As we step out of 2023 and into 2024, the queer music landscape continues to evolve with an eclectic mix of genres, innovative sounds, and boundary-pushing artists. The year ahead promises an exciting burst of fresh perspectives, sonic adventures, and undiscovered talents that will captivate our ears and resonate with our souls.

Before closing out 2023, we wanted to take a look back through the year and highlight 23 standout artists who helped make the year the knockout that it was. These artists have been at the forefront of redefining how queer music exists in the industry. They have challenged convention and stereotypes, and leave an indelible mark on our ears and on our hearts. From genre-bending pioneers to lyrical wordsmiths, and virtuosic instrumentalists to experimental visionaries, the class of 2023 represents a diverse spectrum of talent that transcends the ordinary.

While this list can, and should, far exceed the number 23, we wanted to choose a strong selection of the artists and music that has impacted us. These are just some of the next wave of sound that shaped the year, forged connections, sparked conversations, and ultimately helped make 2023 a memorable year in the ever-evolving world of music.

Alextbh

The return of Alextbh is finally over. The artist is back and with his return came some of his best releases yet. The Malaysian artist continued to put his LGBTQ pride front and centre with honest and thought-provoking lyrics. He kept us spellbound with tracks like “Her” and “A Hundred Lives” until finally receiving his impressive new 10 track album “It’s All Good”. If 2023 is any indication, Alextbh is ready to take center stage in the queer music evolution.

Critical Cut: Her

Armand Joubert

South African rising star has worked tirelessly over the past number of years, building a name and a much-loved following. But 2023 saw the artist take it up 10 notches when he began to also release music recorded in the South African language of Afrikaans. Thus cementing himself as one of South Africa

Critical Cut: Met Jou Klere Af

Bryce Bowyn

Bryce Bowyn has always been fueled by music energy. He’s delivered track after track swimming in seductive dance and electro beats and moving us to groove our best life. But 2023 gave us a Bryce Bowyn with a little something extra. The gift of score! In 2023 Bryce Bowyn delivered one of his strongest releases yet, the title track to the audio play and podcast “The Devils of Dupont”. Shifting out of the dance arena, Bryce dove headfirst into creating a darker, dramatic and bold piece that has put a whole new spotlight on the artist. One that has us asking “please sir, can we have some more”.

Critical Cut: Devils of DuPont

Chaz Cardigan

The fearless renegade of queer music, Chaz Cardigan is open, honest, and unapologetic about who he is as an artist and a person. Wearing his experiences musically and openly, he has once again returned to deliver top tier sonics wrapped around insightful, clever, and often political lyrics, all driven home by an unbridled passion.

Critical Cut: It’s Gonna Be Great (Hallelujah)

Emory Parker

Hitting the scene in late 2022, Emory Parker strapped on and laced up some sturdy s*** kickers and decided that she was going to make 2023 hers. And one year later, after the release of impressive singles “Fall Back Into You”, “Drinking Alone”, and “natalie” from her forthcoming 2024 debut EP “(not) the one”, Emory Parker is poised and ready to become tomorrows emerging radio icon.

Critical Cut: natalie

Fred Roberts

2023’s talent discovery. Fred Roberts went from YouTube/Tik Tok crooner to blistering pop sensation. Stepping into our ears and hearts with his online covers, Fred Roberts delivered a tour de force debut with his infectiously emotional bop “Runaway” and never slowed down.

Critical Cut: Runaway

Gary Beals

The man, the myth, the legend. Gary Beals didn’t just re-emerge into Canadian music, he completely obliterated all expectations and dropped one of the best albums of the year with “The Melody Within”. Gary Beals has left the days of Canadian Idol in the past and has taken his rightful place as a Canadian legend.

Critical Cut: Good People, Good Vibes

Gia Woods

Hot off the heels of an incredible 2022, Gia Woods continued her stellar rise. Leaving behind the euphoric disco world of “Heartbreak County”, Gia put the pedal to the metal and drove straight into our lives with the electrically explosive follow up EP, the appropriately titled “Your Engine”. There’s no slowing down for the Gia machine.

Critical Cut: Elevation

Good Dear Good

From local band to one of Canada’s brightest up-and-coming show stoppers, the little band that could Good Dear Good dropped their latest album “Arrival” in 2023 and proved that they’re just getting started. While keeping their Atlantic Canadian seasoning, Good Dear Good have been showing their mettle as a band with live performances that illustrate their cohesion as a tight and unique unit that feels like family. The sky’s the limit for Good Dear Good.

Critical Cut: Coffee and Sunshine

Gregory Dillon

The voice, the sass, the cheek, Gregory Dillon continues to be one of the best artists around. And his 2023 roll up to the release of his upcoming 2024 EP has shown everyone that there’s very little he can’t do as far as music is considered. The release of his mid 2023 single “Genevieve” was a call to action that new Dillon was going to be something else. And it was no lie as follow up tracks “Hot Scars, Pretty Lies”, “Drive”, and “James Dean” have set the streams afire.

Critical Cut: Genevieve

HECTIC

Known more from his behind the scenes mixing and mastering acrobatics, the UK electro wizard HECTIC has become a “go to” wunderkind for artists everywhere. His 2023 reads like a resume of remix bliss. With a knack for pure conceptual direction, HECTIC takes everything to the next level. And when it’s his own music, it’s that much sweeter.

Critical Cut: The Light

Jordy

What a journey Jordy has been on. One of the hardest working artists, Jordy kicked off 2023 with his reimagined version of the Nine Days classic “Absolutely (Story of a Girl)”. Jordy’s “Story of a Boy” became a love letter to every queer boy and he quickly claimed our collective hearts. Added to that an appearance on Kelly Clarkson and being added to radio around North America, Jordy became the name on everyone’s lips and in everyone’s ears.

Critical Cut: Story of A Boy

Kaleena Zanders

What can be said other than BIG SOUND LIVES HERE! Kaleena Zanders attacks her music with passion and joy and it’s immediately noticeable through the playfulness and ferocity that envelopes each and every release. 2023 became the year the world could not help but notice, celebrate, and fall in love with Kaleena Zanders.

Critical Cut: Real Love

Leanne Hoffman

2023 was a year made for Leanne Hoffman. After a hiatus, the Berklee alum came back with a double shot TKO in the form of an album and companion anthology of poetry both called “The Text Collector”. The words, the music, the sublime intoxication of imagination and concept, has made Leanne Hoffman one of the most exciting artists of 2023

Critical Cut: Sex With You

Mariah Counts

Bubbling under the surface of music the past couple of years, 2023 saw Mariah Counts find a new confidence and strong musical footing that moved her from releasing music to taking aim, firing strong at the bullseye, and effortlessly landing her mark. Now staking her claim and taking her seat at the music table, Mariah Counts has set herself up to be a force to be reckoned with in 2024.

Critical Cut: Favorite Girl

morgxn

morgxn continues to be the guiding light in queer music. With every release we learn more about him and ourselves. He provides us a safe space to exercise a level of self-examination, asking us to think broader and be more thoughtful. But always with care and a bright vision of hope. His 2023 was filled with remarkable sound, but he ends it in true morgxn fashion, with a song that exemplifies exactly how so many in the world are feeling in his release “To be Human”.

Critical Cut: To Be Human

Shawnee Kish

Contemporary Indigenous pop singer-songwriter Shawnee Kish has long been a name in the Canadian music scene, and 2023 gave us music from the artist that had us salivating for more with each release until the eventual release of her latest EP “Revolution”. The EP and its 6 tracks are filled with foot stompin’ soul, spirit, and bring the house down vocals and is a 2 ton musical signifier to the world that Shawnee Kish is here and ready to rock.

Critical Cut: No Evil

Sinzere

Sinzere is an undeniably dynamic surge of electricity cutting through the world of Hip-Hop, funk, and rap. With each new entry into her musical catalogue, Sinzere brings, pump, thump, thrash, and splash to the airwaves and fills them with a flurry of vibelicious goodness. Swag for days! There’s no denying the sheer level of personality and magic that Sinzere generates and commands and we’re all absolutely falling under her spell.

Critical Cut: Rick Flair Flo

Tafari Anthony

It’s Tafari Anthony’s world and we’re just lucky to be able to be part of it. To say that 2023 was a great year for the artist would be an understatement of epic proportions. The releases were a sweltering inferno of pure R’nB pop perfection. His 2023 debut album “When I Met Your Girlfriend” is a masterclass in song creation, with each of the 16 tracks woven together to create a musical smackdown you won’t be able to turn off.

Critical Cut: Falling Back

Wild Black

Wild Black continues to impress, and in 2023, the Canadian dynamo served up a tasting platter of delicious pop and R’nB that took us to the moon and back. With influences from the 80’s and 90’s, Wild Black exudes quiet stardom against a glaringly loud accumulation of some of the most infectious music being created today.

Critical Cut: Stay Dreamin’

Zach Palmer

Entering into the music scene quietly, Zach Palmer made a deafening impact in 2023 when he released his beautifully crafted song “I Think I Waited For You”. The track introduced new listeners to the artist who uses a deftness in storytelling to engage emotion through human experience with a rawness and honesty that will leave you speechless. Each track that followed in 2023 was that and so much more.

Critical Cut: I Think I Waited for You

Zee Machine

The elder statesman of queer pop funk, Zee Machine is one of the most loved music artists in queer music. He continues to draw us in with his addictive charisma and pure love of music. And each release is always an experience that leaves you on a high. Whether it’s a rock out anthem, a pop banger, or his own unique take on a Whitney Houston classic, Zee Machine fills us to the brim with good vibes and leaves us beaming with pride.

Critical Cut: Making Diamonds

X.ARI

The wild card in queer Canadian music! X.ARI blasted through 2023 with an epic 11 singles and a 6 track EP collection, all of which ignited our inner dance child and begged to be released. From the beginning of the year straight through to X.ARI’s final release “Loud”, it’s been an unyielding adventure of queer pride and advocacy, with X.ARI utilizing her music to address issues of mental health, acceptance, and others. With such a large volume of releases in 2023, we can only imagine what 2024 will bring. Whatever it is, we know it’ll be pure X.ARI magic.

Critical Cut: Make Me Good