Hayley Kiyoko - Japanese-American lesbian pop artist. She became a tumblr sensation when her MV “Girls like Girls” went viral on tumblr a few years back. She also coined the term twentygayteen and has been dubbed our lesbian jesus! Her first album “Expectations” was released earlier this year and its gaaaaay.
Sofya Wang - First generation Chinese-American lesbian pop artist. Her single “Boys Aside” was released in 2017, and several other singles were released this year. Her career is just kicking off, but I think we have a lot to look forward to!
Rina Sawayama - Japanese-British pansexual pop/contemporary R&B artist. She was born in Niigata, Japan and raised there until age 5. She came out by releasing the single “Cherry” and has said many of her songs are about women!
Thao Nyugen - Vietnamese-American indie/alt singer. She fronted the band Thao & the get down stay down and also collaborated with fellow lesbian artist Mirah to release music under Thao & Mirah. Give “With a girl like you” a listen.
Holland - First openly gay K-Pop Idol to debut! He’s 22 years old and his first song “Neverland” was released January 2018. He’s released a few more singles since and is huge with international fans.
MRSHLL - While Holland is the first openly gay K-Pop Idol, MRSHLL is the first openly gay Korean musician to ever begin his career in Korea. He’s a R&B artist and just released his first EP this year.
Poppy Ajudha - Queer British-Indian Soul/Jazz/Experimental artist. Her first EP “FEMME” was released this year and I can tell we have lots to look forward to from her.
Leo Kalyan - British-Pakistani dance/electronic singer who is gay & Muslim! He came out in his music video for “fucked up” and has released a few singles this year! He’s also just a very eloquent and inspiring guy.
Japanese Breakfast - The indie/experimental pop solo project of Michelle Zauner, a Jewish Korean-American queer/bi woman. She says she chose her name because she strongly identified with Japanese culture growing up, since it was the closest thing she could find in popular media that resembled Korean culture.
Mabel Ye - Queer illustrator & independent music artist. Her drawings are really cool and you can find her instagram here. Listen to her album “Songs for a girl + other things.”
Qiao Qiao - China’s first openly lesbian singer. She released her first (and only, as far as I can tell) single in 2006, titled “Ai Bu Fen” or “Love does not discriminate.” The only photo I could find of her was from a tv show she was a guest on “gay connections.”
Vardaan Arora - Indian born queer pop artist & advocate for more queer South Asian representation! He’s open about his mental health issues and has amazing music. Check out his latest single “What if.”
Secret Guyz - A 3 member J-Pop group comprised entirely of trans men. You can find their music on youtube!
Ki-Yo - Openly gay Japanese pop singer, composer, and lyricist. He came out in 2015 during Tokyo Rainbow Pride and was featured in the photography project “OUT IN JAPAN.”
Harisu - Transgender Korean pop singer, model, and actress. She is the Republic of Korea’s first transgender entertainer and in 2002 became the second person in Korea to legally change their gender. She identified as female from an early age and derived her stage name from the phrase “Hot Issue.”
Doris Muramatsu - Member of queer folk group “Girlyman.” Listen to everything they’ve ever made because it’s all amazing.
