A List of Trans Musicians to Commemorate Transgender Day of Remembrance 2022

Graphic by Anya Perel-Arkin

By Stephanie Weber

Every year since 1999, Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR) coincides with absolutely nothing—it’s not during Pride Month nor it is around Transgender Day of Visibility (March 31, 2022). When November 20 comes around every year, TDoR is often overlooked and forgotten like the many trans people it seeks to honor. TDoR exists to remember the known and unknown trans people who’ve died because of anti-trans violence. It aims to remember both the deceased and living trans people who have always been here. In honor of TDoR, here is a list of musicians who exist under the trans umbrella, including those who identify as transgender, non-binary, and other variations of the gender binary. From small indie artists to big names, trans artists are vital to progressing the state of music. 

SOPHIE (she/her)

One artist who has innovated the definitions of being a hyperpop musician is SOPHIE. From the beginning of SOPHIE’s career, SOPHIE became known for a unique and experimental DJ style, with the 2013 debuting of Nothing More to Say. SOPHIE is most known for the groundbreaking single “It’s Okay to Cry” (2017) and album Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides (2018). SOPHIE reached mainstream status when the artist was nominated for a Grammy, becoming one of the first transgender artists to be nominated in the dance/electronic music category. SOPHIE collaborated with big names like Nicki Minaj, Charlie XCX, and Vince Staples, who were all drawn to the artist’s distinctive sound and quirky image. SOPHIE was revolutionary in the hyperpop sound, making music everyone could relate and dance to; the artist would live DJ to fit the respective club vibes, creating an all inclusive message of love and harmony with music. Many have described SOPHIE as a symbol of modernity and progress in the club scene. The artist donned fabulous style and ambiguity with persona, tragically passing away in January 2021. For Trans Day of Visibility 2021, a group of trans and queer musicians including Dorian Electra (they/them), Arca (she/it), and Pabllo Vittar (she/he) among others made a tribute to SOPHIE, playing many of the artist’s iconic songs and remembering SOPHIE’s incredible legacy. 

Sam Smith (they/them) and Kim Petras (she/her)

“Unholy,” the 2022 collaboration between Sam Smith and Kim Petras, is something that I didn’t know I needed until it was released. It’s a pop ballad about being sexy, using themes of infidelity and non-monogamy to describe two parents “getting hot/ at the body shop/ doing something unholy.” Smith, who publicly came out as non-binary and genderqueer in 2019, was discovered while singing on Disclosure’s “Latch,” and rose to popularity. “Unholy” is a lead into their fourth studio album. All of their songs are full of love and light, like the 2019 song “Dancing with a Stranger” with a feature by Normani or an earlier Smith class “Money on My Mind” released in 2014. Smith’s work is uplifting with fabulous collaborations and danceable tracks. Kim Petras has a similar stylized music presence. Categorized under EDM, pop, and dance-pop, Petras’ bubbly personality fits with her party-tracks. She came out at a young age while independently releasing music since 2017. Prior to her music career, Petras made a debut with the play One Piece of Tape in 2011, being regarded as a queer icon ever since. She’s been nominated and recognized at the British LGBT Awards, GLAAD Media Awards, and most recently the MTV Europe Music Awards for the “Unholy” collaboration with Smith. Both artists remain idols in the queer community by providing representation across the world and making fun music together that speaks to the lived experiences of both Smith and Petras.

Yves Tumor (they/he)

Sean Bowie, better known as Yves Tumor, is an American producer and musician of experimental and fresh music. His music is especially popular among Generation Z, with his most recent releases, like the album God Is a Circle (2022), becoming popular among the indie and alternative scenes. Tumor has been releasing music since 2015 with album When Man Fails You and 2018 single Noid. My favorite songs though are “Limerence” and “Kerosene!”. The best word to describe “Limerence” is ethereal—Tumor’s moody and dark synthesized instrumentals are the perfect backdrop to feeling otherworldly. The intimate voiceover in the middle of the song, of a girl recording a video of her friend, is touching and fits with the heartfelt bizarreness of the track. By contrast, “Kerosene!” has lyrics throughout that resonate with many audiences who desire love and a relationship. Tumor and female vocalist Diana Gordon accompany heavy electric guitar riffs with breathy lyrics like “And I’ll be your only boy/ Oh, I can be your only girl, little baby/ I can be anything you need.” “Kerosene!” does exactly what its title details, fueling a raging and orgasmic relationship between two lovers. Like their other music, Tumor brings an emotional breadth and jaded personality to the alternative indie genre. 

Girlpool

Duo Avery Tucker (he/him) and Harmony Tividad (she/her) makeup Los Angeles indie band Girlpool. They’re best known for their cover of Radiator Hospital’s “Cut Your Bangs” and their own “Before The World Was Big.” Much of their earlier music deals with growing up as a young girl in a world that isn’t tender despite valiant efforts towards securing girlhood. In 2014, Girlpool released their first self-titled album on Bandcamp but would later release their music on most music streaming platforms, amassing over eight million streams on “Before The World Was Big” and over 12 million on “Cut Your Bangs.” They have released four studio albums, with Forgiveness (2022) being their final release. A band announcement this last year saluted the end of the Girlpool’s existence, due to both artists going in different directions in their respective solo careers. Yet, they leave fans with a plethora of music to sustain any mood. Their earlier indie music deals with being young and growing up in a foreboding world of misogyny and harm. The xylophone opening of “Before The World Was Big,” with harmonizing lyrics about wearing dresses walking home from school, is young at heart. Their later music is rooted in moody dream pop and is quite emotionally charged. 2022 songs like “Faultline” and “Lie Love Lullaby” deal with heavier subject matters, such as  complex relationships with others and oneself, with lyrics like “I hold my body like a butcher knife/ Smiling for the camera eyes closed,” on “Faultline.” This shift, in part, comes from Tucker publicly identifying as trans, grappling with being in a band called Girlpool but not being a girl. Sonically and lyrically the band started changing to match with his transition. It is clear from social media postings that for Tucker and Tividad Girlpool was a passion project and served a purpose for themselves and their fans. Yet, despite this breakup, Girlpool is one of the most tender bands and talented vocalist duo of the last ten years.

Dreamer Isioma (they/he)

With “Sensitive” trending on TikTok last year, Dreamer Isioma has gained rightful popularity in the indie and R&B scenes. Isioma is a 21-year-old, first generation Nigerian-American musician breaking binaries with both gender and music. Delving into R&B, afrobeats, indie, and hip-hop since 2019, Isioma’s discography is well-breathed for having only started releasing music the last few years. His first album was The Leo Sun Sets (2020) but previously released many singles including “Sensitive” earlier in the year. All their songs are danceable and groovy, like “Cookout,” a light and boppy song. With lyrics like “I don’t sip Robbitussin but I keep these functions bussin’” and “You want beef I want smoke/ It’s a cookout,” Isioma connects their many identities together. On “Huh,” Isioma sings “And I will not stop with this gay shit, nah/ Haters mad ‘cause I'm young, black and famous.” I love Isioma’s music and their ability to sing about themself, bringing in all areas of personality and identity into his music. 

Cavetown (he/they)

Robin Daniel Skinner, better known as Cavetown, has risen to fame among Generation Z and fans of cute, queer music. At 23 years old, Cavetown has amassed over eight million monthly listeners on Spotify, allowing him to harness this fame into his own headlining tours. Cavetown blends indie rock and bedroom pop with acoustic stylings, creating a versatile and individualized music genre. They’ve been releasing music since 2015 with the single “This Is Home” and self-titled album in the same year. Their album Lemon Boy (2018), however, is a masterful collection of cute and young songs that represents Skinner in an album. In 2019, “Boys Will Be Bugs” was released on the collective album Animal Kingdom (2019) featuring similar artists like Chloe Moriondo, Simi, and Sidney Gish. “Boys Will Be Bugs” is heartfelt and endearing with lyrics “I’m a dumb teen boy/ I eat sticks and rocks and mud/ I don’t care about the government/ And I really need a hug.” In this song, Cavetown details living as a “boy bug,” possibly a metaphor for feeling like an outsider in a vulnerable world. My favorite line is “Don’t mess with me, I’m a big boy now, and I’m very scary.” Cavetown has a gift of combining themes of youth, intimacy, and love through his signature ukulele and acoustic guitar accompaniment. 

Ms. White (she/her)

Although not as popular as SOPHIE or Sam Smith, Ms. White is a hidden gem trans musician. “Full Grown” was Ms. White’s first release in 2017, a jazz single about being in a first relationship featuring the repeated lyrics “I don't want to say it’s love/ If I don't know.” “Stone Street” was released the same year, telling the classic narrative of hook-up culture with rich Wall Street men in New York City, detailed with the lyrics “If you need me/ I’ll be where the rich men go.” Jade (2017) is her first EP, debuting Ms. White’s talented vocal range and tone. Marina (2019) is her only album, featuring the fan favorite “Arizona,” a song about being the other woman. Lyrics “And I’m just a bleach bitch/ She’s that tan on the beach bitch” and “If I had a pussy it’d be mine you’re railing” are moving yet delicate. Ms. White describes the particular challenges of dating as a trans woman, but ultimately sends the message that trans women, like any one, deserve love. She meshes indie and jazz with these lyrically genius moments, making her an uber talented artist.

Benét (he/they)

Benét, whose music is often found on TikTok, is another under-listened artist. Their music is inherently queer, like his song “Killing Eve,” an homage to BBC show Killing Eve: his drama details the relationships between government worker Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh) trying to uncover and locate her international enemy Villanelle (Jodie Comer). Many fans argue that Killing Eve is queer, because Polastri to confronts her attraction and “cat-and-mouse” games with Villanelle. This is something that Benét sings with the beautifully moody and suspenseful lyrics “But I’m hoping I can look in your eyes soon/ It’s a wicked game we play” on their version of “Killing Eve.” Benét’s goofy persona doesn’t match the often morose and melancholic lyrics they sing. For example, on “Funny” featuring Teddy Meanface, Benét sings the lyrics “I got time/ I got time today/ But not tomorrow/ 'cause I’m tired/ I’m tired.” Although he has only released a handful of singles, Benét has amassed over 100,000 monthly listeners and releases new music regularly.

There are so many trans musicians just waiting to be discovered and influence the music industry. Spread across  many genres, trans artists are so important to the music canon and remain to stake a claim in ownership and production. In honor of TDoR, give your favorite trans musician a listen!