Words by Taryn Patterson, Writer

Queer Pop has a new icon and that is the one and only Chappell Roan. Her first ever single, ‘Pink Pony Club’, immediately threw her into the spotlight for queer audiences. Chappell wrote ‘Pink Pony Club’ after her first ever experience at a gay club after moving to Los Angeles at 17. The song opens, ‘I know you wanted me to stay / But I can’t ignore the crazy versions of me in LA / And I heard that there’s a special place / Where boys and girls can all be queens every single day.’

Raised in a strict, religious town in Missouri, Roan explains ‘I grew up thinking gay was bad and a sin. I went to the gay club once and it was so impactful, like magic’. Listening to Pink Pony Club, you can feel the joy and freedom that Roan found in gay clubs. The music video captures this sense of freedom and the confidence that Roan gained from the queer communities in LA. It opens with a shy Roan on stage at what looks like a dive bar in the US. She stands out from the patrons in her fringe-covered, bedazzled, playsuit, cowboy boots and hat, and you watch as she slowly gains confidence in her performance and starts to dance around the bar. Both the song and the video show Chappell’s feelings of finding confidence in her queer identity and learning to be unapologetically queer.

After the release of ‘Pink Pony Club’, Chappell was dropped from her label as they saw her as being ‘too much’. She then had to move back to Missouri, feeling as though she failed. Of course, this was only the start. With a taste of life in LA and a successful single, despite what her label told her, Chappell began work on her album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwestern Princess.

Chappell extends this playfulness to her fans, encouraging them to dress up with her! Each of her shows has a different theme inspired by one of the songs on her album. Some of her shows are set to a pink, cowboy theme while others encourage her audience to come dressed up for a slumber party. Either way, Roan’s intent is inclusivity and fun. She is especially aware that her concerts are a place where people can participate in dressing up and celebrating their sexuality when they may not feel safe doing so elsewhere. Being from the Midwest, Roan is keenly aware that it is still not safe to be queer everywhere. She explains that, while those on the coast might not be as aware of the dangers, ‘I’m from southern Missouri. I’m travelling through a lot of conservative states. It’s so real there. For that show specifically, and in the South, I hired extra security. I wanted to make sure that no one was going to fuck with anyone. Because if I’m going to promote a safe space for queer people, it’s got to be a safe space for queer people’. Roan also dedicates a portion of all of her ticket sales to queer charities as she believes she has a duty to give back to those who have given so much to her.

Chappell Roan is thus more than your average pop star. She is keenly aware of the history of the queer community that came before her and does all she can to give back to those who support her. Her dazzling debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, is only the beginning of her and her success. She is the queer icon that so many queer people (especially queer women) have been waiting for. And remember, whatever you do, ‘Never waste a Friday night on a first date’ with a man wearing ‘fugly jeans’ because you deserve to be with ‘A Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl’ like Chappell!

Get on Your Knees For Chappell Roan