QUEERLY: The State of Australian Queer Indie Pop

Pop music has always been a part of queer culture, even if the artists and culture surrounding it were not (queer or inclusive). In fact, a significant number of queer artists write and produce indie-pop music.

In Australia, we have a range of queer indie pop artists who bring the their unique and diverse influences to pop music. Take, for example, Brendan Maclean, a self-described “prince of indie alt-pop” who brings in dance influences with an unwavering attitude towards queer visibility (see his track ‘House of Air’). These influences shape how the industry, in Australia at least, approaches queer visibility and what this means for other industries.

As for more ‘acoustic’ sounds, Huck Hastings combines the storytelling of roots and country music with a light and nuanced pop sound. His debut album Cheers to Progress was released in March this year. But if you want something with a rock edge, Melbourne duo Cry Club combine a loud and vibrant punk rock with their colourful and fun imagery.

Wollongong’s Bec Sandridge is the epitome of genre-bending indie pop, with influences such as rock-infused Fleetwood Mac and Swedish dance-pop icon Robyn. During last year’s triple j’s Requestival, I was first introduced to her through ‘EYES WIDE’. A bop then, and a bop now.

I loved it so much I had to retweet it from triple j Plays, sending out a big gay prayer to the universe.

“Holding out for more #gaysongs!”

Come on! 😍 @triplej @brycevmills https://t.co/iN9F2JjBDl

— Wilson (@wilsonshuang) May 31, 2020

To my surprise, around two and a half hours later, I saw that Bec Sanbridge took a screenshot of my tweet, and tweeted it herself to get more gay songs for triple j’s Requestival.

With this, there is always time for gay and queer indie pop music.

PS: I haven’t tweeted since that day.