By [Robin Grand]
It’s hard to put FRCKLS in a box — and they wouldn’t let you if you tried.
Christian J. Gaudette, who performs under the name FRCKLS, is a BIPOC, transgender artist from Massachusetts who’s making music that doesn’t just sound good — it feels like something. It hits where it hurts, and sometimes where you didn’t even know you needed healing.
They rap, they sing, they perform, they speak. But more than that, they make space — for people who are usually left out of the conversation.
Music That Hits Different
In 2022, FRCKLS was recognized as a nominee at the New England Music Awards, a moment that marked a significant milestone in their journey. While they weren’t nominated in specific categories, the recognition itself speaks to the impact they’re beginning to make as a multidisciplinary artist with a unique voice.
FRCKLS isn’t about hype. They’re not trying to be the next viral moment. They’re building something slower, deeper — a body of work that reflects real life. Messy, complicated, loud, quiet, joyful, angry, healing, unfinished. Just like them. Just like all of us.
And that’s the point. Their music speaks to anyone who’s ever felt outside the lines. Trans kids, queer people, BIPOC communities, trauma survivors — FRCKLS sees you. And they’re not offering clichés or pity. They’re just showing up as they are and putting that into the music.
Not Just for the Stage
What makes FRCKLS different? It’s not just the music — it’s the mission behind it.
They don’t just want you to vibe — they want you to feel. And maybe even change. They talk about things a lot of artists avoid: mental health, dysphoria, systemic shit, grief, identity, survival. Not in a preachy way, but in a real, lived way. You can tell this isn’t branding. It’s experience.
There’s a sense of purpose behind every lyric, every beat, every line. But it’s not polished activism. It’s messy, human, and grounded in reality. And that’s what makes it work. That’s what makes people listen.
A Sound That Refuses Rules
Trying to pin FRCKLS down to a genre? Good luck.
Some tracks lean hip hop. Others feel like spoken word with an ambient backdrop. Then they’ll drop something raw and lo-fi that hits like a journal entry set to music. They’re not trying to chase radio formulas or streaming playlists. They’re following feeling — whatever that sounds like today.
There’s freedom in that. And there’s also risk. But FRCKLS clearly doesn’t care about playing it safe — they care about being real.
Community First, Always
A lot of artists talk about “giving back to the community.” FRCKLS never left theirs.
They show up for the people they make music for. That means trans youth, queer kids in small towns, BIPOC folks dealing with the weight of it all. The people whose stories don’t get heard unless someone like FRCKLS tells them.
And they don’t just do it in their music — they do it in their actions, performances, and how they carry themselves in the world. It’s clear this isn’t about fame. It’s about being useful, being honest, and offering something that helps.
What’s Next?
Nobody really knows — and that’s what’s exciting.
FRCKLS isn’t trying to follow the blueprint. They’re building their own path, step by step, song by song. What’s clear is that whatever they do next, it’ll be real. And it’ll matter.
If you’re looking for music that’s clean-cut and radio-ready, this might not be for you. But if you’re looking for something that feels like a conversation you’ve been needing to have — with yourself, with your past, with the world — FRCKLS is already speaking it.
And they’re not stopping anytime soon.
