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Nov 11, 2024
Tired of the recommendations you’re getting on Spotify and looking for gayer music? Look no further, we’re here to help! Whether you’re looking for sapphic songs for pride or a cozy list of sapphic love songs to add to your new match’s mixtape, we’re going to make our queer music recommendations down below!
But before we share our favorite sapphic artists, let’s break down the history of sapphic music for a sec.
Sapphic music- that is, music about girls who love girls- has come a LONG way in the past 100 or so years, and that’s something to celebrate.
In the early 20th century, queer desires in music were often coded or subtly hinted at, since society wasn’t cool with being out and proud. Blues singers, Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith, were among the first to openly reference relationships between women. These two divas of color are both considered bisexuals in today’s terms, and helped start the sapphic agenda of music.
When the 60s and 70s came around, there was a wave of feminist revolution and an increased push in LGBTQ+ activism- together, this meant that sapphic music also had a huge boom during these decades. Artists like Cris Williamson and Meg Christian are some women to note here.
They’re considered role models and are credited with being bold in their lyrics, with Williamson even creating safe spaces for lesbian and female artists by jumpstarting women-owned record labels.
By the turn of the millennium, sapphic themes became louder and prouder in music, with artists like k.d. lang, Melissa Etheridge, and Tegan and Sara topping queer playlists and being played on mainstream radio as well as featured on TV shows and movie soundtracks.
Today, sapphic music is rapidly flooding across all genres and awards shows, with artists such as Renee Rapp, King Princess, and Laura Jane Grace proudly displaying and amplifying queer voices. We absolutely LOVE the amount of attention and hot playlists that we have to choose from these days, and while we still have a long way to go, gone are the days of wishing straight music was about your life and here are the days of singing along about eating out a girl in your car. Cheers!
Whew! Now that we got that history lesson out of the way- lez get to the music!
First, let’s shout out some sapphic songs and artists that have been ALL over the place lately. It’s a good place to start your sapphic musical journey.
1. Chappell Roan. Is it any shock that we’re going to start here? From her record-breaking performance at Lollapalooza in Chicago this year to performing at the VMAs (and making all the sword lesbians swoon in the process), the sapphic American pop singer-songwriter has been making headlines all year. Known for in-your-face queer lyrics and her vibrant drag persona, we can’t recommend her enough! Our top three picks are “HOT TO GO! “, “Casual”, and “Pink Pony Club”. Saddle up!
2. Dove Cameron. She’s an out and proud bisexual who is probably best known for her work on the Disney Channel and the Apple+ hit musical “Schmigadoon!”, but don’t sleep on her own musical journey. With the sassy debut hit “Boyfriend” and the super catchy anthem “Breakfast”, she’ll be stuck in your head in no time.
3. Janelle Monae. They’re breaking down barriers with a blend of funk, R&B, soul and pop with a futuristic feel. They identify as pansexual and nonbinary, and uses this distinct voice to write songs that speak to the gay experience. If you missed “Lipstick Lover” last summer, add it quick! Give “Waterslide” a listen too while you’re there.
4. Jojo Siwa. Didn’t you hear that she invented gay pop music this year? Kidding. But we’re not kidding about how much Jojo Siwa has changed her image from the kiddo on Dance Moms to a Pride Festival headliner. Whether you love it or hate it, “Karma” is catchy as hell, and so is her recent release “Guilty Pleasure.”
5. Billie Eilish. We all know “Bad Guy”, but a lot has changed since then- including her coming out as queer in 2023! She wasted no time cranking the sapphic music dial up to 100 when she launched “Lunch”. She then said hold my oatmilk, and collabed with Charli XCX this summer to drop “Guess”.
Not every sapphic artist is talked about as much as we wish them to. So, we’re going to talk about them as loud as we can and spread the love and tunes.
1. Saint Sappho. We might be biased, because they met on HER. This alternative rock duo is based out of Glasgow and give us just the moody rock vibes we’re looking for. “Green Door” was the first song we ever heard from them. Their new song “End of the World” just dropped- don’t miss it!
2. Meet Me @ the Altar. This pop-punk trio is ⅔ queer, and we love to see it. They’re based out of the US, starting their work remotely online before rising quickly to getting signed, touring, performing at festivals and on tv. We can’t wait for more. Check out “Say It (To My Face)” if you’re wanting a new rock jam. Want a hit of nostalgia? They recently covered Toy Story’s “You’ve Got a Friend in Me”.
3. Beth McCarthy. She is the pink-haired bisexual panic icon of our dreams. We appreciate her song “IDK How to Talk to Girls” because same 😭 If you’re a bisexual sapphic looking for a new gay anthem, might we also suggest “Good Bi”?
4. Rina Sawayama. She’s a Japanese-British singer-songwriter and model. Identifying as bisexual and pansexual, she has been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. And, we love her music. “This Hell” gets stuck in our heads for days. “Frankenstein” isn’t too far behind.
5. Bambie Thug. If you watch Eurovision, this name might be familiar. They made waves by being the first EVER nonbinary artist to be in the contest. Representing Ireland in 2024, their ouija-pop hit “Doomsday Blue” placed them 6th overall and got them the highest score Ireland has ever had. We love to see it!
Can you feel the love tonight? Us too. We won’t talk too much, and instead just share some of our top sapphic love songs for your date night mix.
1. “We Fell in Love in October” by girl in red. We mentioned them earlier (and probs will again), and this song just melts us away to those cozy autumn nights by the fireplace.
2. “Honey”- Kehlani. This slow burning love song is warm, sweet, and enticing, and will lure you into the perfect romantic mood.
3. “Silk Chiffon” by MUNA featuring Phoebe Bridgers from boygenius. If a spring romance breeze was a song, it would be this one. Light, dreamy, and easy.
4. “She Keeps Me Warm” by Mary Lambert. It’s a tender, soulful ballad that celebrates queer love and acceptance.
5. “Better Than Love” by Hayley Kiyoko. C’mon, you didn’t think we’d leave Lesbian Jesus off the list, did you?
This next group of sapphic singers and artists are synonymous with the phrase “queer icons”. They don’t need much introduction because their legendary status has done that for them.
1. “Come to My Window” by Melissa Etheridge. She’s a Grammy-winning rock singer-songwriter and queer icon known for her powerful & raspy voice and trailblazing advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights.
2. “Closer” by Tegan and Sara. When you ask “name lesbian musicians” these names are going to be one of the first come to mind. They’ve been making music since 1999 and show no signs of slowing down.
3. “Constant Craving” by k.d. lang. She’s been making genre-bending music since the early 80s, and even was featured on both VH-1’s 100 Greatest Women in Rock & Roll, and CMT’s 40 Greatest Women in Country.
4. “Closer to Fine” by Indigo Girls. This American funk-rock duo has been friends since they were little kids, and they’ve paved the way for new sapphic artists the entire stretch of the way. We love to see lasting connections and timeless songs for the heart.
5. “32 Flavors” by Ani DiFranco. She’s an absolute bicon who is known for having huge queer audiences. She’s sung about men and women both and has used her indie-alternative vibes to be a voice for LGBTQ+ rights for decades. We love.
Trans Voices
No list of sapphic singers is complete without noting the amazing contributions made by the trans community. Trans women are women, babe, and we’ve got a few incredible trans singers that we think you should add to your playlist.
We know that we absolutely didn’t get to each and every sapphic singer who deserves a shoutout. (Halsey, Towa Bird, Fletcher & Ashnikko to name a few!). What sapphic artists should we feature next? What playlists are you missing that we can help craft for you?
Let us know here
Chicago-based community manager, content writer, and professional cupid who’s still in her emo era. When she's not hosting HER virtual events, you’ll find her creating oddly specific playlists on Spotify and hitting up way too many concerts with her partner. Catch her where the music’s loud, the food is cheesy, and the eyeliner’s smudged just right!
