5 Bisexual Artists To Watch
BY KATHERINE CHUNG September is Bisexual Visibility Month. This month, we celebrate Bisexual Awareness Week September 16-23, and Bisexual Visibility Day Monday, September 23rd. GLAAD states that “#BiWeek draws attention to the experiences, while also celebrating the resiliency of the bisexual+ community. Throughout #BiWeek, allies, and bi+ people learn about the history, culture, community, and current policy priorities of bi+ communities.”
As queer pop stars continue to gain popularity and attention, it's easy to overlook other icons who are also making their mark in the music industry. But every story deserves to be heard, and music is one of the most powerful ways to share those experiences. Check out these 5 artists raising awareness through their work.
Ronen Rubinstein: Lead Singer of Nights in Stereo
Ronen is best known for his hit role as T.K Strand, a former firefighter and current paramedic on the FOX TV show 9-11 Lone Star. Most people recognize him for his acting and incredible chemistry with his co-stars. However, he is much more than an actor. He is a singer-songwriter, Environmental activist, and husband. This summer, he was featured on the Los Angeles Bi+ Men’s task force Bi-alogue panel, where he discussed the struggles he faced of being a queer creator in the entertainment industry.
Aside from his passion for storytelling on TV, he is also the lead singer of a rock band. His band, Nights in Stereo, debuted in 2022 but is currently on hiatus due to other commitments. With only two songs under their belt, they have made a name for themselves in the music industry. Listen to their tracks on your favorite streaming platform, and stay tuned for updates on their upcoming EP by following @nightinstereo across all social media channels.
Gina Zo: Lead Singer of Velvet Rouge Band
Fans might recognize Gina from her appearance on season 10 of NBC’s popular show, The Voice. At the age of 17, she claimed a spot on Team Shelton, with country star Blake Shelton. Since she departed from the TV competition show, she has been the front-woman of the pop-rock band Velvet Rock Rogue as of 2020. Her other hobbies include: putting together the perfect day-time and stage outfit, photography, and content creation.
In addition to being a dynamic leader in the music industry, she is also an accomplished public speaker. She proudly serves as a Voting Member of the GRAMMY Recording Academy and a beacon for the LGBTQ+ community. Check out the Velvet Rogue band on Instagram @velvetrogueband and stream their music on Spotify.
Melina KB: Musical Theatre Lover and Pop Rock Songwriter
If you're a musical theater lover, pop music enthusiast, or an Olivia Rodrigo fan on the hunt for your next obsession, you will love Melina KB. Describing herself as a "one-woman showtune," this Nashville-based songwriter brings the perfect fusion of musical theater and pop rock to the stage. Alongside her musical content creations, she also works as a part-time Strategic Partnerships & Social Media Representative with 1824 x UMG. Melina’s unique blend of Broadway flair and pop-rock energy is making a mark in the industry.
In her lyrics and storytelling, Melina mentions being the 'queer kid' in high school throughout her song-writing, making her a standout role model for the next generation of queer youth. You can listen to her speak about the importance of her song ‘Force of Nature’ here. Don’t forget to check out her content on Instagram and TikTok @melina.kb.
Abigail Barlow: Co-Creator of The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical
Not many creators can say that they are GRAMMY winners and unofficial Disney princesses, but Abigail can. At the beginning of 2021, Abigail and her partner, Emily Bear started posting concept music based on off-season 1 of the popular Netflix show, Bridgerton. After several thousands of comments of feedback, the two female creators released an album on Spotify. This release led to a series of events that created a viral downfall in the musical theater community after the album won the 2022 GRAMMY Award for Best Musical Theatre Album.
Since then, Abigail has been focusing on telling her own story and writing music. Her recent release, ‘Strike Out’ is for all the bi-cons out there and people who want to be a bi-con. She discussed the story behind the song on the Chef’s Choice Pod, which you can listen to now.
This fall, Abigail and Emily’s songs will be featured in the highly-anticipated Disney sequel Moana 2. Marking this as her first real experience as an unofficial Disney Princess. Her music can be found on Spotify and she often guest stars on other creators' podcasts in her free time.
Mad Tsai: Pop, Alternative, and Electronic Musician
Mad Tsai is best known as @madsteaparty on TikTik for his 81+ views and 3.3M + followers. Last year he was featured in the music and culture section of Teen Vogue magazine in an article called “Mad Tsai is Writing Queer Pop Anthems- and Rewriting American Coming -Of - The Age”. The article touches on his story as an Asian and Latin-X creative trying to make an impact with his music. His popular track ‘Boy Bi’ embraces what it means to be a bisexual boy.
This fall he will be releasing an EP titled ‘Teenage Nightmare’ on October 10th. While we await a tracklist or next single tease from him, we can appreciate the stunning cover artwork he has shared on social media. Pre-save his upcoming single, ‘All American B**ch here and listen to his music on Spotify here.
Resources about bisexual support and allyship
GLAAD Media Reference on the word bisexual: https://glaad.org/reference/bisexual/
How to support bisexual youth and adults via the Trevor Project: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/guide/how-to-support-bisexual-youth/
Bi.org (media, influences, authors, and more): https://bi.org/en