My mixtape: Sans Soucis’ 10 vital queer and trans artists you need to hear

In May 2026 our Royal Festival Hall played host to a special live performance of a landmark album – Bronski Beat’s The Age of Consent – reimagined through the voices of queer and trans artists.

A piece of musical and political history, Bronski Beat’s debut album offered an unashamed portrait of radical queerness in mid 1980s Britain. A beacon of hope for a disenfranchised generation, a pivotal moment in LGBTQIA+ cultural history, and, not least, an absolute banger of an album; a synth-pop sensation that gave us ‘Smalltown Boy’ and ‘Why’.

Among the artists helping to bring the album to life here at the Southbank Centre was Sans Soucis. Winner of an Ivor Novello Award for ‘Best Contemporary Song’ for 2025’s ‘Circumnavigating Georgia’ Sans Soucis in Italo-Congolese singer-songwriter and producer based in London. An advocate for marginalized voices, with particular focus on the intersection between people from the global majority and the LGBTQIA+ Sans Soucis’ personal journey can be traced through their music, a blend of alternative R&B, electronica, and folk with themes of identity, queer joy, and childhood trauma.

Ahead of their appearance within The Age of Consent, Sans Soucis kindly put together this playlist of 10 queer and trans artists who have inspired them, and who you really need to hear. And threw in a track of their own along the way. Listen to the mixtape, and then find out why each artist matters to Sans Soucis below.

‘Can I’ – Kehlani

Kehlani is one of my favourite artists and this album is probably part of my self care kit for how many times I’ve listened to it. I’m a huge R&B baby, but growing up I struggled to see myself in many of the stories that were told by my favourite artists. Artists like Kehlani are truly healing and liberating.

‘Bad Habit’ – Steve Lacey

This is just one of the many songs I love by Steve Lacey. His music, personality, and art were definitely an inspiration on my gender affirming journey.

‘KISSING IN PUBLIC’ – DESTIN CONRAD

I love how unapologetic Destin Conrad is about being gay and out. In the same way that I feel about Kehlani, and how Bronski Beat represented in the 1980s, these messages of love and protest remind us that we are valid and that we exist, beyond fear (and that we are sexy).

‘BBY ROMEO’ – rusowsky, Ralphie Choo

Everytime I hear music that inspires me and catches my ear I research the artists and producers involved, and there’s always a very high chance they are queer. I think Ralphie Choo in particular is one of the most original artists I’ve come across in the past few years. As queer people we’re constantly pushed to use our creativity to find safety, joy, often dignity, and this definitely has an impact on the way we craft our music.

‘LUNCH’ – Billie Eilish

I’m very happy this song exists.

‘trans’ – Sans Soucis

This is one of the first songs I wrote after embracing my trans experience. It’s a mix of intuitive lyrics and mumbling as I was literally trying to find the words to describe what I was experiencing at the time. I love how raw this song is; that’s how I felt.

‘girl, get up’ – Doechii feat. SZA

How can you not love Doechi?! She’s single handedly soundtracking my life and of course she’s excellent and queer.

‘NEVE SULLE JORDAN’ – Mahmood (feat. Capo Plaza)

I was born and raised in Italy, so I wanted to shout out one of my favourite queer artists from the Italian music scene. Mahmood is a superstar and I hope I’ll get to see him perform live soon, because this album was a lifeline to me.

‘Mémoire des ailes’ – Christine and the Queens

Rahim was my gay awakening, I’m sure I’m not alone here. He also paved the way for me to access my gender and embrace my transness. 

‘Time’ – Arca

Arca is one of the most important artists of our time. Her way of reimagining reality, through emotions and sounds that speak to our community, is wizardry. Every time I listen to Arca’s music I feel inspired to be myself. And this is what I believe a great artist and producer should do.

‘STAY WITH ME!’ – Tiberius b

I recently discovered Tiberius b after we played a gig together. I am obsessed!