Pride Month may have reached the end for this year, but queer voices and artistry still continue to resonate with audiences both nationwide and globally.
Here in the Philippines, though LGBTQIA+ representation and inclusion haven’t reached the heights that many Filipinos have wanted, it’s clear that the community’s creative output is as vibrant and vital as ever. In music, in particular, queer artists have long been pushing boundaries, challenging norms, and creating deeply personal, resonant work — often without the mainstream spotlight they deserve. Many of these artists are crafting songs that speak of identity, resistance, desire, heartbreak, and joy, all while navigating an industry that (still) rarely gives them center stage.
It’s important to remember that visibility in music isn’t just about representation, but it’s also about access, support, and sustainability. Many queer musicians, especially those operating independently, face hurdles that go beyond the usual challenges of making it in the industry. From limited funding and exposure to systemic barriers in labels, media, and booking circuits, a plethora of these artists often rely on grassroots communities and digital platforms to get their work heard. And yet, despite the odds, they still continue to create music that is bold, honest, and even transformative.
So as we close out Pride Month, Billboard Philippines is spotlighting eight underrated Filipino queer musicians whose music you should absolutely be listening to even as the next few months and years go by. Whether you’re into dreamy bedroom pop, genre-bending hip-hop, gritty punk, or dance floor-ready anthems, these artists offer a kaleidoscope of queer perspectives and sounds that deserve more ears and more love.
Dom Guyot
Dom Guyot is someone who you could describe as brazen. Blending an eclectic mix of genres with a seamless flair, this outspoken pop diva has always been loud and proud about his artistic identity — whether it’s told through heartfelt (if lovelorn) tracks that tackle the complexities of queer love, self-worth, and healing, or the upbeat and anthemic side of his newer releases like “Kabit.”
Drawing from R&B and pop influences, his sound feels both intimate and cinematic — a lush backdrop for lyrics that are often brutally honest and unapologetically tender. His debut album, Unbeloved, not only showcased his vocal range but also his ability to craft songs that feel both deeply personal and universally resonant, making space for queer vulnerability on the mic and doing it with polish and poise.
Pette Shabu
Pette Shabu is one of those rare musical shapeshifters whose work feels like a collage of influences, comprised of electronic pulses, ambient textures, and cryptic poetry (delivered in a striking style of hip-hop), all folded into one. Their overall sound is one that heavily defies categorization — and that’s precisely the point with their craft.
Well-renowned as a frequent collaborator in the Manila underground and experimental scene, Pette uses music as both a playground and a weapon, challenging listeners to unlearn and reimagine. The queerness in their work isn’t just in each track’s subject matter — it’s evidently embedded in how they break rules, distort expectations, and refuse easy definition within their discography.
Pixie Labrador
If soft catharsis had a sound, it might just be Pixie Labrador. Her music blends the sincerity of bedroom pop with lo-fi angst, channeling vulnerability into fuzzed-out guitar riffs, aching melodies, and lyrics that cut deep.
With a distinctly DIY spirit, Pixie crafts songs that feel like diary entries turned anthems, resulting in a series of tracks that are equally raw, messy, but still achingly real. She’s part of a new wave of queer indie musicians who understand that sometimes the most radical act is simply telling your story as it is. And given what she has been able to achieve with her latest EP, Someone, Pixie has proven that showcasing melancholy with a sense of earnestness is perhaps what is most universally resonant.
Stef Aranas
Stef Aranas has gone a long way in evolving her sound over the past few years. Despite building up a minimalist but magnetic acoustic folk discography in the early years of the pandemic, this pop diva has evolved her craft into a collection of empowering and unapologetically loud queer pop gems that are as feisty as they are titilating.
Aranas’ new era has seen her collaborate with the likes of several LGBTQIA+ icons, including M1ss Jade So and Sassa Gurl, allowing her to represent the community with a series of bold anthems that really speak to a new generation of queer artists and audiences. What she has showcased is merely the beginning of what she’s capable of — with a whole lot more in store from her artistry.
IIICCCYYY
Cool, futuristic, and dripping in attitude, IIICCCYYY (also known as Sepia Times’ Elisha Ang) is redefining what queer Filipino pop can sound like. With the use of glitchy beats, hyperpop sensibilities, and fashion-forward visuals to match, her unique discography sits at the edge of digital culture and emotional honesty.
Songs like Habit” and “Pretty Pretty” are as playful as they are poignant, merging internet aesthetics with a lived queer experience that is both hyper-specific and instantly relatable. With all these songs she’s built up, it’s clear that she’s pushing a new era of Filipino pop forward, one that’s allowed her to become recognized not merely as a performer, but as a vibe, a mood board, and a movement, all rolled into one. For sure, your indie-adjacent friends have already added her songs to their playlists.
Paul Pablo
Paul Pablo is one of those artists who always manages to bring a burst of queer joy and drama to the Philippine pop scene. Hailing from Davao, he fuses VisPop influences with electro-pop production and striking visuals, creating music that’s as danceable as it is deeply rooted in cultural pride.
His tracks often explore themes of empowerment, desire, and self-celebration, which are all delivered with a theatrical flair and vocal charisma that are quite unique to his caliber. Yet aside from that, what ultimately makes Paul stand out is his ability to balance fun and feeling, offering queer anthems that are both infectious and affirming — easily giving it a home for listeners to resonate with.
Geiko
Geiko crafts musical dreamscapes that often feel like those intimate late-night conversations with your inner self. The Pangasinan indie artist’s sound is a special blend of indie electronica, R&B, and ambient textures (sometimes even with folk elements) that evokes a sense of nocturnal introspection — one where emotion swells and fades like waves.
With a voice that glides effortlessly over synths and soft beats, she croons her heart out about intimacy, identity, and the quiet ache of existing between spaces. Even with her willingness to explore her sound even further, Geiko’s music feels both otherworldly and deeply grounded, making it the perfect soundtrack for navigating queer or even straight emotional terrains.
Novocrane
If you haven’t listened to Novocrane, you’re undoubtedly missing out. This genre-blurring project by Kai Sevillano has resulted in music that sits at the intersection of indie rock, shoegaze, and post-punk — all layered with raw energy and a distinct queer edge. With haunting vocals and heavy atmospherics, her sound feels like a storm brewing just beneath the surface.
There’s a sense of defiance in their distortion, and even beauty in the chaos. With what Sevillano has accomplished in a discography that’s still building up, her presence in the scene challenges not just sonic boundaries but also the expectations of what queer representation in heavier genres can look and sound like. And with just how great her music is, it’s almost impossible to ignore.