You heard it from Midwest emo first: Ohio is for lovers. Especially music lovers!
Given that Columbus is a queer haven in the Midwest, it only makes sense to shout out the Columbus queer music scene. Meet 20 talented musicians and bands that span the spectrum of genre, gender, and sexuality.
These genres are grouped broadly and this is by no means a comprehensive list––only proof that Columbus’ queer community is full of talent. If you see any of these bands or musicians on the events calendar of a local venue, you’re in for a fun show!
DJ Pastel
Synth, Electronic, EDM, and Experimental
If you've been out in Columbus, chances are your ears have been graced by the rhythms of Pastel Bryant, a.k.a. DJ Pastel. Her talents don't end at music, Pastel is also a chef and co-founder of Seeded Events along with her partner, Gabrielle Santiago.
If you enjoy ethereal synth and experimental electronic, you’ll love Moxy Martinez. The digital composer creates soundscapes that they describe as “space textures.” Catch them performing live on festival stages, in art galleries, and everywhere in between.
Few things chill me out when I’m stressed better than synth piano music, so Lisa Bella Donna is a perennial listen. Her official title is “sound alchemist,” and in her studio, packed to the gills with modular synths, she makes sonic gold.
Veronica Violence’s brand of self-described blend of “pop-punk guitars + hyperpop vocals + dubstep bass” is the rare kind of music that’s equally ideal for dancing and vegging on the couch. Which is to say, a sound for all seasons and moods.
Follow your ears to the “mix of house, techno, EBM, and a heavy dose of dark disco and synthy sensibilities” that describes the music at Melanie Pagiani’s newest monthly dance event, Disco Fatale. Wear your dancing shoes!
deion genesis, aka deionyx, can do everything from effervescent synth to darkwave dance. They describe their latest work as a “summer closing diary entry dedicated to venusian beings, those who participate in glamour magic or anyone looking for love from within.”
If you don’t feel compelled to dance while listening to Stevie Zeven, check your pulse. The experimental electronic and industrial techno beats go straight from the ears to the feet, animating even the stiffest and most reluctant denizens of the dancefloor.
AKA dj galen, AKA recovery girl makes hardcore experimental rave music that makes even the most enthralling night at the club even more so. In addition to dropping underground hyperpop bangers, they capturing nature soundscapes to incorporate into their work—giving even the most techy effects a dynamic grounding effect.
The Scratches. Photo by Mitchell Multimedia.
Punk, Rock, Screamo, Midwest Emo, and Metal
With a melodic and pop-punk sound comprised of a shredding bass and three-part harmonies, it’s no wonder The Scratches are so sonically addictive. The band is a fixture around the Columbus music scene, having been in the game for more than a decade—and they’re still going strong.
Forget sugar, spice, and everything nice—MethMatics take the stage with glitz, glam, and bubblegum pop-punk jams. The band completes the vibe with the lead singer rocking a princess dress, but don’t let the sparkles fool you: the band goes hard with a sound that brings the best of 70s punk to the modern age.
If you love singing along with the band, you’ll adore Lustkill. Each song has catchy pop-punk beats with witty, laugh-out-loud lyrics that’ll have you shouting the words. Like a blend of The Ramones and Blink-182, Lustkill has all the verve and fun to make every show a memorable one.
The band calls itself a “connoisseur of high strangeness,” with its blend of psychedelic, progressive metal, and shoegaze that takes listeners on a sonic journey through high-energy tracks to more contemplative songs. All the elements combine for a cohesive listen that feels as satisfying as it is revelatory.
In Mörr Azbeztoz, the only thing that shreds harder than the band’s furious guitar is the lead singer’s vocal chords, making them a screamo band you don’t want to miss. If high-energy thrashing—and possibly a mosh—is your scene, wear your toughest boots and remember to keep your elbows in.
Vulning has all the best of progressive black metal: multiple guitars tearing it up, rapid-fire drums, a heavy-hitting bass, and raw, emotive vocals that make your own throat tighten just listening to. Their atmospheric openings that build into metal thrashing over 11-minute tracks take listeners on a dark, moody aural roller coaster—and just as thrilling.
Following the musical legacy of Riot grrrl, girl songs is a feminist and anti-fascist pop-punk band with high-energy beats, belted melodies, and searing lyrics that are nothing if not honest. The vibe is girls, gays, and theys to the front, always.
Photo courtesy of Good Reverend.
Alt, Country, Crooning, Singer/Songwriters and Multi-Instrumentalists
With a blend of indie alt-rock and folk, listening to Good Reverend will take you to church in the sonic sense. They’re like an upbeat tent revival where the fire and brimstone is the passion pouring off the bandmembers and the audience cutting a rug in enjoyment of the show.
Weepy Moe Reen is a country folk crooner who’ll break your heart with those gorgeous, soul-wrenching, high lonesome notes and will have it back together by the song's end. I can’t tell you where all the cowboys have gone, but the cowtheys are right here in town.
Candi Dragon’s longing vocals, psychedelic guitar, and occasional ukelele combine for a fun, sassy, electric goth sound. Add to that the upbeat bass and lyrics about coming out as a trans woman, and you’ve got a soul-searching album that’s as poetic as it is catchy.
Don’t sleep on this rapper, singer, and multi-instrumentalist—a single listen to one of J. Rosa’s songs is enough to get you hooked. Each one is a radio-worthy bop with lyrics equally inspirational and catchy—listening is like the best pep talk you ever got from the coolest person you ever knew.
Soft, yearning vocals meet heavy power chords and a strong downbeat for a pensive, contemplative rock styling. kitsch’s latest album is titled “Souped Up Phone Demos,” but that’s just classic Midwest humility—kitsch is some of the best experimental music around.
