The face of pop music has by no means as queer as it’s proper now.
Earlier this month, Billie Eilish narrowly missed out on a UK primary with “Lunch”, her new tune about sapphic oral intercourse. Chappell Roan, whose single “Good Luck, Babe!” laments a lady refusing to come back to phrases along with her queer emotions, is a viral sensation. On the Grammys in February, boygenius, Victoria Monét, Miley Cyrus and Eilish – all LGBTQ+ – gained massive.
Seeing queer artists dominate the mainstream looks like a brand new or no less than surging pattern, however the actuality is completely different: behind the scenes, queer writers have been creating your favorite songs for many years. Justin Tranter, who labored with Roan on “Good Luck, Babe!”, has written hits for Britney Spears, Ariana Grande, Kelly Clarkson. Bonnie McKee has labored with Katy Perry, Cher, Christina Aguilera. Trans icon TS Madison was just lately honoured by the Grammys for her work on Beyoncé’s Renaissance. For so long as pop has been right here, it’s at all times been queer.
Then, within the UK, there’s MNEK. The Brit and Grammy-nominated musician is the pen and producer behind the songs which have soundtracked your summers since 2011: Madonna’s “Residing For Love”, Little Combine’s “Contact” and Dua Lipa’s “IDGAF” have all come from his thoughts.
In 2019, the artist, now 29, determined to impart his information on fellow queer artists. He created what has since develop into PROUD SOUND, a days-long writing camp in partnership with Warner Chappell Music and YouTube Songwriters that empowers up-and-coming queer artists to place pen to paper, and bang out bangers.
Tucked away in an office-cum-studio in Bermondsey, decked out in Satisfaction flags, it’s mid-June, Satisfaction month, and the subsequent era of hitmakers are, nicely, making hits.
“I wished to be a singer, I wished to be a songwriter, producer – however I additionally wished to have my very own kind of activism… however mix it in with what my ardour is, which is music,” MNEK says of why he arrange PROUD SOUND. “I do consider there ought to be extra areas for queer songwriters and producers to really feel snug to show their artwork and to say their peace.”
The way it works is straightforward: budding queer artists are writing in studio cubicles, with extra skilled artists and songwriters, MNEK included, mentoring them to “elevate” the music they’re making. It’s a sight to behold: the place else may you discover Drag Race France contestant Piche, Younger Royals star Omar Rudberg, and Eurovision 2024 winner Nemo making music alongside each other?
The outcomes are both saved by the artists themselves, or pitched to main label artists – additional rising LGBTQ+ illustration within the cogs of the music business.
And each time Satisfaction rolls round, you may assure the query of LGBTQ+ illustration within the music business is introduced up. Annually, lesbian “Women Like Intercourse” singer L Devine is requested what’s wanted of the business for it to develop into extra welcoming for queer artists.
“This can be a good instance,” she says of PROUD SOUND, which she’s attending. “That’s what we want: extra alternative to indicate those that we’ve received some f**king good s**t.”
That good s**t typically comes out finest when working with fellow queer songwriters, provides camp attendee and “Anyplace” singer Louis III. “It’s such a particular factor,” he says, “as a result of it’s the primary time you’re in a room and also you share all of those experiences, and your references – somebody simply will get them right away, after which the tune simply comes out of that.”
These experiences and references comprise multitudes. In fact, a few of the best self-empowerment anthems of all time, from George Michael’s “Freedom! ‘90” to SOPHIE’s “Immaterial”, had been created by queer artists. Equally, the fiercest dance anthems of the 2020s have inexplicably been created by queer stars. “We all know how one can f**king occasion and have an excellent time,” L Devine laughs.
On the flip aspect, LGBTQ+ artists are in tune with particular emotions of queer disgrace, loss and unrequited need that their straight counterparts merely can’t perceive. “All my favorite lesbian artists know how one can write songs about craving for somebody who doesn’t really feel the identical manner as you,” Devine provides.
MNEK’s intention for PROUD SOUND is to create a sanctuary for musicians to debate these subjects with others who’ve probably mirrored their experiences. But, “for those who actually need to do c*nty mama boots the haus down [songs], there’s a secure house to try this,” too, they promise.
For Louis III, LGBTQ+ artists are consultants at making pop music – whether or not it’s about slaying or sobbing – as a result of they know what it means to view the world by means of a singular and subverted lens.
“Pop music is queerness, and it at all times has been queerness,” he explains, “as a result of pop is discovering an thought, it, and turning it on its aspect barely.”
He gives examples: queer individuals discover and embrace love in distinctive areas and methods. The group’s tradition and nightlife is extra “underground”, and its relationships are extra “hidden”.
“You get this attitude that makes your pop music extra attention-grabbing as a result of you may match the melody in a weirder manner, otherwise you match the lyrics in a weirder manner, as a result of that’s what you skilled while you grew up,” Louis continues.
Although a lot pop music is written from that queer perspective, it’s more and more encroaching on the mainstream. “Just a few years in the past, it could really feel like lots of people that listened to queer artists had been queer, however now they’re transcending that viewers,” says “Inexperienced Grass” singer Ellie Dixon. “Now individuals simply hearken to the music as a result of it’s f**king good.”
Plus, queer artists are reaching broader audiences on the similar time that they’re turning into much less inhibited, and extra express, than ever. It’s euphoric that not solely can we reside in an age the place a lady can sing about what one other lady tastes like, however that tune can rack up 250,000,00 listens on Spotify in lower than 4 weeks.
“The impact that that may have had on me rising up as a youngster within the closet, if I heard ‘Lunch’ by Billie Eilish taking part in in an H&M after I was procuring after I was 13,” Dixon says, astounded. “The distinction that that may have made…”
It’s an vital level; as lesbian anthems hit the radio waves, they’re reaching the ears of those that really want to listen to them. Queerness infiltrating the music business doesn’t simply assist the artists, it will probably change the lives of listeners, too.
But, there may be nonetheless work to be executed. Regardless of being over-represented within the inventive world, trans and non-binary songwriters and artists are nonetheless underrepresented when it comes to materials success in music. Actually, greater than half of the business’s LGBTQ+ group really feel underrepresented, and two-thirds have skilled microaggressions from different business professionals.
With PROUND SOUND, MNEK is doing his half to alter that, giving tomorrow’s queer hitmakers the very best alternative at getting their foot within the door.
“I can solely financial institution on what my contribution to all of it is,” he says.
“Who is aware of what the grand scheme of the way forward for queer songwriters is, as a result of it’s such a broad factor. However I like seeing individuals like myself on the market, doing their factor, and us all profitable collectively.”
MUZO BY UZO & Warner Chappell Music current PROUD SOUND with YouTube Songwriters.