We can all use some more lesbian music in the world (or at least I think so). If you're tired of Tegan and Sara, St. Vincent or Hayley Kiyoko, I thought I'd rec some gay women who I've been jamming to recently.
Ria Mae
Ria Mae is a Canadian pop singer from Halifax. As a teenager, she spent most of her time in her room writing songs and teaching herself guitar. In her music video for her single 'Gold', she portrayed a lesbian relationship. Ria has said she struggled with playing an alternate version of her sexuality in a music video, but after some consideration she changed her perspective: "I had this gut feeling, like, 'Shut up. It's good, and it's important.'"
Other song(s) to check out: Gold, Ooh Love, Girlfriend
King Princess
King Princess is only 19 and just released her debut single '1950' in February (Harry Styles tweeted out a lyric from the song, which gave it a little boost). The song is inspired by one of her favorite books, 1952's The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith, which later became the film Carol, and draws parallels between hidden desire and lesbian love. King Princess is also the first artist signed to Mark Ronson's record label and her EP, Make My Bed, will be out June 15th.
Other song(s) to check out: Talia
Thao & the Get Down Stay Down
Thao Nguyen is the lead musician of the band Thao & the Get Down Stay Down. Her biggest influences are folk and country with bit of hip hop and punk. Thao is able to convey melancholy and gentleness with a good amount of playfulness in her music. She's collaborated with Joanne Newsom, Andrew Bird, and Mirah.
Music video directed by Dianna Agron
Other song(s) to check out: When We Swam, Meticulous Bird, Holy Roller
MUNA
MUNA definitely have a Haim vibe, but with a much more 80s power pop sound. Katie Gavin, Naomi McPherson and Josette Maskin first met at the University of Southern California. They've been called a queer girl band since their first releases. After some hesitation about that, they've seen seemed to embrace that title.
Other song(s) to check out: Crying on the Bathroom Floor, Winterbreak, Everything
Torres
Torres is an alternative pop singer from Georgia. Her music is reminiscence of St. Vincent, Bjork, Fiona Apple and Brandi Carlile. Her most recent album Three Futures is about owning her sexuality and desire, this comes through with songs like Skim, Righteous Woman and To Be Given a Body. She's said about the record that she wanted it to be "unapologetically lustful, rather than being the object of desire."
Other song(s) to check out: Jealousy and I, Helen in the Woods
Marika Hackman
Marika Hackman is a singer-songwriter from England. Her alternative folk style is in a similar vein to Laura Marling. Her lyrics can be dark and melancholic, yet her songs are full of insights about living today as a gay woman. Her song 'My Love Cindy' is inspired by 'The L Word'. It started as an inside joke with her girlfriend about a character calling someone 'my lover Cindy'; "we thought 'my lover Cindy' was so funny. We decided it would be a really great band name." Marika is currently in a relationship with singer Amber Bain from the band The Japanese House.
Other song(s) to check out: Boyfriend, Time's Been Reckless, Ophelia