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35+ Queer And Lesbian Artists To Satisfy Your Ears

Are you starting to get bored by your own Spotify playlists, or are you struggling to find some new music? Well, in that case, you’ve come to the right place. These queer and lesbian artists will satisfy your ears!

Everyone loves listening to music. It’s a way to escape your everyday life or spice it up. And who doesn’t love walking down the street pretending you’re in a movie while music plays through your headphones?

However, as a lesbian, I can’t always recognize myself in songs, so I love listening to queer female singers and lesbian artists. Their women love women songs are relatable in a way that other songs are just not.

Queer Female And Lesbian Artists

Listening to a lesbian musician share her own experiences with other women hits another level. Besides that, it always feels good to be seen and recognized.

You have to check out this list of over 35 queer female and lesbian singers! But I assure you there are many more, and this list could go on forever (lucky us, we live in exciting times!).

Lesbian Artists You Should Listen To 

  1. Hayley Kiyoko

Perhaps one of the most famous lesbian singers is Hayley Kiyoko. I mean, which lesbian doesn’t know lesbian celebrity Hayley Kiyoko, right?

If you don’t, that’s fine. I’m just revoking your gay card. I’m only kidding, don’t worry. You might know Hayley from the film Lemonade Mouth (2011) instead.

Hayley Kiyoko lesbian singer

Hayley has been singing and acting from a very young age. She got famous at five years old, which coincidentally was around the same time she found out she likes girls.

Hayley found out she was a lesbian when she was very young. Her music tells her personal story and addresses the emotions of figuring out your orientation.

This lesbian musician also wants to normalize lesbian relationships in a music industry that is still very heteronormative.

“Girls Like Girls” is probably still one of Hayley’s best and gayest songs. Of course, you can also find “Girls Like Girls” on our list with the best lesbian songs.

  1. Kehlani

Kehlani’s career started as a member of the teen pop band PopLyfe when she was only 14 years old.

Some of you have probably seen her in the sixth season of America’s Got Talent, where the group finished in fourth place.

Queer singer Kehlani Photo
Photo: Tore Sætre / Wikimedia

In the following years, she was homeless and went through a rough time. She stole iPhones to sell to get by.

Her life got completely turned around when she dropped her first solo track on SoundCloud named “ANTISUMMERLUV.” And Nick Cannon bought her an apartment in Los Angeles and studio time.

In 2017, Kehlani dropped “Honey,” a song about being in a relationship with another woman, after she came out as queer.

Kehlani says her art mimics her life, so it only makes sense for her to also sing about these topics.

In 2018, Kehlani felt she had to come out again as queer in a series of tweets because of her ടexuality after making out on stage with Demi Lovato. In 2021, Kehlani came out as a lesbian.

  1. Chappell Roan

What’s a list with queer and lesbian artists to satisfy your ears without Chappell Roan on it? She’s definitely satisfying my ears!

Chappell Roan by @luxxienne
Photo by @luxxienne

Born as Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, Chappell Roan, is an emerging sapphic singer who gets more and more famous every day. She’s known for her vibrant stage presence, powerful voice, inspiring work, and melancholic pop melodies. 

Her single “Pink Pony Club” especially resonates within the queer community, embracing one’s true identity and its celebration of self-expression. 

I can’t wait what this fresh and fearless voice in the lesbian pop music industry will bring during the next couple of years!

  1. Melissa Etheridge

Melissa Etheridge is one of the oldest famous lesbian singers on this list.

She might be a lesbian musician more for the older generations, but what’s a list about famous lesbian artists without her on it?

Famous lesbian singer Melissa Etheridge
Photo: Craig ONeal / Flickr

Melissa’s career started in the late 1980s, playing pop-based folk-rock in lesbian bars in L.A. Naturally, there were rumors about her identity because of this.

So in 1993, Melissa decided to come out. There was still so much taboo around being gay back then, but she stood her ground and became a prominent LGBTQ+ activist in the following years.

In 2011, she got a well-deserved star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Today, Melissa is over 60 years old and still makes music. Being so open about her orientation from very early on in her career paved the way for many gay female singers today.

“I’m the Only One” was on her album released the same year she came out. 

  1. Dope Saint Jude

Dope Saint Jude comes from South Africa and is based in Cape Town. She is a queer rapper, singer, producer, activist, former drag king, and identifies as a lesbian. 

Dope Saint Jude by @mxiee
Photo by @mxiee

While South Africa has some of the most progressive queer rights, South Africa’s society is still quite conservative. Not only in her songs is Dope Saint Jude an advocate for queer rights, empowerment,  social justice, and gender equality, but also way beyond. 

Dope Saint Jude uses her platforms to raise awareness for issues affecting marginalized communities. Go check her out if you haven’t yet.

Songs to definitely listen to are “Resilient” (from her earlier work), “Gay is Good”, and “Purple Skies”.

  1. girl in red

Marie Ulven, better known as girl in red, is a Norwegian indie-pop singer-songwriter.

She started writing songs and playing the guitar when she was 14. All of this happened in her bedroom, which she still does today.

lesbian artist Marie Ulven girl in red
Photo @girlinred

Her first song, “I wanna be your girlfriend,” which came out in 2016, immediately gave away that she’s a queer music artist, and she doesn’t shy away from this at all.

Young teenage lesbians love her, as they relate to her songs about mental health and loving girls. 

In 2019, she was named a queer icon by Paper Magazine, which makes me excited about her future.

Lesbian TikTok has helped her songs gain more popularity. My personal favorite gayest song of girl in red is “girls.” 

  1. LP

You probably know L.P.’s music! Laura Pergolizii, professionally known as L.P., was called an ‘overnight sensation’ when their song ‘Muddy Waters’ was featured during the fourth season of the lesbian Netflix showOrange Is the New Black.’

LP photo by damnit_stephen
Photo by @damnit_stephen

Though, L.P. has been making music for many years. They became famous worldwide after releasing the song ‘Lost on You.’ The official music video has over 550 million views!! How amazing is that! Their voice is simply fantastic, and their style is effortlessly cool.

L.P. has also written many hits for other artists like Rihanna, Leona Lewis, Céline Dion, Cher, Christina Aguilera, and the Backstreet Boys. In an interview, L.P. said they identify as lesbian and gender-neutral.

  1. Reneé Rapp

Is Reneé Rapp the ‘new’ lesbian pop queen? If you ask me, yes! She’s an actress, songwriter, talented singer, openly lesbian, and important figure in the LGBTQ+ community. 

Renee Rapp by @j.olijnx
Photo by @j.olijnx

Reneé got famous with the (mainstream) public when she starred in the Mean Girls Musical on Broadway as Regina George, in 2019. In 2024, she also played Regina in the film adaptation. 

I got to know her from the great series The S*x Lives of College Girls. And then started listening to her amazing songs, like “In the Kitchen”, “Too Well”, and more recently “Pretty Girls” and “Snow Angel”.

And of course “Not My Fault”, in collaboration with sapphic artist Megan Thee Stallion.

  1. Brandy Clark

One genre of music that lacks queer people is country music.

This genre of music is about telling stories of ordinary people and that feeling of coming home, which isn’t something relatable to all of us.

Lesbian country singer Brandy Clark
Photo: Lisa Gansky / Flickr

However, there are quite some lesbian country singers out there.

Brandy Clark is a lesbian country singer who is a well-respected gay female country singer among country music fans.

Before releasing her album, she wrote many hit songs for people like Kacey Musgraves and Sheryl Crow. Her songs are about home, small towns, and heartbreak.

Brandy has always been an out lesbian. And if anyone was surprised by the amount of love and support she received from the country music community, it was the lesbian artist herself.

You can listen to her song “Love Can Go To Hell” from her Grammy-nominated album Big Day in a Small Town here.

  1. Young M.A

Katorah Marrero, better known as Young M.A, is a queer rapper and entrepreneur.

The M.A. in her name stands for Me Always. From the start of her career in 2012, Young M.A has been open about her orientation and being one of not many Black lesbian music artists. 

Black lesbian music artist rapper Katorah Marrero
Photo @youngma

However, in 2019 she decided to no longer self-identify as a lesbian and stated that she doesn’t do labels, although she wouldn’t date men.

Young M.A raps about similar topics as the men in the industry, like identity and wealth.

She also thinks that her music shouldn’t just be about her orientation but about bringing people closer together.

Besides rapping, she keeps being busy with other things too. In 2018, she directed her first lesbian movie called The Gift.

She is also the founder of the KWEENZ foundation, which helps people in East New York overcome the trauma and grief that come with the loss of a loved one.

Her most famous song with more than 320 million streams on Spotify is called “OOOUUU.” 

  1. Allison Russell

Next on this list with queer and lesbian artists is Allison Russell. Allison Russell is a singer-songwriter from Canada. She’s openly bi and her songs often reflects her queer identity, personal journey, experiences, and commitment to LGBTQ+ rights. 

Allison Russell by @ruthlessimagery
Photo by @ruthlessimagery

Allisson’s music is a mix of Americana, country music, and folk music genres. Before going solo, she was a member of the folk band Po’ Girl and the duo Birds of Chicago. 

Her solo career took off when releasing her debut solo album in 2021, Outside Child. Listen to her songs “Nightflyer”, “The Returner”, and “Persephone”.

  1. Zolita

Zoë Montana Hoetzel, better known as Zolita, is an American lesbian singer-songwriter. She stands out on this list with gay artists not only for her music but also for her amazing lesbian music videos.

Lesbian music videos that she directed herself! The first one that went viral on YouTube is called ‘Exploടion.’

Zolita queer lesbian artists

And the lesbian song and music video, ‘Somebody I F*cked Once,’ was launched at the end of 2021. Which quickly had over 29 million views!

Zolita’s music blends dark pop and R&B, and her lyrics are usually about her experiences as a queer woman. Her music is a must-listen! And don’t forget to watch her music videos on lesbian YouTube.

  1. King Princess

King Princess, whose real name is Mikaela Mullaney Straus, rose to fame not so long ago. A music label wanted to sign her at eleven years old. But since King Princess didn’t have a clear definition of her music, she didn’t sign.

Lesbian music artist King Princess Mikaela Mullaney Straus @kingprincess69
Photo @kingprincess69

In 2018, she found that definition when the lesbian singer released her song “1950,” a tribute to the lesbian book The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith, the LGBTQ+ community, and queer love.

Her song reached a broader audience when Harry Styles tweeted a lyric from the song.

King Princess doesn’t want her music placed in the “queer pop” box. Instead, she wants her lesbian music to be held to the same standard as straight artists, even when she sings about queer relationships.

Her gayest song is probably “Puടടy is God.” 

  1. Syd

Syd, formerly known as Syd Tha Kyd, is a songwriter, singer, and D.J. from Los Angeles. Syd’s (full name Sydney) younger brother gave her the stage name Syd Tha Kyd, but at some point, she felt she grew out of the name, and now she’s just Syd.

Syd Black queer artists

The openly gay female singer was a member of the alternative hip-hop collective Odd Future, making her the only woman and openly gay member of the group. In 2016, she announced her departure from Off Future, and in 2017, she released her first solo single, ‘All About Me,’ which is a must-listen!

Syd is also part of the American band The Internet. The band’s music blends hip-hop, R&B, funk, jazz, and electronic dance music!

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  1. Katie Pruitt

I love Katie Pruitt! Her music is a mix of folk and country music and characterized with her special voice and guitar work. I can’t simply stop listening to her debut album, Expectations. 

Katie Pruitt by @shotfarmer
Photo by @shotfarmer

Pruitt grew up in the suburbs of Atlanta in a conservative family, facing internal and external conflicts regarding her identity. 

This is also what comes back in her songs, whom are very personal, exploring themes of love, mental health, identity, and her youth. 

Make sure to listen to the songs “Loving Her” and “Wishful Thinking”. 

  1. Fletcher

What’s a list with queer and lesbian artists without Fletcher on it?!

Born Cari Elise Fletcher, Fletcher began taking vocal lessons at five years old. As an independent artist, her addition to Spotify in 2016 catapulted her career into a success.

Queer female singer Cari Elise Fletcher
Photo @findingxfletcher

In 2018, she dropped the independent artist label and signed with Capitol Records. Her music video for “Wasted Youth,” which came out in 2017, got people talking about her identity.

She hangs around on a night out with lesbian YouTuber Shannon Beveridge in the music video.

Shannon was Fletcher’s girlfriend, but they broke up in 2020. Straight people have said the relationship between the two women in the video is never defined, even though the two kiss.

Newsflash: they’re not just gal pals.

Fletcher has said in interviews that she doesn’t label herself. She identifies herself within the LGBTQ+ community, but she thinks that ടexuality is a spectrum.

And she feels more comfortable saying she loves whom she loves and is attracted to.

Go listen and watch “Wasted Youth” yourself! 

  1. Tegan and Sara

Tegan and Sara are a Canadian indie pop lesbian band consisting of, surprisingly, Tegan and Sara. They are twins, and both identify as lesbian. 

They’ve been around for a while, but I think it’s important to mention them on this list with lesbian artists because they’ve always been out as lesbian music artists since their career started, which was back in 1998.

Lesbian band with lesbian artists Tegan and Sara
Photo @teganandsara

A few years after Melissa Etheridge came out, being gay was still taboo and not widely accepted.

However, Tegan and Sara never shied away from their orientation in their songs.

Their debut album already had songs written about what it is like to be lesbian.

In 2016, the two founded the Tegan and Sara Foundation, which funds projects for queer women and girls, such as LGBTQ+ summer camps and counseling services for indigenous youth.

Many will probably recognize a song from the new lesbian series The L Word Generation Q is “Closer.” They also play in some lesbian scenes of the original The L Word.

Tegan and Sara’s band is one of the Canadian lesbian bands you should listen to!

  1. SZA

While never explicitly labeled herself, SZA hinted in different interviews being attracted to both women and men. And when a fan shared a TikTok video with her that labeled her as lesbian, her response was ‘it’s not wrong lol’. 

SZA by @cass.meyers
Photo by @cass.meyers

In her lyrics, she often reflects on exploring the complex feelings of relationships and love. While I think her songs could be more queer, I do also appreciate her refusal to be labeled into a certain identity. And she likes to keep things somehow private! 

Her music is a blend of different styles, incorporating hip-hop, soul, indie, and R&B influences. Make sure to listen to “Love Galore” featuring Travis Scott, “The Weekend”, and “Broken Clocks”.

  1. Victoria Monét

Not only Victoria Monét’s music is fantastic, but she has also written songs for other notable artists like Janelle Monáe, Coco Jones, Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, Nas, and Fifth Harmony.

In 2018, Victoria Monét came out as bi on Twitter, and she has said to be proud to be part of a new wave of queer female musicians.  

Victoria Monét

To Gay Times, she said she’s done hiding her queerness, and she wants to be a visible role model for many generations to come. I love that!

In 2019, Victoria’s solo career took off when she released the single ‘Monopoly’ with Ariana Grande and her song ‘Ass Like That.’ The following year, her album ‘Jaguar’ came out!

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  1. PVRIS

This one is for the lesbian rockers! PVRIS is an American rock band whose lead vocalist is Lynn Gunn, who’s a lesbian.

This lesbian band, or well, lesbian-fronted band, was started in 2013. The band sounds like many musical genres, such as alternative rock with electropop, post-hardcore, psychedelic, EDM, and synth-pop.

Lesbian band PVRIS
Photo: Sven Mandel / Wikimedia

Lynn is an evident lesbian rock artist. She came out to her parents when she was 18 by leaving a letter under her mom’s pillow right before going on tour.

From then on, the gay female singer has always been vocal about her identity in the media.

She said that she never had anyone to look up to herself, and she wanted to be that person for other people.

One of their most popular songs is “You and I.” 

  1. Billie Eilish

‘Wasn’t it obvious?’ was Billie’s answer after coming out as queer in her Variety Power of Women cover story. She didn’t realize people didn’t know she’s also attracted to women. But glad we know now ‘for sure’, right? 

Billie Eilish by Lars Crommelinck Photography
Photo by Lars Crommelinck Photography

I love listening to Billie’s lyrics, which are often pretty dark, and genre-defying sound. She frequently sings about different themes that resonate with many queer people, like self-discovery, identity, and relationships. 

“Lunch” from Billie Eilish’s 2024 album HIT ME HARD AND SOFT is probably the queer singer’s gay track to date.

  1. Janelle Monáe

Janelle Monáe is a singer, songwriter, rapper, actor, and producer.

She started her career back in 2005 when she appeared on the Purple Ribbon All-Stars album and OutKast’s album Idlewild.

Bi artist Janelle Monae by Mark J. Sebastian : Flickr
Photo: Mark J. Sebastian / Flickr

Since then, she has produced multiple albums and acted in a long list of films and TV shows.

In 2011, she initiated rumors about her orientation when she stated she only dates androids in an interview. The android was a reference to her musical alter-ego.

She also added that she would talk about her orientation in due time.

In 2018, she came out as queer, bi, and panടexual in an interview. Although she also feels like she doesn’t need to label herself.

Janelle has also said that she never felt the need to come out but wanted to for her struggling fans.

The song released a few months before she came out was “Make Me Feel.” 

  1. MUNA

Muna is a queer band of three queer folx: Katie Gavin, Josette Maskin, and Naomi McPherson. The three met while studying at USC in Los Angeles, and they started working together in 2013.

MUNA lesbian band
Photo @whereismuna

With their electronic pop songs, they discuss complex topics, such as self-worth, feminine identity, heartbreak, and rejection.

Their lyrics are often very relatable for many gay women. After their band got branded as a queer band, the three realized that they could use their music to help inspire younger people to be comfortable with their identities by owning that idea.

They fill the gap for many teenagers who feel like they lack representation in music.

One of their songs you should have listened to is “I Know a Place.”

  1. Dodie

Dorothy Miranda Clark, better known as Dodie, is an English singer-songwriter who started her career on YouTube. She currently has over 2 million subscribers.

bi singer Dorothy Miranda Clark Dodie by Side Stage Collective : Flickr
Photo: Side Stage Collective / Flickr

She started her career by singing covers and supporting herself by playing the piano or ukulele. Later, she also started posting her own songs.

In 2016, she self-released her first album and came out as bi by posting a video on her YouTube channel.

She released a bi-coming-out song for Pride Month the following year. Her songs are mostly known for their light melodies, while she sings very emotionally complex lyrics.

Listen to her bi-coming-out song! 

  1. 070 Shake

Daniella Balbuena, better known by her stage name 070 Shake, is an American hip-hop recording artist from New Jersey.

She started her career in 2015 when she became part of the musical collective 070.

Gay female singer Danielle Balbuena 070 Shake
Photo @070shake

In 2018, she gained attention for her guest appearances on two of Kanye West’s songs. Most of her songs focus on self-esteem issues and ടexuality.

In her lyrics, 070shake has always used female pronouns when describing her lovers, making people believe she’s a lesbian artist.

However, in 2018, she said that she doesn’t label herself as anything. She said: “I just like girls.”

Listen to “Guilty Conscience” from her debut studio album Modus Vivendi.

  1. Tove Lo

Tove Lo comes from a country that I really really really love: Sweden! Sweden is very open-minded and liberal. And the amazing city Stockholm is the lesbian capital of Scandinavia. 

Tove Lo by @charles.reagan
Photo by @charles.reagan

And of course, Sweden gave us the openly bi singer Tove Lo. She wrote songs for Girls Aloud and the Swedish duo Icona Pop, and also has many hits herself. “Habits (Stag High)”, “Talking Body”, and “Bad as the Boys” are songs to listen to for example.

And more recent she launched the songs “Heat”, which is an ode to queer dance floors around the world, and “My Oh My” together with Kylie Minogue and Bebe Rexha. 

Tove Lo is always vocal about her identity and her experiences within the queer community. In her songs, you will often hear about love, self-acceptance, and relationships.

  1. Julia Zahra

Queer musician Julia Zahra was born in Indiana in the United States and was adopted and raised in the Netherlands.

Julia Zahra

Julia gained fame, especially in the Netherlands. At 18 years old, she won The Voice of Holland, making her the youngest winner. If you aren’t from the Netherlands and don’t know Julia, go check her music out!

For her auditions for The Voice of Holland, she sang Britney Spears’ song “Oops! I Did It Again,” which scored a number-one hit in the Netherlands!

Songs of Julia to listen to are “Indiana,” about how her life would have been if she had grown up in Indiana instead of the Netherlands, and “I Blame It All On Me.”

  1. St. Vincent

Next on this list of queer female and lesbian artists is St. Vincent! While St. Vincent doesn’t identify as anything (in her own words) and believes in gender fluidity, she dated celebrities Kristen Stewart and Cara Delevigne in the past.

St. Vincent photo by camera_jesus
Photo by @camera_jesus

Her “New York” track is about heartbreak, allegedly her split with Cara Delevigne. St. Vincent’s other music is “Cruel,” “Los Ageless,” and “Digital Witness.”

What I love about her lesbian music is it’s unique and wacky! Go check it out if you don’t know St. Vincent already.

  1. The xx

The xx is another band with a lesbian frontwoman.

This indie-pop band from London has been making music since 2005 but had its big breakthrough in 2009 when it released its debut album.

Lesbian band Romy Madley Croft The XX
Photo @thexx

The band is mainly known for its distinct and minimalist sound that blends multiple genres of music. Romy Madley Croft, the lesbian lead singer, has slowly learned to talk about her orientation.

In 2010, she came out as a lesbian when she did a joint interview with her girlfriend Rachel. However, it wasn’t until 2012 that she brought it up again.

She said it’s not something she talks about, but she also doesn’t want to hide it. She just doesn’t want to make a big deal out of it.

One of my favorite songs is “Islands.”

  1. Clairo

Clairo is a singer-songwriter from the United States. At 13, she taught herself guitar through internet tutorials and started recording covers.

Many of the people around her told her a music career wasn’t very likely, so she didn’t consider it a way to make a living in the first place.

bi singer-songwriter Clairo by Justin Higuchi : Flickr
Photo: Justin Higuchi / Flickr

In 2017, the video for her song “Pretty Girl” went viral on YouTube, which led to multiple record labels offering her a contract. Her music is very lo-fi electropop.

She sings for and about women and her own queer and lesbian stories in her songs. She wants to celebrate all of this.

Clairo came out as bi on Twitter in 2018. She said her new friends in college, who were openly gay, helped her come out because their confidence inspired her.

  1. RAYE

Rachel Agatha Keen, professionally known as RAYE, is a British singer-songwriter identifying as bi. In 2023, she got very famous after she went viral on Instagram and TikTok with her song “Escapism”. 

RAYE by Tom Øverlie
Photo by Tom Øverlie

“Ice Cream Man” is also a must-listen. It’s an incredible, powerful, and sad song about assault and the emotional aftermath. I think she’s incredibly brave to sing and talk about this, it’s so important. 

In general, RAYE is an advocate for women’s rights, LGBTQ+ issues, and mental health. She uses her songs and platforms for to address these communities and themes.

  1. K.D. Lang

Besides Melissa Etheridge, K.D Lang is another of the iconic lesbian singers on this list. K.D Lang’s full name is Kathryn Dawn Lang, and she has been in the lesbian music industry for many years.

KD Lang Photo by Joe Mabel
Photo by Joe Mabel

In 1992, she came out as a lesbian during an interview with LGBTQ+ magazine The Advocate. Sadly, afterward, quite some radio stations stopped playing her music. But luckily, that didn’t prevent her from creating new music. She even won multiple Grammy Awards!

K.D. Lang is a Canadian lesbian who has a fantastic voice and music that you want to listen to repeatedly! To the song “Constant Craving,” for example.

  1. Brandi Carlile

If you are a Grey’s Anatomy fan, you must have heard Brandi Carlile before, as her songs have been featured multiple times on the show. One of those songs is “The Story,” Brandi’s breakout song!

Brandi Carlile

But also, if you aren’t a Grey’s Anatomy fan, you’ve probably heard Brandi Carlile before! The lesbian singer has an incredible voice and many Grammy Awards nominations, of whom she also won a couple.

Her music sounds like various genres, such as pop, rock, folk, blues, R&B, and alternative country. But according to her own words, she can’t get the country and western out of her voice.

Besides “The Story,” other songs to listen to are “Right On Time,” “The Joke,” “That Wasn’t Me,” and “Hold Out Your Hand.”

  1. Lionstorm

More lesbian artists! Lionstorm is a Dutch queer/lesbian hip-hop duo consisting of Gale Rama and Sterresoet van Schooten. The two not only make music together, but they are also in a lesbian relationship, and they make art.

Lesbian rappers Lionstorm
Photo @by_lionstorm

They felt that there was still a lack of lesbian artists and predominantly lesbian rappers, so they started making music themselves.

Their first single, “No H8ro,” was released in 2019. With the song, they want to make it clear to their audience that they are not straight.

In their songs, they often rap about pop culture and its representation of queerness. The two want to be just as explicit about being intimate with women and loving women the same way their male counterparts do.

  1. Beatrice Eli

Next on this list of queer female and lesbian artists is Beatrice Eli. Beatrice Eli is a Swedish lesbian musician. She has been interested in music since she was a child and loved to express herself by dancing to music.

Lesbian musician Beatrice Eli
Photo @rockmylens

Beatrice’s parents are very strict religious and had something completely different in mind for her. However, they do accept her for who she is now.

In 2012, she released her first single, “The Conqueror.” She sings about her feelings and topics like girls and intimacy with her haunting pop beats.

In 2015, she said she prefers the term lesbian over gay.

She doesn’t want everyone to just focus on her orientation, though. But if she, as a lesbian artist, can give other people some comfort, pride, or power with her songs, she does not mind.

Make sure to listen to her very gay song “Girls.” Beatrice Eli is one of the lesbian artists you should check out.

  1. Shura

Alexandra Lilah Denton, better known as Shura, is a British singer, songwriter, and record producer.

She began playing the guitar when she was 13 years old and started recording music when she was only 16. She released her first single, “Touch,” in 2014.

Gay female singer Alexandra Lilah Denton
Photo @shura

Her music mainly focuses on the electropop and synth-pop genres. She touches upon deep themes in her songs, such as missed opportunity, regret, and nostalgia.

Shura has been out as a lesbian since she was 16 years old.

However, in 2015, she publicly came out in an interview after her music video “Touch” made headlines. In the video, various couples with various orientations are kissing.

After the Pulse nightclub horror in Orlando in 2016, the gay female singer realized she should be more outspoken about her identity and give more visibility to the community.

  1. Chika

Chika, also stylized CHIKA, is an American rapper nominated in 2020 for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist. And in 2021, she won a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Breakthrough Music Artist.

Chika Black queer artist

Sadly, the fame and being in the spotlight took a toll on the bi-singer’s mental health, and she took a break from music afterward. Luckily for all of us, it seems like Chika is entirely back now!

In her song “Save You,” the rapper talks about her history with depression and the problems she faced searching for validation in romantic relationships.

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  1. Carlie Hanson

Carlie Hanson was inspired by Justin Bieber to become a singer. At 14, hoping to be discovered like him, she and her friend started posting covers on YouTube.

In 2016, she entered a local iHeart Radio contest, which got her some attention and gave her the chance to record her single “Only One.”

Queer female artist Carlie Hanson
Photo @carliehanson

Taylor Swift added her song to an Apple Music playlist of one of her favorite songs when her career took off.

Carlie came out on Twitter in 2018, and she stated she doesn’t label herself in interviews. Gender doesn’t mean anything to her.

She is also always authentically herself in her songs, and she’s very open about her struggle with anxiety and depression.

  1. Joy Oladokun

Last but not least on this list of queer female and sapphic singers is the Nigerian-American Joy Oladokun.

The Black lesbian singer’s music covers the genres of R&B, rock, pop, and folk. And her songs are influenced by her identity as a queer woman of color.

Joy Oladokun queer artists

Growing up as a Black queer Christian kid in the middle of nowhere was lonely, and she only told her parents a couple of years ago she’s gay. It is a topic that comes back in her songs!

A must-listen lesbian song of Joy is “Sunday,” a ballad about the struggles of coming out and being accepted. And it’s beautifully made! Watch the music video on YouTube, too, as it highlights different members of the LGBTQ+ community in relationships.

ENJOY listening to these sapphic artists! And let us know which lesbian artists you like listening to most in the comments. 

If you liked reading about these lesbian musicians, send this post to your (lesbian) friends and share it on social media. Together we can spread the love.

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Queer And Lesbian Artists

naomi

Thursday 15th of August 2024

girl in red is very obviously bisexual or pan idk like she literally has a boyfriend. she also trashed the lesbian label when she was asked about it so as a lesbian i don't feel overly pleasant with us being associated with her. just switch her up with chappell roan and it's all good.

Maartje Hensen (she/they)

Wednesday 4th of September 2024

Thank you for the input! We made some adjustments to the text!

Marge

Tuesday 11th of June 2024

but like.... where's Renee, Towa and Chappell

Maartje Hensen (she/they)

Sunday 30th of June 2024

I GOTTA UPDATE THIS!!!!

???

Friday 8th of March 2024

Where is Reneé Rapp?

Maartje Hensen (she/they)

Monday 11th of March 2024

GOOD ONE! Gotta update this!

Lucy

Friday 9th of February 2024

Love this list, another one I’d really recommend checking out is Beth McCarthy. She has relatively few queer songs compared to some others but the are REALLY good :)

Maartje Hensen (she/they)

Saturday 2nd of March 2024

OMG YES! Time to update this list haha

Alona

Tuesday 14th of November 2023

Where is Keeana Kee?

Maartje Hensen (she/they)

Wednesday 15th of November 2023

Thanks for the tip!!

Once Upon a Journey