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Must-Listen: Genderqueer Artist Billy Lloyd's Dark Electro-Pop Explores Identity & David Bowie

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Courtesy of Billy Lloyd

"[Bowie] paved the way for millions of people like me to begin to feel comfortable expressing ourselves in non-heteronormative ways."

Genderqueer artist Billy Lloyd is a star rising.

Having recently moved to NYC from London, Lloyd has already gained a loyal fan base, even cleverly naming their backup singers "Billy Goats."

Lloyd (who goes by gender-neutral pronouns) has been surrounded by music their entire life. They started to play the piano at the age of six, experimented with looping systems at 10, and then eventually developing their own unique sound--which they now refer to as "dark electro-pop."

Lloyd's music is heavily influenced by electric and computer-generated sounds that play underneath carefully constructed lyrics. The result is a futuristic and often ominous tone that swells with intensity during the course of each song. The music becomes immediately captivating as layered notes find harmony together for a euphonious listening experience.

But the visual and musical creativity of Lloyd truly shines in his album Who ( / / / ), which draws inspiration from the late David Bowie.

"After Bowie's passing, I was inspired to cover my favorite song of his and show how influential he was in shaping my sense of identity," Lloyd tells Out . "How he paved the way for millions of people like me to begin to feel comfortable expressing ourselves in non-heteronormative ways, I felt it fit in with the narrative perfectly."

The EP further explores identity with tracks like "Mirrors," "Infected," and "Fake." But it's Llyod's harrowing cover of Bowie's "Heroes" that leaves listeners memorized.

This only the beginning of Lloyd's epic year. The other week they kicked off their world tour at Joe's Pub in NYC and is now traveling over North America and Europe to perform.

Check out ticket information on Lloyd's website and listen to "Fake" below:

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