In honor of June being Pride Month, but also in support of the Trans Community – here are 5 of My Favorite Trans Musicians that you must add to your playlists! These Trans Men and Women are more than their gender identity or sexual orientation, they are artists who are making incredible works that will get any dance floor moving! Trust me, I’m a DJ! Give them a listen!
1. Nomi Ruiz
Photo by Gabriel Magdaleno
This Nuyorican Goddess is a songwriter/producer, performer, writer, poet, podcaster, activist, and now actress, using her multiple disciplines as a platform for her advocacy in the trans community. Nomi started as a featured vocalist on Hercules & Love Affair‘s self-titled debut album in 2008, but Ruiz is probably known best as the musical force behind Jessica 6, a New York-based electro-pop band she formed in 2008 with Morgan Wiley (drummer Jim Orso joined in 2010) and Andrew Raposo. “See the Light”, their 2011 debut album, went on to become an instant EDM classic. It’s hands down, one of my favorite albums!
Check out the video to one of my favorite songs, “White Horse” that I always try and play when I DJ a fashion party!
Kim Petras is a 27 Year Old Pop Princess, hailing from Germany. Her look and sound gives me 90’s club vibes and her style is matches perfectly.
3. Anohni
Anohni is an English-born singer, composer, and visual artist. She was formerly the lead singer of the band “Antony and the Johnsons” and if you haven’t heard her voice before, it is haunting and unmistakable.
4. Shea Diamond
Miss Diamond is an American singer, songwriter, and transgender rights activist born in Little Rock, Arkansas. Her music is chiefly soul and R&B, and includes elements of blues, rock, hip-hop and folk. Her songwriting ability has been described as “demonstrating a rare gift to portray raw, dynamic emotion in a way that moves the body as much as the spirit”
5. Laith Ashley
Dominican Laith Ashley was born in 1989 and raised in Harlem, New York. He is an American transgender model, actor, activist, singer-songwriter and entertainer. He has modeled for major campaigns like; Calvin Klein, Diesel, Barney’s and more. His track “Before You Go” is a sultry R&B banger that will set the mood for any occasion.
Comment below and let me know if you have suggestions of who we can add!
