[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Header” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_image=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Transgender-And-Nonbinary-Artists.png” parallax=”on” width=”100%” min_height=”100px” custom_margin=”-12px||213px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-50px||194px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”8vw|1px|0|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”rgba(10,10,10,0.49)” transform_translate_linked=”off” min_height=”192px” custom_margin=”172px|auto|150px|auto|false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”20px|48px|20px|48px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat|700|||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”50px” text_line_height=”1.2em” header_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_font_size=”80px” header_5_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_5_text_color=”#000000″ header_5_font_size=”20px” header_5_letter_spacing=”0.5em” header_5_line_height=”1.8em” custom_margin=”8px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px|||” animation_style=”zoom” animation_intensity_zoom=”5%” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”29px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” text_line_height_tablet=”” text_line_height_phone=”1.3em” text_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” header_font_size_tablet=”48px” header_font_size_phone=”32px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_font_size_tablet=”14px” header_5_font_size_phone=”12px” header_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” text_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ inline_fonts=”Montserrat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
The Transformation of Pop Culture: Why Gender-Defying Artists Have Invaded Music<\/b><\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat|500|||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”15px” header_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_font_size=”80px” header_5_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_5_text_color=”#000000″ header_5_font_size=”20px” header_5_letter_spacing=”0.5em” header_5_line_height=”1.8em” width=”90%” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” min_height=”0px” custom_margin=”15px|129px|1px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”18px|0px|||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”|0px|||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”|0px|||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” animation_style=”zoom” animation_intensity_zoom=”5%” text_line_height_tablet=”” text_line_height_phone=”1.8em” text_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” header_font_size_tablet=”48px” header_font_size_phone=”32px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_font_size_tablet=”14px” header_5_font_size_phone=”12px” header_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” text_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ inline_fonts=”Montserrat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
From the viral popularity of Kim Petras\u2019 \u2018Coconuts\u2019 to the explosion of non-binary pop stars into the mainstream, the past decade has been exciting for transgender and gender non-conforming artists. <\/span>Gabrielle Ang<\/b> investigates.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”-194px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ min_height=”84px” custom_margin=”-67px|auto||auto||” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-75px|auto|-100px|auto|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-22px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”20px||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”30px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Transgender and non-binary artists have exploded all across pop culture as we know it. Pictured: SOPHIE, Joy Alexis, Kim Petras, Shea Diamond, Laura Jane Grace, Dorian Electra and Arca (from left to right). Photo by Gabrielle Ang.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”About Us” _builder_version=”4.16″ transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”0px|48px” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_translate_linked_phone=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|phone” min_height=”1463px” custom_margin=”-136px||-385px|||” custom_padding=”90px|||||” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_5,3_5,1_5″ custom_padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-53px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”27px|0|27px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|0px||0px||true” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_font_size=”15px” text_line_height=”1.4em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_5_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_5_text_color=”#b3b3b3″ header_5_font_size=”14px” header_5_line_height=”0.5em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”659px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|79px|104px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”12px|79px|0px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”|0px||||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n BY <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”1320px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|-415px||-616px||” custom_padding=”|0px|1px|0px||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s December 2021. Your TikTok \u2018For You\u2019 page has been attacked relentlessly by Kim Petras\u2019 <\/span>\u2018Coconuts\u2019<\/span><\/a>, a campy pop song about breasts. You may have even caught the videos following the viral\u00a0yassification <\/em><\/span>meme set to SOPHIE\u2019s <\/span>\u2018Faceshopping\u2019<\/span><\/a> or fancams made with Ayesha Erotica\u2019s <\/span>\u2018Literal Legend\u2019<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Kim-Petras-Coconuts-TikTok.mp4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”-6px||42px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_video][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”-19px||-1px||false|false” custom_padding=”||14px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n With the explosion of hyperpop into mainstream music, it\u2019s not uncommon to find out that your favourite popstar has a trans person producing their tracks or featuring on them. Venezuelan musician Arca released <\/span>four albums<\/span><\/a> in four consecutive days last November and has worked with the likes of Kanye West and The Weeknd, both wildly popular musicians in today\u2019s climate.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/What-Is-Hyperpop.png” alt=”What-Is-Hyperpop” title_text=”What-Is-Hyperpop” disabled_on=”off|off|on” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”0px||-1px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-12px||-1px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||14px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The aforementioned artists are all transgender individuals. If these names still sound rather obscure to you, chart-topping pop stars such as Sam Smith, Halsey and Demi Lovato identify as non-binary, and use singular \u2018they\u2019 pronouns.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Transgender artists, along with the rest of the LGBTQ+ community, have been thrust into the spotlight more so than before. With shows like <\/span>Euphoria <\/span><\/i>and <\/span>Rupaul\u2019s Drag Race <\/span><\/i>invading mainstream pop culture and an <\/span>increasing number of young people identifying as LGBTQ+<\/span><\/a>, it\u2019s almost impossible to escape the <\/span>transformation <\/span><\/i>of mainstream pop culture as we know it.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThere are definitely a lot more non-binary and trans people now,\u201d says Apri, 21, a non-binary visual artist. \u201cIt definitely has a lot to do with the Internet opening up the idea to many people.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/What-Makes-A-Queer-Icon.png” alt=”What-Makes-A-Queer-Icon” title_text=”What-Makes-A-Queer-Icon” disabled_on=”off|off|on” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”0px||-1px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-12px||-1px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Perhaps it could be the raw honesty of transgender folks\u2019 music that draws a new target audience to the artistry of transgender musicians, so much so that listeners can be captured in a short TikTok audio about boobs. Just ask \u2018Coconuts\u2019 hitmaker turned popstar Kim Petras and QueerTok, the extremely viral side of TikTok that\u2019s populated by younger members of the LGBTQ+ community.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=NcgEXwjAImo” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”6px||42px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_video][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” header_3_font=”Montserrat|600||||||#e02b20|” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#233956″ header_3_font_size=”24px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” custom_margin=”-18px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>\u201cI think social media is getting even younger now, and there is a lot more acceptance when it comes to the LGBTQ+ community,\u201d says Yin Yan, 19, who identifies herself as an LGBTQ+ ally. \u201cKim Petras wouldn’t be so big if we were still restricted to traditional media.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n This provokes the question: If transgender artists weren\u2019t as big as they are now back then, were there any attempts to break the molds of gender in the music industry at all?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/KD-Lang-Cindy-Crawford-Vanity-Fair.png” alt=”Courtney-Love-Tweet-Meme-Gaslight-Gatekeep-Girlboss” title_text=”KD-Lang-Cindy-Crawford-Vanity-Fair” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”-8px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-22px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”31px||0px||false|false” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The famous August 1993 Vanity Fair cover featuring supermodel Cindy Crawford alongside butch lesbian icon and country star K. D. Lang, who is in a barber\u2019s chair getting \u201cshaved\u201d by Crawford. Photo taken from <\/span>Vanity Fair<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” header_3_font=”Montserrat|600||||||#e02b20|” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#233956″ header_3_font_size=”24px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” custom_margin=”-4px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The answer is yes. Androgyny was prevalent in the popular music of the past, with the steely, power-suited looks of Eurythmics hitmaker Annie Lennox, and the extraterrestrial aesthetic of David Bowie topping the charts and fronting magazine covers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Butch country star K. D. Lang posed for a now-iconic 1993 Vanity Fair cover with supermodel Cindy Crawford, and Marilyn Manson\u2019s <\/span>Mechanical Animals <\/span><\/i>featured the eponymous singer with female breasts on its controversial cover. More recently, British pop artist Harry Styles made headlines for wearing dresses on multiple occasions, to much acclaim.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Harry-Styles-scaled.jpeg” alt=”Nine-Inch-Nails-Courtney-Starfuckers” title_text=”Harry-Styles” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”-8px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-22px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”31px||0px||false|false” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Styles on the cover of Vogue. Photo taken from<\/span> Vogue Magazine<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”-20px||5px||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n However, it\u2019s worth mentioning that none of the aforementioned artists are genderqueer and that most of them are heterosexual, with only Bowie and Lang being the only LGBTQ+ androgynes of the lot.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To some, there\u2019s a hot debate on whether straight<\/span> queer icons are important and comforting to queer folk, or are simply profiting off an androgynous aesthetic.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cEveryone wants to capitalise on queer culture because it\u2019s popular and they just wanna be cool in a niche way,\u201d says Aliy Alam, an 18-year-old student filmmaker who goes by he\/they pronouns.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Some of these artists were praised for defying gender roles while other attempts were dismissed as \u2018shock value\u2019, and yet others may be happy to claim straight, cisgender androgynes as queer icons, in a world that lacks (and needs) them.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n However, shouldn\u2019t the world start claiming and celebrating more transgender and non-binary artists as its greatest representatives of genderqueerness instead?<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Joy-Alexis.jpeg” alt=”lelani-bishop-live-through-this-outtake” title_text=”Joy-Alexis” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-22px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”31px||0px||false|false” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Singaporean musician and non-binary artist Joy Alexis (they\/he), also known as Maximus in their personal life. Photo courtesy of Joy Alexis.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”-21px||-2px||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n \u201cI think having queer icons is so important for young queer folk who maybe don\u2019t even know they\u2019re queer,\u201d says Joy Alexis, 23, a genderqueer transmasculine musician. \u201cWhen I was a kid in a very binary world, the only queer icon was Ellen DeGeneres. Even she was an anomaly, having a wife and a lot of money. It wasn\u2019t realistic.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_testimonial author=”- Joy Alexis, 23″ job_title=”Genderqueer transmasculine musician ” _builder_version=”4.16″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n When I was a kid in a very binary world, the only queer icon was Ellen DeGeneres. Even she was an anomaly, having a wife and a lot of money. It wasn\u2019t realistic. [\/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”-19px||-1px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Familiar queer icons to the younger generation would include pop stars Tegan and Sara, Troye Sivan and Girl in Red, who had become the Gen-Z punchline of many <\/span>lesbian-related jokes<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n However, the lack of clear-cut transgender icons in the mainstream remains alarming. Two of the world\u2019s most prominent transgender women, reality TV star and former Olympian Caitlyn Jenner as well as beauty mogul Nikita Dragun had been marred by multiple controversies. Jenner, 72, contested for the title of Governor of California as a representative of the Republican Party, a conservative party that often stood against the rights of transgender people in America.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI was rooting for them both at one point,\u201d says April Tan, 28, a transgender woman. \u201cBut I sometimes feel for Nikita. I never had an Asian or Latina trans girl this successful to look up to until her, but I can sense her desperation to remain relevant especially when she made this one rap song and <\/span>plastered the word \u201cdick\u201d over Marsha P. Johnson\u2019s face<\/span><\/a>.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As pop culture continued to borrow from queer people (see: Madonna\u2019s <\/span>Vogue, <\/span><\/i>which featured ballroom culture from the black queer community) with few rewards and little visibility from its pioneers, some queer folk have felt disillusioned.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThere were no queer couples, teachers or musicians on the radio who were queer. It made me feel like I had to find a way to fit into the binary, or die,\u201d says Joy, whose personal name is Maximus. \u201cSo I made it a point to always want to be a boy, pass as a boy, because I didn\u2019t want to be a girl. I always remember thinking: \u2018Are there only two genders?\u2019 The question soon became: \u2018How can there only be two genders?\u2019 because if this were the case, I existed right in between.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThere was no way. In a way I am trying to be the icon I never had as a kid. I want queer kids and teens to see that they are not alone, and I hope I can be a voice for them.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_testimonial author=”- Joy Alexis, 23″ job_title=”Genderqueer Transmasculine Musician” _builder_version=”4.16″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n There was no way. In a way I am trying to be the icon I never had as a kid. I want queer kids and teens to see that they are not alone, and I hope I can be a voice for them. [\/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”-19px||21px||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Joy joins the recent wave of openly gender non-conforming artists, having performed in Singapore\u2019s Esplanade and being part of Spinnup\u2019s artist roster. A genre-bending artist inspired by rock bands, personal experiences and electronic music, Joy creates ethereal and emotional soundscapes stemming from romance, heartbreak and longing, but insists that their greatest influence is their transgender identity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI think [being trans] is the reason why I make art,\u201d says Joy. \u201cYes I found my talent and work hard at it, but a lot of the pain I go through daily as a trans person fuels the art.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=IF1DpVGqHxQ&ab_channel=JoyAlexis-Topic” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”6px||34px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_video][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-22px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”24px||0px||false|false” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Joy Alexis\u2019 new single, \u2018Moonlight\u2019 is an ethereal, synth-heavy song centred on queer romance. Stream it <\/span>here,<\/span><\/a> or listen to it from our curated <\/span>mixtape.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”-20px||-1px||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n \u201cMost of the songs I\u2019ve written are about heartbreak, or longing for a lost lover. I\u2019d like to think I\u2019m a romantic, and previously a hopeless romantic. Now, I\u2019m a realistic romantic. I want to expand this though: to write about more than just being sad about someone. I want to speak for people, write about real issues of suffering and provide queer solidarity.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n In the words of Arca\u2019s manifesto for her five \u2018Kick\u2019 albums: If it feels oppressive, kick against it.<\/span><\/p>\n This mission statement lies true with many transgender musicians\u2019 works, as they fight against the oppression that has surrounded them throughout their lives. It\u2019s a manifesto that embraces transgender life, love, art and sexuality: everything that makes one human, even in places where gender non-conforming individuals are treated as the exact opposite.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe trans experience is so raw,\u201d says April. “Different people go through it differently. It always comes from a place of authenticity as most trans people spend most of their lives denying their truth for safety and other reasons. So we often go beyond the mould, often trans art involves a lot of body, a lot of sexuality and a lot of pride. Because after a long life of not feeling like yourself, once you step forward\u2026 you don\u2019t ever want to go back.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_testimonial author=”- April Tan, 28″ job_title=”Transgender woman” _builder_version=”4.16″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n So we often go beyond the mould, often trans art involves a lot of body, a lot of sexuality and a lot of pride. Because after a long life of not feeling like yourself, once you step forward\u2026 you don\u2019t ever want to go back. [\/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”-19px||-5px||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Take the five \u2018Kick\u2019 albums for example. With witchy visuals reminiscent of something out of a horror game combined with ethereal surrealism and overt sexuality, Arca portrays a scantily clad goddess born out of shimmering sewage and machine guns. She\u2019s larger than life, and intentionally so. Her aesthetic recalls the beautiful mermaids of folklore and the scariest thing you\u2019ve seen, but somehow can\u2019t look away from.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=NL-tvd8jeBc” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”6px||42px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_video][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”-19px||-5px||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Arca burns and contorts herself into positions that may make some viewers uncomfortable, defying the walls of pop music with top-notch production, and yet there\u2019s something compelling about it all.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/SOPHIE-Meme.jpg” alt=”lelani-bishop-live-through-this-outtake” title_text=”SOPHIE-Meme” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-22px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”31px||0px||false|false” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n A meme depicting SOPHIE\u2019s album, <\/span>Oil of Every Pearl\u2019s Un-Insides<\/span><\/i> by meme page @ultravioletllove. Photo taken from <\/span>Instagram.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”-19px||-1px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Similarly, producer and musician SOPHIE creates futuristic and disturbing visuals to accompany her work, and has even <\/span>influenced<\/span><\/a> pop stars such as Charli XCX, a popular gay icon for her work as an ally of the LGBTQ+ community.<\/span><\/p>\n
Gabrielle Ang
Editor
Hype Issue #54<\/b><\/p>\nPublished on<\/h5>\n
January 22, 2022<\/h5>\n
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