Listen, we all know how great queer Canadian icons Tegan and Sara. There’s a lot of other queer Canadian musicians making wonderful music, and so today may I present you with this list of amazing queer Canadian musicians (who aren’t just Tegan and Sara)!
If you’re Canadian (or maybe even if you aren’t), there are likely at least a few musicians you already know on this list. Maybe you didn’t realize they were Canadian! But I hope there are lots of unfamiliar voices to discover. My idea for this playlist is a starting off point to find new favorites. I hope if a song captures your ear and/or heart, then you’ll check out the whole album! I have done my best to include all sorts of different genres and also music in languages other than English.
Most of these songs speak for themselves and I don’t necessarily have anything enlightening to say about them. But I do have a few notes on a couple of the songs:
Tracklist Higlights:
“Every Song (Neela Devaki)” by Vivek Shraya: You might be wondering why there’s another woman’s name in parentheses in this song title. That’s because it’s part of a very cool multi-disciplinary project of Shraya’s that ties in with her recent novel, The Subtweet. Neela Devaki is a musician character in the novel. This song is beautiful on its own, but if you read the book, you’ll see it in a whole other light! (See Drew’s lovely review of the book on Autostraddle here).
“Comme des enfants” by Coeur de Pirate: Some may remember when Coeur de Pirate, aka Béatrice Martin, came out as bi in 2016 and then had a very adorable albeit not long lasting public romance with Laura Jane Grace. She’s Québecoise and has songs in both English and French.
“Brother” by the Organ: If this song sounds familiar, that’s because it and the band were on The L Word, in that episode where Shane shows up at Carmen’s work and they make out in the bathroom while a band plays on the balcony. That’s the Organ!
“Boys Want to Be Her” by Peaches: Did you know queer feminist music icon Peaches is Canadian? (She’s from Toronto). She was also on The L Word, as you might recall.
“Constant Craving” by k.d. Lang: You didn’t think I could leave this classic off the list, did you??
“Yes, I Know” by The Pack a.d.: This song was also on The L Word (well — Generation Q), which I swear I didn’t realize until I put it on this list. It’s playing in the first episode as Shane is descending the steps from her private jet like a boss. The Pack a.d are incredible live; if you ever have a chance to see them I highly recommend! It’s the only mosh pit I’ve ever been in that felt queer and safe (not that I’ve been in many, ha).
“Canadian Classic” by Mulligrub: Just for some cultural context: Canadian Classics are a Canadian cigarette brand.
“Lucky” by Bif Naked: Another artist you might not know is Canadian! Remember when she was on The L Word and also Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Buffy danced with and then had sex with terrible Parker while this song played?
“Ain’t Life a Brook” by Ferron: Ferron is a legendary and ground-breaking lesbian folk singer and Canadian treasure who has been making music since the 70s. She is not nearly as well known as she should be!
“Part-Time Woman” by Vivek Shraya and Queer Songbook Orchestra: I broke my own rule for this playlist by including two songs by the same artist but I couldn’t not share this amazing song and collaboration! You can read a review of the full album by Kai Cheng Thom on Autostraddle.
The Playlist
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5vKflej9WGPiECGFXtDRoQ
Do you have any favorites from my playlist? Can you believe how many of these artists have been featured on The L Word? Any other queer Canadian musicians you want to share? Let me know in the comments!
