Singer-songwriter Corook is hoping to offer a musical rebuke to President Donald Trump’s efforts to rescind LGBTQ+ rights by way of their effervescent new single.
The musician and TikTok personality, who is queer and nonbinary, unveiled a lyric video for “They!” on Friday. The song, they said, is representative of their own origin story and conveys “the mix of nerves and joy that comes with sharing your new pronouns with the world.”
“It’s no big deal, I’m more me now. I understand if you make mistakes,” Corook sings on the track. “It’s all OK, I’m still the same, but now I go by ‘they.’”
For much of the past month, Corook had been teasing “They!” on social media with short videos that caught the eye of Justin Bieber and Meghan Trainor, among other pop stars. Last week, singer Troye Sivan shared a clip of himself on TikTok, set to a recording of Corook proclaiming “they/them energy!”
As a queer anthem that celebrates self-empowerment, “They!” feels auspiciously timed. Since taking office last month, Trump has signed a series of executive orders that have directly impacted transgender, nonbinary, and intersex people, along with the broader LGBTQ+ community.
Though those orders hadn’t been signed yet when they hit the studio to record the track, they noted: “In a time when our identities are under constant attack, especially with figures like Trump attempting to legislate us out of existence, this song feels more vital than ever.”
“They!” is set to appear on Corook’s forthcoming debut album, “Committed to a Bit.” The Pennsylvania native has been active in the music industry for some time, with their songs “It’s OK!” and “If I Were a Fish” both going viral on TikTok.
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The new album “is a collection of songs that offers a glimpse behind the curtain of my experience — being both Corinne and corook, and the delicate balance of honoring each side of me,” they said, referring to their offstage name.
“Committed to a Bit” is due out Feb. 28 on Atlantic Records. In addition to “They!” three songs from the album ― “Blankets,” “Ballerina” and “Crumbs” ― are currently available on streaming platforms.
