Tag: spotify GLOW

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.

GLOW Artist LUDMILLA Has Found Happiness in Family, Music, and Connection

March 21, 2023

LUDMILLA GLOW

Since making her musical debut in 2014 with “Hoje,” Brazilian hitmaker LUDMILLA has won a Latin Grammy and become the first Black singer in Latin America to reach more than one billion streams on Spotify. And now the groundbreaking singer is this month’s GLOW artist and the cover of our flagship GLOW playlist.

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

It’s safe to say that LUDMILLA has experienced significant growth since her beginnings under the pseudonym MC Beyoncé. She’s gone on to release a series of hit albums that include tracks like “Maldivas” and “Cheguei.” She’s also taken part in countless collaborations, such as her song “CAFÉ DA MANHĀ ;P” with Luísa Sonza, which reached streams in the tens of millions. Her second studio album, Numanice #2, made a resounding debut, with every track reaching Spotify Brazil’s Top 200 list one day after its release.

2022 was a particularly laudable year for the stalwart Brazilian singer-songwriter: She was celebrated as an EQUAL Brazil artist, she showed listeners how she uses Spotify Artist Wrapped, and, most notable, Numanice #2 won the Latin Grammy for Best Samba/Pagode Album.

For the Record sat down with LUDMILLA to talk about finding her voice and what makes her GLOW

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

In a very natural way. Since I was a child, I’ve loved singing, and my family always encouraged me by taking me to samba sessions and helping me in small ways. Eventually, I started writing music and making rhymes. And then 11 years ago, a video I made suddenly went viral.

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

Because as much as our fight has moved ahead, we’re still looking for respect and to just live as we are, since so many people have died just for being queer. It’s very important to continue this movement and carry the message further so more and more people will have access to resources and we can make the world a better place.

What might people be surprised to learn about you? 

That I really like outdoor activities. On trips, for example, I always suggest something radical to do, even if we’re in a place to rest and relax. I always take it up a notch!

What do you hope people take away from your music?

Emotion! I always make my songs with so much dedication and truth, and I try to get as close as possible to people’s feelings. 

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

Nowadays, Majur, Liniker, and Gloria Groove. There are also the guys who came before them, when queerness was not even discussed, like Ana Carolina, Marina Lima, Cássia Eller, Ney Matogrosso . . . icons! They deserve all the applause!

What makes you GLOW? 

Being happy, which involves being with my boo and my whole family. It’s very important for me to say that since I made the relationship with my wife public, I have flourished. I’ve lost some things, of course, but gained so much more, including public support.

How does music empower queer communities? 

Having more and more queer artists on the scene, representing themselves, addressing the subject by contributing socially and raising discussions. There are several ways, each with its own purpose. The main thing is to give space for them to communicate because the more information is out there, the more knowledge people will have, allowing them to respect all of us.

What is the best piece of advice you received while growing as an artist and as a person?

There have been so many words of advice, I wouldn’t know how to say just one. But something I’ll never forget, mainly because it was very strong in my heart, especially in moments when I got discouraged, was that I couldn’t give up. And so I didn’t, and I went on guiding myself and reaching better and better places.

Listen to more of LUDMILLA on our flagship GLOW playlist:

A Artista GLOW, LUDMILLA, Encontrou a Felicidade na Família, Música e Amigos

March 21, 2023

LUDMILLA GLOW

Desde sua estreia no mundo da música em 2014, com Hoje, a hitmaker brasileira LUDMILLA já ganhou um Grammy Latino e se tornou a primeira cantora negra da América Latina a alcançar mais de 1 bilhão de streams no Spotify. Agora, a pioneira é a artista GLOW deste mês e estampa a capa da principal playlist GLOW. 

O Spotify GLOW é o novo programa de música global, para celebrar e amplificar artistas e criadores LGBTQIA+. O programa é a iniciativa mais recente do Creator Equity Fund (Fundo de Equidade para Criadores) que tem como objetivo apoiar as pessoas e vozes desta comunidade historicamente marginalizada e reafirmar nosso compromisso com a equidade no áudio. O programa garante audiência para criadores LGBTQIA+ ao longo do ano. 

O crescimento significativo de LUDMILLA na indústria da música é visível desde o início de sua carreira, quando usava o nome MC Beyoncé. Ao longo dos anos, ela lançou uma série de álbuns de sucesso que incluem hits como Maldivas e Cheguei. Ela também participou de incontáveis colaborações, como na música CAFÉ DA MANHĀ ;P, com Luísa Sonza, que alcançou mais de 10 milhões de streams. Seu álbum, Numanice #2, teve uma estreia badalada, com todas as músicas no Charts Spotify Top 200 Brasil no dia seguinte ao lançamento. 

O ano de 2022 foi particularmente importante para a autêntica cantora e compositora brasileira. Ela foi celebrada como uma artista EQUAL Brasil, mostrou para o público como ela usa a Retrospectiva Spotify para artistas, e, o mais importante, Numanice #2, ganhou o Grammy Latino de Melhor Álbum de Samba/Pagode.   

O For the Record conversou com Ludmilla sobre como a cantora encontrou sua voz e o que faz ela se destacar.

Conte para nós sobre sua jornada na música. Como você encontrou sua voz? 

Foi muito natural. Desde quando eu era criança, eu amava cantar e minha família sempre me encorajou me levando para o samba e me ajudando de diversas formas. Eu comecei a escrever músicas e criar meus beats. E aí, 11 anos atrás, um vídeo meu viralizou de repente. 

Por que é importante amplificar vozes LGBTQIA+ ao longo do ano todo?

Por mais que nossa luta tenha avançado, nós ainda estamos buscando respeito para podermos viver como somos. Muitas pessoas morreram simplesmente por serem LGBTQIA+. É muito importante continuar a potencializar essas vozes, levando a mensagem mais longe, para cada vez mais pessoas terem acesso a recursos e, assim, transformarmos o mundo em um lugar melhor. 

O que pode surpreender as pessoas sobre você?

Eu amo atividades ao ar livre. Em viagens, por exemplo, eu sempre proponho algo radical para fazer, mesmo se estivermos em um lugar para descansar e relaxar. Eu sempre procuro me desafiar!

O que você busca trazer com sua música?

Emoção! Eu sempre faço músicas com muita verdade e dedicação e eu tento chegar o mais próximo possível dos sentimentos das pessoas.

Quais são os artistas queers ou ícones culturais que te inspiram? 

Hoje em dia, Majur, Liniker, e Gloria Groove. Também tem outros artistas de quando a representatividade queer nem era discutida, como Ana Carolina, Marina Lima, Cássia Eller, Ney Matogrosso… ícones! Eles merecem todo o aplauso!

O que te faz brilhar? 

Ser feliz. E, para mim, é estar com a minha gata e toda a minha família. Acho muito importante dizer que, desde quando tornei pública a minha relação com minha mulher, eu desabrochei. Eu perdi algumas coisas, claro, mas ganhei muito mais, inclusive o apoio do público. 

Como a música empodera a comunidade queer? 

Trazendo cada vez mais artistas queer para os holofotes, representando eles mesmos, falando sobre o assunto, contribuindo socialmente e levantando o debate. Existem várias formas da música contribuir, e cada uma tem seu propósito. O principal é dar espaço para essas pessoas se comunicarem, porque com mais informação disponível, mais conhecimento as pessoas vão ter, permitindo que nós sejamos respeitados. 

Qual foi o melhor conselho que você recebeu na vida pessoal e profissional?

Foram tantos que é difícil escolher apenas um. Mas nunca vou esquecer quando me disseram para que eu não desistisse, principalmente porque eu estava em um momento no qual me sentia sem coragem e isso me pegou no coração. E, de fato, eu nunca o fiz. Continuei me guiando e alcançando lugares cada vez melhores.

Escute mais de Ludmilla na nossa playlist principal de GLOW: