Between Spleen and Queer Joy: Boyish Arrives at Botanique

On 16 September, Brussels welcomes Boyish — the indie pop duo from New York who’ve been steadily redefining what queer music can sound like today. Formed in 2016 at Berklee College of Music, India Shore and Claire Altendahl quickly bonded over their love for lo-fi textures, shoegaze guitars, and lyrics soaked in millennial melancholy.

Nearly a decade later, they’ve become one of the most promising voices of their generation, gathering more than 30 million streams and the respect of media like Billboard, Uproxx, and Complex.

For Boyish, queerness isn’t just an identity — it’s embedded in their sound, their stories, and their community. “We write about queer love, heartbreak, desire… the messy parts, but also the beauty in it,” says India. Claire adds: “When we first started, we didn’t really see many artists like us, openly queer and making this kind of music. So we made the songs we wished we could hear.”

Their journey has been one of both intimacy and visibility. In 2021, they received the LGBTQ+ Emerging Artist Award, a recognition that placed them alongside artists like King Princess and Girl in Red. They’ve since appeared on Portraits of Her (a Vans x Record Store Day compilation that also featured Taylor Swift) and collaborated with Rachel Chinouriri. On stage, they’ve supported Claud, Hippo Campus, and spill tab — always bringing an atmosphere that feels part concert, part queer gathering.

And now, Brussels gets to experience it firsthand. Boyish will perform in Botanique’s Rotonde — an intimate setting perfect for their dreamy soundscapes and raw lyricism. Expect an evening of slow-burning shoegaze pop, lo-fi grooves, and songs that feel like reading someone’s diary under neon light.

“We want our shows to feel safe,” India insists. “A space where everyone can show up as themselves. Queer joy is political in itself — especially in music scenes that have historically excluded us.”

As they prepare to release their next album in 2025, their Brussels date marks the beginning of a new chapter: a full European tour where the duo finally takes center stage. For fans of Blondshell, NoSo, or The Japanese House, this is one not to miss.

Boyish remind us that queerness isn’t only about resilience — it’s also about creating worlds where tenderness and vulnerability have space to breathe. And on 16 September, they’re bringing that world to Brussels.

Tuesday 16 September 2025 – Rotonde
Doors: 19:30
Tickets & info: botanique.be