Five sapphic artists to add to your playlists
As pride month nears, KCPR presents five sapphic artists making waves in the queer music community. Whether you’re looking for shimmering pop, dreamy indie or smooth R&B, these artists are carving out space and telling their stories through powerful soundscapes.
The Aces:
The Aces are a four-piece indie pop band from Provo, Utah, made up of Cristal Ramirez (lead vocals, guitar), Alisa Ramirez (drums), Makenna Betty (bass) and Katie Henderson (lead guitar). The bandmates have been playing together since they were teens, and it shows in their effortless chemistry.
Their music blends bright indie pop with funk influences. The group first gained attention with their breakout single “Stuck,” and later built a loyal fan base through albums like “When My Heart Felt Volcanic” (2018), “Under My Influence” (2020) and “I’ve Loved You For So Long” (2023). Over time, their lyrics have grown even more personal, touching on love, identity and mental health. For new listeners, start with tracks like “Stuck,” “Daydream” and “Girls Make Me Wanna Die.”
Orion Sun:
Orion Sun, the project of Philadelphia-based artist Tiffany Majette, blends lo-fi R&B, indie soul and hip-hop into deeply emotional soundscapes. She started releasing music independently in 2016, and her 2020 debut album “Hold Space for Me” showcased her craft of creating intimate, vulnerable songs about love, loss and resilience. Tracks like “Antidote,” “Lightning,” and “Coffee for Dinner” are fan favorites that highlight her ability to capture everyday emotions with aching beauty.
Orion Sun’s lyrics often explore themes of healing, self-discovery and hope. Her work has been praised by outlets like NPR and Pitchfork, and has reached greater audiences as she began opening for artists like Blood Orange and Daniel Caesar. Her music is the perfect soundtrack for slow walks, big feels and late-night thoughts.
Rina Sawayama:
Rina Sawayama is a boundary-breaking pop artist who refuses to be pinned down. Born in Niigata, Japan and raised in London, she first caught attention with her glittering “RINA” EP in 2017, blending pop, R&B, nu-metal and electronic sounds into something entirely her own. Her debut album, “SAWAYAMA” (2020), became a critical darling, landing on multiple “Best Of” lists and cementing her as one of pop’s most exciting new voices.
Tracks like “STFU!,” “XS” and “Chosen Family” show off her ability to bounce between heavy guitar riffs and soaring ballads without missing a beat. She followed these releases with “Hold the Girl” (2022) –– an album diving deeper into personal growth and resilience. Rina has also made waves outside of music, advocating for better representation of immigrants in the UK.
Jay Som:
Jay Som is the dreamy musical project of Melina Duterte, a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer from California. Starting out by uploading demos to Bandcamp in 2015, she quickly built a reputation for her layered soundscapes that blend shoegaze, bedroom pop and indie rock.
Her 2017 debut album, “Everybody Works,” introduced the world to her gentle but expansive style, with songs like “The Bus Song” and “Baybee” becoming cult favorites. Her follow-up, “Anak Ko” (2019) — “my child” in Tagalog — took her sound further, exploring identity, family and love. If you’re new to Jay Som’s discography, “Superbike,” “Tenderness” and “Turn Into” are great places to start.
Syd:
Syd first made a name for herself as a member of Odd Future, before forming the Grammy nominated soul-funk band The Internet, and later launching a solo career that’s pure R&B bliss. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Syd’s solo debut “Fin” (2017) introduced a smoother, more intimate sound, which she followed up with the equally stunning “Broken Hearts Club” in 2022. Syd’s ability to blend vulnerability with effortless coolness has made her a standout voice in contemporary R&B.
Known for silky vocals and laid-back production, her standout tracks like “Body,” “All About Me” and “Right Track” feel effortless and endlessly replayable.
