Tag: LGBTQPIA

How Music Helps Black Queer Artists and Industry Creatives Tell Their Stories

September 18, 2023

Photo credit: Jonathan Parham

In the vibrant tapestry of human expression and experience, music has always been a powerful medium for storytelling, and one with historical significance in Black communities. Music’s ability to evoke emotions, paint vivid imagery, and convey deep narratives has made it a vital tool for sharing experiences. At GLAAD’s inaugural Black Queer Creative Summit, powered by Gilead Sciences and sponsored by Spotify, attendees had the opportunity to learn from and connect with artists and music industry professionals who’ve long navigated their identities through their work. 

The summit was geared towards empowering, educating, and training emerging Black LGBTQ+ creatives across five sectors of the entertainment industry. The summit’s Music Supervision Track featured panels that shed light on the profound impact of music in telling the stories of Black LGBTQ+ artists, and how music resonates with audiences of various backgrounds. 

One panel on music supervision, “Music Can Tell Your Story, Too,” was moderated by Victor Jackson, artist and founder of Glam Rock Soul Entertainment Group, and featured Jess Furman, Sr. Executive Creative Director of Sound Revolver; Ryan Butler, Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion of The Recording Academy; and Alaysia Sierra, Head of R&B at Spotify. For the Record got a sneak preview of the conversation between Victor, Jess, Alaysia, and Ryan. 

What does working within the world of music mean to you in terms of your identity? Do you have personal experiences where music has become a powerful medium for expressing your Black queer identity?

(L–R: Ryan Butler, Alaysia Sierra, Jess Furman, Victor Jackson)

Victor: I fully consider it. I move through the world as a Black queer man, so in approving my music, the writing of it, the creating the performances of it, it’s very important to me to take up space in my authenticity. To take up space in my Blackness, in my queerness, and in the divinity of both. So, it has a large impact on how I show up in the world and how I show up in the studio and on stage.

I’m actually on tour right now with an artist named CANDIACE; she’s popular from The Real Housewives of Potomac, but I’ve been touring with her at City Wineries this summer, and it’s really been awesome to see how the audience responds to the music, to the performance. People are singing along to the pronouns that also relate to who I love and who I share my love with. People always come up to me after and say, “I didn’t know I needed to hear these songs about Black queer love until I heard your songs.” 

Jess: For me, as a queer woman, it’s about maintaining a sense of visibility in all the different areas and holding the door open. We do a lot with “Women in the Mix,” showing that there are women producers, writers, and engineers. We held “Out Sessions” a couple of years ago with my non-profit, Motion Creative, which were three days of a writing camp for LGBTQ+ creators, and everything there, including the food and wine vendors, were queer. 

It’s a big goal for me to bring visibility to my community, to hold the door open, and make sure that if I get tapped for an initiative because of my identity, I hold them accountable to not just checking that box, but to bringing on other LGBTQ+ participants and vendors. 

Alaysia: Being a Black, queer, nonbinary person in music means a lot to me, because I know how important it is for that visibility. When I was looking at the industry growing up, I actually never really saw anyone who shared my identities and so I know for people who aspire to work in music to look in and see someone who looks like them will reassure them that it’s possible. I think on the other side, the internal work that I’m able to do by having a seat here is to advocate for inclusion. And providing space and access to queer artists, creatives and future execs is equally as important as anything else I do.

Ryan: Throughout my career, I’ve strived to uplift marginalized voices and break down harmful stereotypes, whether in the Black community or queer community. As a Black queer man, I understand firsthand how narratives shape perceptions and that representation matters. At the Recording Academy, I’ve worked closely with our leaders across all verticals to ensure we are proactively inclusive and are fostering a sense of belonging. We’ve taken concrete steps like establishing scholarships for aspiring Black music creators and professionals, advocating for more diverse GRAMMY voters, and launching the Black Music Collective and LGBTQ+ Task Force.

On a personal level, I try to highlight the intersectionality and indivisibility of identity whenever possible. I firmly believe that showing people’s humanity is key to fostering empathy and understanding. I’ve produced events that center queer artists of color and given talks on embracing authentic self-expression. My hope is that my advocacy helps dispel limiting assumptions about what it means to be Black and queer, or any identity. I think narrative change starts with individual connections. If I can help just one person feel seen or rethink bias through my own story, it’s progress.

There is still much work to be done, but I’m dedicated to uplifting marginalized voices, promoting diverse talent, and inspiring people to approach social issues with nuance, compassion, and an open mind. Authentic representation in media and culture can be incredibly powerful in creating change. I’m grateful to do my part in steering the industry toward greater inclusivity and equity.

The artist’s perspective 

Several of the artists in attendance, including Atlanta-based HALÉS, 23-year-old techno-R&B creator SHAH, singer-songwriter-producer-motivational speaker-advocate Nathan Townsend, Berlin-based creative Sedric Perry, and self-made artist Damez, also shared some thoughts on how the music industry can become more inclusive and supportive of emerging Black queer artists. They also gave advice to emerging creators who are navigating their identities—and amplifying their communities—through their work. 

HALÉS: “I’m a storyteller at heart, an educator by trade—I’m a professor at Kennesaw State University—so I take all of those things and bring it into my artistry and into my music, in order to navigate what this world is and what this industry is. In looking at the narrative power of music, one thing I hold so hard, that I try to do in poetry, in my songwriting, in writing for others, is bringing in the real stories of real people that I know, especially real Black queer people, to make sure that their stories are being told. I also try to bring a lot of poetry into my music—not just looking at what we’re producing on the beats or whatever, but how we are literally taking our voice into this music. And so I like to include a lot of poetry and storytelling in between the songs, in an intermission or an interlude, or even actually on the track to be able to tell that story so people can hear what it sounds like from a real Black person. And again, it allows us to say, ‘we’re here.’ This is what it’s like to have narrative power. This is who we are and how we navigate the world, through first-hand stories.” 

SHAH: “My advice to upcoming artists—not to be cliché—is to remain authentic. What I have run into and struggled with over the last eight years is feeling like I have to fit into a certain box, whether I’m a Black artist or a queer artist; to fit into specific niches to be sellable. As I made progress within the industry, I would meet people who would reinforce those things and those fears around success within my own authenticity. As a young Black queer person, it took me a little bit to find my voice and my specific story. Even though we all share a specific type of experience, they’re not always going to be the same. And you have to own your authenticity and your truth. We’re the ones pushing this forward, we’ve been behind the scenes making this all happen. Stand strong with who you are and know it’s the way you’ve got to be.” 

Nathan Townsend: “I have to lead with the fact that I’m 69 years old, and it’s taken me this long in my professional development to come to a space and a place of authenticity. Because of the generational barriers and the intersectionality of who I had to evolve from—I was born “colored,” grew up “negro,” then became “African American,” then became “Black”—I had all these different layers on my identity that I had to navigate through. Then there’s being gay and the whole list of issues around that which we didn’t address in my generation. And so all my stories are love songs and all of my stories are about same-gender love. That narrative has not been amplified because of the level of denial that we had to experience and because it just wasn’t appropriate or acceptable. 

I think the first step for all of us, no matter what generation or what life conditions we come from, is to understand and develop and create, first, our own sense of authenticity because there’s so much in the way to get to that. And so if you’re presenting music that’s not based [on] or doesn’t support your authenticity, then it’s not truly representative of who you are. And don’t put yourself where you should be. Put yourself where you are and then allow that to manifest as the divine who you are. In these late years, I am the most liberated that I can be. My only regret is that I wasn’t able to be this self much earlier. Realize who you are, appreciate who you are, present who you are, and promote who you are.” 

Sedric Perry: “What I’m seeing now is a kind of restructuring or a reframing of the way we’re thinking about the fight and making it more of a marathon and less of a sprint. Less of trying to infiltrate spaces that aren’t really welcoming to us, and instead building our own resources and community, because we have enough. We have a lot more visibility now, in tech, audio, marketing, musicians, directors, writers. We’ll continue to build our own and then when we are in those less welcoming spaces, continue to put each other forward so we can lift each other up and speak each other’s names in rooms that many of us aren’t in yet. We’re already doing a fantastic job, and if we keep doing it, it will get better. The most important thing is to maintain credibility. When you’re Black and queer, eyes are going to be on you in some way, shape, or form, and people are going to try to find something to say or figure out some way to speak about you, whether it’s positive or negative. But if you’re credible, when someone else comes to you, they’ll take your word for it and that’s how we get each other in the door.” 

Damez: “Authenticity, being yourself, that’s been my strongest approach since I started my music career in 2014. I think one of the big things that I’ve learned is to be intentional with everything that I do regarding my music. That’s garnered some positive results. Even when I’m writing a song, constantly asking myself, ‘What do I want to leave people with?’ Having that intention going into it makes for a better creative environment. It reduces writer’s block and allows me to write what I want to write. The thing I like most about my musicality is how eclectic it is. Outside of my party songs, which are a big part of my brand, I also have so many other songs about love and heartbreak and family, mental health, friendships, and everyday life. So don’t be afraid to tell your stories, no matter how dark or dramatic or tumultuous or happy, whatever they are, because people can relate to them. And just study and study and study and hone your craft and never stop being a student.” 

Dive into more music from other Black, Queer, & Proud artists on Spotify.

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.

GLOW Artist Trixie Mattel Reflects On Her Pop-Infused Inspirations

June 9, 2023

The world was introduced to the high-camp comedic antics of Trixie Mattel in the seventh season of RuPaul’s Drag Race. A fan favorite, she returned in the show’s third season of All Stars and went on to win the entire competition. 

But the drag queen is also a longtime singer-songwriter, taking inspiration from the likes of Sheryl Crow, Avril Lavigne, and Michelle Branch. In 2017, she released her first studio album, Two Birds, under her drag name. Since then, she’s released several albums full of glamorous pop tracks and has even collaborated with Branch. Now she’s one of Spotify’s featured GLOW artists for the month of June. 

GLOW is our global music program celebrating and amplifying LGBTQIA+ artists and creators all year round. We’re supporting Trixie on-platform with a dedicated hub and flagship GLOW playlist, and off-platform via billboards like those in New York City’s Times Square—a long way from her rural hometown.  

“My journey in music started in my childhood in the deep country of Wisconsin with no neighbors,” she explained in an interview with For the Record. “This was pre-digital age, so I spent a lot of time playing guitar, learning from female acoustic-pop music. I saw a guitar sitting around the house, so I bought a book that taught me how to play. I also learned a lot from playing with my grandfather.”  

In Trixie’s own words, she’s “looking good and feeling gorgeous” as an artist and queen. Read on to hear about her musical and queer inspirations. 

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

It’s important to amplify LGBTQIA+ voices because our voices are present at all times, not just one month out of the year. We need to loudly amplify them, not just with a soft pause and a golf clap. We have always been here and we are not going anywhere. 

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

One thing people might be surprised about is how boring I am! Outside of my career as an entertainer, I love spending my time jogging, playing video games, and snacking. I lead a pretty ordinary life outside my work. 

What do you hope people take away from your music?

I want people to know how committed I am to my music, whether it is an original record or a cover song in any genre. I love to put my own spin on things and be the conduit for others, in addition to having a good time as the artist/songwriter.

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

RuPaul, Divine, John Cameron Mitchell, The B-52’s; each of them has just been very true to themselves, which really showed me that I could do all of the things I do in drag. 

What makes you GLOW?

My Vitamin C brightening serum (before moisturizing), and these mega glow highlighters from Wet n Wild!

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

When I was told to stop taking it so seriously; believing in the process of creating has shown me to be authentic to myself and the art I create.

How does music empower queer communities?

Music empowers queer communities through the voices of the community members themselves; queer people are the trendsetters, tastemakers, and curators of music. We’re always behind the scenes influencing what is cool and new, and chances are we made it. 

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

GLOW Artist Sycco Shares How She Found Her Voice

May 25, 2023

Dive into the psychedelic pop sounds of “Ripple” or “Dribble” to immerse yourself in the bright and colorful world of 20-year-old Sycco. The artist, who has Torres Strait Island lineage and started off by writing and producing songs from her Meanjin/Brisbane bedroom, has spent the past year racking up streams and gracing several Spotify playlists, including Australia’s Front Left, Deadly Beats, and EQUAL AU & NZ. 

Now she’s Spotify’s latest GLOW artist. 

GLOW is our global music program celebrating and amplifying LGBTQIA+ artists and creators. We’ll support Sycco on-platform with a dedicated hub and flagship GLOW playlist, and off-platform via billboards and other takeovers. As part of the program, Sycco will also release a Spotify Singles recording of her track “‘Ripple” and a cover of Post Malone’s “Rockstar.”

“When I was asked to do this, I looked through my recent playlist to see what song I should cover and ‘Rockstar’ was in there, and I was like perfect, and started trying things straight away,” Sycco said. “My drummer, Paddy, hit this breakbeat, and it was it! I’ve been making so much trap music recently, randomly, so it felt very fitting. I am so excited to play this live. I feel like people will go hard!”

Though she’s in the middle of a tour with Australian favorite Tame Impala and U.K. indie breakout Glass Animals, Sycco spoke to For the Record about her identity and craft.

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

My dad taught me guitar when I was 7, and I just kept playing and writing songs. I loved playing drums on anything I could find and watching karaoke videos online. In high school I saved up all year and bought a Mac and started producing. I feel like that’s when I really found my voice. Music was my favorite place and my safe place to express myself. 

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

Representation is everything. It is so important to amplify LGBTQIA+ voices all the time to create safe spaces and allow everyone to be themselves! 

What are some of the ways your Indigenous and queer identities intersect?

I am on my journey with educating myself about both—learning my privilege and breaking down my imposter syndrome. I also find so many similarities of empowerment, representation, community, and an ability to understand myself better.

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

I’m really into the Jonas Brothers at the moment.

What do you hope people take away from your music?

I want people to leave with jaws dropped, tears in eyes, and butterflies in their stomachs knowing they have just transcended everything they had ever known. A slay. 

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

SOPHIE, Frank Ocean, Charli XCX, and sooo many more! 

What makes you GLOW?

My friends! We create such a safe space to allow freedom in self-expression and to be our authentic selves. 

How does music empower queer communities?

It’s a place of vulnerability and sharing stories. A place where people can relate in private or feel that collective energy in a crowd of people. It is truly magical. 

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

I guess it wasn’t directed at being an artist, but my mum always encouraged me to be myself. I think that advice, when I’d get a bit lost, was always really nice to know that it’s what my mumma taught. 

Catch Sycco on our episode of Spotify: Mic Check.

GLOW Artist Joy Oladokun Embraces the Beauty in the Unexpected

April 25, 2023

Joy Oladokun is one of those self-proclaimed “rare birds” who didn’t set out to become a professional musician. The fact that Joy now gets to write, record, and perform music for themself and other Black queers like them is still nothing less than magic. “Maybe it’s my religious trauma, but I feel this responsibility as an artist—and not in a heavy way, in a truthful way—that if I’m going to ask people to listen to me, I want to say things that matter,” the 31-year-old, Nashville-based songwriter told For the Record. “I want to make work that builds a bridge.”

While living in LA after college, Joy found a job singing background vocals for a rock artist, and from there began to write music for low-budget videographers. The work snowballed into a viral gig, and eventually, a publishing deal. A few albums, plenty of singles, and an enviable number of high profile collaborations later, Joy is now preparing to release a new album and then go on tour with collaborator Noah Kahan. To top it off, she was just named Spotify’s latest GLOW artist. 

GLOW is our global music program celebrating and amplifying LGBTQIA+ artists and creators. We’ll support Joy on-platform with a dedicated hub and flagship GLOW playlist, and off-platform via billboards and other takeovers. The visibility, to her, is crucial—online as well as in real life. 

“Nashville reminds me of the small town that I grew up in, in rural Arizona. And it’s really interesting being so Black and so queer in a place that, at least on the outside, wants to pretend that you don’t exist. I think that there’s this real ownership and identity for me that has happened here. Yes, it’s a country music town, and I’m not a country musician, but I feel just as at home writing songs and making music here.”

Joy always believed in the power of storytelling and songwriting, and now, they have the opportunity and the audience to tell their own stories. 

“As a songwriter, I got to a place where I could have written a song for an Ariana Grande or a Carrie Underwood and that could have been gratifying. But I also was looking around the playing field and not seeing anybody like me and not seeing anybody telling stories like mine in a way that I resonated with,” they said. “There are obviously queer artists, there are obviously Black queer artists—thank God for Lil Nas X—but I think for the kids who grew up watching too much Star Wars and listening to Paul Simon and geeking out to the harmonies in Crosby, Stills, and Nash records, and also lying on the floor and listening to Linkin Park’s Meteora because it’s the best thing ever, I think I fill that gap. And I get to remind people that Blackness and queerness and womanhood and gender are not monoliths.”

Listen to her tracks “sunday” or “jordan” and you might just hear a 21st-century Tracy Chapman with hints of Bob Marley, Phil Collins, and Peter Gabriel. “They used a lot of West African music and rhythms in what they did. My family is from Nigeria and West Africa, and their music feels like home. They reached out and created a bridge, musically, between a synth and a talking drum.” 

Jimi Hendrix, Green Day, Nirvana, Paramore, and Metallica also made a big impact on the artist as a young person. “Music is the weirdest thing we do. We just make noise out into the void, hoping it connects with somebody. I can listen to a Johnny Cash record and be like, ‘I relate to this.’ But if Johnny Cash and I sat down to dinner, it would just be awkward.” 

Maybe, but there’s also a broad range of artists Joy has already been able to work and record with, including Manchester Orchestra, Mt. Joy, Noah Kahan, and Chris Stapleton. “When Chris said he would sing ‘Sweet Symphony’ with me, I think I said, ‘Are you sure?’” Joy has a photo of herself crying after listening to their track together for the first time. “Everyone has been so cool and so open to this sort of weird world that I’m building.” 

Joy refers to their work and live shows as a sandbox at a playground—a place where lesbians dressed like truck drivers stand and sing their songs next to actual truck drivers. But it’s not always a day in the sun. “I did this benefit concert in Tennessee because there’s been a lot of anti-LGBTQ legislation here. And we were like, ‘Hey, queer people live here! Imagine.’” One of the songs on the new record is about how nobody came to Joy’s eighth birthday party, but when it comes to the mood, “It sounds as if Radiohead and the Beach Boys had a baby. So I have a serious, innate desire to make beauty out of difficulty.”

Joy aims to keep her diverse fan base in mind and deeply values creating art that allows anyone to come to the table to find themselves. 

“I want queer people to listen to my music and feel empowered to take up all the space that God made them to take up,” they said. “I want people to feel like they can be sad or frustrated at the state of the world, or the way they’re spoken to, and feel like they still have people who care about them and advocate for them. And I think music does that.” 

Listen to the singles from Joy’s upcoming album, Proof of Life, and look out for the release on April 28.

GLOW Artist Arlo Parks Is Inspired by Vulnerability, Personal Connection, and Queer Representation

February 16, 2023

Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Arlo Parks’s 2021 debut, Collapsed In Sunbeams, is a tender and raw plea from the artist to listeners. But what fans of honest ballads like “Hurt” and “Eugene” may not realize is that Arlo is a self-proclaimed extrovert with a “frantic approach to creativity” who is constantly in motion. 

Arlo’s energy for her passions has been at the fore recently, as she revealed news of her upcoming sophomore album, My Soft Machine, the same week that she was named one of Spotify’s GLOW Spotlight artists. GLOW is our new global music program celebrating and amplifying LGBTQIA+ artists and creators. At launch, we supported Arlo on-platform with a dedicated hub and flagship GLOW playlist, and off-platform via billboards and other takeovers. And our commitment to the artist, and to equity in audio, will continue year-round.

With her latest single, “Weightless,” the London native leans a little more heavily toward her deep love of techno, electronic music, and nightlife culture. “I taught myself to DJ, and I’m inspired by a lot of dance music, actually,” the artist told For the Record. “I feel like it’s a perfect intersection of queerness and music that makes you move—that marriage is super organic.” 

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

I started playing piano when I was very young. That developed into learning to play the guitar a little bit and falling in love with bands like Deftones, My Chemical Romance, and Smashing Pumpkins. I fell in love with the energy of these people who were smashing into each other onstage. Around the same time, I also discovered the more gentle use of guitars with people like Phoebe Bridgers, Elliott Smith, Nick Drake, and Jeff Buckley and seeing how deeply emotionally profound music could be as a medium. 

So, those two things’ colliding led me to teach myself how to produce on GarageBand and just make terrible little demos in my bedroom and in my closet. Making music in the closet turned into making music in the studio. And now I’ve been doing music full-time since I was about 17, so about five years.

How has your music changed as you’ve gotten older?

Over time, I’ve become more brave, more vulnerable. I think honestly, it’s just from having lived more life, becoming more assertive in the studio, and picking up more skills and balancing it with the advice from the people around me. I feel like my approach to writing itself has been quite consistent. I’m often struck by melodies in the middle of the night or at the most inconvenient times and voice-noting those, reading excessively, and mining my lyrics from poetry. 

How does your queer identity influence your music or your songwriting? 

My queer identity has always made its way into my music because it’s who I am. And I’ve always written about love and finding myself in the world and coming of age. I feel like music was also treated as a journal for me, and it was a way that I processed the world around me and became more comfortable and confident with who I was. I’m also super inspired by queer artists, as well as books and films. 

Who are some of those artists?

SOPHIE. Beverly Glenn-Copeland. Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, Julien Baker—that boygenius release has sent me into a frenzy. Another major one was Syd from The Internet because she had her own sense of style, her own sense of confidence and presence in herself. The fact that she was a producer who was active and leading the group—I was really inspired by her when I was a kid. 

How does music empower queer communities?

Music builds connection, and a lot of queer people find real comfort in their chosen family. I feel like music really serves to build that, especially in spaces like queer clubs, and especially in London. Many queer kids really find themselves on nights out when they’re finally surrounded by people who they can relate to who they feel close to. And I feel like music is so vital in that dance culture, but music also serves as representation. 

I remember the first time that I heard somebody singing a song about being queer and using pronouns that I felt I could apply to love stories that I had been through, and then also wanting to give that back to people. A big part of encouraging people is just making them feel less alone, and it’s a really powerful tool for empowerment too. 

What do you hope people take away from your music?

I would hope that people feel confident in being vulnerable, because of how vulnerable I am. That’s what I learned from my favorite artists, from listening to “Speed Trials” by Elliott Smith. And I want it to be something that acts as a companion through life, when they’re in the car or bus on their way to work, or hanging out with friends. More softness, that’s what I want. 

Why do you think it’s important to have a program like GLOW that amplifies LGBTQIA+ voices?

What makes a difference is when young people feel like they’re seeing people like them amplified and lifted up into the mainstream—seeing people on billboards and TV and being queer and being happy and making art that a lot of people like. Seeing that was so important to me growing up. I imagine having Heartstopper as a 13- or 14-year-old and what that would have meant to me as a teenager. 

I feel like also the fact that GLOW is amplifying such a range of different queer artists. And there is a sense of variety and acceptance of the fact that there is nuance even within the larger umbrella of queer artistry, that there are so many different people making so many different things. Having that for young people is super important, and long may it continue. 

What’s one piece of advice that you got as a young person that has stuck with you? 

It sounds harsh, but stay with me: At the beginning, nobody cares yet, right? In that anonymity and in that lack of people seeing you; that is when you truly have time to grow. Because you can nurture your craft without people having eyes on you. So in the beginning, nobody cares—and that’s okay.

Catch Arlo on our flagship GLOW playlist as well as Alternative Pride.

‘Girlish’ Cohosts Name Gainesville, Florida-Based Curia on the Drag as Spotify and Anchor’s Next Making Space Podcasting Location

January 30, 2023

Olivia Noel and Gage Adkins, hosts of Girlish, outside curia on the drag - Rhyme&Reason-LexiRead-10

Photo credit: Lexi Read

As trans content creators, Gage Adkins and Olivia Noel know firsthand the power of storytelling in digital spaces. Around 2015, both women started separately producing video content on YouTube about their transitions. They each slowly built up online support networks, and then found each other. But when they started searching for podcasts on trans identity, they couldn’t find any. So they created Girlish in 2019 as an attempt to tell their stories, create space for trans listeners and creators, and bring awareness to their experiences. 

Over three years later, Girlish is still holding strong, and the number of LGBTQIA+ podcasters has grown. But it’s still not enough. “When we first started our podcast, it was really overwhelming because we lived on opposite coasts of the U.S. and had no equipment to make a professionally recorded podcast,” Gage told For the Record. “I think our first episode was recorded using our phone audio, so it was pretty bad. But there are so many people out there with really good ideas who want to share their voice, but just don’t know how to go about it.”

Spotify believes that the audio industry has a responsibility to increase access to podcasting knowledge, equipment, and materials for marginalized creators. We are continually looking for ways to nurture and develop emerging voices through tools and programs that make podcasting possible for anyone, anywhere. Making Space, our latest creator program, aims to elevate underrepresented voices by providing free, studio-quality podcasting gear to communities. We started by setting up South Carolina-based plant shop Savereign with an in-house podcasting studio. Next, we’re outfitting Curia on the Drag, a café close to Olivia’s heart, in Gainesville, Florida.   

“Curia defines itself as an urban oasis,” Olivia explained. “The experience you have there feels very much like a community-centric business. They have a plot of two-and-a-half acres of land where they have a plant-based coffee shop along with a plant-based food truck. They have a little retail store with local artists’ jewelry, clothing, art, and stickers. Overall, it has an ambiance that gives you the feeling of being safe. You can tell the community means a lot to them when you walk in and see flyers stapled to a cork board at the register with local resources for the LGBT community and marginalized groups. If you told me when I was 15 that a drag brunch was going to be a thing that was popular at a coffee shop near where I lived, I would have laughed. But I’m so thankful that this place exists, because it’s crucial.”

Rhyme&Reason-LexiRead-8 with Olivia Noel and Gage Adkins of Girlish

Oliva Noel and Gage Adkins at Curia on the Drag

Curia stands to prove itself as a comfortable and reliable podcasting studio for new and existing creators, but its promise of safety and security for members of the Gainesville and surrounding area community makes it the perfect hub for stories of all kinds to be shared.

“When you’re queer or trans in the South, you find safety in the smallest things—whether that’s Pride flags on storefronts or a friend of a friend of a friend with a trans aunt,” said Olivia. “Curia stands out because they provide security through their messaging and actions. Making Space further highlights an area to those around in the neighboring towns so that people like newly out college freshmen can find a community that supports them. It’s silly, but Florida really is like that—you have to find these little pockets and areas where you can go and be yourself.” 

The Making Space launch also marks a moment of transition for Olivia, who has been living in Seattle for the last few years and is now returning to uncertainty in her home state of Florida. “Within the South, it’s important to try to locate your community near you, whether that’s support groups or local organizations trying to fight for your cause. It’s super important and we have to bring attention to it. You are not alone in this. There are so many of us, and we’re going to fight for our rights.”

Gage grew up in Seattle and now lives in LA. “I had a really different experience,” she explained. “It was really easy for me to access health care, and people around me were not outwardly trying to harm me. Making Space enables us to support those who want to find community in a state or area where there doesn’t seem to be one. Even if people aren’t necessarily interested in podcasting, I think it’s always important to try to find a safe space.” 

As important as Gage and Olivia both know that Curia will be for LGBTQIA+ podcasters in Florida, they also want to encourage queer podcasters everywhere to take to the mic without hesitation. “You’ll get there if you put in the work and you’re consistent,” explained Gage. “That takes precedence over what type of microphone you have, or what type of camera you have. It’s more about the passion and the direction and the way you’re using your voice.” 

“I’m hoping this initiative highlights an area where people can go to be themselves,” added Olivia. “I hope one day the entire state can be our oasis, and not just Curia.”

Check out Gage and Olivia’s Anchor podcast, Girlish, and look out for future podcasts coming from Curia on the Drag soon.

How Spotify, Anchor, and Queer-Owned Plant Store Savereign Are Bringing LGBTQIA+ Stories to the Podcasting Mic

October 19, 2022

AJ shot by Will Crooks

Photo credit: Will Crooks

Greenville-based Savereign is more than a plant store in South Carolina. There’s plenty of potted and hanging greenery for sale, but the space also doubles as a community gathering place, with tables and chairs for coworking and a comfy couch to lounge on. The storefront was developed with a lot of intention by its owner, AJ, a queer Filipino-American who wants everybody to feel welcomed and loved.   

AJ moved to Greenville from Chicago with an ex-partner, but remained there following the breakup. “As I was starting my business and getting to know the community, I started to make individual connections with all these beautiful people who didn’t feel seen or heard at all,” AJ told For the Record. “The universe gifted me with a loud freaking voice. I felt there was a gap in queer representation, in people who were up and out and could speak up and stand up, in my area. So I decided to stay.”

He also set out to bring the community together through virtual spaces as well as his physical store. He started interviewing the people who made up his community, and in 2020, he created a podcast to highlight those individuals using Spotify’s podcasting tool, Anchor. 

“It’s very DIY. I’m not the most digitally inclined human. It was great to run into Anchor because it allows you to do everything all at once and it’s very intuitive and easy. It allowed me to just be able to go and not think about having to get equipment and materials.” 

Although podcasting is increasingly accessible, finding time and space to record, acquiring gear, and developing editing skills is still an involved process that can be even more unattainable for individuals with marginalized identities. So Spotify and Anchor’s latest podcasting initiative, Making Space, helps elevate underrepresented voices by creating accessible podcasting spaces within the LGBTQIA+ community. Through the program, we’re setting queer businesses up with the tools and resources they need to make podcasts. Savereign is the first stop. 

As the inaugural Making Space participant, AJ will receive a comprehensive podcast tool kit that includes a microphone, recording equipment, and educational resources—effectively giving him everything needed to create his own in-house recording studio at Savereign. Other creators in his community will also be able to access this space for free to begin recording their own shows. 

“I’m so excited because it’s all the things I didn’t know I could ever have or use,” said AJ. “Now we’ve got mics, a mixer board thing—there’s one or two other podcasters that I know here and they’re like, this is crazy and this is perfect. I’m excited to learn how to use that gear and record with them.” 

For AJ, bringing this studio to the community is a natural transition as he’s already been using Savereign’s Instagram to amplify local businesses and creators. 

“I see my work in retail as an art form,” explained AJ. “It’s something that is going to be seen and something that has the capacity to change perspectives. So for my ‘marketing,’ I wanted it to be personal to me. So you’ll see shots of me in there, but it’s mostly people within the community: people with businesses, queer individuals who are also making their mark here, and leaders. I wanted to get those people to also be seen through whatever form of voice or visuals I have on me. I’m one of those people who when I’m on the up, want to raise up everyone else around me because I wouldn’t be where I am without a lot of the people you see on my Instagram.”

Spotify is always looking for ways to help nurture new and emerging voices, and Making Space is an example of how we’re making podcasting possible for anyone, anywhere. By making professional-quality podcast equipment more accessible across community spaces, we can give creators a safe, inclusive place to have their voices heard, and can help drive a more diverse podcaster ecosystem. 

“The concept of ‘making space’ is to barrel down a lot of walls that are put up for a lot of us who are ‘different’” says AJ. “It allows us to make room for everyone who is making a difference and everyone who wants to cheer on those who are making a difference. The store’s intention from the beginning has always been a space for people to come in, to breathe in some fresh freaking air, and to feel at peace. And to feel loved. That’s what I feel whenever I’m around plants and it’s what got me into them. Taking care of plants allowed me to love myself. It gave me calmness; it gave me natural positive energy. That’s what I wanted for people. And that’s why I stayed. And that’s why we’re here.”

Pride Month Kicks Off on Spotify With Custom Podcasts, Playlists, Passion, and Purpose

June 1, 2022

Raise Your Voice pride logo on yellow background

Representation of LGBTQIA+ individuals in audio continues to increase and improve. Stories once considered taboo now play out in podcasts around the world, and LGBTQIA+ musicians continue to light up listeners’ playlists. However, this progress is not universal, and many queer stories still go untold around the world. 

Pride Month, which kicks off in select markets in June, is an annual opportunity to shine a light on those untold stories and increase knowledge of the issues LGBTQIA+ communities still face globally. On Spotify, we aim to use the power of our platform to provide a source for LGBTQIA+ storytelling, solidarity, and inspiration, and to increase awareness of the pressing issues—during Pride Month and year-round. This Pride Month, we’re celebrating these voices.

At the heart of this campaign is the desire to tell new stories from within the LGBTQIA+ community and to leverage our platform to uplift and shine a light on historically marginalized communities. We’ll center conversations around the importance of community, particularly for mental health and well-being, by focusing on a diverse group of traditionally underrepresented queer activists from the U.S., Sweden, the U.K., Japan, and Mexico. On our platform, we’ll be elevating, uplifting, and spotlighting these voices in an effort to drive cultural change. And we’ll be putting our money where our mouth is by donating directly to key partners that are focused on supporting the LGBTQIA+ community. 

The activists you’ll hear from Spotify

Head to our refreshed Pride Hub to hear from a diverse group of historically underrepresented activists, including Jonathan Lykes, Phyll Opoku-Gyimah (aka Lady Phyll), Karolyna Pollorena, and Fumino Sugiyama. Each one has curated a playlist that celebrates their work and their community, and they’ll be sharing short-form “a day in the life” videos across social. We’ll also be unveiling an audio series entitled RAISE YOUR VOICE from these activists, who are using sound, voice, and music as part of their work.

Jonathan Lykes

Spotify Presenta ‘Coming Out: Emociones Compartidas’, un Podcast Original con Inspiradoras Historias de Creadores LGBTQIA+

June 9, 2021

Para Spotify, Pride se trata de crear un espacio permanente para las personas LGBTQIA + y sus historias, y brindar la oportunidad de un sentido de pertenencia que es tan fundamental en el proceso de salir del closet. En el nuevo podcast  original de Spotify Coming Out: Emociones Compartidas, nos propusimos encontrar creadores icónicos de la comunidad para preguntarles sobre su historia, experiencias y lecciones de resiliencia.

Coming Out fue lanzado originalmente en Francia. Ahora, en su nueva temporada en México presenta las historias de invitados como Christian Chávez, Raymix, La Bruja de Texcoco, artista RADAR México, y la periodista de deportes Marion Reimers, entre otros. 

Estas son algunas de las historias íntimas que los oyentes podrán descubrir exclusivamente en Spotify durante el mes de junio.

El actor y cantante Christian Chavez es conocido por millones de fanáticos por ser parte del fenómeno pop RBD. Y aunque muchos de ellos conocen su dura experiencia de salir del closet, nunca habían escuchado su historia tan personalmente. En el primer episodio de la serie, Christian cuenta su difícil momento en una escuela católica donde sufrió bullying, ofrece un relato gráfico de su primer beso y comparte su primera visita a un club gay. También describe su experiencia pública al salir del closet después de ser extorsionado por un tabloide en marzo de 2007.

“Escribí un comunicado llorando y ni siquiera podía escribir la palabra ‘gay’”, comparte en el episodio. “Al día siguiente hubo aplausos y expresiones de apoyo, aunque gran parte de la prensa fue hipócrita porque luego los medios se volvieron en mi contra para escribir historias sensacionalistas. “

Luego que se cancelaran varios proyectos por discriminación, Christian decidió retomar su carrera como solista y escribió Libertad, una canción que trata sobre ser uno mismo. 

Marion Reimers es una exitosa narradora y comentarista y la voz en el podcast original de Spotify Fútbol a Muerte.  En su episodio en Coming Out habla del periodismo deportivo como un espacio homofóbico, machista y patriarcal al que le costó demasiado tiempo incluir a una mujer lesbiana en sus filas. Desde niña sintió la urgencia de desafiar a la heteronorma y siempre prefirió jugar a los piratas que a la casita.

“Estoy muy orgullosa de quien soy”, cuenta Marion en su episodio. “La deconstrucción de normas sociales es un trabajo de todos los días, es muy pesado porque vivimos en una sociedad que nos enseñó a avergonzarnos y hay quien sigue usando este discurso para descalificarme. Yo me siento fuerte, tengo un entorno de amistades, de familia y compañeros en el trabajo que me han ayudado. No lo haces solo, lo haces a través de la comunidad. ”

Fabian Chairez es un artista plástico mexicano. Gran parte de su obra es un cuestionamiento a la masculinidad tóxica. Salto a la fama mainstream por su obra Revolución que muestra a un Emiliano Zapata en tacones y encima de un caballo blanco. La obra provocó un escándalo en grupos conservadores que entraron al Palacio de Bellas Artes decididos a prenderle fuego. Fueron detenidos por personal del museo, muchos de ellos LGBT+. 

“Me mostraron la imagen cuando estaban golpeando a uno de ellos y de inmediato me llevó a ese momento en Chiapas cuando dos hombres me amenazaron con un cuchillo solo porque iba de la mano con mi novio. Y dije no, eso no puede volver a pasar. Si quieren pelear, aquí estoy. Empecé a dar entrevistas y hacer presente mi voz.”

Ana Julia Yeyé es comediante de stand-up y quizá por eso su salida del clóset es la más divertida del podcast. Cuenta la vez que salió con una chica con la intención de demostrarle que no era lesbiana y terminó por darse cuenta de justo lo contrario. Su primer beso logró que todas las piezas de su vida terminaran de encajar. 

No hay fuerza más poderosa para cambiar mentes y corazones que el poder contar nuestras historias. Por eso Spotify se unió a It Gets Better México para ofrecer ayuda a jóvenes LGBT+ en temas de salud mental, sexual o grupos de apoyo. 

Descubre las historias de creadores LGBTQIA+ y escucha Coming Out: Emociones compartidas a continuación.

Spotify Celebrates LGBTQIA+ Creators and Fans With Our 2020 Pride Campaign

June 3, 2020

Let’s face it: Pride looks a little different this year, with cities around the world unable to host celebrations in honor of LGBTQIA+ community, representation, and progress. But although queer folks and allies can’t take to the streets with flags, floats, and festivals this summer, we can all celebrate the feelings of pride and togetherness that come from streaming LGBTQIA+ artists and creators.

Spotify has the unique ability to inspire and drive positive change through the power of audio. At this time, we know that feelings of togetherness and shared experiences have never been more important, which is why today we’re unveiling Unlike Any Other—Spotify’s 2020 global Pride campaign celebrating LGBTQIA+ creators and connecting them to fans around the world.

 Unlike Any Other is all about empowering LGBTQIA+ creators to embrace their uniqueness and connect to new and existing audiences through the power of music and podcasts. The Unlike Any Other marketing campaign, which will live in 38 countries where Pride is celebrated, includes a key element—the Progress Flag—designed by Daniel Quasar in 2018. The Progress Flag adds five stripes to the traditional rainbow Pride flag to better include trans and non-binary individuals, marginalized communities of color, those we have lost to AIDS, and those living with HIV today within queer representation.

Plus, our Pride 2020 campaign features new content and experiences on platform, all available in the Amplify: Pride hub on Spotify. Each playlist, song, and podcast is as unique as the individual who created it—which means there’s a little something for everyone. Check out what’s available within the Amplify: Pride hub.  

The House of… Ballroom Playlists

From Kiki to Pose and now Legendary, the house and ballroom community has made a lasting mark on modern pop culture. This playlist series, in partnership with Pose runway choreographer Twiggy Pucci Garcon, celebrates the iconic movement with curated playlists by top figures of ballroom culture, including Jason Ozzie Ash, Byrell The Great, Jack Mizrahi Gucci, and Jonovia Chase.

Pride-Themed Playlists

The hub will include a variety of curated Pride-themed playlists for every listener, such as Pride Classics, Latin Pride, Alternative Pride, Queer as Folk, Disco Fever, queer-themed Cosmic playlists and more. Additionally, our flagship queer playlist Out Now: Unlike Any Other further emphasizes the dynamism of emerging and established queer voices in music.