This is my love letter to all the queer musicians out there, making art and kicking ass. If there's an artist you think I should know about, please let me know, I love new music! (I also reblog/post on general queer and trans stuff, radical news, and instances when the world is fucked, and when it isn't!)
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
Calpernia Addams is perhaps best known for starring in the the 2008 reality TV dating show Transamerican Love Story, as well as a prolific career as a club entertainer. But she has also been a bluegrass and folk musician since childhood, and in a the past few years she has begun to release music following those traditions.
As a club entertainer, Addams released a number of house/EDM and pop tracks, many of them parody covers, or funny originals like “Likin’ Big Dicks” and “Stunning.” More recently, she has been going back to her bluegrass and gospel routes with originals and covers from artists like Dolly Parton, The Animals, and classics from Marlene Dietrich and Mae West. Addams is multi-talented, not only singing, but also playing auto harp, accordion, violin, and guitar on many of her songs. Her voice is reminiscent of olden tyme cabaret and movies. It’s very raspy, and heavily drenched in reverb on many of her tracks, making it even more haunting than it might be on its own. Her version of “House of the Rising Sun,” guts the sad desperation of The Animals take, leaving just lonliness.
In past year she has toured the US and UK with indie musician Patrick Wolf, and has set up a regular Dolly Parton Gospel brunch, bringing in women to sing Parton’s gospel classics. She steadily releases tracks on her soundcloud, so make sure to check there for new music.
Check ‘em out:
Soundcloud
Bandcamp
Official site
So, summer is just around the corner, and if you’re like me, you’re looking for some new chill summer jams. Well, look no further than Khaos da Rapper.
Hailing from Atlanta, Khaos is a performer, producer, and the creator/host of Yo! LGBT Raps, which has been featured here on FY!QM a few times, and is definitely worth a look if you haven’t checked it out before. Her tracks are a mix of 90s hip-hop and R&B sensibilities and modern production, like autotune, and more computerized samples. There is pretty much nothing not to like. Even if you aren’t normally a hip-hop fan, a lot of Khaos’s stuff is remnant of your favorite hits of yesteryear (ie the 90s), because admit it or not, you all jammed out to “Ghetto Superstar.”
Check ‘em out:
Official site
Soundcloud
Bandcamp
Youtube
Kelsey Morris is a Portland, OR artist who plays in The Mucks (who are a rock-y, indie type band, if you’re down with that sort of thing), and records her own solo stuff. And it’s good all around!
Morris’ solo material is a mix of Americana with indie singer songwriter sensibilities (think Jose Gonzales and a bit of Kathleen Edwards last album). Her latest EP, Layperson, errs much more on the side of modern singer songwriter, combining soft electric and acoustic instrumentation, with layered melodies of her voice, creating a dreamy vibe. Her first release, A Taste, seems to take a lot more from the Americana tradition of a new take on old, soulful country (check out “Little Honey Bee” and “Honey Won’t You Please”) and reminded me of. Most of the songs are more energetic than on Layperson, but both EPs are awesome and definitely worth a listen.
Check ‘em out:
Bandcamp
Wheelchair Sports Camp is a funky/jazzy hip-hop trio from Denver. You’ve probably heard of them thanks to a Village Voice article and the fact that they’re fucking good.
WSC was founded by MC Kalyn Heffernan and was joined by a college friend and her brother, Abi and Issac McGaha Miller. WSC feels old school with a lot of live drum work and jazz saxophone. The beats make your head bob, and it’s not overwhelming in a way that a lot of modern hip-hop and rap can be. It’s still fun, and I bet it makes for a killer live show, but it’s also easily digestable. Kalyn has skill has a rapper, and she isn’t trying to blow your mind with speed, she’s just a solid MC with a funny and sharp streak, and she can go from political to self deprecating in a heartbeat. Abi provides the sax and vocals, and she’s equally talented with both. Her voice is incredible, and perfectly suited to singing hooks, while her sax playing elevates many of the tracks to something much more memorable than they would be otherwise.
So if you’re looking for hip-hop that’s a bit more of a throwback, Wheelchair Sports Camp might be right up your alley. They’ve got a lot of live dates coming up in the next month or so, so check them out if they’re in your area.
Check ‘em out:
Bandcamp (I highly recommend the Live in PDX EP)
Facebook
Official site
Y’all like fancy music? Better yet, fancy music with pretty words on top of it? Then do I have the band for you: Prince De Dame!
Based out of San Francisco, this chamber music ensemble (string quartet and voice) crafts haunting love and loss songs, and released their first EP, The Wild Blood, this past year. Prince de Dame is headed by vocalist/composer Karl Cronin, who has written beautiful classical type music that has a solid pop streak. Lyrics and vocals aside, the music is definitely a string quartet, but it feels like more intense Owen Pallett esque indie pop. All the string players are obviously incredibly talented, and Cronin’s voice is emotional and soothing. Definitely give them a listen if you’re looking for something a bit different (and fancier)!
Check ‘em out:
Official site
Facebook
So. You like RVIVR? Earlier Lemuria? Pop punk? Sunshine? Happiness? Well, if we’re being real here, you probably already love Aye Nako, but if you haven’t gotten your ears around to listening to them already, quit wasting time and get on it!
Ayke Nako is a Brooklyn quartet that makes the hip poppy punk that’s a hit with all the kids these days. It’s tinged with a little college rock/90’s indie nostalgia with chord progressions that make you smile and roll around on the floor with joy. Or maybe that’s just me. They recorded a new album recently, and are doing a short east coast this summer to mark its release, and it’s going to be the best. So everyone go and listen to these guys and it’ll make the world a better place. Guaranteed.
Check ‘em out:
Official site
Facebook
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laserbov is Swedish electronic music to soothe your ears. Alternatively, you could call it “chill as fuck.”
laserbov released their Cutters EP at the tail end of last year, and at a mere 6 songs (half of which are remixes of the other half), it is a painful tease. The tracks are dreamy escapism, completely programmed, and while some bits have harsh edges and the vocals are crazy warped and distored, they serve to keep the songs from becoming a snoozefest. Not to say you couldn’t fall asleep to this EP, it’s just that you wouldn’t pass out due to sheer boredom.
They are also a member of lo-fi pop-rock band Jackie, which is also a bit on the dreamy side, but firmly rooted in live instrumentation. If you’re all up on the good stuff the indie scene puts out, you’ll probably dig the hell out of Jackie.
Check them out:
Bandcamp
Official site
Jackie Bandcamp
The Sulkies is a relatively new act out of Ireland combining industrial and electro elements with a hatred of the gender binary.
They released their first full length quite recently, titles As Is. It’s dark and dense, with lots of clashing beats and drone-y vocals that sound more like speaking at times than singing. Some of the tracks, like “Never Travel (with a bad feeling)” feature really catchy synth parts which smash up against the rest of the music in an unsettling way that’s definitely an attention grabber. Lyrically, The Sulkies focus on the patriarchy and how shit the gender binary is, hitch hiking, and stupid man made distinctions about fucking everything. I give it a solid “right on” rating.
As Is and their first EP Cry Not are both available for free download on bandcamp, and sharing is actively encouraged. So go forth, music lovers, and share new music by new, exciting artists!
Alright, so. EX. By V. They make awesome noise, are punk as fuck (whatever that means, they are it, for reals), etc…
EX. By V. is a philly two piece that makes music that is loud and weird. It’s got a huge thrash/punk influence, with vocalist/bassist ksenya leah basarab switching effortlessly between an incredible growl, and a nasally-in-that-90s-alt-rock-way clean vocal. The bass is distorted to hell and back on most tunes, and the drums are exactly what you would expect for the genre, so it fits perfectly.
EX. By V. also does some interesting things with samples and loops, keeping them from falling into the repetitive trap many thrash/punk/hardcore bands do. Some tracks are just looped voices and sampled noise and static, creating a very creepy atmosphere, which is pretty neat, and again, serves as a good break from the cranked to 11 bits.
They’re involved with Gender EDGE, an art collective that spans multiple cities and is promoting activism through art, especially around trans and queer issues, which is pretty nifty.
Check ‘em out:
Bandcamp
Blogspot
Facebook
Gender EDGE
Do you like Tegan and Sara? Fences? One of my personal favorites, Enio? Other sorts of people who make that kind of music? Then you should like Vivek Shraya, unless you already like him, in which case, well done, and carry on.
Shraya has been releasing music for over ten years as a solo artist. Much of his early material is in the acoustic singer-songwriter wheelhouse, but in recent years he has gotten more adventurous, creating a more indie-pop sound. His music is warm and inviting, but nowhere near ambient enough to put you to sleep. Shraya’s music worms its way into your chest and makes itself comfortable.
Outside of his music, he’s directed a few shorts and a documentary titled What I Love About Being Queer, a collection of queer folks telling us what they like about being queer. Which is adorable and pretty awesome.
Check ‘em out:
Official Site
Facebook
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