pop

Done Searching: Kehlani Powerfully Conquers Growings Pains on New Album

Kehlani, a light skinned Black woman, has short black hair parted down the center. She sings on stage while wearing a white turtleneck.
by DeAsia Paige
May 27, 2020 at 4:21pm
Kehlani has always worn her heart on her sleeve.
Harry Styles, a white man with longish wavy brown hair, looks up at the sky with a smile on his face. On his left is a Black woman with her eyes closed; on his right is a white woman looking away from the camera.

So Wonderful and Warm: In “Watermelon Sugar,” Harry Styles Centers Women’s Euphoria

by Rachel Charlene Lewis
May 21, 2020 at 1:25pm
In “Watermelon Sugar,” women’s sexual bliss is the entire event. Read more »
A black album cover with "Fiona Apple" and "Fetch the Bolt Cutters" in a purple font and a close up of Fiona Apple's face.

Making Fetch Happen: Fiona Apple’s New Album Is a Story of Resilience and Rebirth

by Vanessa Willoughby
May 15, 2020 at 9:00am
Apple’s latest release is a refusal to relinquish control of her own story. Read more »
Siena Liggins, a Black, masculine lesbian, looks directly at the camera. Her dark hair is braided and comes to her shoulders, and she wears layered denim on denim and sits relaxed on the ground.

Siena Liggins Hates Being Told What to Do

by Lindsay King-Miller
May 14, 2020 at 9:26am
“I hate my voice,” the pop singer says. Read more »
Maia, a singer songwriter, wears a flowing white dress and gold eyeshadow with her light brown hair parted in the middle. She looks into the camera, which appears artfully smudged.

Channeling Confidence: mxmtoon Sings for Queer Teens—and for Herself

by Rachel Charlene Lewis
April 29, 2020 at 2:21pm
“I have this platform where I can see my own audience reacting to who I am and feeling safe to express who they are as well.” Read more »
Wearing an all black outfit and with dark hair and bangs, Kesha sings on stage.

Taking the High Road: Kesha’s Music Creates a Path of Healing for Survivors

by Olivia Zayas Ryan
March 23, 2020 at 1:47pm
You do not have to be defined by something that was done to you. Read more »
King Princess, a white woman wearing clownish makeup, looks at the camera on the cover of her album

Just a Fan: With “Cheap Queen,” King Princess Finds Her Power

by Ellie Sharp
December 13, 2019 at 5:22pm
A satisfying album that centers on the complexities and changeability of identity, let alone queer identity, is a tough task. Read more »
Harry Styles performs onstage at SNL wearing a sparkly black jumpsuit and a long necklace.

What the Conversation about Harry Styles Reveals about Queerbaiting

by Elly Belle
November 26, 2019 at 1:43pm
What do fans of potentially straight, queer icons like Harry Styles actually want?  Read more »
Miley Cyrus, a thin white woman, wears a black blouse and black cowboy hat.

Miley Cyrus Might Be Pansexual, but That Doesn’t Mean She Cares about Queer People

by Rachel Charlene Lewis
October 22, 2019 at 2:09pm
It’s clear that Miley Cyrus’s intention of protecting the LGBTQ community only goes as far as it protects her personally.  Read more »
Normani, a young Black woman, sings on stage in a blue sparkly outfit.

What Critiques of Normani Reveal about Racist Expectations of Black Women Artists

by Brooklyn White
September 11, 2019 at 4:02pm
Music critics and listeners alike give Black pop stars hell—especially when they’re women. Read more »
Taylor Swift, a white woman with shoulder-length blond hair, is posed in front of a pink background

Cruel Bummer: “Lover” Is an Odd Litmus Test for Taylor Swift’s Politics

by Melissa A. Fabello PhD
August 27, 2019 at 2:32pm
Taylor Swift is turning 30 in December, so it’s no surprise that she’s released an album that feels more authentic and honest than her previous two. Read more »

Pages