‘Black queer pop stars deserve your attention, too’

Just Like Us ambassador Elliot Kwabena Akosa celebrates the artistries of three incredible Black LGBTQIA+ pop stars: Kwaye, Arlo Parks and Frank Ocean.

Words by Elliot Kwabena Akosa 

The current conversation surrounding queer pop is exhausting. Yet again, Black queer pop stars, who are creating incredible works, are being shelved.

It is immensely frustrating to observe the current narrative – that certain white queer pop musicians are the only ones paving the way or making significant ripples in the industry. Pop, like many other popular music genres, has been and continues to be heavily influenced by Black artistry and culture – queer pop as a subgenre is no different.

Icons such as Prince and Grace Jones, just to name a couple, helped shape the soundscape that is contemporary pop – not to mention wider popular cultural aspects like fashion and slang.

As important as it is to recognise our past, it is just as – if not more so – vital to celebrate and acknowledge our present. It’s been a slow march towards queer acceptance in the genre, but we’re finally at the precipice of a golden age of queer pop.

So, in the spirit of platforming some unsung heroes, I’ve chosen three Black and queer artists who without a doubt should be featured on any queer pop playlist. Because Black queer pop stars deserve your attention, too.

KWAYE

KWAYE is a British-Zimbabwean artist who initially gained visibility for his acting roles in series such as Top Boy and On My Block, and for touring with the popular band Jungle. His music remains criminally underrated.

His impressive vocal range and flexibility breathe life into his energetic and passionate music. He frequently skirts gender norms through personal style in his album artworks, as well as playing with the timbre of his voice – most notably the use of his ethereal falsetto.

I’ve been avidly listening since the release of his EP, Love & Affliction, and was thrilled when he dropped his debut album Learning To Swim. What he brings to the table, talent-wise, is equally matched in the versatility of his repertoire. His work spans from yearning ballads to carefree, bass-thumping anthems which could easily fit into a summer Pride playlist. I adore all of his songs, but especially ‘Straight Lines’, ‘Paralyzed’, and ‘Pendulum’.

Arlo Parks

If you prefer more laid back, introspective, but still feel-good music, Arlo Parks is for you. She is a bisexual, English-Nigerian-Chadian-French indie artist whose albums Collapsed in Sunbeams and My Soft Machine skilfully combine gorgeous singer-songwriter stylings with spoken word.

Parks highlights mental health and wellbeing a lot in her music, as well as unashamedly discussing her sexuality and relationships. Her lyrics are often tender and vulnerable, but in a way that makes you feel uplifted, less alone. Her tendency towards a more chill aesthetic does not prevent her from coming out (pun intended) with some truly earwormy, danceable numbers, though. My three recommendations would be ‘Hope’, ‘Blades’, and ‘Devotion’.

Frank Ocean

Lastly – but certainly not least – is Frank Ocean. As a Black US-American based out of California, he straddles the line between R&B and pop, but has released enough Billboard Hot 100 songs to earn a gilded place in the pop universe.

In fact, despite snippets from multiple songs (namely ‘Pink + White’ and ‘Thinkin Bout You’) going viral throughout the years, he is seldom considered in the wider queer pop canon. His two albums, Channel Orange and Blonde, explore themes like bisexuality, addiction, socioeconomic issues like race and class, and the excitement of youth.

He has a mellow yet expressive voice, and can write a truly catchy hook. Though he is still active online today, he is on an indefinite bereavement hiatus, so we aren’t expecting new music from him anytime soon. Even so, his existing discography is more than solid enough to stand on its own. My favourites include ‘Pyramids’, ‘Pilot Jones’ and ‘Ivy’.

It’s important to note here that the intersection of Blackness and queerness is not the only factor which makes these and many other artists great. It is, however, undeniable that a human’s experiences shape the art they create both lyrically and sonically.

As a community we need to not only foster spaces of anti-racism, but make the concerted effort to uplift and platform racialised folk with the same enthusiasm as is afforded to their white peers. Who knows – you must just discover your next favourite artist in the process.

Elliot Kwabena is an ambassador for Just Like Us, the LGBT+ young people’s charity. Just Like Us needs LGBT+ ambassadors aged 18-25 to speak in schools – sign up now.

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