Early Beginnings:
Kim Petras was born on August 27th, 1992, in Cologne, Germany. Growing up in Cologne with her mother, father, and older sister, she would get her first taste of artistry at a young age helping her mother with calligraphy dance routines. Petras would start writing music throughout middle school and learned how to speak English trough listening to Britney Spears.
Petras would make deals across Germany in 2006 after she took to daytime talkshows advocating for the rights of trans youth in Germany in a push to get gender-affirming surgery before the minimum age of 18. After many public appearances advocating for the lowering of the minimum age, access was granted for Petras to get gender-affirming care, which she went through in 2008 at the age of 16. It was reported by the Daily Telegraph that she was at the time the youngest individual in Europe to get gender-affirming surgery.
The Flight To LA:
At 19 Petras moved from Germany to Los Angeles to live with a family friend. In a 2018 interview with DW she would say:
“I flew to LA, where I knew one or maybe two people from the internet,” she told DW in 2018 {2}. “I slept on couches in studios, had little money and just a few contacts.”
To make some side money asshe developed a demo to sell to record labels she would work side gigs in underground music clubs across the Los Angeles area. She would get her first taste of fame the following years after releasing a set of demo songs to Soundcloud and Youtube, which would get her noticed by record producer DJ Class, who would help Petras produce her first two singles “Flight to Pairs” and “Heartbeat”. Both singles would be independantly released by DJ Klass.
Although both songs were quite successful hits on the German pop charts, Petras still struggled to find a proper record label due to her being a transgender woman. She would not get her first major collaborating with a record producer until she was named by Billboard magazine as one of the top music prospects in the scene of that year.
After getting the node from Billboard Petras was scouted by record producer Dr. Luke, signing a publishing deal with Republic Records under his guidance. Throughout the years of 2014–2017, she worked alongside the record producer to release her first official single which was set for August 2017. This is a little song now known as “I Don’t Want It At All”.
Era 1:
Throughout 2017–2019 Kim Petras would release a range of singles now referred to as “Era 1” by her fanbase. Here’s what happened during this era.
I Don’t Want It At All:
Kim Petras’s first single was released on August 1st, 2017. A dance-pop record at its core, this 4-minute song would introduce Petras to the pop world. Upon its release, the song would instantly become a hit on the dance music scene, reaching the top 100 in the dance charts, which it remained throughout the summer of 2017.
A song based around shopping and “teenage girly fun” the music video would be released on October 30th of that year. The music video surrounds looking cute, sugar babies, shopping sprees, and even a cameo from Paris Hilton to shout, the music video would make the song re-enter the Billboard charts for a portion of the following month after its release.
The end of 2017 was a positive note for Petras’s career with her being named the 2017 Rise Artist of the Year by Spotify. In Paper Magazines 2017 “End of the Year” recap, she was named as one of the best unincoming pop artist heading into 2018.
Heart To Break:
Petras’s second major single was released on February 14th, 2018. This record would be the first record of Petras’s to be broadcast on Radio. It debuted on BBC Radio 1 on the 19th of February. A fun and upbeat breakup song it is described by many as the best record of Era 1.
Since the song’s release it has gone on to be one of Petras’s most streamed songs, and the most streamed song of Era 1. In 2020 the song was also featured in season 12 of RuPaul Drag Race in a lip sync between Nicki Doll and Heidi In Closet, the first song of Petras’s to be used in a television show.
Turn Off The Lights Vol 1:
Turn Off The Lights Vol 1 is the first EP by Kim Petras. Released on October 1st, 2018, it is uniquely a Halloween-themed record. Consisting of 8 songs, the album takes a more spooky and macabre twist on normal dance-pop music, produced by Dr. Luke and Lil Aaron, and features a cameo from Elvira to shout.
Sam Manzella of MTV would go on to say this about the EP:
Halloween is queer Christmas. In lieu of providing actual evidence to substantiate that claim, I raise you the title track from Kim Petras’s 2018 EP Turn Off the Light, Vol. 1. The transgender pop star’s collab with Elvira was already a dark, dance-pop banger before the Mistress of the Dark came out of the coffin; now it’s canonical LGBTQ+ excellence. Turn off the light and hit play, ghoulfriend! — Sam Manzella {3}
1,2,3, Dayz Up:
On February 9th, 2019, Kim Petras would release her first collaboration song with Sophie produced by Dr. Luke. The dance-pop record debuted on the Billboard Dance charts immediately upon its release, the first single of Petras’s to do so.
After the release of 1,2,3, Days Up, Petras would release two more singles through the early portion of 2019, these songs are now referred to as the closing part of Era 1.
In March of 2019, Kim Petras would perform as the headliner for the 2019 Sydney Mardi Gras, which is one of the largest LGBTQ festivals in the world. Petras would be the first European Trans Woman to headline the festival. You can watch her 2019 performance below:
Clarity:
After the 2019 Sydney Mardi Gras event Kim Petras announced the release of her first mixtape titled Clarity, which was set to be released in the summer of that year. In preparation for the mixtape, Petras would also announce an accompanying promotional tour set to take place across America leading up to the record’s release.
Clarity was released on June 28th, 2019. It features a runtime of 38 minutes with 12 tracks. An album entirely written by Petras, the dance-pop record dominated the scene throughout the summer of 2019. With its 2000s-inspired pop instrumentals with cute and catchy lyrics about partying, relationships, and girlhood this record would be ranked highly by many promotions. Amiee Clif of The Guardian would say this about the record:
Having studied at the schools of Britney and Christina, Petras sounds like a superstar from a parallel universe. But like collaborator Charli XCX, she experiments at the periphery of mainstream pop, eluding household-name status. {4}
Critiques and industry officials alike were eating up that album like it was the candy Petras was alluding to in the record. By the end of the year, Petras was making public appearances for publications such as Galore, The Gay Times, and Notion. Clarity would be named “One of the best records of 2019” by publications such as Billboard, Uproxx, and The New York Times, with Peatras making the top ten in the latter.
The Broken Tour:
On June 11th, 2019, Petras would embark on her first world tour running from June to September 2019. The tour consisted of two legs, the first spanning from June 11th to July 31st across the US, while the second leg spanned from August 23rd to September 4th in Europe.
This tour included a performance at the Leeds Festival (Petras’s first appearance at a music festival), and the 2019 Manchester Pride event.
Generally, The Broke Tour was well received, with the American portion of the tour being sold out upon the tickets’ release date. With stylish outfits reminiscent of Lady Gaga, with live singing and dancing Petras left the fans feeling entertained for it being a debut tour by an independent artist. Below you can watch clips of Petras at the 2019 Leeds Festival.
Turn Off The Lights The Mixtape:
A year after the release of Turn Off The Lights EP was released, Kim Petras followed it up with Turn Off The Lights The Mixtape. Originally set to be a two-part EP, Petras would announce on September 29th, 2029, that she was “going to release the whole damn story”. The re-released record would include the 8 songs from the previous tape and 9 new songs.
A record dark in nature than Petras’s previous works, this album continues with fun spooky and macabre vibes, mixed with electronic and dance-like production. Drawn reference to earlier works of the likes of Brintey Spears and Daft Punk all in one, many critics praise the 48-minute long record the most unique and creatively sound record of Petras’s so far in her career.
Petras later stated that this record originally was supposed to have another re-release sometime in 2020, however, those plans were ultimately scrapped due to her desire to only release an album if a tour could accompany it. In celebration of the record’s first anniversary, she released the song Party Till I Die, was named one of the best LGBTQ songs of 2020.
Clarity Tour:
She would embark on her second world tour of that same year to celebrate the release of Petras’s two mixtapes. Named the Clarity Tour, the tour comprised 37 shows across two legs. The first leg ran from October 21st to December 8th in North America, while the second in Europe ran from January 24th to February 11th. The tour featured the same overall concept as her previous tour a few months prior, including her new songs from the Turn Off The Lights EP.
In early 2020 it was announced that Petras was set to open Camila Cabello’s 2020 world tour, however, these plans were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020’s Features:
Throughout 2020 Petras would continue making a name for herself in the industry with a wide array of features through the early stages of the pandemic. Through 2020 she would go on to collaborate with artists such as Kygo, The Kid Laroi, and was also featured on the virtual K-pop group K/DA’s 2020 EP alongside Madison Beer.
Future Starts Now:
In August of 2021, Petras would sign an exclusive record deal with Republic Records, in anticipation of her first studio album. The first single released under the new record label was Future Starts Now
Released on August 27th, 2021 the song has gone on to have a weird lifespan since its release. That following month Petras performed the song at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards, the first openly trans artists to do so. In the following months, she would go on a small promotional tour for the song, performing for the European Music Awards, and the Maceys Thanksgiving Parade. Both times being the first trans woman to do so.
Originally intended to be the lead single to Kim Petras’s debut album, Future Starts Now was promoted as such up until a few weeks leading up to the albums release in favour of Coconuts. Weeks leading up to the release of her supposed debut album Problematique, it was announced by Republic Records that the album was set to be scrapped in favour of a new album in the following year. This announcement came as a major shock to Petras’s fans who were desperately waiting for new music from their fav artist.
Coconuts:
Originally teased at the 2021 EMA’s Coconuts became an instant success on TikTok, becoming one of the first ever songs to trend on the site. After much fanfare, the song was officially released on December 3rd, 2021. Since 2021 the song is the most streamed of Petras’s on Spotify and is arguably one of the most successful of Petras’s career, and appeared on season 8 of Ru Paul's Drag Race All Stars. Due to the overwhelming success of the record it was marketed as the lead single of her upcoming debut studio album.
Slut Pop:
Although plans for Petras’s first studio album were put on hold for the foreseeable future, her fanbase would not have to wait long for some project from their favourite artist.
Released on February 22nd, 2022, Petras released her third EP titled Slut Pop. The first project of hers under a major label, she embarked on a small club tour across California ahead of its release. With a runtime of 15 minutes with 7 tracks, the project served more as a teaser of what was to come for Petras and Republic Records.
Upon its release, the project received mixed reviews as her two most recent hits, Future Stars Now, and Coconuts were not featured on the record, a decision that likely cost Petras her first entry on the Billboard charts. In celebration of the project’s second anniversary, it was released on vinyl and remixed on streaming services.
Unholy:
Dad is at the body shop, and he’s doing something unholy.
The most famous song of Petras’s career is that of her collaboration record with English singer-songwriter Sam Smith. Released on September 22nd, 2022, the song became a massive hit on social media, being one of the most streamed songs on TikTok of all time. The song would automatically debut in the top 100 on the Billboard charts and hit the top spot three weeks after itsrelease. This would be the first time in history that a trans woman and non-binary individual would hold the top spot on the Billboard charts.
A raunchy yet tongue and cheek song that balances playfulness, with sin, it is a delightful dance-pop record that still to this day is one of the catchiest records to come out of this decade.
One of the top songs of 2022, it was awarded by publications such as The New York Times, Variety, and many others as one of that year’s best songs. Currently, Unholy is one of the most streamed songs of the 2020s so far and is the highest charting, selling, and streamed songs of both Sam Smith’s and Kim Petras’s careers.
2023 Grammy Awards:
The 2023 Grammy Awards turned out to be a big night for queer representation when Unholy took home the award for Best Pop Duo /Group Performance. This would be the first time an out trans woman and non-binary individual would win a major prize at the biggest night in music. In Petras’s emotional interview, she shouted out her mother for being the first to believe her when she came out. As well as Madonna and Sophie as being musical inspirations to her. You can watch Sam Smith and Kim Petras’s acceptance speech below:
Feed The Beast:
After the immense successof Unholy, Petras’s record label would release multiple singles in attempt to continue riding the wave of success. These singles included If Jesus Was A Rockstar and Brrr which both reived little to no success on the charts. In an attempt to get Petras relevant again in time for her debut album which started to get teased regularly around the time Unholy was released, her record label would release one more single in an attempt to gain some traction in the media ahead of the album. This single would be the 2023 hit Alone featuring Nicki Minaj.
Alone:
Alone was released on April 21st, 2023. The 3-minute long track featuring Nicki Minaj can be described as a German electronic song, that meets New York style rap. Upon its release the song would become decently popular, being one of the most streamed summer songs in 2023. By the end of 2023 Alone would chart in 11 countires, and be her second single to hit the Billboard Hot 100. This single would be the lead single to Petras’s debut album, Feed The Beast.
Feed The Beast was released on June 23rd, 2023. Featuring a runtime of 40 minutes with 15 tracks, the album was released by Republic Records. A pop and dance-based record, this album includes catchy vocals, sex-positive lyrics, and dance instrumentals. Upon its release, the album would receive mixed reviews (mostly due to it being a generic pop album, and Petras’s being “too safe” when it comes to making unique music.
Although the reviews for the record were mixed, the album would still do very well on the charts, being one of the most streamed dance albums by the end of 2023. As well as reaching the top 100 on the charts in nine countries. All while being one of the first trans women to do so.
Feed The Beast World Tour:
In support of her debut album, Petras would embark on her third world tour. Spanning from August 2023 to March 2024, the tour consisted of 39 shows across two legs. Leg 1 in North America included 5 segments to the performance, while the European leg of the tour inluced 4 segments, scrapping the Turn Off The Lights portion of the performance. This tour also included performances at the Montreal Osheaga Festival, and Life Is Beautiful Festival in Las Vegas. You can watch a bit of one of her performances below:
Problematique:
Originally planned to be the debut studio album of Petras’s Problematique continuously experienced delays through the summer of 2022. After the album leaked online a year later, Petras decided to surprise release the album on some platforms on September 18th, 2022. An album based on sex, escapism, and the desires to be free it was obvious that this album was the workings of Petras’s thoughts throughout the pandemic.
With a runtime of 29 minutes, this 10-track record is Europop at its finest. With reference to styles seen in both German and French underground music. It createsa better sound for Petras over her basic American dance sound. Both critics and fans believe this record should have been the debut album.
Slut Pop Miami:
After the conclusion of her Feed The Beast world tour, Petras would surprise release her fourth EP titled Slut Pop Miami. Released on February 14th, 2024. The project has a runtime of 23 minutes with 12 tracks. An album all about sex positivity, and getting down and dirty, but told through house-based mixing and production now. The project would not be well received, however, it would make the top 15 on the dance charts, the first project of Petras’s to do so.
Note: I cannot show the album cover in this article as for some reason the internet deems women in a string bikini to be scandalous.
Conclusion:
In present day, Petras is still climbing up the ranks as being one of the top pop girls in modern music. From humble beginnings in Germany, to being the first openly out Trans woman to win a major award at the Grammy’s, in Petras’s short career she has gone on to break down doors and be a crucial pillar in present LGBTQ music.
References:
1: Wikipedia Kim Petras / Retrieved June 8th, 2024 / https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Petras
2: DW: Kim Petras: How The Trans Artist Made History / By Stefan Dege / Written March 31st, 2023 / Retrieved June 9th, 2024 / https://www.dw.com/en/kim-petras-how-the-trans-artist-made-history/a-63675535
3: MTV.com Bop Shop: Song from Megan Thee Stallion, Lana Del Ray, Kim Petras, and more / By Sam Manzella / Written October 29th, 2018 / Retrieved June 10th, 2024 / https://www.mtv.com/news/9qjope/bop-shop-megan-thee-stallion-lana-del-rey-kim-petras
4: The Guardian: Kim Petras Clarity review / By Amiee Clif / Written June 28th, 2019 / Retrieved June 12th, 2024 / https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/jun/28/kim-petras-clarity-review
Authors Notes:
All material from this article was taken from the internet with the intent to be used for educational purposes, none is that of my own.
I also wanted to highlight that I do not condone the actions of producer Dr. Luke or Kim Petras’s involvement with him. This article is to discuss the career of one of Europe’s most famous LGBTQ artists in current music.
- K.
