Before we even get into our 2020 Pride month music playlist, we all know about the musical talents of Janelle Monae, Tyler the Creator and Frank Ocean.
Queer artists are breaking out to the mainstream left and right. But what about other up and coming queer Black and POC artists coming to the scene?
Here are some new artists to consider when filling up your own Pride 2020 playlist.
Anjimile
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🎶 if you think im sexy & you want my body stay 6 feet away from me 🎵 • 📷: @cinnamoncoffeecakee
Anjimile is a trans and queer Malawian-American raised in Texas. Anjimile’s music is cultivated by the many intersectional ties of their own life. Their music is raw, intimate, and almost somewhat quiet.
However, they employ different genres of music like indie-pop. Their song, “Sonja Smokes Me Out” represents that.
AlexTBH
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Considered Malaysia’s first queer pop star, AlexTBH is a 23-year old singer who sings of love and heartbreak. His latest release, “Between”, dropped May 15.
Alex’s songs are inspired by his own stories and intimate encounters with those in his life. Though his music is chipper and happy, the stories lurking beneath are complex.
He may actually be dropping new music this July, stay tuned.
CHIKA
CHIKA is an up-and-coming rapper, born in Montgomery, Alabama. You may have heard her voice on Jojo’s song, “Sabotage“. Maybe you recognize her from the awesome freestyle she did over Kanye’s “Jesus Walks” beat, where she talks about his support of Trump.
Her latest release, “Industry Games” dropped March 13. Tunes like “Songs About You” or “Balencies” are catchy bops to vibe out to.
Princess Nokia
Princess Nokia is a New-York born, Puerto Rican bisexual icon. Her songs, “Sugar Honey Iced Tea” and “I Like Him” blew up. Nokia incorporates rap and even emo-rap in her songs.
This year, her single, Gemini | A COLORS SHOW, is laid-back, with a lo-fi kind of atmosphere.
Shea Diamond
Shea Diamond is a trans woman singer with a hell of a story. She was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, and ran away from home at the age of fourteen. At age twenty, Shea was in and out of prison after robbing a convenience store to pay for gender reassignment surgery.
Diamond has written and performed songs to speak out against police brutality, along with her own story. Her songs “I Am Her” and “I Am America” are very powerful.
Brittany Howard
You may have heard of Brittany Howard from her previous band, Alabama Shakes. Brittany Howard dropped her debut album, Jaime, just last year.
Brittany Howard is a proud Southerner from Alabama, and you can hear the influences of the South within her album. Her own experiences with racism can be found in songs like “Goat Head”.
Songs like “Stay High” show off her voice, incorporating high falsettos and soft twinkles. It offers an intimate atmosphere that is worth the listen.
Dua Saleh
Hailing from Minneapolis, Minnesota, Dua Saleh is a Muslim, Sudanese-American singer and activist. This June, they released an EP titled ROSETTA, which is ethereal and eclectic, something akin to a fantasy vibe.
Saleh incorporates vivid storytelling and combines different elements of rapping and singing to achieve a different feel. Songs like “windhymn” feel soft and enchanting. In the song “Smut,” they switch between Arabic and English.
Saleh has also used their music to speak out about issues such as police brutality, in the song “body cast.”
During an interview with Michelle Kim, Saleh was questioned about the title of the ROSETTA EP and its relationship to Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
Saleh responded, “How can I imagine queer love in a way that’s radical and that has profound complexity?”
Rina Sawayama
Rina Sawayama is a pansexual, Japanese-British singer and songwriter who is very versatile. With different styles like nu-metal and teen pop showing up on her tracks, she’s definitely changing the game. Songs like “XS” are reminiscent of the early 2000s pop, except with a rocking guitar riff throughout.
Her tracks don’t only include pop stylings but also her own grappling with her identity and sexuality. For example, take the song “Cherry”, where she talks about her pansexuality.
Taliwhoah
London born, L.A. based singer, Taliwhoah is not just one thing. Elements of her Caribbean heritage, slips of soul, and R&B can be found in her newest album, Another Dimension.
Her music is about what defines us and how increasingly complicated that can be. The song “Somebody” is a sultry mix of R&B and Afro-Caribbean soul.
Your 2020 Pride Month music playlist
Regardless if Pride month is what brought you here, hopefully, you’ll decide to stay. Check out the playlist at the bottom if you’re interested in hearing these artists (and more!) for yourself.
It’s clear that all of these artists are bringing something fresh to the table and are worth celebrating, year-round.