Listen to This
These are the Trans Music Artists You Should Be Listening To Right Now!
An important part of empowerment is representation. When I see someone like me on TV or the big screen, it helps me realize I am not alone and that I, like those I see, am capable of great things.
The same holds true for music. Lately, I have been listening a lot to transgender performers. People, often very much like me, who happen to make music. A key part of good representation is quality. If transgender performers were not that good, then the shine of that representation would lose its lustre.
Fortunately, there are several great acts, with more forming all the time. Here are some of the acts I’ve been listening to, the songs I want to make sure everyone has a chance to hear. Because they are more than just good transgender musical acts. They are good musical acts, period.
You might notice a bias toward indie, punk, hardcore, and alternative music. That’s my taste, so that’s what I’m recommending. There are other talented transgender musicians out there in the pop arena. If you haven’t heard of Kim Petras, for example, you might want to check her out if you like pure pop.
If you are into indie, punk, DIY, alternative, etc., though, these are musicians and acts you just might like.
She/Her/Hers
According to their Bandcamp page, “She/Her/Hers is Emma Grrrl and sometimes friends. Sad grrrl pop-punk.” And that about sums it up. Her best known songs are “Gender is Boring,” and “Kill the Boy Band,” but I love just about everything Emma has written. It often feels like I am at a transgender support group put to music, especially on songs such as “Family,” “Nvr Pass,” and “I’m Not Supposed to be Anything.” But this one from her first album, Hopeful/Scared, is one of my favorites:
The Worriers
Singer/songwriter Lauren Denitzio (they/them) has a voice reminiscent of Delores O’Riordan of the Cranberries, but with a power punch of a power pop band backing them up. If you listen to current queer punk and indie music it is hard to escape hits like this one:
