Making music can be a deeply personal expression.
Out of all the queer art forms, it’s often an intimate and DIY process - sometimes not adhering to the sounds and ideas of the mainstream. But then again, it’s queer music and has no rules.
In preparation for this month’s special edition of SWEET TEA, a queer variety show, that happens this Friday at 10 PM at Murmur, we’ve put together a mixtape and list of QTMoC (queer and trans musicians of color) who are pushing buttons, boundaries, and the bass.
Special guest, Diaspoura
What is your name?
My name is Anjali, but I perform under the name Diaspoura.
How would you describe your music?
The music I make is a storm cloud made of lifted tears. It's present but also sounding the future and always remembers the past.
What does it mean to you to be a QTPoC making music?
Being a QPOC, I feel grateful to find my own healing power in music from all the oppressive forces that try and work me down. I feel a sort of responsibility to shift culture as an artist, but not as a QPOC. As a QPOC, I owe myself tenderness and fearlessness, and I give that to myself when I'm performing.
Monte Qarlo
What is your name?
MonteQarlo aka Malibu Slim aka STRFSH
How would you describe your music?
Lo-fi 90's trash pop
What does it mean to you to be a QTPoC making music?
It means I have an outlet to express and embrace my queerness. Hopefully, other members of the community relate and are uplifted and galvanized to the point they feel centered and worthy of the same freedom.
Nova Luxurious
What is your name?
Nova Luxurious
How would you describe your music?
My music is a fusion of R&B, Pop, Hip-hop, and dance told from a queer perspective.
What does it mean to you to be a QTPoC making music?
It means alot to me, I'm a firm believer in representation for all, and it's high time we see a queer and/or trans person living in their truth while expressing their art rather than staying hidden in the closet or coming out long after the ride is over. While I'm happy to see the few out faces we have now, but there needs to be more of us. We have so much to say.
AGYN
What is your name?
Lee Heikkila // they,them
How would you describe your music?
Emotive and harsh bedroom pop.
What does it mean to you to be a QTPoC making music?
I don't consider my musical content necessarily political, however I feel that simply representing a QTPoC voice is a political action. Since my experiences are inextricably linked to my identity, they are necessarily conveyed through my music.
Cardomami
What is your name?
Chel Xi aka Cardomami
How would you describe your music?
Mm, I like playing music cause it puts a common vibration out into the space.
What does it mean to you to be a QTPoC making music?
Music is a place where we can meet each other, come out of all the different corners we crawled out of, and dance to this beat- or off of it, it’s whateva. but it’s to make you move, make you think, make you feel something- together, so it's a real cool for me to contribute to the vibe.
TAYLOR ALXNDR
What is your name?
TAYLOR ALXNDR, in that exact spelling and format. It’s a statement , really.
How would you describe your music? Genrequeer DIY dance music. Part house music, part synthpop, all me. I want people to dance and I want to make them feel, most importantly.
What does it mean to you to be a QTPoC making music?
It means having the powers of control, which QTPoC aren’t allotted quite often in the word of music. It’s a venue of expression that I’m in full control of - no one can change my words or my sound.
SWEET TEA happens this Friday, August 19th at 10 PM at Murmur (100 Broad Street Atlanta, GA 30303). Door is $5 and it’s all ages.