17 Bands Fronted By Queer Women That You Should Be Listening To

Music is so deeply apart of millennial culture that it’s actually pretty weird to meet a person in our generation who doesn’t give that many fucks about music.

The music industry isn’t the pinnacle of queer visibility as you may have guessed, but overall music is much further along than other entertainment industries like film or theater. If we ever hope to have an equal standing in the music industry as heterosexuals do, it matters that us queer kids seek out and support queer-fronted music. You can start by following all these artists on Spotify, and buy tickets when they come to your town!

The Internet

This band is fronted by queer musician Syd the Kid (formerly of Odd Future) and sounds like if The Weekend and Frank Ocean had a love child with a sexy soulful voice.

St. Vincent

Annie Clark, aka St. Vincent, is the brainchild of this awesome band, which sounds like if War Paint and Feist accidentally took shrooms together.

Black Eyed Peas

This band is fronted by bisexual artist, Fergie and it sounds like your childhood.

MEN

Fronted by queer “gender outlaw” JD Samson (formerly of Le Tigre).
Sounds like Major Lazor with an American female singer.

Hunter Valentine

Fronted by queer musician Kyomi Valentine (featured on The Real L Word on Showtime).
Sounds like The Pretenders if they had been big in the early ‘00s.

Nina Sky

Fronted by queer singer Nicole Albino and her twin sister Natalie.
Sounds like electronic music joined forces with early J.Lo, if Jenny from the block was two people, and way more mysterious.

The Sounds

Fronted by bisexual artist, Maja Ivarsson
Sounds like a more dance/body music version of Blondie.

Courtney Barnett

Fronted by queer artist, Courtney Barnett.
Sounds like a chiller, spunkier, more artsy Sheryl Crow, if she was an Aussie.

Electrelane

Fronted by queer guitarist,Verity Susman, but actually comprised of all queer women!
Sounds like a mix of Bjork and Tame Impala.

The XX

Fronted by queer artist, Romy Madley Croft.
Sounds like M83 and Pixies.

Brandi Carlile

AKA the queer alt-country artist.
Sounds like a folksy/country version of Ingrid Michaelson or Regina Spektor

Lady Gaga

AKA our bisexual Mother Monster
Sounds like…herself. It’s Gaga. You know her.

Uh Huh Her

Fronted by Camila Gray AKA queer icon Leisha Hailey’s partner
Sounds like Metric and Death Cab For Cutie decided to make a new iteration of Postal Service.

Tegan & Sara

Fronted by queer Canadian twins Tegan and Sara Quin
Sounds like The Shins mixed with Rilo Kiley during an experimental electronic phase.

Sleater-Kinney

Fronted by bisexual musician/comedian/actress (co-creator of Portlandia) Carrie Brownstein
Sounds like a more palatable Bikini Kill

The Gossip

Fronted by queer icon Beth Ditto
Sounds like if Etta James was in a punk band.

Sia

AKA the queer rainbow star child of our dreams
Sounds like an artsier electro-pop singer like Elle Goulding