Listen to the Full Spotify Playlist Here!
Happy Pride Month! Music can be a window to an artists or community's life, thoughts, and experiences. and hope that this post can help provide some context and understanding for our community this month.
I’m sure many of us can relate to listening to the same songs and artists over and over. More than just a habit, it brings a sense of comfort. We know which songs make us feel which feelings. As an avid offender of this myself, I can attest that sometimes, it's uncomfortable, but necessary to free ourselves from the bubble we create at least once in a while. Even if the music isn’t your cup of tea, hearing opinions and thoughts, even ones you already thought you agreed with, from a different perspective helps put you momentarily in another's place.
As both celebration and education, I welcome you to listen to music by queer and trans artists. While some art shows the anger, sadness, frustration, and joy faced by the artist directly and indirectly because of their identity, some shows that we are more than our labels. We’re people just like anyone else.
-Leon, intern at Better World Collaborative
Here are 5 LGBTQ+ artists for your Pride playlist!
#1 Shea Diamond
Shea Diamond is an American Singer and Transrights Activist. Her music is a powerful representation of her life experiences and others like her and gives people the empowerment and courage to keep moving. In addition to trans activism, she also writes music regarding incarceration and gun violence. She has performed at trans rights rallies, been part of the Human Rights Campaign.
#2 JayPage
Jay Page is an amazing artist who has written many songs reflecting his relatable experiences and emotions, as well as songs reflecting his experience as a trans man. HIs song Invincible, listed above, is always a cathartic listen for me. He does an awesome job of putting difficult feelings into words in an empowering way.
#3 Yungblud
Yungblud’s entire discography is equally as impressive and promotes being yourself. In regards to specifically the trans community, his song and short film Mars are must see videos. He had this to say about his short film premier.
“Giving people a platform to tell their stories with truth and integrity means so much to me and I feel that’s what we’ve achieved with this film. The love and friendship and warmth I felt being around this beautiful team was a hugely powerful experience and I truly feel gives a little glimpse into the lives of young people.”
#4 CJ Run
CJ run is a trans artist in the Chicago area who writes and performs music in the Alt R&B/Hip Hop genre. CJ Run is so enchanting to watch perform, I couldn’t stop. I listened to every one of their songs within a day of finding them on YouTube and the music and lyrics are masterfully written and performed. From You tube: CJ Run - Here4Now | Audiotree Live,
The Live Shows on this playlist are amazing!
#5 Adam Mac
Adam Mac is an LGBTQ+ country artist from Kentucky, whose most recent album Disco Cowboy is the best country album i’ve listened to in a while. He uses his platform to empower and be a voice for people in the community by living and performing loudly as who he is against expectations for country artists.