Actually Good Queer Music

Bard-College-born group PWR BTTM

Growing up gay, I was always on the search for movies and music that would speak to my experience. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy watching movies that showed heterosexual relationships or listening to music that was about straight love. I mean, I still garnered a love for movies and music. I would often find myself daily after school searching through Blockbuster (RIP) for another movie to watch--making my selections based on the possibility to being emotionally moved by the story. Similarly, I would spend hours searching through bands and artists on places like Myspace and Purevolume (also RIP) looking for some cool, moving music in the depths of the internet. I was always drawn to things that were new and unique to consume and experience. All that to say, even in my search for my representations of my own experience in entertainment, I was able to make meaning and gain insight from music and movies made by, with, and about straight people.

However, I was desperate, as many individuals from minority groups might tell you, to find something that included someone like me. So I began reaching out and looking for these stories. I was fortunate enough to have a satellite provider that included a couple of channels that aided in my journey to gay stories. You can be damn sure that when I realized that Degrassi: The Next Generation had a--fine ass--gay character named Marco, I would never miss another episode. Meanwhile, I found myself obsessively watching Project Runway in the time of Christian Siriano and snapping my fingers along with him whenever he dropped that something was "Fierce"--a secret addition to my vocabulary. Then there was the time that I realized Logo existed almost exclusively to play movies held holy by the gay community and featured some scripted and reality dramas about gay people--even gay people of color in Noah's Arc. If I was lucky, while sitting up entirely too late, I might even catch an episode of Queer as Folk. I sat underneath the altar of the television and happily lapped up any drama or laughter with which I could relate to this secret part of my life. While I do now realize the problems in the portrayals of these stories and characters, it was all I had to consume and was going to soak up as much as I could.

The pickings were slim when it came to any sort of media covering my experience in any meaningful way. If you find yourself reading this and happen to be unaware of the cinematic world of gay movies, you might need to understand that it's like digging through manure looking for gold. There a decent amount of movies made by, for, and with gay people; however, it is a difficult task to find something outside the box of tired plot lines and campy dialogue provided by proudly two-dimensional characters. When I found the gems, I held tight to them and played them repeatedly after my family had gone to bed. And only in recent time have a greater variety of movies and television shows dealing with complex LGBT+ characters and narratives been produced. This has allowed my community greater chance at both scrutiny and selection when it comes to experiencing media that tells stories that--at very least--run parallel to actual queer experiences.

[Currently You]: Isn't this supposed to be about music?

[Me:] 

As far as music goes, I must admit that my search was not so extensive. I held to the divas continually praised by the gays-- sure. But I never really searched out any music that could be called Gay (or Queer) music. I always found myself looking for music that connected more to my emotions rather than my story, as I had with movies and TV [desperately fighting the impulse digress into a lengthy and complex discussion on the capabilities of expression of different media--you're welcome]. My music tastes were specific but changed almost annually as my general mood began to shift as I grew. And just five years ago when, on a whim, I saw Sam Smith perform at Bonnaroo, did I begin my more thorough search for gay musicians and music that spoke to my experience.

It was not until a few weeks ago, however, that I finally located some music that fits my tastes and general moods AND was written and performed by and for queer people. So, please, allow me to introduce you to a few groups that have recently given me life (meaning, per UrbanDictionary, Anything that you get excited or pumped about).

1. PWR BTTM

What a fun time these two are! These queer punk musicians are without a doubt one of my favorite go-tos for jamming. Their grunged up songs take me back to a time when I was much more angsty and moody, but now in a way, my angst and moodiness are given the words and melodies that are, to a certain point, validating and satisfying. The middle-school-aged version of myself inside of me takes every opportunity to mosh and headbang along to his truth, and unashamedly, I let him. 

I heard about this duo a while back, some way or another, but it wasn't until I watched their Tiny Desk Concert at NPR that I fell head-over-heels for their punk music and queer style. When these aspects are joined with lyrics that reflect the experience of dating and breaking up and building relationships as a queer person, the music acts as a celebration of familiarity. 

Their first full album, Ugly Cherries, is out now and constantly playing in my car and while I'm in the shower (listen to "Dairy Queen" to catch the joke). Meanwhile, I am eagerly awaiting the release of their 2nd album, Pageants, in May.

2. Years and Years

MY BOYS. 

Technology in the past few years has grown in such a way that it has become easier for me to browse potential new favorite bands by listening to radio stations on Spotify and Apple Music. These gentlemen were on of my first golden finds on such a service. And since that very first listen to their forlorn love song "King", Years and Years's music has become a staple of my musical aesthetic. At times, their music could fit perfectly over top video of a dark club scene punctuated by steadily flashing colors, lighting up the scene for only a moment, working simultaneously to illuminate and hide the flirtatious and desperate glances from all over the floor. Other times, the music provides a comfortable space that begs that begs the listeners to come and listen for a while. 

All that said, over and above the steady-paced indie-electronic instrumentals, frontman's, Olly Alexander's, vocals demand and desire to be closely followed. With quick riffs manifested by raspy vocals, Alexander grabs your attention early in his music. In the song "Real", the steady bass line pulls you into the song, however, Olly's first utterings make you stay. And the journey does not leave you dissatisfied. 

In many of Years and Years' songs, especially the two mentioned above, the lyrics provide a great contrast with the fun pop sounds of their music. Often crying out of a desperate place, the lyrics long for someone either lost, just found, or not yet discovered; all the while, melodies provide an on-going dance track of good feelings. It was not until after much listening that I learned that Olly identified as gay, and then suddenly, all of his lyrics rang with even clearer reflections of my own experience. Upon my new understanding of Years and Years's music, I found myself drinking up their albums feverishly--not simply because he was gay, but because finally here was someone echoing my own existence back to me through some well-crafted tunes.

3. Brendan Maclean

What to say about Brendan and his music? He's like a really expensively produced party scene in a college movie, but instead of a bunch of frat-bros and barely dressed co-eds, he's invited the weirdos, queers, and sensitive kids, which only cranks the party up to 11. 

I first heard Brendan's music when I saw a post of his music video for "House of Air" (I feel it is good taste to let you know now that this video is ENTIRELY NSFW). The music is so upbeat and dance-y. Honestly, every time I put on his music, I'm up and moving every time a la Raven from That's So Raven whenever she hears her jam. And the video is so smart to pair with it. As it continues to show increasingly intense and explicit gay sex positions identified by their technical (medical? scientific?) name, it begins to feel like a textbook of both gay sex and culture--although, I'm uncertain that the cultural characteristics are not as universal as other aspects. Regardless, the meaning comes through because they are at very least recognizable as one troupe of gay cultures and communities. Even though the video definitely delivers some in-you-face-and-unafraid gay content, there is really nothing remarkably gay about the song in isolation. It sounds like a fun indie electro-pop party tune that has little barriers to entry. Often when music or movies speak to the queer experience and are thus labeled as gay or lesbian or queer material, people shrug off such entertainment or skip right past it. However, I like to imagine some unknowing stranger listening to the song first and loving it--because I mean, who wouldn't love it? Then, they search to check out more of his music and videos. Next thing you know--BADDA BING BADDA BOOM--they're slapped in the face with a mindf***!! 

It's the little things, ya know?

Once I started listening to his album funbang1, I started to get more and more enthralled with his music. In the powerful forlorn ballad "Undetectable", Brendan calls out to his lover that shares his bed. In this calling, Brendan is leaving himself bare to his lover as he puts on display all of the truth of the sexual relationship with his partner, making parallels between how the sex they have reflects the distance between the two. Really raw and beautiful stuff. 

Finally, I just need to mention my personal favorite from funbang1, "Hugs Not Drugs (or Both)". It's been on repeat since I found it, lifting my spirits with every listen. Just try it on for yourself.

4. Perfume Genius

To be honest, I've had Perfume Genius's (stage name for Mike Hadreas) 2012 album chilling in my Music collection for a few years and never really gave Put Your Back N 2 It the listen it deserved. I know I threw it on a couple of times while driving or working, but I never really took the time to sit down or go on a walk and just listen to it. But now, I'm regretting that I didn't give it the time sooner.

I saw that Perfume Genius is releasing another album this year and so dived into his 2014 release, Too Bright. Immediately, I was on the hook and going through his music again. Genuinely, all it took to reel this fish in was when in the second song on the album, "Queen", Mike sings "No family is safe when I sashay." In that moment, I became the title character of Mike's musings. 

Perfume Genius's style is mellow and soothing. Whether he is crooning behind a piano or pumping out electronic synth segues, his music maintains a certain air of composure yet does not allow that to keep from reaching into deeper places of meaning. The sounds of Perfume Genius will keep me lulled and soothed for a while to come. 

5. "First Time He Kissed a Boy" by Kadie Edler

This Swedish group may not themselves be gay. However, their recent song and music video called "First Time He Kissed a Boy" is written as an exploration of the frontman's, Anders Rack's, sister's experience and has apparently gotten passed around by quite a few people--roughly 1.4 million--before it made its way to my life. 

The two produce an electro-pop sound that often feels nostalgic, and this song demonstrates their style well. With chilled down vocals throughout his verses and its contrast to the passion in his voice during the chorus, frontman Anders Rack evokes a feeling of desperation of this character to feel validated in his experience--one I could definitely relate to as a young gay kid. Meanwhile, the band easily translate this feeling into these moments of instrumental breaks that dare you not to dance along.