The Art of Softness- Kehlani
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Image courtesy of Pari Dukovic / The New Yorker, May 8, 2020
Queer artistry has always existed, but it wasn’t openly celebrated. In recent years, however, the industry has begun to shift, where listeners demand constant representation and inclusivity and more artists are rising to meet the demand. Among the most influential is Kehlani. She’s unapologetically and beautifully queer.
Kehlani Parrish, born in California, first stepped into the industry in 2019. She was a member of a band before and later branched out into a solo career. Her career quickly captured attention on Soundcloud and then everywhere. Sold-out tours marked her career with Grammy nominations and the collaborations with big names in the industry gained her commercial recognition, but her true legacy lies in speaking the truth out loud and clear. Kehlani identifies as queer and non-binary. She uses both "she" and "they" pronouns. When almost all the industries were dominated by other representations, leaving a tiny space for other experiences. Kehlani is changing that tradition by including queer love and relationships in her music and in her lyrics. Their 2017 single Honey is about women loving women, she sings it with such tenderness. More recently, songs like Melt from their 2022 album Blue Water Road paint lifelike pictures of queer intimacy, grounding it in everyday beauty.
There is nothing to apologize for
Music Kehlani HD wallpaper by miroha, via Alpha Coders. Free for private, personal use
For her queer fans, she sings out loud, “there’s nothing to apologize for, nothing to dilute.” She made her listeners not outsiders, but someone who lives the story. Kehlani creates music without altering queerness. She sings about desire and the joy of embracing your identity. She represents imperfections as a strength, every song of hers speaks about self-care and loving who you are, singing it as a necessary part of living rather than a weakness. For queer communities, where mental health struggles are obviously common due to the pressure from society, this honesty is like a warm hug. Words hold power. Her words hold higher power. Her voice carries far beyond queer spaces alone. Her collaborations with mainstream artists like Justin Bieber, Cardi B and Zedd took her music into every group of people. All kinds of love need to hear her lyrics loud and clear, the meaning they hold is absolutely alluring.
Kehlani and her daughter Adeya Kehlani/Instagram
Mother
Her love songs are not just about love, they are about healing and growing internally. Her artistry is advanced and continuously evolving. She resists being reduced to representation alone. Expand conversations about love and identity rather than boxing them is what she is showing us. Another defining aspect of Kehlani's life is the way she manages being a mother. And the way she navigates parenthood. In 2019, she gave birth to her daughter and ever since then, she has been very open about the challenges she faces and the way she handles them. The queer parenting has often been riddled with stereotypes, yet Kehlani shows a different possibility. She sees queerness as a guide, not a separation from family life.
Image courtesy of Atlantic Records / Amoeba Music. Kehlani – Blue Water Road [Teal Vinyl].
Kehlani has been fully herself without erasing any part of her, opens doors for the next generation who seek constant validation from society. She is more than a singer, more than a performer, she is an excellent storyteller who refuses to separate art from truth. For queer fans, her music is a lifeline, a reminder that love, desire and family can be sung in all their fullness. Kehlani is making queerness a part of the main story.
Kehlani never encourages loudness to prove queerness, her visibility feels radical in its softness. She lives it, the queerness. Every lyric, every video, every choice she makes reflects a quiet, confident truth. It feels so natural, almost like not asking permission to exist.
Queerness in music is not a trend, it is a revolution. But it’s still in progress. Artists like Kehlani made the stage wide open. As Kehlani continues to evolve, she’s making even the most average powerful. The most powerful we can ever be is being ourselves fully. Kehlani’s legacy will help many realize the power within. Through every verse and confession, Kehlani proves that vulnerability can be the loudest kind of power, one that transforms pain into release.
Imaya is a student of professional writing expected to graduate in 2026. Her writing is grounded in empathy, reminding readers that no one is genuinely alone in their challenges, everyone has their own moments that resonate with each other’s experiences. She works to ensure that even the most ignored voices are acknowledged and appreciated. Aiming to be a lecturer in English literature, she wishes her words to foster connection, equality, and understanding among diverse groups.
