2025 LORING AWARDS

ALBUM OF THE YEAR 

Awarded for an EP or LP released between January 1st, 2024 and January 1st, 2025 by a Twin Cities musical act with one or more queer individuals. The higher percentage of queers involved, the better chance of receiving a nomination. Any act can be recommended for a nomination.

• Breaking the Dam - *Splash!* 

• I RISE, I FALL - Willow Waters 

• Lena in the Bog - Sister Species 

• Popsikal: Vol. 1 - Freeze Pop Records 

• SYRINGA - rosie

RECORD OF THE YEAR 

Awarded for a musical recording released between January 1st, 2024 and January 1st, 2025 by a Twin Cities musical act with one or more queer individuals. The higher percentage of queers involved, the better chance of receiving a nomination. Any band can be suggested for a nomination.

• hush - ZORA 

• Ignition - SYM1, Chad Atkins 

• Madison - anni xo

• PORKUPINE SPACE - 26 BATS!

• takes one to know - emmy woods, the red pine ramblers

MUSICAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR 

Awarded to a prominent Twin Cities queer artist/band that has released or produced original music and/or performed original music in 2024. Must be queer and must identify with the Twin Cities area.

• 26 BATS!

• anni xo

• *Splash!*

• Willow Waters

• ZORA

UPCOMING MUSICAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Awarded to an upcoming Twin Cities queer artist/band that has released or produced original music and/or performed original music in 2024. Must be queer and must identify with the Twin Cities area.

• Baumgardner

• Black Widows

• Maddie Thies

• Oceanographer

• Sylvia Dieken

DRAG ROYAL OF THE YEAR

Awarded to a drag queen, drag king, or non-binary drag entertainer who identified with the Twin Cities area and it's drag scene in 2024.

• Miz Diagnosis

• Onya Queen

• Pippin Panic

• Pistachio Cream Pie

• The Other Jean Retelle

PERFORMER OF THE YEAR

Awarded to a prominent Twin Cities actor, dancer, speaker, or other form of performance outside of music and drag performance that performed in the Twin Cities during 2024. Must be queer and must identify with the Twin Cities area.

• Denzel Belin

• Hazel Noire

• Jojo Ventus Ninja

• Luma Notti

DIGITAL MEDIA ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Awarded to a prominent Twin Cities creative that has created some type of digital media art in the Twin Cities during 2024. Must be queer and must identify with the Twin Cities area.

• chanci.art

• Mexica Xadows

• Walter Smits

PHYSICAL MEDIA ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Awarded to a prominent Twin Cities creative that has created some type of physical media art in the Twin Cities during 2024. Must be queer and must identify with the Twin Cities area.

• Aaron-Joshua Perra

• Jordan Carpenter

• Michael Nguyen Finch

• Miz Diagnosis

CREATIVE ACTIVIST OF THE YEAR

Awarded to a Twin Cities queer activist that advocated on behalf of the queer community and/or its interests in 2024. Must be queer and must identify with the Twin Cities area.

• Aaron-Joshua Perra

• Denzel Belin

• Freeze Pop Records

• T4T4T