley Kiyoko
Sometimes known by fans as “Lesbian Jesus,” singer Hayley Kiyoko began as an actress and model. Her acting credits include roles in Disney’s Lemonade Mouth and Wizards of Waverly Place, ABC Family’s The Fosters, and two Scooby-Doo movies. Before embarking on a solo career, she was a part of all-girls singing group The Stunners, who released a few singles (including one for the soundtrack of iCarly) and opened for Justin Bieber’s My World tour, but split before they could release a full album.
She released a handful of EPs in the years following The Stunners’ breakup, and in 2015, she saw her song and music video “Girls Like Girls” become an Internet sensation. Last year, she released her debut studio album, Expectations. Between dreamy pop synths and Kiyoko’s captivating voice, the album is a musing on female-female relationships that feels like a late-night drive down a California freeway.
Years & Years
British pop band Years & Years have seen a few of their songs climb the charts and reach radios here in the US. They came together in the early 2010’s, and originally consisted of five members. Now they’re three-- Mikey Goldsworthy, Emre Türkmen, and Olly Alexander. In 2015, their single “King” jumped into the top ranks of charts in the UK and abroad, and since then, the band has been open advocates for LGBT rights as well as mental health.
Their most recent album, Palo Santo, uses religious terminology and metaphors to portray personal experiences lead vocalist Alexander has had with other gay men over the years. While the lyrics are often heavy (topics include toxic relationships, sexual objectification, and letting go of guilt after a relationship), the extremely danceable electro-pop rhythms are anything but so. The contrast between Palo Santo’s messages and beats really could get someone crying the club.
Kehlani
Oakland-native Kehlani saw her music career start with the pop cover band Poplyfe. Poplyfe finished fourth on America’s Got Talent before Kehlani left the group. Kehlani has addressed questions about her dating life and sexuality many times on social media. She identifies as a pansexual and queer woman, and has used both female and male pronouns to describe love interests in her lyrics.
Her music is mainly R&B, neo-soul, and hip hop. She’s opened for artists such as Halsey, Demi Lovato, and G-Eazy, and collaborated with the likes of Cardi B, Eminem, and Chance the Rapper. Her second mixtape, You Should Be Here, was nominated for the Grammy for Best Urban Contemporary Album in 2016. In 2017, she released her debut studio album, SweetSexySavage, and earlier this year, she put out her third mixtape, While We Wait, only a month before giving birth to her first child. Kehlani is notable not only for her beautiful music, but also for her use of social media to defend everything from her sexuality to her relationship choices to her first pregnancy.