You can thank us later…
BY EMILY O’MULLANE, IMAGES BY WALKER HUTCHINSON AND EVAN AGOSTINI
Non-binary artists and gender-inclusive music are shaping a distinct path for the future of the music industry, enabling more and more people to feel included in the songs they are listening to. This week, during Non-Binary Awareness Week we want to share our favourite artists who are shaping the industry. From multi-award-winning legend Sam Smith to newer artists like No So we have found some gems for your next playlist!
Sam Smith
Widely considered one of the most successful non-binary artists of all time, Sam Smith has enjoyed a tremendously successful career in the public eye. Sam Smith has won four Grammy awards and is the 48th biggest artist on Spotify (at the time of writing this article) with songs such as Stay With Me and Too Good At Goodbyes reaching over 2 billion streams on the platform. Their catchy pop hits have platformed other queer artists such as Kim Petras and Demi Lovato and their most recent feature on the single Desire with Calvin Harris celebrates gender non-specific yearning with a house beat and soulful vocals.
G Flip
Multi-talented singer, songwriter, drummer, and producer G-Flip is an Australian non-binary icon. The singer discusses queer love in songs such as Gay 4 Me and Be Your Man and has recently broke headlines for announcing on Instagram with their wife Chrishell Strause that queer people have better sex.
Claud
If chilled-out indie-pop is your thing then Claud might just be your next favourite artist. Claud was the first singer to sign onto Phoebe Bridgers record label, Saddest Factory, in 2020 and they are an up-and-coming star best known for their song Soft Spot which made it into Vogue’s Top 38 songs of 2021. Their introspective tunes discuss love and friendships, with their soft journalistic lyricism at the forefront of their music.
No So
The intersection between racial and gender identity is something that many struggle to put into words… but it is something that No So captures beautifully. The Korean American’s 2022 album Stay Proud Of Me is criminally underappreciated in the LGBTQIA music scene. Their complicated feelings about gender are displayed in their song Feeling Like A Woman Lately and the song Parasites puts into words their experience post-top surgery where they describe their breasts being “parasites removed from [their] skin”.
Frances Forever
Frances Forever had their come up in the music industry after their song Space Girl was discovered and went viral on TikTok. Their debut album was released on 28 June 2024 and contained 11 tracks including the new single Troll. Speaking about the album they said: “I’ve never put so much of my heart into something. It feels like my baby.” Aside from being non-binary they also identify as bisexual.
King Princess
King Princess was one of the most prominent singers to come from the 2010s and has released hit after hit since their first single 1950. King Princess identifies as genderqueer and when touching on pronouns in their interview with Rolling Stone in 2022 they said that they are open to using any pronouns. Some of their most famous hits include Pussy Is God, Talia and Hit The Back.
Kehlani
One great example of a non-binary parent who also has a career as a singer is Kehlani. The singer, who originally became famous from being in the band PopLyfe, has gone on to have international fame with collaborations on songs with artists such as Ty Dollar Sign and G-Eazy. They prefer they/them pronouns over she/her ones and advocate for their sexual identity by including she/her pronouns in their songs. We like our singers like we like our honey, sweet (just like Kehlani!).
Leith Ross
Whilst we love uplifting songs, sometimes you just need a cry. Leith Ross creates heart-wrenching music that encapsulates the human condition. Their song We’ll Never Have Sex is loved by the queer community and the track Orlando is clearly an ode to the book of the same title by queer literary fiction author Virginia Woolf. However, if you want a song to really sucker punch you in the heart then Guts is our favourite off the To Learn album.
Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato is a queer icon who came out as non-binary in 2021, whilst they originally only wanted to use they/them pronouns, they have now also adopted she/her pronouns as well. Demi made their break on Disney Channel and has since become a pop star in their own right. The revamped album that came out in 2023 rocked everyone who grew up in the 2010s world with new versions of many of their greatest hits including the bisexual anthem Cool For The Summer.
Muna
How could we end this list without including a band, especially the queer band Muna? Naomi McPherson, the guitarist, and production genius with possibly the best hair in the industry also identifies as non-binary. The band have gone from strength to strength and recently played at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles after releasing their most recent single The One That Got Away in 2023. They also record a weekly podcast Gayotic where they bring on various queer guests such as Lucy Dacus and Trixie Mattel.
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ER Fightmaster should surely be on that list.