MEET THE QUEER SONGWRITERS BEHIND YOUR FAVOURITE HITS.
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again - queer people are writing the best pop songs in the game right now.
On the surface, it may feel as though the mainstream charts are dominated by straight singers telling straight stories. Aside from a handful of proudly LGBTQ+ artists like Sam Smith and Lil Nas X getting number one hits, there’s not that much queerness to be found in the Top 10. But look behind the scenes to the people writing and producing those songs, and you’d be surprised at how much diversity there is.
Justin Bieber’s Sorry? Co-written by Justin Tranter. Ariana Grande’s Thank U, Next? That’s from the mind of Tayla Parx. Selena Gomez’ Rare? You’ve got Leland to thank for that. The list really does feel endless, and slowly but surely the world is becoming more aware of the immense queer talent that exists in the industry.
We spoke to five of the most exciting LGBTQ+ songwriters and producers - Tayla Parx, Leland, Kennedi, Chelcee Grimes and Peter Thomas - to find out the highlights of their careers, the songs they wish they’d written, and what they think needs to happen to get more queer voices into mainstream pop.
TAYLA PARX
Known for: Thank U, Next (Ariana Grande), Pynk (Janelle Monáe), Infinity (Mariah Carey), Love Lies (Khalid & Normani), In Common (Alicia Keys), Boss (Fifth Harmony)
What was the first song you ever wrote?
It was this song called Opposites Attract. Now that I think about it, it’s so cheesy!
What’s been your favourite moment of your career?
Right now, my favourite thing is being on stage because it’s something new for me and something refreshing that allows me to add to those creative zones and add to my artistry.
What do you think is the best song you’ve ever written?
Actually, I love this song called Na-Na-Na for Pentatonix because it doesn’t have a track, it’s all vocals. I don’t know if it’s the best song, but it’s one of my favourite experiences. If I had to
