What is Lavender Sound?
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In 2022, I started what’s become a two-plus year break from publishing music criticism. Now, I’m returning having realized something dumbfoundingly obvious.
Around 2018 and 2019 when I was pitching all the time, if I was looking for a devoted LGBTQ+ publication where I could write about music, I would pitch Out, Advocate, and them. Out and Advocate barely covered music then and all but ignore it now, and them’s artist features are interesting but limited. And when music-focused publications cover music by LGBTQ+ folks, the person writing about it isn’t always themselves LGBTQ+.
Somehow, there’s no publication dedicated to writing about music by LGBTQ+ people (okay, and the pop girlies too), with the writing itself by and for LGBTQ+ people. Lavender Sound will be that publication.
Why stick around?
I envision Lavender Sound as a community of LGBTQ+ music fans — you, the reader, and me, a writer, but also, in due time, other writers whom I pay to bring you the best takes and writing on music by LGBTQ+ people (and, again, also the pop girlies because their fanbase is by and large LGBTQ+ folks — i can’t find that one meme that’s like “the government invented gay people so that pop musicians would have fans” so here’s this instead).
Know anyone who might want to write for Lavender Sound? Hit me up.
What exactly will Lavender Sound cover?
I want us to focus on how the sounds we love make us feel, that sensation of constantly hitting the replay button, the way the best songs make us want to dance or shout along without any shame. Where lots of music criticism centers what a work of music means — which is important, don’t get me wrong, but music isn’t a scholarly experience, it’s just plain fun — Lavender Sound will focus on something more accessible: How music moves us, in every sense of the word.
I’m equally interested in LGBTQ+ artists using music to explore their relationships with the world and the fact that profound lyrics mean nothing without music that hits that instant-gratification button. I’m also interested in unforgettable melodies and top-notch production that transform the dumbest fucking lyrics into something that makes you feel alive and fun and just good again. I mean, have you heard “Espresso”?
Why does Lavender Sound require a paid subscription?
I’m asking that all subscribers pay to access Lavender Sound so that I can eventually bring in other writers and pay them for their work.
Important disclaimer: I initially wanted to charge only $1 per month, with folks who can afford more covering other folks’ subscriptions. However, quite frustratingly, Substack mandates that I charge at least $5 per month or $30 per year (which breaks down to $2.50 per month), so that’s what I’m able to offer. I’ve chosen Substack after much consideration too — its tools for newsletter customization, reader chat, and testing emails before they go out (among other functions) make a world of difference.
Can I follow Lavender Sound on social media?
Yes! We’re on Instagram @thelavendersound and on Bluesky @lavendersound.bsky.social.
Thank you so much for being here. It means the world to me.
To learn more about the tech platform that powers this publication, visit Substack.com.
