3 Underrated Queer Artists You Should Be Listening To Right Now
{ Grace Denney }
August Ponthier
The self-proclaimed “lesbian Sabrina Carpenter”, August Ponthier’s music is impossible to get out of your head. Originally from Texas, Ponthier has been outspoken about LGBTQ+ rights and candid about growing up queer in Texas left them feeling isolated and afraid. Despite this, they remain proud of their Southern roots and are vocal about how important it is for them to see LGBTQ+ Texan youth thriving.
Their newly released single, “Handsome”, details how easy it is to become envious of these “handsome boys” because of the attention they receive for being attractive. In the music video, they don a muscle suit, hoping to get the same attention these male heartthrobs often get. They comically throw out popular examples like Timothee Chalamet, Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac, and then offers themself into the mix! This cheeky lyric blurs the line of what it means to be masculine-presenting.
Growing up queer often means reinventing traditional attraction’s gender norms. All of Ponthier’s songs have that charm that makes you feel good and proud of who you are. They offer a perfect balance of self-aware humor and palpable emotion for listeners to easily relate to. Their music lives in my head rent-free, existing in the sweet spot between humor and heart.
After years of being a “chronic opener” for other queer artists, Ponthier finally stepped into the spotlight this year, embarking on their own tour and absolutely crushing it. Their live vocals are every bit as impressive as they are on their records, proving their rise to fame is deserved. With their witty stage presence keeps audiences entertained between songs, it’s easy to see why they’re gaining popularity, and it’s no doubt we’ll see more of them in the future.
Jasmine.4.t
Jasmine has a hauntingly rich voice that you’ll want to listen to again and again. Most recently, she was an opener for Lucy Dacus on her North American tour. Jasmine regularly credits Dacus, Julien Baker, and Phoebe Bridgers of boygenius for helping her with her own album. Phoebe even joins Jasmine on her most popular track, “Guy Fawkes Tesco Dissociation”.
She recently opened for August Ponthier on their most recent Karaoke Queen tour, but now, she becomes the headliner in her own world tour to celebrate the release of her debut album, You Are The Morning. The album, released in September 2025, is unique in its tone and has a song for every mood. She expertly blends emotion and honesty into her sharp lyrics with her indie-rock sound that’s becoming more and more popular, and she makes it easy to see why.
One of her most emotional tracks, “Woman”, slows down in comparison to her other upbeat songs, and she delivers a beautiful declaration of identity, transcending the boundaries of gender. In it, she challenges the idea that if she is not a woman, then what really is? It’s refreshing to see a trans woman opening up her soul in the form of music. The lyrics are raw, liberating, and so deeply human in desperately seeking connection to others. Her lyrics are so eye-opening and easily pull at the heartstrings of those who can relate to her ongoing battle of stepping outside of what society deems as normal.
Katie Gavin
Also being an opener on Lucy Dacus’ tour this year, Katie Gavin is no stranger to the music industry. If her name sounds familiar, that’s probably because it is. You probably know her best as the lead singer of the popular pop band, MUNA, alongside bandmembers Naomi McPherson and Josette Maskin. But in October of last year, she proved that she is just as captivating as a solo artist as she introduced the world to her first album as a solo artist, What a Relief.
Where MUNA shines in delivering euphoric, upbeat pop anthems to scream in bars, the songs on her solo album give fans another side to her. In What a Relief, she leans into a more folk-inspired sound that feels like it was carefully crafted with self-reflection and devotion. She lets the audience have a glimpse into the more vulnerable parts of her life, exploring not only romantic love, but also the deep connection families have.
In one of her standout tracks, “The Baton”, she directly addresses the passing of knowledge between generations, particularly between mothers and daughters. In it, Gavin promises to share what she’s learned with her future daughter while urging for her and the next generation to go even farther because “there is so much healing that still needs to be done”.
These artists are redefining what it means to be queer in the music industry, paving the way for even more introspective music to come. They prove that representation doesn’t just matter, but that it is the heartbeat that keeps the music industry passionate. They remind us that we are seen, loved, and worth celebrating.