The release of singer-songwriter LP’s latest album Lost on You comes as her success in the United States is just beginning to catch up to her popularity overseas. Her song “Lost on You” has topped charts in eight countries, including France, Greece and Israel — and peaked at No. 4 on the Adult Alternative Songs chart. The album is full display of her unique, raw music that finds her unafraid to explore her wide vocal range — and throw in some of her trademark high-pitched, artfully placed whistles now and again. Her distinct sound and impressive voice led The Advocate to dub her the ‘Next Great Lesbian Singer‘ in May.
While she is open about her identity as a lesbian woman (“If you don’t know I’m gay within five seconds of looking at me, I’m like…have you been outside of your house?”), she says she doesn’t like to be “consumed” with that fact, or let it be the first thing she communicates to people. Still, she has been influenced and inspired by the careers and actions of several famous lesbian women, from Ellen DeGeneres to Rachel Maddow, and put together a list of her top six lesbian pop culture moments as part of our 30 Days of Pride celebration. While they may not be direct influences, the strong, unapologetic women reflect what she admires most in others.
“I think I have my own way of trying to make the world more accepting, and I think all of these people have their own way,” she says. “Being myself and just not changing myself to fit what other people would have me look like or act like, that’s the only thing I can do — and I think all of the people on this list have done the same.”
Although they are all bound together by their ties to the LGBTQ community, her list ultimately reflects a group of talented, well-rounded individuals that have changed — in subtle and not so subtle ways — how lesbian women are perceived.
“To me, they’re iconic,” she says.