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Pride is all about self-empowerment and self-determination. It's about unashamedly and unapologetically celebrating who you are and showing the world that there is pride to be found in being nothing more than you. And that's why, this Pride and every Pride, we want to take a moment to shine a light on a small handful of our favorite LGBTQIA+ artists. These are nine artists you should be listening to this PRIDE and every day for that matter

Chappell Roan

If you don’t know who Chappell Roan is at this point, you’re probably living under a rock. This queer pop icon shot to fame in 2024 after a decade of cultivating her eccentric drag persona. Discovered at 17 from her raw vocal talent, the young star was signed to a major label, dropped when the pandemic hit, then gave it one more shot by developing the Chappell Roan project completely DIY in collaboration with her creative friends and producer Dan Nigro. She released her debut album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess in September of 2023, which contained tracks dating back to 2020. Despite being released nine months ago, this Pride month the album peaked at #1 on iTunes and Roan has grown exponentially, garnering 22M+ monthly listeners on Spotify and drawing the largest crowds at music festivals around the country. Her shows are themed, encouraging fans to dress up and be their true authentic selves free from judgment. 

Towa Bird

Singer, songwriter, and guitarist Towa Bird launched her artist project in 2023 with her song “Wild Heart,” and has since become an icon of the queer community. From touring with Reneé Rapp to gearing up for the release of her own debut album, American Hero, set to release June 28, Towa is surely one to watch. Her recent single, “Boomerang,” off the upcoming album, is a shimmering indie rock anthem that exemplifies Bird’s simultaneously youthful sound and mature perspective. “Boomerang” tells a story of long-distance sapphic heartache—one that will be familiar to those in the community. The tenacity to surpass state lines and situational hardships just to be in someone’s life is a staple of queer love. Then there's her most recent single, "Sorry Sorry," which sees the rising star explore the harsh realization that sometimes you're simply better off as friends. Masterminding alternative fusions as she explores identity, romance, and life, Towa Bird continues to stun listeners with her alt-pop prowess. 

skaiwater

London-born, LA-based artist skaiwater is an alchemist of hip-hop, conjuring a singular sound that blends Jersey club, pop, hyperpop, pluggnb, and more. They soared to success with the viral hit “#miles” and its subsequent remix with Lil Uzi Vert in 2022, and have since released their debut album after a transformative few years. skaiwater came out as nonbinary in a to-the-point post in 2023, embraced with open arms by fans who found personal visibility and community in skai’s acceptance of themself. Their latest album #gigi is fueled with the palpable feeling of liberation. Musically and personally, #gigi represents a new era for skai. It’s equal parts candid and tongue-in-cheek, crossing genre-lines with each beat. skaiwater has and continues to raise the bar in their music, and further, has opened another door of visibility for gender non-conforming listeners through their community. 

Frost Children

Hyperpop sibling duo Frost Children has created a tight-knit community of queer indie kids, music nerds, and the coolest of the chronically online. In 2023, they released two full-length albums spiraling down opposite ends of pop music. On their primary electro-punk album SPEED RUN, they transport listeners into a NYC club rave, with lyrics touching on everything from societal structures to gender dysphoria. Frost Children promptly followed this up with Hearth Room. Self-described as their "ego-death-lifestyle-moved-upstate" album, the duo experiments with an early 2000s pop-rock influence. The siblings continue to extend the spectrum of their musicality, finding an endearing middle ground between earnest ambition and hyperbolic ego.

The Last Dinner Party

If you’ve ever wondered what Victorian-era rock stars would look like, The Last Dinner Party is a good place to start. The London-based group, consisting of Abigail Morris, Lizzie Mayland, Emily Roberts, Georgia Davies, and Aurora Nishevc, formed in 2021 and is on track to take over the rising pop-rock scene in no time. Their debut album, Prelude To Ecstasy, dubbed them pioneers of “baroque pop,” embracing musical acrobatics and theatrics that have earned them comparisons to the likes of Kate Bush and acclaim from Florence Welsh. Representing a variety of identities amongst their quintet, The Last Dinner Party also delves into topics of feminine rage and repressed love that surpass identity. 

Isaac Dunbar

At only 21 years old, Isaac Dunbar is a pioneer of queer pop in the modern age. He released his first single at 16 and has been pushing the needle ever since. He recently released his first EP since signing with RCA Records, titled Beep Beep Repeat. The project channels '70s and '80s dance-pop while providing a fresh twist on the legacy of the queer pioneers who came before. Inspired by the energy of discovering yourself in New York City, tracks like “Apartment A” and “I Love To Dance” showcase Dunbar’s genre-blending perspective. “Backseat Girl” is an epic ballad worthy of Freddy Mercury comparisons. The young star recently performed on the main stage at LA Pride and is the perfect artist to have on repeat this June. 

Sophie Truax

Sophie Truax has taken over the internet with their cast of handmade puppets and earworm indie pop hits. All carefully crafted to be caricatures of ex-partners, best friends, and even their manager, Truax’s puppets help them tell the stories of their songs. Fans have flocked to their quirky earnestness and left-of-center storytelling method, but Truax’s artistic talent goes way beyond their crafty marketing. Their latest song, “Nonchalant,” is a perfect place to start—it ripples with waves of light electronic glitches that decorate inescapable pop sensibilities. With only six singles under their belt, now is the time to get to know Truax, a radiant one-to-watch creating a community for all to be unabashedly themselves—humans and puppets alike.
 

Moore Kismet

The youngest artist ever to perform at booth Lollapalooza and Electric Daisy Carnival, it feels like an understatement to call Moore Kismet one of the most promising emerging artists in the electronic space. The 19-year-old artist released their debut album, UNIVERSE, in 2022, a hypersonic work of production extraordinaire, and has since matured their sound with creative precision. As an artist bolstering a career in both a primarily white and straight-dominated subsection of the industry, the Black, pansexual, and non-binary artist acts as a beacon of inclusivity and change for lovers of EDM and bass music. Kismet’s ingenious musical instincts lay squarely at the root of this, too, their passions and inspirations fueling one another. 

Miki Ratsula

Acclaimed artist Miki Ratsula is a beloved staple of indie pop, effortlessly blending indie rock and electro undercurrents on their sophomore album, i’ll be fine if i want to. They’ve also made tangible waves for queer inclusivity through the stories they infuse into their music. “elephant,” Ratsula’s latest single, is dedicated to anyone who has felt like the elephant in a room, acknowledging the range of emotions they’ve felt being openly trans and non-binary in certain isolating spaces. While “elephant” acknowledges the fatigue that comes from hiding your true self, it builds into an upbeat celebration of proudly owning your identity. Miki Ratsula touches on everything from love and sorrow to envy and apathy, and all the way to outright anger with the unifying message being one of self-agency.