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- Artist Spotlight 4th Edition: Lavender Gilliam✨ 💋
Artist Spotlight 4th Edition: Lavender Gilliam✨ 💋
Discover pop's newest obsession!
Blacknalt
April 26, 2025
Blacknalt Artist Spotlight 4th Edition: Lavender Gilliam
Introduction
In a world where blending in is the norm, a bold few dare to stand out, disrupt expectations, and carve their own paths. Welcome to Blacknalt’s ARTIST SPOTLIGHT—a platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of rising BIPOC musicians who are reshaping the alternative music landscape.
Music has never been one-size-fits-all, and neither are the artists we highlight. While we embrace the alternative spirit, our spotlight isn’t confined to a single genre. From the electrifying riffs of rock to the hypnotic beats of K-pop, the soul-stirring melodies of R&B, the raw emotion of indie, and everything in between, we celebrate the innovators, the rule-breakers, and the storytellers who challenge the status quo.
This series is more than just a showcase—it’s a movement. It’s about recognizing the cultural depth, artistry, and resilience of BIPOC musicians who are pushing sonic boundaries and bringing fresh perspectives to the music industry. Each feature dives deep into their creative journeys, struggles, triumphs, and the influences that shape their sound.
So, whether you’re looking for your next favorite artist or simply love discovering music that defies expectations, Blacknalt’s ARTIST SPOTLIGHT is your front-row seat to the future of sound. Stay tuned, because these artists aren’t just making music—they’re making history.
Listen to the artist spotlight playlist here:
This is Lavender Gilliam!
Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from, and what do you create?
My name is Lavender Gilliam! I am from Mississippi! I create whatever music comes to mind! I’m very experimental and identify as such. If it’s rap, digicore, electropop, especially hyper pop! I don’t limit myself in what I do when it comes to making music for fun!
What first inspired you to start making music?
I’ve always wanted to be a singer or artist so badly as a child. I would do choir as a child, and I still do choir now! Sadly, I’ve gotten discouraged by myself and others not to emerge. I used to want to be a K-pop or J-pop idol in my early teens. I love J-pop so much but understood how “perfect” you had to be. Honestly, young artists like Walkingintrusivethought, Cortisa Star, and Ceechyna gave me the motivation to actually do it, and I love them all. I learned it’s either now or never, and it doesn’t hurt to make something of myself now.
How would you describe your sound in three words?
Weird, intriguing, experimental
What’s a dream collaboration for you?
I have so many; it’s not even funny. But I will definitely say that first on my list is Cortisa Star! I love their music, and they are so real!
Lavender has always been a color I loved (even if it’s just light purple). I think of myself as the color rather than the flower because I don’t really calm you down. Gilliam is the last name I took from my boyfriend. I needed a last name because there are millions of Lavenders. I needed an artist's “government name,” you know! I chose that because it has a nice ring to it, reminds me of Scott Pilgrim, and sounds like a character from there.
Who are your biggest musical influences, and how have they shaped your style?
CAPSULE, walkinginstrusivethought, and Cortisa Star
Was there a specific moment when you knew you wanted to pursue music seriously?
I've always wanted to be an artist since I was little, but young artists around my age like Ceechyna, Walkingintrusivethought, and Cortisa Star have really inspired me to just go for it; I have nothing to lose.
What’s something you wish more people understood about being an up-and-coming artist?
Not everyone is perfect or going to be on tune the first time! Not everyone is going to have a viral hit with their first song that they post, or they may have! Who knows, but music-making isn’t just for the extremely talented! You can grow with your music!
What message or impact do you hope to leave with your music?
I hope I impact people to live their true selves and not to limit what you can do, and live your authentic lives!
What’s next for you? Any upcoming projects or releases?
Only time can tell what’s good for me! I just released a remix of "Weaponized Incompetence" by Walkingintrusivethought, featuring verses by me! I have a few projects in my drafts that I’m working on, but I’m also working on a song called "Virgo x Capricorn" (hint: I’m the Virgo).
Conclusion
Lavender Gilliam is a true artist of her craft—unapologetically bold, refreshingly experimental, and deeply intentional. She exists in a lane entirely her own, crafting music that refuses to be boxed in by genre or expectation. With fun, genre-blending beats that flirt with alt-pop, funk, R&B, and glitchy dreamscapes, she creates sonic experiences that feel as much like a vibe as they do a statement. Her lyrics oscillate between sharp wit and raw emotion, offering listeners a mirror into their own complexity. There’s a freedom in her sound—a playful rebellion that invites us to let go of perfection and embrace what’s real.
But Lavender’s artistry doesn’t stop at the sound. Her visual world is an extension of her mind: lush, surreal, and often tinged with a rebellious softness. Think iridescent lighting, sculptural silhouettes, and lo-fi imagery that feels like a fever dream you want to live in. Each visual choice—from fashion to set design to social media storytelling—is meticulously curated to reflect her inner world. It’s an aesthetic rooted in honesty, eccentricity, and control of her own narrative.
More than just an artist, Lavender is a curator of culture, a storyteller, and a provocateur. She’s not chasing trends—she’s creating blueprints for a future where Black alt creatives are centered, celebrated, and given the freedom to be as weird, soft, wild, and loud as they want to be. In a music landscape that often prizes marketability over individuality, Lavender Gilliam is a breath of fresh, neon air.
Her presence signals a shift—toward something more fluid, more fearless, and more deeply felt. Whether she’s performing online or dropping a single on SoundCloud in the middle of the night, she leaves an impression that lingers. Lavender Gilliam isn’t just rising—she’s redefining what it means to rise. A movement in motion. A force to be reckoned with. And undoubtedly, an artist to watch.
Follow Lavender Gilliam on all Platforms
That’s a wrap for this edition!
Thank you for joining us in another issue of Blacknalt. We hope the stories, insights, and perspectives we’ve shared today have inspired, informed, and entertained you. As always, we’re committed to bringing you the latest and greatest from the alternative spaces where people of color are making waves.
Until next time, keep supporting, keep creating, and keep shining in your own unique way. We’ll be back soon with more stories that need to be told.
Stay weird, stay real, and as always—stay Blacknalt.
With love and respect,
The Blacknalt Team