Coke Studio and GAY TIMES are collaborating for the second year running to celebrate upcoming queer talent as part of our new music Breakthrough campaign; an ongoing campaign that gives unsigned LGBTQIA+ musicians and allies, within the UK and Ireland, the opportunity to break into the industry. We all know it’s not easy to get into a new career without some help. So, we’ve teamed up with Coke Studio to connect hand-selected talented queer acts and allies as part of our Breakthrough series, bringing must-needed new unsigned artists to wider audiences.
Last year, we documented the musical journey of Celaviedmai, Callum Crighton, Lleo, and Keanan as our first-time Breakthough acts. Now get ready for our brilliant class of 2024. Music is all about celebrating and authenticity and that’s exactly what West Londoner Lordin is all about. Learning from mega acts Frank Ocean, Nicki Minaj and Victoria Monét, the genre-blending act brings Pride to his own stylings of pop, R&B and rap. With a promising cult following on Spotify, Lordin wants to bring his boundless sound to bigger audiences.
We spoke with Lordin to hear more about his favourite LGBTQIA+ artists, the positive impact he hopes to leave on the queer community and why Coke Studio and GAY TIMES’ Breakthrough campaign felt like the right next step. You can catch Lordin performing live this year at a handful of Coke Studio events this summer including Brighton & Hove Pride, Boardmasters and Electric Picnic.
Who inspired you to become an artist?
Nicki Minaj. She’s ridiculously talented and versatile. I’ve always loved her colourful, playful personality and her personality shines through in her music. Similarly, she came from humble beginnings and is a minority in her field of work; she works hard, stays true to herself and inspires me (and millions of others) to never give up.
Who is your favourite LGBTQIA+ artist and why?
Frank Ocean. He’s a musical genius. He came out publicly during a crucial time in my life when I was struggling to come out. Representation is so important, he made me feel seen and less alone; I hope to do the same.
I want to show the LGBTQIA+ community that we deserve to be seen for all that we are. Labels and genres don’t define us. As long as we lead with love, follow our dreams and truly believe in ourselves, anything is possible.
What do you hope to show the LGBTQIA+ community as a musician?
As humans, we’re so multi-faceted. I want to show the LGBTQIA+ community that we deserve to be seen for all that we are. Labels and genres don’t define us. As long as we lead with love, follow our dreams and truly believe in ourselves, anything is possible.
Who’s your favourite album (by a queer artist) album right now?
Victoria Monét; Jaguar II. She’s the real deal, and I find her journey so inspiring.
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What excites you most about the Coke Studio and GAY TIMES Breakthrough campaign?
I’m so grateful for the support from GAY TIMES and Coke and to work with them both is a dream. The team’s creative vision is inspiring and feels amazing to have a group of people behind us. It’s incredible to connect with like-minded artists. To have the opportunity to share stories about our journeys so far, as well as creating new memories celebrating Pride. Being independent can feel quite isolating, so I won’t take that for granted. Most importantly, I can’t wait to get on stage and perform!
