Queer artists have been taking the music industry by storm for decades, establishing genres, shattering glass ceilings and inventing new pathways for self-expression. Over the past several years, many queer artists have continued to pave the way for others to pursue their own dreams while being able to live as their authentic selves and inspire others.
As pride month comes to a close, Crave is highlighting our favorite up-and-coming LGBTQ+ artists that should definitely be on your radar.
Written by Sean Cline & Juliana Harman
Vienna Vienna
Coining his own genre called “glimmer rock,” Vienna Vienna bends the rules and embraces the things he used to run from to create his own sound within the scene. He has mastered creating deeply personal and relatable lyrics about accepting his own queerness and lifting up others who are on their own journey. Pairing these with grungey, booming instrumentals, he creates the perfect anthems to scream and dance to when you need it the most. He is currently opening for Daisy Grenade on their So Much To Say Tour, gaining more and more traction at every stop.
Crave’s Picks: “God Save The Queens,” “Sex Drugs Whatever” & “Grief Is For The Living”
chokecherry
Grungy alternative-rock duo chokecherry (Izzie Clark & E. Scarlett Levinson) blend ‘90s-inspired shoegaze and post-rock styles to create an ever-present atmosphere of dark nostalgia. Touching on important political topics since their formation post-pandemic in 2022, they strive to dive deeper into the human experience and the processing of emotion through music. The Bay-area based act originally went viral on TikTok with their single “Glass Jaw” and the momentum continued to build from there. Their debut album Ripe Fruit Rots and Falls explores grief in all forms through an artist’s lens, merging a plethora of genres to construct their own unique sound.
Crave’s Picks: “Glass Jaw,” “No Other Place” & “February”
Shea Diamond
Shea Diamond is a trans woman and trans rights activist who now resides in New York after a tumultuous upbringing. While incarcerated, she wrote the song “I Am Her” as an emotional outlet and personal anthem after facing discrimination and segregation within the prison system. After performing the song at a Trans Lives Matter event, she gained traction and signed with Asylum Records, releasing more music and making a name for herself especially within queer spaces. Her dedication to raising awareness and speaking out for trans people is just as admirable as her deeply personal songwriting and profound musical ability.
Crave’s Picks: “I Am Her,” “Don’t Shoot” & “I Am America” (as seen on HBO series We’re Here)
Stupid Lucky
A new project by NYC powerhouse Taylor Pearlstein, Stupid Lucky is a fresh take on her already existing solo music, bringing in more alternative- and rock-based influences than her previous work. As an openly queer indie-folk artist, she prioritizes storytelling within her music to represent her own experiences while still being relatable and inclusive to any listener. Pearlstein is a multi-talented luminary, having just wrapped up the national Broadway tour of SIX: The Musical in addition to her work as a composer. Her most recent single “baby teeth” features co-writing by Daisy Grenade’s Keaton Whittaker, a long time friend and collaborator since the beginning of Pearlstein’s musical career. You can catch Stupid Lucky performing in local venues across NYC.
Crave’s Picks: “baby teeth,” “need to know” & “Nashville” (under Taylor Pearlstein)
BODHI
Originally from Connecticut but now residing in Nashville, indie-folk singer BODHI (Bodhi Kitt, they/them) is a breath of fresh air within a very white, Christian-dominated music genre. Their use of R&B and jazz makes their sound stand out from other folk artists, never wanting to be pinned down to one specific sound. Their unique take on songwriting allows their lyrics to stay deeply personal, previously stating that they write their feelings as poetry first and later go back to those feelings to create songs from them. Recently performing at CMA Fest and Nashville Pride Festival, BODHI continues to break down barriers between different cultural spheres and show that Black people never left the genres they originated.
Crave’s Picks: “scarlet cigarettes,” Tylenol” & “If We Don’t Fall In Love”
Daphne Jane
Daphne Jane is an up-and-coming queer bedroom-pop artist based in Minneapolis. Writing and performing since the age of 12, her introspective lyricism and sparkly melodies won’t get out of your head, leaving you feeling like she read straight from your own diary. She makes it a point to work with other female and non-binary collaborators on music videos and projects, and produces most of her songs with the help of her brothers. She has a headlining show at her local venue in Minneapolis on July 9, kicking off a new era for her with more exciting endeavors already in the works for the future.
Crave’s Picks: “Biggest Star,” “Sunbathe” & “The Next Party (I’ll Miss)”
Hope Tala
British singer-songwriter Hope Tala set out to create her own unique sound — mixing bossa nova, latin and R&B influences to create the perfect personal album to get everyone dancing. Tala simultaneously got her degree in English literature and wrote her dissertation for graduation as she was creating her album and releasing singles for it, working overtime to make her dreams a reality. She is a strong lyricist, crediting her love of reading and writing for her bold and profound songwriting. Being open about her queerness has given her more confidence to write freely, hoping that others can relate to her words or be inspired to create their own.
Crave’s Picks: “Lovestained,” “All My Girls Like To Fight” (seen on Barack Obama’s favorite music of 2020 list), & “Leave It On The Dancefloor”
Zoe Ko
Born and raised in NYC, Zoe Ko is the ultimate thrifty city-girl with powerful vocals emphasized by an edgy, alt-pop sound. At 22 years old, she’s already making waves in the scene with multiple EPs and singles, all bringing themes of empowerment and fierce feminine energy. Although just getting started, Ko has stepped into the spotlight with appearances at major events like the Elton John afterparty at the Academy Awards and the BMI stage at Lollapalooza in 2025. After performing as a support act for Ella Red’s first headlining show in LA, the two are taking the party on the road for a full tour beginning in July.
Crave’s Picks: “Party girls don’t cry,” “not ur girlfriend” & “”Lovesick in Public”
King Isis
Los Angeles based alternative artist King Isis (they/she) has an expansive range of alt rock, R&B and indie pop in their arsenal. Their musical lineage spans through the decades, with their great-great-grandmother credited as one of the first Black opera singers in Chicago. Their musical journey started at a very young age with a classical foundation in piano and expanded from there to find their own unique sound that veers to the left of traditional. They strive to make music for anyone who feels like they don’t quite fit in, creating a safe space for people to express themselves and feel empowerment in who they want to be.
Crave’s Picks: “PERMANENTLY BROKEN,” “LATELY” & “MAKE IT UP”
Jack Flowers and the Petal Tones
New Jersey sweethearts Jack Flowers and the Petal Tones bring a playful, imaginative new spin on queer indie rock. With their debut album girl clothes, frontwoman Jack Powers (she/her) explores her journey coming out as trans and the emotional highs and lows that follow. Growing up having to hide her “girl clothes” in the car, this album is the perfect deep-dive into deconstructing the gender binary system and the process of developing an individual sense of expression. The Petal Tones are embarking on their first ever headline tour this summer, rapidly gaining traction and proving that there is a place for trans artists in the industry.
Crave’s Picks: “starve,” “down tempo girl” & “body”
Additional research and writing by Zara Siebers.
