Hayley Kiyoko on ‘incredible’ wave of LGBTQ women in music: ‘A win for one is a win for all’

Words: Jamie Tabberer

Hayley Kiyoko has reflected on the “win” that is the new generation of LGBTQ women in music, enthusing: “It’s about time.”

The ‘For the Girls’ singer came out publicly as a lesbian when she first addressed same-sex love on her 2015 EP This Side of Paradise, which went viral.

Since then, a wave of queer women – from ‘Boyfriend’ singer Dove Cameron to ‘You Stupid B****’ singer Girl In Red – have found huge success.

Hayley pictures: Jack Alexander; fashion director Joseph Kocharian; Anastasia Busch

Meanwhile the career of Tinashe, with whom Hayley was in 00s girl band The Stunners, has also gone from strength to strength.

“My goal was just to be mainstream”

Speaking in a new interview with Attitude, Hayley said: “A win for one is a win for all — it’s incredible.” She added: “I’m grateful that our queerness is being normalised. I’m glad they’re getting airtime, support and love. It’s about time!”

Reflecting on her own career, the star continued: “My goal was just to be mainstream, which was pop, popular, and not just be ‘other’.” 

On her new album Panoramic, which is out now, she said: “Every song has its own lane, feeling, expression. I have a song called ‘Sugar at the Bottom’, which is very cheeky, and ‘Underground’, which covers depression. It’s all over the board.”

She added: “I’m living my authentic truth and sharing my present experiences. I know myself way better than the first go around. That thread is confidence, assurance. This is what I’m saying: ‘I want to be heard.'”

Read Hayley’s full interview in the Attitude September/October issue, available to download and order in print now and will be on newsstands from Thursday 4 August.

Dove Cameron photo credit: Kristen Jan Wong
Girl In Red photo credit: Wiki