Trans Artists Shaping the Music Industry

By Laurine Payet, Music Journalist 

Today we are celebrating Transgender Day of Visibility. While every day is important to fight for trans rights worldwide, today, we put the light on trans pride, joy and talent. It is time to celebrate what was once hidden and empower trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming artists. We’ve put together our current favourite transgender musicians. 

SOPHIE

A few weeks ago, we were mourning the anniversary of her tragic and sudden passing last year. Let’s remember SOPHIE for the amazing person and artist that she was. Since her first release in 2013, SOPHIE had been a pioneer in the hyper pop scene and the queer music scene. Her debut and only album ‘OIL OF EVERY PEARL’S UN-INSIDES’, released in 2018, is a masterpiece in its genre. She was a glue for the trans community to connect their personal lives and feelings with songs such as ‘It’s Okay to Cry’ and ‘Immaterial’, where she navigates through her journey as a trans woman. SOPHIE also gave birth to true club bangers. We see, for example, ‘Faceshopping’, in which she talks about personal branding in the creative industries, raising the problem of having to create a fake identity to stand out. SOPHIE’s passing did not stop parts of her music from living with other artists in a genre that her talent will forever impact. 

Mavi Phoenix

The Austrian artist Mavi Phoenix tackles many aspects of music. Producer, singer and rapper since the age of 11, he’s always been into many sides of this art and learnt through the years to develop his music production and songwriting style. He broke through in 2017 with his EP ‘Young Prophet’ and released his debut album in 2020 after coming out as a transgender man. For Mavi Phoenix, taking the time to complete his gender transition was essential to flourish as a newborn artist and man. The pandemic and numerous lockdowns helped Mavi to rediscover himself and his songwriting process with the help of a guitar, which had never been what he was inspired by in the past. The instrument led him towards a creative path influenced by indie rock and folk more than rap. His second album ‘Marlon’ was released earlier this year. 

bell’s roar

bell’s roar is Sean Desiree’s solo project. Their name reflects their music perfectly. While “Bell” references the feminist author Bell Hooks, “roar” is the act of not being silent, of raising their voice. They write music to talk about the oppression faced as a non-binary person of colour, with the continuous will to stop the ongoing domination. Their debut album ‘We Carry Us’, released in 2018, was written, performed and produced by Sean themselves. It combines songs of denunciation as well as celebration. 

Octo Octa

Maya Bouldry-Morrison, also known as the DJ and producer Octo Octa has been one of the leading artists in the house scenes of the 2010s. Her sound has continually evolved and shaped itself throughout the years. She started her career with softer and hazy songs on her first album ‘Between Two Shelves’. However, her 2019 record ‘Resonant Body’ and the previous EP ‘For Lovers’, released that same year, put her on top of her scene. Touring the world with intense and incredible sets, Octo Octa made a name in the underground producing scene as a trans woman. After releasing her latest three-track EP last year, we are looking forward to hearing more of her in the following months, hopefully.  

Ethel Cain

Hayden Silas Anhedönia, also known as Ethel Cain, is a 24-year-old singer-songwriter from Florida. She grew up in a Southern Baptist family, with her dad being a deacon. After coming out as gay in her early teenage years, Ethel left the church at 16. She started music in 2017, releasing music with different names on Twitter and Instagram. In 2019, Cain released her debut single ‘Bruises’. She finds inspiration from gospel, country music, and classic rock to produce an ethereal sound that feels like it is coming straight out of a movie. Listening to Ethel Cain is indeed a cinematic and nostalgic experience led by her raw lyrics and airy voice. A couple of weeks ago, the singer released ‘Gibson Girl’, serving as the lead single from her upcoming album ‘Preacher’s Daughter’, which is coming out in May and released through her label Daughters of Cain. 

Giving visibility to trans artists is primordial to building a safer space for current and future trans musicians. It is also about showing that being transgender and a talented artist is compatible and giving role models to the youth of the transgender community.

You can find a playlist with our favorite tracks from trans artists: