Tag: LGBTQIA+

Amplify LGBTQIA+ Voices With These Audiobook Authors and Narrators

June 25, 2024

June is Pride Month, a time to honor and celebrate the vibrant LGBTQIA+ community and its rich history, culture, and achievements. It’s also a time to elevate, uplift, and spotlight voices that have been historically marginalized and underrepresented, which is the driving force behind the work of Nicky Endres (they/she).

Nicky is an Asian American non-binary transfeminine queer actor, comic, voice artist, and audiobook narrator. Their projects span the gender spectrum and provide an authentic and versatile voice, which was just awarded the Publishing Professionals Award at this year’s Lambda Literary Awards, also known as the Lammy Awards. In partnership with Spotify, this year’s Publishing Professional Award honors an individual in the LGBTQIA+ community whose innovative work in the publishing industry helps amplify important LGBTQIA+ literature.

For the Record sat down with Nicky to learn more about their upbringing, their experience as an artist and actor, the intimacy of audiobook narration, and more.

Congratulations on winning the Publishing Professionals Award! How does it feel to be recognized for your work helping queer and trans authors reach more readers across mediums?

In a word? Affirming! I’m humbled and grateful. Amplifying queer and trans stories and connecting people to queer and trans hearts is very present in everything I do. I care deeply about representation, communication, and community. I care because I grew up in a homogeneously white, conservative, and religious small town without knowing there was anyone else like me in the world. Before I was consciously aware of my identity, I found myself committed to the arts. I think it’s because of art’s ability to communicate between words and concepts, to connect to an audience without necessarily having to clearly define itself, or to just exist—as if existence itself is the point, inviting itself to be experienced. Art was a way for me to “be” before I could explain who I was. 

Building bridges and opening hearts and minds—especially inviting people of all identities into the hearts and minds of queer authors and their stories—aligns directly with what inspires and drives me as an artist and actor. Narrating audiobooks is the perfect nexus where all the things I love most meet. It’s very affirming to know that the love and care with which I approach this work is being felt and shared by authors and listeners, as well as by publishers, producers, fellow narrators, and of course, Lambda Literary and Spotify!

Audiobooks have become a popular way to consume novels. As a narrator, how do you think reading the words aloud changes the experience for the listener?

My favorite thing about the oral telling of a story, as a narrator, is crafting the feeling of intimacy that invites emotional experiences that are different—not better or worse—from reading text visually. For some books and for some readers, this difference can feel deeper, more personal, funnier, or scarier depending on the genre, or—especially in the case of queer and trans books—it can add an additional layer of authenticity and representation. For some nonfiction books, listening can sometimes make the information easier to digest. Certain types of humor can also feel more dimensional in audio than on the page. But most of all, I think the biggest benefit of the audiobook experience is the accessibility. Accessibility is freedom. Having the choice to enjoy literature both visually and auditorily means literature can reach more people. And all people deserve to enjoy literature, no matter their situation.

What’s your earliest memory of stories’ being read aloud to you—audiobooks or otherwise?

I am so lucky that my mom was a kindergarten teacher! My sister and I had the enormous benefit of being read to quite regularly by both our parents. But my mom had a special knack for connecting with kids, and she never got bored of reading the same books to us multiple times. My sister and I both grew up taking literacy for granted. It wasn’t until I grew up that I realized what a gift and privilege that was, because she wouldn’t just read to us; she made learning to read fun, involving us in the stories. And now my parents can listen to me read to them! 

What is your favorite audiobook genre to narrate and why? 

My favorite genre to narrate is LGBTQIA+ literature. I love it for two reasons: Firstly, living as a queer trans person in a cisgender, hetero-normative world, I seek stories that include and reflect my lived experience in intimate, knowing ways. Secondly, I love that LGBTQIA+ as a “genre” is incredibly multidimensional. It’s less a “genre” in the traditional sense and more a category with the flexibility to include, blend, and overlap all genres. And I love that, because even as a genre/category, LGBTQIA+ literature is just like queer identities and queer culture: diverse and inclusive within the umbrella of what is “queer.”

You have mastered so many dialects across your range of work. Do you have a favorite?

I’m very fond of British Modern London dialects, or “Estuary English,” which features aspects of both British Received Pronunciation and Cockney. Honestly, I like it so much that I pull it out anywhere I’m not likely to have repeat interactions. And it was very validating when I last visited England that people assumed I was from London!

What are you listening to or reading right now?

I am having a blast listening to Greta & Valdin by Rebecca K Reilly, narrated by Gary Furlong, Eilidh Beaton, Natalie Beran, Jackson Bliss, and Nico Evers-Swindell. It’s an absolute delight and has made me both LOL and “awww” several times.

Here are more LGBTQIA+ author and narrator recommendations from Spotify’s audiobooks editors, who have curated our GLOW audiobooks shelf for Pride this month on platform as part of our GLOW hub. You can also check out our podcast shelf within the hub.

The Risk it Takes to Bloom: On Life and Liberation

Written and narrated by Raquel Willis 

Born in Georgia to Black Catholic parents, Raquel Willis spent years feeling isolated, even within a loving, close-knit family. There was little access to understanding what it meant to be queer and transgender. It wasn’t until she went to the University of Georgia that she found the LGBTQ+ community, fell in love, and explored her gender for the first time. But the unexpected death of her father forced her to examine her relationship with herself and those she loved. In The Risk it Takes to Bloom, Raquel recounts the possibility of transformation after tragedy and how complex moments can push us all to take the necessary risks to bloom.

And Don’t F&%k It Up: An Oral History of RuPaul’s Drag Race (The First Ten Years) 

Maria Elena Fernandez

Narrated by Alec Mapa

Dive into this definitive history and celebration of the groundbreaking show RuPaul’s Drag Race in its first decade. And Don’t F&%k It Up follows the growth and evolution of the show from its beginnings in a Burbank basement set all the way to the Emmys, as told by its creators, stars, producers, and fans.

The Gay Best Friend

Nicolas DiDomizio

Narrated by Daniel Henning

Domenic Marino has always been the token gay best friend and has become an expert at code-switching between the hypermasculine and ultrafeminine worlds of his two soon-to-be-wed best friends. But now stuck between the warring bride and groom, he decides he’s ready to focus on something new: himself.

The No-Girlfriend Rule

Christen Randall

Narrated by Natalie Naudus

Hollis Beckwith is fat, anxious, and lost at the start of senior year when she decides to learn her boyfriend’s favorite tabletop roleplaying game, Secrets & Sorcery. His “no girlfriends at the table” rule leads her to find her own all-girls game. She becomes fast friends with the girls and ends up developing a crush on one of them. The No-Girlfriend Rule explores how roleplaying brings Hollis new confidence, true friends, and a shot at real love.

Under the Whispering Door

TJ Klune

Narrated by Kirt Graves

When a reaper comes to collect Wallace from his own funeral, Wallace begins to suspect he might be dead. But even in death he’s not ready to abandon the life he barely lived, so when given one week to cross over, Wallace sets out to live a lifetime in seven days. Under the Whispering Door is an uplifting story about a life spent at the office and a death spent building a home.

Celebrate and Honor Pride With LGBTQIA+ Artists, Creators, and Curated Playlists on Spotify’s GLOW Hub

June 11, 2024

From the rise of disco in the 1970s to the current wave of hyper pop, queer creators continue to shape trends, styles, and creative expressions in music and beyond. Last year, as part of Spotify’s commitment to fostering inclusivity and diversity within the audio industry, we launched GLOW, our year-round global music program amplifying LGBTQIA+ artists and creators.

Through GLOW, Spotify uplifts LGBTQIA+ creators and ensures that their contributions to music and culture are heard and celebrated year-round. That includes Pride Month, an annual time celebrated around the world to honor the community, raise awareness of issues and injustices, and advocate for LGBTQIA+ equality.

This year we’ll continue to celebrate the vibrant LGBTQIA+ community and its rich history, culture, and achievements. Through our GLOW artist spotlights, curated playlists, and more exciting content, we can feel proud supporting and streaming LGBTQIA+ creators.

We recognize the power of our platform to elevate, uplift, and spotlight voices that have been historically marginalized and underrepresented, and we’re committed to using it to continue to drive cultural change. Since GLOW launched in January 2023, Spotify has added more than 10,200 LGBTQIA+ artists to GLOW playlists globally.

GLOW artists received more than 140 million editorial streams within the first month of joining the program. In total, GLOW playlists have racked up more than 280 million streams and enabled more than 62 million discoveries.

LGBTQIA+ creators who GLOW

On Spotify, listeners in more than 50 markets can visit the GLOW hub. The hub serves as a dedicated space to highlight audio offerings from LGBTQIA+ voices year-round, with curated selections and monthly campaigns supporting spotlight artists. We’ve collaborated with stars like Tove Lo, Arlo Parks, Troye Sivan, and Villano Antillano, to name a few.

This month, we’re highlighting Orville Peck from Canada and Karin Ann from Slovakia as our GLOW spotlight artists; they are receiving increased support as part of our global program.

GLOW Artist LIE NING Finds Power in Life, Hope, and Radical Love

November 16, 2023

LIE NING

LIE NING has quickly risen in the German music scene as an artist devoted to exploring the realm of the human experience, all with a sound that shifts between R&B and contemporary pop with an airy, almost nostalgic feel to it. And now they are being celebrated as the newest Spotify GLOW artist.

Spotify GLOW is our global music program through our Creator Equity Fund celebrating and amplifying LGBTQIA+ artists and creators. Our goal is to support people of this historically marginalized community of voices and reassert our commitment to equity in audio, ensuring that queer creators—and their contributions to music and culture—are heard and honored year-round.

Growing up in an artistic commune in the Prenzlauer Berg neighborhood in Berlin with 25 other people, LIE NING was exposed to languages, performers, dancers, and perspectives that instilled in them a passion for communication through creativity. Their sultry voice and keen storytelling emerged as a way to further express their experiences. Their debut EP, traffic songs for the inbetweens, became a critical hit. And their first full-length album from this year, Utopia, which includes tracks such as “beautiful,” “i see you,” and “offline,” introduced listeners to the feelings of euphoria, hope, and radical love that has become a common theme in LIE NING’s work.

LIE NING’s latest EP, sweatshop, continues the journey of expression with a more carnal, aggressive, and sensual feel, delving into their experiences as a queer Black person.

For the Record sat down with LIE NING to talk about their new EP, the importance of art, and what makes them GLOW.

What was your initial reaction to being named a Spotify GLOW artist?

I’m honestly just so happy. To have this platform that combines both my passions, my art and my representation as a member of the queer community, is just beautiful.

What do you hope people take away from your music?

I think—especially right now with everything going on inside and outside of the music industry—the world is very loud, very demanding, and very fast. So I’m always longing for this space of calm and rest. I want my audience to come to my shows knowing that they’ll be able to experience the emotions that will set them free and that they’ll be in a safe space where we all look out for each other.

Also, sweatshop, my newest EP, is about my experience as a queer Black person. And honestly, a lot of it was really hard to write about because as a Black person I’ve been sexualized and fetishized from very early on in my life. I’ve had terrible experiences, but putting them into my music was very therapeutic and I hope that maybe someone will get some of that emotion through listening to it.

Who are some queer artists or cultural icons who have inspired you?

I am obsessed with ANOHNI. They have such a warming tone in their voice and in the way they express hurt and pain. It never felt like they were giving up, and it always feels quite hopeful and melancholic. I found a lot of inspiration in their performance.

And then obviously there’s so many performers in the Berlin queer scene. It can be quite a wild scene, but it’s very accepting and beautiful.

How do music and art empower the queer community?

I think trauma in general is something that is impossible to grasp and impossible to share because it’s so personal and so subjective. By being a member of the queer community and the Black community, I find that there’s this sense of collective trauma that we all share because we’ve been through similar experiences. So, what art can do, which I think is so special and should never be underestimated, is hold this very complex, abstract, and complicated world of past and present emotional experiences and allow others to experience it on a level they understand.

When we talk about the queer community, for example, a lot of artists in the ’80s were suffering and dying from HIV and AIDS. A lot of them started drawing nature and found quite beautiful elements within their art because there was so much hope. Despite all the hurt and pain, there’s this power that art has to make people still believe and be faithful.

What makes you GLOW? 

The core of what life is makes me GLOW. I’m very glad that I’m alive because I get to experience nature and I get to feel human touch and human connection and I get to experience so many moments. It’s just incredible.

Listen to LIE NING’s latest EP, sweatshop, now.

South African GLOW Artist Mx Blouse Proudly Combines Hip-Hop Beats With Dance, Kwaito, and Queer Themes

October 24, 2023

Johannesburg-based creative Sandi has been a writer ever since they could remember. Short stories and poetry gave way to a career in journalism, and, eventually, to song lyrics that were inspired by American hip-hop artists like Ms. Lauryn Hill and Nas. In 2016, after quitting their journalism job and traveling in Southeast Asia, Sandi wrote a set of lyrics to layer on top of their friend’s beats. “I didn’t know a thing about music at the time,” Sandi told For the Record. “I didn’t know about mixing or mastering. I just thought the song was done. ” Shortly later, it was posted to Soundcloud.

Suddenly after publication, blogs back home began picking up the song, and called to Sandi to release more songs and perform. Sandi quickly began writing, looking to communicate in their own authentic voice, and then returned to South Africa to begin rapping live.   

“The feeling of being onstage is what convinced me, okay, this is what I want to do,” they said. “I went up to my sister after the show and said, ‘sis, I don’t know how I’m going to pay rent, so I’m moving in with you. And I’m going to try to make this music thing work.’ And she said, ‘after what I saw tonight, go ahead.’” 

Since then, Sandi’s been releasing hip-hop tracks centering their non-binary queer and South African identities as Mx Blouse. They’ve garnered a monthly listening base and picked up steam abroad. And this month, as Spotify’s GLOW spotlight artist, we’re supporting them on our flagship GLOW playlist, as well as through billboards and other efforts. 

As much as Sandi has discovered and developed their voice since sharing that first song, barriers persist. “I kind of feel alienated from hip-hop as a queer person,” they shared. “I don’t really feel like I’m part of that community. A lot of my community are people in the dance music circuit. And I love dance music myself, so I’ve been trying to mold those two worlds together because I do love hip-hop, as much as I feel alienated from it. I’m trying to mix hip-hop with dance music sounds and obviously, talking about my queer experience.”

In addition to drawing inspiration from local queer creators like Athi-Patra Ruga and genres like kwaito, Sandi has found an incredible source of joy and hope in American rapper Lil Nas X. Growing up without much LGBTQIA+ representation, they simply never expected to see a Black, queer, global pop star. “What he’s achieved is something close to impossible,” Sandi shared. 

“It’s a struggle for a lot of queer artists, trying to fit into a music industry that, for the most part, doesn’t see you,” they said. “I’m also very blunt about my gender and my sexuality. If you listen to ‘ICON,’ there’s a part where I’m like ‘I’m not a rapper telling you that I’m an icon.’ It’s me recognizing that I’m not a traditional rapper, and maybe you shouldn’t see me that way. And that’s fine, because this is who I am, and I’m going to do things my way.”

Over the years, Sandi has learned more about the music industry and what it takes to have a career as an artist. “First of all, I learned about mixing and mastering,” Sandi laughed, “but people have also taught me how to consider song structure and putting a song together. It’s not just writing. Anyone who’s paying close enough attention can see the improvements.” 

They’ve also become stronger as a performer, incorporating a band into several of their live shows, and they now serve as their own manager, booking agent, social media manager and producer. They’re also their own advocate, carving out space locally and globally for their work and work of those around them. “Recently, my friends and I got together to do a fundraiser for queer people in Uganda because their existence has been outlawed. Being pushed to do that, first of all, was very scary, but the feeling of being able to contribute to my community is something that really makes me feel proud.”

Sandi unabashedly claims that they “love people,” and “love being around people.” What they love most as an artist is a strong feeling of contributing to their community, and even while still early in their career, they’re advocating for more equity in available opportunities.

“I’ve played at a lot of festivals where the queer stages are always separate from everything else,” they said. “In many ways, we can celebrate that and say, ‘we are being included, we are being given our own space.’ and I think that’s great. But at the same time, we are being alienated. Why can’t the queer artist be on the mainstage? There’s a catch-22, in creating something that is explicitly for queer people, and something where all kinds of people can hear you. I would like to see a world where queer artists don’t have to have that prefix in front of them, where they can be artists, period.” 

Catch Mx Blouse on Spotify’s flagship GLOW playlist.

From Heathrow to ‘Heartstopper,’ GLOW Artist Baby Queen is on a Musical Journey All Her Own

September 21, 2023

Bella Latham has long believed in her songwriting and composing abilities—even when it took others longer to recognize and amplify her talents. As a 10-year-old in Durban, South Africa, she learned to play piano by ear, and created compositions which she would then memorize and play repeatedly. She also wrote poetry that translated well to lyrics. After high school, she moved to London to pursue music, where she developed her first project, Baby Queen. 

“I came to London with a suitcase and 20 demo CDs, and nobody gave a shit because they were really bad,” she explained to For the Record. “I realized how difficult it was going to be to actually succeed. So, I decided, in order to do that, I had to get a lot better, work a lot harder, and really lean into what was unique about me. I did that, I found the sound, and then Baby Queen was born.”

In those early days, finding the sound came quickly, but Baby Queen didn’t quite have an audience. Everything changed after the artist was featured heavily in the hit Netflix series Heartstopper, which follows two high school boys who fall for each other, and who have the full support and love of their families and group of LGBTQIA+ friends and allies. The show was resonant for Bella, who had struggled for a long time to name and accept her own queer sexuality. 

Heartstopper fans quickly fell in love with Baby Queen’s raw, honest lyrics and built a strong, intimate, and fun relationship with the artist. (Fans recently made a now-favorite meme of hers, which features an inhaler marked with her most recent single, “Quarter Life Crisis,” symbolizing its vitality to their physical well-being.) 

This month, Baby Queen is also Spotify’s GLOW spotlight artist and part of our year-round campaign. We’ll support Baby Queen on our flagship GLOW playlist, as well as through billboards and other efforts. This comes ahead of the November release of Baby Queen’s first studio album. She spoke with For the Record about her GLOW ambassadorship, fans, and Heartstopper.

Baby Queen is a lyrically focused project. What is it about Baby Queen lyrics that resonate so strongly with your fans?

When I started releasing music as Baby Queen, I hadn’t been in love—or falling out of love—for two years prior to that. A lot of music is about relationships, but that’s not what I had to draw from during this time. It gives you the most feeling and the greatest urge to sit down and write music. So it’s been difficult, not having any of that. 

But during this time, I’ve really looked at myself and my face in the mirror and tried to unpack things about myself and tried to be very honest. I really love being so honest that the listener might hear it and feel uncomfortable, or say “Oh, did she really just say that?” And I think the reason people have connected to it is because I just have been really honest about some of the really difficult experiences I’ve had and the difficult parts of growing up and society and the world that we live in. I think that my music is something that young people can listen to and feel like they are being heard, or like the thoughts in their mind are being said out loud. 

What are Baby Queen fans like?

They’re really similar to me. That’s been really amazing because I feel less alone by finding this community. They’re really funny, they have great emotional depth, and they think about life deeply. They’re overthinkers. They’re people just like me, who have struggled, and felt alone, and a lot of them are part of the LGBTQIA+ community. I feel there are a lot of them who are trying to find their way through life and find out where they belong. And I feel like we’ve almost been doing that together, which has been amazing. 

How does music empower queer communities? 

In your upbringing as a queer person, you can feel quite isolated. And you’re quite lucky if you’re living in a metropolitan city and there are more versions of “you” that you can relate to. But most queer people are born in small towns and don’t have that. So finding an artist you really connect with, or a TV show or anything, opens up an entire world. That’s what queer artists like Haley Kiyoko and Troye Sivan were to me. When I was struggling with my queer identity when I was younger, I felt like there was something wrong with me, I felt a bit trapped. Music provides an escape, a hope, a dream, to express your identity and live the life you want to live. 

Speaking of TV shows, your music has been featured in Netflix’s Heartstopper. What has that relationship and its impact been like? 

Really surreal. It has been a really natural organic pairing. They—Patrick, the producer and Alice, the writer of the books—heard one of my songs on a playlist and invited me down to watch the first three episodes. I had no idea what it was or what it would become. But I wrote “Colours of You” for the first series. And after that it felt like I could breathe a sigh of relief for the first time in my career. 

The week when the show came out last year was the most insane. We were all in shock that music could be so directly linked and have such a spillover from the fandom into the soundtrack of a show, so it’s been surreal. 

What does it mean to GLOW?

What it means to GLOW is to radiate. I feel like people really glow when they are doing what they love and free themselves of all fear and overthinking and can really immerse themselves in the present and doing something they love. People radiate the most when they’re talking about something they’re really passionate about. That’s when someone genuinely physically glows. 

I feel like the moment I glow the most is when I’m on stage. Because I’m not thinking about anything other than being immersed, in that moment of doing what I love. 

Stream Baby Queen on the flagship GLOW playlist.

Mexican LGBTQIA+ Musicians Come Together for the First Latin American Spotify Single Made Entirely by Women

August 15, 2023

The latest Spotify Single from Latin America is a totally women-powered anthem. At every turn—from songwriting to composition, production, mixing, engineering, and even promotional content—“Mucho Peor – Spotify Singles” is a testament to the creativity and skills of the many women behind it. It’s taken its rightful place on the Created by Women Spotify playlist, which incorporates music created 100% by women from all over the world. 

“’Mucho Peor’ represents the extraordinary teamwork of talented women who want their music to reach more and more listeners globally,” said Moni Saldaña, Artist and Label Partnerships Manager at Spotify Mexico. “It is with great pride that we present the first Latin American Spotify Single created 100% by women.” 

“Mucho Peor – Spotify Singles” emerged from the sounds of four queer Mexican women artists: Kirnbauer, a producer and singer-songwriter who represents the new wave of pop; Noa Sainz, an R&B singer who’s been big on the festival circuit; María Centeno of folk-Latin group La Isla Centeno; and R&B-Afrobeat-pop-infusing Joaquina Mertz.

“I really wanted to make sure it was all women involved,” said Moni. “I also wanted to make sure we had diversity within the representation, in terms of interests, with each artist coming from a different city in Mexico. And then when I realized they were all part of the LGBTQIA+ community, it added a whole separate, beautiful layer to this narrative.” 

The song can be found on Spotify’s EQUAL hub, and all four artists are part of the global program, which reaffirms Spotify’s commitment to seeking equity in the audio industry. Additionally, all four artists are August ambassadors for GLOW, our global initiative highlighting the voices of LGBTQIA+ artists to achieve equity in the audio industry all year-round.

For the Record brought the quartet (and now friends) back together for a discussion about their new single and their role as queer women in music. 

Tell us how you came together to create “Mucho Peor.” 

María: Joaquina and I have become really good friends for a while; we’re both queer, we both make music, and we’ve written songs together before. One day our friend Kirnbauer came to us and told us there was an opportunity to create a Spotify Single, and she thought it would be fun to work on it together. We invited Noa Sainz to join us. She’s insanely talented. And now we all hang out; we talk about this; we have dinner once a week. It’s so refreshing to have friends who can relate to you in so many ways. It was so nice to work together on a specific project knowing it was going somewhere before we even started writing.

Joaquina: We were hanging out at Kirnbauer’s house and I already had a producer in mind, Maria Vertiz, because I’ve known her since we were very young. She studied classical music, then went to Berklee College of Music and worked with James Newton Howard. I insisted we work with her. Her style is so unique. She always finds a way to introduce different genres into what you’re making. So, we were thinking about an R&B song, and then we told her what we liked in the Natalia Lacunza song that she had produced, and she was like, “Okay friends, what if we put, like, drum and bass in this?” And it just worked perfectly. 

Kirnbauer: It’s so easy to work with the same old people you’ve been working with—with male established members of the music industry. But it was very important for us to create this all-women team. It feels more empowering. After a six-hour studio session, I’m usually so tired and drained. But after this one, we had so much energy because of the vibe, and we’re a team of all women. It was so different from what I’m used to. We were having drinks and celebrating, but we still had this rush. It was because we worked with a team that we trust. 

Noa: We followed our instincts. We trusted and enjoyed the process. It’s more about the process and the journey than the final product itself. This was an experience of showing that we’re women, we’re enough. We’re talented enough, and we don’t have to prove anything to anyone in this industry. We have this constant pressure to show what we can do, and it takes you away from enjoying the art and trusting yourself. We didn’t feel the pressure to prove anything; there was openness and space for all of us.   

What do you hope listeners take away from the song?

María: I hope they feel energy. That’s what we felt when we wrote it and we recorded it. We felt energized, so happy to be there, to be with our friends. Mucho peor means “way worse.” You know how sometimes people tell you that you’re a little too much? The lyrics are basically saying, “I could be even more of this.” It’s telling you to accept what you deserve, own it, and take nothing less. I hope people feel the power in it and feel good about themselves.

Kirnbauer: I think the song is very empowering. It was also interesting because we had all recently gone through breakups, and the song gives a sense of storytelling around “I deserve to be in a better place.” We wrote our own parts. It’s very personal, from our own experience, and in the end, it’s an empowering, fun, upbeat song that says, “You haven’t seen anything yet.”

Joaquina: The song is for women and queer people to feel cocky. There are a lot of songs for men who feel cocky in their love or sex lives. But I want to feel extravagant and not feel ashamed of it. We’ve been taught so much shame in being queer and being a woman. I think it’s time to let that go. So this song is about leaving behind this idea of being fragile because you’re a woman, and acknowledging you can be super cocky because you deserve to feel like this. 

How does music empower marginalized communities? 

Joaquina: Music has always been a safe space for queerness. I think a lot of people who are in the music business get a sense of what is trendy from queer spaces and sounds. To have queer women and to have queerness in music is so important because it gives a completely different voice to music. I think it’s a lot more magical. It comes from somewhere else. We need those types of spaces because they tell stories that matter. And they’ve always been present; they just need a little more of the limelight. 

María: It’s about storytelling. When queer people write songs, you are writing from a different point of view. The stories that you tell are different, maybe, from the stories you grow up hearing about—with girls and boys and this binary thing where there isn’t a lot of color. I think it’s important to write songs from the queer community’s experience, from our own experiences as queer women in Mexico. Our storytelling is different because the types of love stories we have are different. The way we relate to other people is different. Even the way we relate to our queer friends is different, and so the way we create art together comes out differently. 

Kirnbauer: It’s all about representation. I admire and listen to other artists who inspire me. We can allow ourselves to be that for other generations. Every story is very unique. We’re four Mexican queer girls making art, making these songs specifically. Each one of us has a very different story and way of telling it. Everything is about telling our stories and allowing the people out there, the younger generations, to find inspiration. It’s a privileged position to be in, and I’m very honored to be able to share with people and connect with them. 

Noa Sainz: Music tells our stories. It gives us a voice. It gives people a voice they don’t always have. Music is the best company for everyone, whether you’re alone and on your own or surrounded by supportive people. 

Stream “Mucho Peor” now, only on Spotify. 

Netflix Hit ‘Heartstopper’ Showcases Several LGBTQIA+ Artists in Its Official Playlist for Season 2

August 3, 2023

In 2022 Netflix released Heartstopper, a British television series that follows high schooler Charlie Spring, who falls in love with his classmate Nick Nelson. The coming-of-age show, based on the hit graphic novel, includes doses of drama, comedy, and romance as Charlie and his group of close-knit friends navigate the trials and tribulations of teenagedom.

The show features a captivating score from Adiescar Chase and a perfect parallel playlist from Spotify, Heartstopper: Official Playlist. It’s now back for a second season.

For Season 1, the official playlist featured 36 songs, many of which are by both established and emerging LGBTQIA+ artists. A track from Norwegian indie-pop star girl in red appeared alongside a song from Irish singer-songwriter Ezra Williams, giving users the opportunity to listen to their favorite artists while also discovering new ones. Fans can find the playlist within our Netflix hub, as well as our GLOW hub, a dedicated space on Spotify that highlights music and podcasts of LGBTQIA+ voices for queer listeners and allies.

To celebrate the release of Season 2, Spotify is updating the official Heartstopper playlist with a new batch of tracks, including ones from Baby Queen and Tegan and Sara. Devoted fans listening to Spotify on their phones will also quickly spot an Easter egg: animated leaves floating across the screen in a nod to the illustrated visual elements depicted in the show. And as a little extra love, visuals from the series will also be depicted on select tracks in the playlist through Spotify Canvas. 

Listeners looking for more can also dive into the character-driven playlists for Nick and Charlie, Tara and Darcy, and Elle and Tao. Music is a critical component of the series, and each character has music that uniquely defines them. When For the Record asked Yasmin Finney, who plays Elle Argent on the show, which song she thinks best represents her character, she said, “‘Dog Days Are Over’ by Florence + The Machine,” because it sort of represents new beginnings. “The dog days are over, the hiding is over,” she explained. “Elle gets to step into herself, and we all see that—and she’s a boss. That song, to me, resonates with her a lot.”

In advance of Season 2, For the Record caught up with Patrick Walters*, executive producer for the show, to learn more about the integral role music plays in Heartstopper, and what artists and music fans should look forward to hearing this season.

Of all the songs on Heartstopper’s official playlist, roughly half are by queer artists. How did you discover some of the emerging talent? 

Alice and I had been developing Season 1 during the pandemic, and lockdowns meant Alice had a whole year to write all eight episodes before we could get into production. Across that time, we would send songs back and forth to each other to our favorite tracks for particular moments, like Nick and Charlie’s first kiss, Charlie running in the rain, Nick typing “am I gay?” into Google, etc. The songs and artists we found were just what we were listening to at the time. Alice had found “Why Am I Like This?” by Orla Gartland around that time, and as soon as we discussed it as a potential song for Nick’s internet search, we became pretty sure it was the one. That was long before we started filming. I remember listening to “Internet Religion” by Baby Queen from a playlist on Spotify and thinking it could be a good song for Tara in Season 1. That ultimately didn’t work, but we found Baby Queen’s other tracks, and she ended up having more music than any other artist in the series! It was a very organic process.

Many of the artists on the playlist are bedroom pop stars with effervescent sounds that match perfectly with the light hues and illustrations that accompany the show. Why was it important for you to keep the music in this style?

There’s something raw and emotional in the music made by young artists independently. They wear their hearts on their sleeves, just like the characters in Heartstopper. Our music syncs work best when the emotion of the scene is underlined by the lyrics and swagger of the song and artist. We wanted the songs in the mixtape to feel like the characters’ favorite songs. “Bedroom pop” is perfect for us because we spend a lot of time in the bedrooms of our characters, where they can most freely express themselves and feel safe.

What can we look forward to musically in the new season? 

We wanted to remain consistent with Season 1 while also broadening the musical palette to be slightly more mature and in line with the characters’ journeys. There are more commercial tracks in Season 2. We spent a long time clearing some key tracks that felt important to us. “seven” by Taylor Swift initially reflects Tara and Darcy’s relationship breakthrough in Episode 8, but we then decided to keep it over the montage of all of the friends spending time together after prom. We also have “ur so pretty” by Wasia Project, Will Gao’s own band, as the final song of the season. Both of these tracks were vital for us because they show a maturity and an intimacy we hadn’t really conjured yet in Season 1. Season 2’s music tracks also nod more to different worlds and nostalgia—a reference to the characters stepping into adulthood. When we are in Paris, we have some French songs to reflect their new surroundings. And at the prom in Episode 8, Baby Queen makes a cameo to sing her own version of The Cure’s song “Just Like Heaven.” It’s an 80s throwback she expertly brings into the world and style of the show.

If you were creating a playlist for the graphic novel, how much would change?

A playlist for the graphic novel might have more variety. When we choose the music for the show it has to have a really clear identity that sits alongside the score by Adiescar Chase. We go back to a lot of the same artists again and again for this reason. For example, in the graphic novel, “Everywhere” by Fleetwood Mac is Nick and Charlie’s song, and would definitely be on the playlist. But for the show, this would sit so outside of our signature style; it would really take the audience out of the drama to suddenly have such a recognizable song from a different era. Maybe Baby Queen can cover it for Season 3 though . . .

If you had to pick a theme song for each of the four main characters, what would they be?

This is so tough! For Season 2 Charlie, I’d say “Shatter” by Maggie Rogers. For Nick, maybe “How Can I Make It OK?” by Wolf Alice. There’s a really great one for Tao we wanted to use but didn’t manage to get in this season: “The Most Beautiful Thing” by Thomas Headon. Elle’s would definitely be “mona lisa” by mxmtoon.

In addition to Patrick, Alice Oseman, the writer and creator of Heartstopper, revealed what songs she thinks best represent each character. Her picks did not disappoint:

Whether you’re planning to binge-watch Season 2 today or you’re saving it for a later date, get your heart pumping in anticipation with the Heartstopper: Official Playlist now.

 

 

*Interview content captured prior to July 13, 2023.

British Pop LGBTQIA+ Icon MNEK Helps Rising Artists GLOW

July 11, 2023

Artist-writer-producer MNEK credits Timbaland, Pharrell Williams, Jermaine Dupri, Darkchild, and Jam & Lewis—the masterminds he grew up playing on repeat—as the inspirations behind his personal style. But in the 14 years since he came onto the scene, MNEK has inspired countless artists in his own right, amassing over 4 billion streams on songs he’s written, produced, or appeared in. 

The Grammy award–winning and BRIT- and Ivor Novello–nominated artist has collaborated with British pop luminaries Zara Larsson, Stormzy, Gorgon City, Years & Years, and Craig David, as well as international stars Beyoncé, Little Mix, Dua Lipa, Christina Aguilera, BTS, Mabel, Anne Marie, Madonna, Kelly Rowland, Selena Gomez, Jax Jones, and Clean Bandit. 

MNEK is also an icon in the U.K. and global LGBTQIA+ communities, having performed at New York World Pride and U.K. Black Pride, and having appeared in roles such as coach and guest judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK. This month, he’s also Spotify’s GLOW spotlight artist and is a part of the year-round campaign. We’ll support MNEK in our flagship GLOW playlist, as well as through billboards and other out-of-home efforts. 

MNEK himself knows the importance of visibility and amplification. He set up Proud Sound in 2019, a writing camp dedicated to supporting LGBTQIA+ singer-songwriters, and has since worked hard to bring more inclusivity to the industry as a contributor to the Guardian UK diversity panel and his own “MNEK’s Inter-Section” YouTube panel. 

“There’s an affirmation that people feel when things like this exist and center them,” he said. “It shouldn’t just be Pride Month when this is happening. Opportunities like Proud Sound should happen throughout the year. People have flocked to this in such a beautiful way. They didn’t realize they needed it, but now that they’ve found it, they want more—more spaces with queer people where they feel safe, comfortable, and relaxed to make their best art.”

For the Record spoke to MNEK on the last day of his 2023 “Proud Sound songwriting camp presented by MNEK & Warner Chappell Music; powered by GLOW.”

What was the beginning of your journey into music?

I started out as a ’90s kid who was always watching MTV and was very fascinated in how music was made. It inspired me to really want to make music. I’m very blessed to have grown up in the time that I grew up in. It was really the beginning of young producers’ being self-sufficient with bedroom studios. There was a time when studio equipment was so far removed and you really had to be an adult with funds to have access to that kind of stuff.

So, that was my gateway to making music, and I just started getting myself out there by putting stuff on MySpace. And then I got discovered and feel like I really came up within the music industry. The first half of my life was me figuring it out, and then this half has been being in my job and enjoying it, but also growing up and into it. 

How would you say your identity has played into the way you work? 

I grew up in a house full of boys. So, it was me, my two brothers, my dad, and my mother. And I think I do yearn for female connection in certain aspects. I love writing with women. I love writing music [sung] by women. I love listening to music by women as well. And so it’s kind of always gone hand in hand that way, as far my own approach to femininity.

And I think there’s something to be said about me being a listener. I like listening to people, and I think that I get a lot of things from my feminine side and from my mother and her being a listener and her being an empath. I know that’s absolutely helped as far as what I’m able to bring to a session, or what I’m able to bring to someone’s life when I’m working with them.

As far as my own solo records and my identity, it’s definitely helped me be more real and more honest. Of course, there will always be moments where I’m like, “Should I be saying that? Will someone really want to hear me say that?” But the answer should be yes. If there’s something I’m feeling, I can have conviction that someone else will relate to it. So let it be; let it come out into the world.

Can you tell us more about the songwriting camps you host?

I started a writing camp with Warner Chappell in their studios in 2019. It was a select few writers between two studios. They connected, shared stories, and wrote songs. But the main objective was to empower them, to make them feel valued, and to have them in the room with other queer people.

Even today, people who were part of that come back to me and say, “I’ve never been in rooms where it’s all queer people. And the safety that I feel, and the peace that I can feel being around these people when I’m doing something I love, is just priceless.” And they’re thanking me for doing that. And that’s exactly what I wanted to achieve. The root of it, for me, is building connections, building who could possibly make the bangers of tomorrow. I think that queer people are the center of so much creativity and art, and this is no different. 

What has this week’s camp been like?

It’s been beautiful. I have been hovering across the rooms and kind of giving advice or pointers as opposed to necessarily setting up shop and writing a song. It’s been great to have Black and queer writers and producers, trans producers, lesbians, bi, everyone has been here sharing their stories, having jokes, and having really good food. We’ve been here at Three Six Zero Studios and they’ve been so accommodating. It’s been so great to use this space for the past couple of days. It’s been really cool to see the music that’s been coming out. It has been really fun and great to hear how different people’s vibes can intertwine and influence each other. 

How does music empower queer communities and creators? 

Music absolutely saved my life, in so many ways. It gave me a place to be able to express myself and to be able to communicate what I wanted to share with the world, my gift to the world. For a lot of queer people, the arts in general have always been a vehicle for us to evoke everything we keep in the little closet. 

As far as music goes, it follows us everywhere. Music has been the soundtrack to mine and my friends’ lives, whether that be through spending time at home or going to the club. Music just shapes so many areas of our lives and so many moments. I know that with all the people who have been here, I can hear how it has changed their lives as well. 

My best self right now is making the music I love and bringing in other people to make music that they love, whether it be through starting my label and developing people or even this camp. And that’s my life’s work; that’s the best thing I want to be able to do.

Stream MNEK and other LGBTQIA+ artists on our flagship GLOW playlist.

Turn Up the Volume on LGBTQIA+ Authors This Summer

July 11, 2023

Looking for your next great summer read? This season, we are raising the volume on books by LGBTQIA+ authors, celebrating their stories and helping even more listeners access audiobooks on Spotify.

Starting today, and for a limited time, we’re giving away a very limited amount of audiobook copies of five books that celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community, including All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson, This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson, Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo, Real Life by Brandon Taylor and Ace by Angela Chen. Learn more here.

Spotify GLOW and Interview Magazine Celebrate Pride in NYC With LGBTQIA+ Musicians From Around the World

June 29, 2023

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK - JUNE 21: Byrell the Great spins during the Interview Mag x Spotify GLOW Party at 3 Dollar Bill on June 21, 2023 in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Spotify )

Photo credit: Getty images. Above: Byrell the Great

Pride Month may be coming to a close, but the energy and vibrancy of the LGBTQIA+ creator community will continue to resonate with Spotify’s global music program, GLOW at full volume year-round. Amid the parades, parties, and other Pride celebrations, we teamed up with Interview Magazine in New York City to create an unforgettable night of joy, dancing, music, and community where all guests were “Free to Be.”

GLOW Artist Urias Makes Her Way From the Catwalk to the Concert Stage

June 27, 2023

the artist Urias staring at the camera with a circle graphic treatment behind her and the Spotify GLOW program logo displayed at the bottom of the image.

Urias isn’t about to sit around and wait for success to come to her. The Brazilian artist first found fame on the catwalk as a model and from there expanded her creativity to music.

After sharing a series of covers, including a memorable version of Azealia Banks’s “Ice Princess,” Urias dropped her first original track, “Você Me Vira a Cabeça,” in 2018. Since then, she’s released multiple EPs and two albums, the second of which, HER MIND, just came out this month.

Spotify is excited to amplify the creative vision and punchy tracks of the singer as one of our GLOW artists for the month of June. Through GLOW, our global music program celebrating and amplifying LGBTQIA+ artists and creators all year round, we’re supporting Urias on our platform with a dedicated hub and flagship GLOW playlist, and off our platform via billboards like those in New York City’s Times Square and on the city’s MTA subway system. 

From her queer icons to the best advice she’s received, Urias shares more with For the Record below.

Tell us about your journey into music. How did you find your voice?

My journey in music started in mid-2017. I realized that it was not a distant dream anymore, so I started working on my first cover releases! In 2019 I released my first EP [Urias], in 2022 my first album [FÚRIA], and I just released my second studio album [HER MIND].

Why is it important to amplify LGBTQIA+ voices year-round?

There are a lot of powerful and important voices that deserve the spotlight all year long, all around the globe.

What’s one thing people might be surprised to learn about you?

Sometimes my creative process starts with the visuals, and then after that we start the musical part of it.

There have been a lot of advances in LGBTQIA+ rights and representation in the last decade. Why is it still important to celebrate Pride?

It’s always important to celebrate who you are! There’s still a long path we need to walk, but you should always celebrate yourself.

How does your LGBTQIA+ identity intersect with other parts of your identity? How do you bring them all as your full self in your music?

I don’t think I can separate it! My music is my art and my way to express myself differently.

What do you hope people take away from your music?

Strength.

Who are some queer artists or cultural icons who have inspired you?

Grace Jones, Liniker, and Honey Dijon.

How does music empower queer communities?

Music is an important way to communicate to people—the ones that understand you and the ones that need to understand you, too!

What is the best advice you received when you were growing as an artist as a person?

Take chances and take care of yourself.

What makes you GLOW?

Being able to be myself and create art!

 

Catch Urias and many other LGBTQIA+ artists this month and all year round on our flagship GLOW playlist.

From Underground Clubs to Eurovision Fame, GLOW Artist Dana International Inspires and Ignites

June 22, 2023

Dana International playlist equal cover art

Dana International defied the odds and the critics when, in 1998, she was selected to represent Israel for Europe’s biggest music event, Eurovision. Her performance of “Diva” captivated the audience in person and at home, and she was crowned contest winner.

Dana’s success on one of the world’s biggest stages is but one example of the Israeli singer’s powerful, dazzling musical presence. Over the past three decades she has released a number of albums and singles and even represented her home country a second time at Eurovision in 2011.

Dana’s perseverance, passion, and talent are just a few of the reasons why she’s one of Spotify’s featured GLOW artists for the month of June. Through GLOW, our global music program celebrating and amplifying LGBTQIA+ artists and creators all year round, we’re supporting Dana International on our platform with a dedicated hub and flagship GLOW playlist, and off our platform via billboards like those in New York City’s Times Square and on the city’s MTA subway system.

From finding her voice to the importance of celebrating Pride, Dana International shares more with For the Record below.

Tell us about your journey into music. How did you find your voice?

I released my first song almost 30 years ago. I was very content to have one hit song—I believed that someone like me couldn’t truly pursue a singing career. As a teenager, I had begun to realize that I was a woman, and that desire was stronger than anything else. Choosing to live as a woman meant giving up on my dreams of living a normative life. That’s when I discovered nightlife. Hiding under the cover of darkness—clubs, music, the exaggerated atmosphere of the 1980s—brought everything to life in Tel Aviv. The night became my refuge.

At the age of 18, I started performing with the drag team at the only gay club that existed in Israel at the time. One day we created a parody of Whitney Houston‘s song “My Name Is Not Susan” and turned it into a humorous Arabic song called “Sa’ida Soltana.” The song became a summer hit in Israel. After that song, I released a second solo song, followed by my first album. The album was quite successful, so, against all odds, I released three more. I became the singer of the year twice and sold gold and platinum albums.

The beginning of my career wasn’t easy. There were performances where people spat on me, cursed me, and threw trash at me. But it only gave me strength and motivated me to continue. After two years, I became one of the most successful singers in an early 1990s Israel that was mostly conservative. Soon, I started receiving offers for a TV series, a movie, and a musical about my life. And in 1998, I was chosen to represent Israel in Eurovision. 

What was it like performing at Eurovision for the first time?

As soon as it was announced, there was a big controversy in Israel. It wasn’t easy for me, and I admit that there were moments when it shook me. But I won first place with the song “Diva.” My life changed that night of the victory. I returned to Israel to pack a suitcase, and then I traveled to Europe and lived there for almost a year. The media in England declared that the new pop queen was born, but I suffered greatly.

How did your life change after winning the competition?

I became a media star. All the entertainment shows and news programs in Europe wanted me, but the interviewers felt entitled to pry into my life in a way they wouldn’t dare to do today. They invaded my privacy, and I provided them with everything they wanted to hear, overflowing with smiles and charm. But inside, it deeply offended me. I was publicized as a singer who won Eurovision. Why are you only interested in my sexuality and gender? How dare you talk to me about things you wouldn’t discuss with other female singers? I felt like I was living in a gilded cage.

So I returned to Israel to gather my strength and then released an intimate album that was different from anything I had done before.

What are you up to now?

At the age of 55, I am still onstage. I have become a gay icon, and it feels strange and somewhat overwhelming because I don’t want to be seen solely through that lens.

From all the musical activity and hundreds of performances worldwide, the joyful successes and the painful failures, the achievements, the awards, and the journey, the thing I’m most proud of and what I truly understand to be the most important is when people—of all ages, in all languages, from all over the world—approach me and say: “You changed my life. You gave me the strength to believe in myself. I realized I’m not alone. You were with me in the toughest and loneliest moments.” Very few artists truly manage to change something in the world, to change lives and help those who are struggling. Only in recent years have I truly understood this and realized that it’s much more important than whether my new song succeeds or not. 

Why is it important to amplify LGBTQIA+ voices year-round?

I believe that queer culture disperses a lot of color, sensitivity, and interesting and different perspectives in the world. It’s known that even during periods when people didn’t come out of the closet, writers, poets, singers, and gay artists brought the world great and important cultural creations. The world would be much grayer and much more boring if the voices of our community weren’t heard. Our community is the decoration committee of the world, but we’re not only that. 

What’s one thing fans might be surprised to learn about you?

This whole character of mine is a big show. I’m not satisfied with my character. I hate flashy designer clothes and makeup. My battle is when I go up onstage. I don’t feel brave, and I’m very shy in my everyday life. In that period at the beginning of my career when I fought for my right to be onstage and sing, I created this shining, radiant, and audacious character of Dana International. 

There’ve been so many advances in LGBTQIA+ rights and representation in the last decade. Why is it still important to celebrate Pride?

It’s important for all those children and teenagers who are sitting at home right now, afraid of who they are, afraid to tell their parents and friends at school, and feeling sad and alone. In every Pride parade, we tell them, “You’re not alone, we’re with you,” and we embrace them. Since Eurovision, I have appeared in Pride parades all over the world. And still, I get extremely excited about Pride parade performances. I think it’s important for us and for the children who used to be scared and embarrassed, too. Once a year, we celebrate our Pride holiday, where we spread the message of love, acceptance, equality, and the freedom to be who you are. 

What do you hope audiences take away from your music?

In one of my songs, I sang, “My joy is my protest.” I come from a difficult place, and it was very easy to sink into sadness and give up. My songs are happy. Pop music that reminds us of the beautiful and joyful side of the world. Pop songs are generally considered light and shallow, but I believe that happiness also holds a lot of power. It’s hard for me to express pain; I don’t cry. In life and in my music, I don’t cry. My message is that despite everything, we are obligated to find joy. I try to bring happiness to people and also find joy within myself, and it’s not always easy.

How does music empower queer communities?

I believe that music influences everyone. In my eyes, it’s the true prayer of humanity. We, as a community, are much more dramatic and sensitive, and I think music plays a much bigger role in our lives.

 

Catch Dana International and many other LGBTQIA+ artists this month and all year round on our flagship GLOW playlist.