TRANSA, Red Hot Org (7/10)

On 11/22/24, Red Hot Org released Transa, the three-years-in-the-making compilation with contributions from over 100 indie artists in support of trans and non-binary artists. Big names include Sade with a tribute to her trans son, Jeff Tweedy, Faye Webster, Bill Callahan, Pharoah Sanders, Perfume Genius, Alan Sparhawk (Low), Adrienne Lenker, Sam Smith, Hunter Schafer, Eileen Myles, Beverly Glenn-Copeland, and Laraaji among a bajillion others. There's a lot to digest here, especially since the compilation album of covers and originals is 8 discs, 46 songs, and nearly 4 hours. 

First, I'll start with the concept, which I think is so wonderful. I don't know it's just awesome to see so many small and big names in the indie community come out in vocal support of trans people and voices, especially since nearly all of them have posted long paragraphs about it on social media too. That said, I don't particularly understand exactly what the concept is -- namely I guess the relationship btwn trans and cis artists. For example, why does André 3000 have a super long ambient track? He's cis I think lol, so idk part of me was just kinda like why. To me it seems the exact concept isn't 100% fleshed out since I also can't find that many descriptions of what exactly the project is, but still I respect and have a lot of love for this comp despite this. It's fine maybe for the concept to not be super fleshed out, but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ food for thought. 

Second, the music. I do have to say, and this leans conceptually as well, that I question the lack of range of genre a bit. Nearly the entirety of the comp is ethereal ambient/indie folk, and while I think that sets a nice reflective mood, I just was thinking about people like Juliana Huxtable or SOPHIE I guess and a whole nother side of trans music that doesn't feel represented here. And then to the actual music itself, there's some good stuff for sure but a lot that I was just meh on also. Hard cuz there's so much but I think musically I'd give this album a 6/10, but the concept/scale really ramp it up to a 7/10 for me. My heart does swell and I feel honored to be in such a rich tradition of artistry that's being spotlighted here. I know I'm being critical but mostly I feel really happy that this album exists and that trans people exist and that I exist. 

Fav tracks: Please Tell Me, How Sweet I Roamed, Aaron, Mourning Dove