{"id":378702,"date":"2024-11-25T07:52:50","date_gmt":"2024-11-25T07:52:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/?p=378702"},"modified":"2024-11-25T07:52:50","modified_gmt":"2024-11-25T07:52:50","slug":"dua-saleh-selects-queer-rnb-artists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/music\/dua-saleh-selects-queer-rnb-artists\/","title":{"rendered":"Dua Saleh selects the ten queer R&B artists you need to playlist now"},"content":{"rendered":"

From kwn to Kamilla Love, these are the rising R&B stars every queer person should know: as selected by former GAY TIMES cover star Dua Saleh.<\/p>\n

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Former GAY TIMES<\/em> cover star, and the recipient of the 2023 GAY TIMES Honour for Rising Star in Music<\/a>, Dua Saleh has been firmly on our radar for several years. Coming to mass attention as Cal in Sex Education<\/em><\/a>, the Sudanese-American artist provided much-needed non-binary representation within a mainstream television show. However, we’ve always best known them as one of our favourite musicians, with a fluid approach to genre that allows them to effortlessly traverse R&B, pop, rock and electronic, all while maintaining a vulnerable and expressive approach to lyricism.<\/p>\n

After dropping their album I<\/em> SHOULD CALL THEM<\/em> earlier this year via cult label Ghostly International, Saleh is gearing up to go on tour in early 2025. To celebrate, we tapped the artist to detail their ten favourite queer R&B artists. Get ready to have these musicians on repeat…<\/p>\n

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Kamilla Love<\/b><\/h3>\n

My favourite artist from the Midwest in my home state, Minnesota, is Kamilla Love.\u00a0 She has a wispy R&B voice that translates through sound waves in a way that pierces the soul. Her songwriting is filled with lived experience and gives deep insight on her past relationships and the things that she\u2019s experiencing. Her music is coded in strong, fiery feelings, which I believe to be highly influenced by her star sign, Aries. My favourite song by her at the moment is \u201cRevenge\u201d<\/p>\n

Def Sound<\/b><\/h3>\n

I found this artist through the label that I just signed to, Ghostly International. They do a combination of hip-hop and R&B fusion. There is a lot of liberation expression throughout the lyrics of this artist’s work. It feels good to know that I have label mates that care about the world. Here\u2019s a song that I like by them: \u201cAMEEN\u201d by Def Sound feat. Lauren Jauregui.<\/p>\n

kwn<\/b><\/h3>\n

kwn is a new artist based in Los Angeles that people put me onto. This artist is masculine presenting and creates prolific R&B music that you can play in the bedroom and also get in your feelings too. Recently, I\u2019ve seen a couple of songs by this artist go viral on TikTok. If you like music with runs and embellishments, or that reflects genres similar to Ambr\u00e9, Kehlani, and Destin Conrad, then this is the artist for you. A song I suggest featuring kwn is \u201cClothes Off\u201d by Kehlani feat. kwn.<\/p>\n

Gwen Bunn<\/b><\/h3>\n

Gwen Bunn has a smooth tone that sits on your skin like honey. It\u2019s a lot of music reflecting the trend towards Y2K R&B, and sounds of contemporary R&B. It’s a nostalgic sound that hits that spot in your ear that you really need to feel. If you\u2019re looking for pensive music that you can smoke a blunt to, this is the right artist for you.<\/p>\n

Hope Tala<\/b><\/h3>\n

This UK-based artist’s music crosses through many lanes and transcends genres. Her soft voice mixed with a deeply wise and insightful tone of her lyricism is like a trance. Listening to Hope is like hearing your favorite poem from the mouth of a hummingbird. Her music draws you in and offers relief, even if only within the time that it takes to listen to the songs. A song I\u2019m listening to right now by Hope Tala is \u201cThank Goodness.\u201d<\/p>\n