Co-headlining this year’s Boston Pride festival is Jordan Shulman, the artist known as Jordy (stylized in all caps), a 2017 Boston University graduate and queer pop artist who’s racked up tens of millions of streams on Spotify. The 29-year-old has appeared on the “Today” show and “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” and his third album, “Sex with Myself” (also stylized in all caps), releases June 14.
Pride Month is always a busy time, explained Shulman. “I feel like I mentally prepare myself before June every year,” he said in a phone interview with the Globe on Wednesday. This year is no different for the Los Angeles-based artist. After playing Dallas Pride last weekend and a Times Square show on Friday, he heads to the Boston Pride stage, where he will co-headline with transgender activist and singer Mila Jam on the Common on Saturday.
Shulman said he’s always been “loud and proud,” even before coming out at 15 while living in the Chicago suburbs. That mind-set is threaded throughout his music, with breathy vocals that project confidence atop acoustic guitar, club beats, and other pop soundscapes. The effect has been far-reaching, with tracks like “Just Friends” garnering over 23 million streams on Spotify and his cheeky take on Nine Days’ “Absolutely (Story of a Girl)” (retitled, “Story of a Boy”) going TikTok viral in 2023.
Shulman sat down with the Globe to discuss returning to Boston’s Pride festival (an event he used to attend as a BU Terrier), his time at school, and what having a strong support system has meant to him.
How does it feel to be returning to Boston for Pride this year?
It is so surreal, truly. I love that city so much. I met some people [there] who will be in my life forever and ever and ever, who have been my support system over the past couple of years. Being able to come back and share what I’ve done with my life since I’ve graduated will be really special.
Do you feel like the city overall was a welcoming space for community members?
One-hundred percent. I felt so safe at BU. I had a lot of friends at Emerson [and] Emerson is mostly gay, I feel like. [Laughs.] Every school had such an accepting community. Northeastern, too, all of the schools in Cambridge — it was always a safe space.
As I’m sure you know, Boston has a huge college music scene. Did that influence you as an artist?
Totally. I was an a cappella kid in college. I was in a group called the BU Treblemakers, and because there are so many colleges in Boston, [a cappella] is a huge community. It gave me more confidence in my stage presence. But then, once I started writing, I was able to connect with some Berklee [students], started writing [with them], and did shows at the Middle East and other local spots.
There’s a big college-age and teen population that will be at Boston Pride this weekend. As someone who came out at 15, and who’s said you had a good support system in place, what did that mean to you at that age?
I think it’s what kept me alive. It’s what kept me moving forward. I have a really loving family, and when I came out, they were really accepting. I am grateful for it because it instilled this foundation that I hold with me now as an artist that represents the community. I’m truly here because of support.
Given your in-demand Pride schedule, your music has clearly resonated with the LGBTQ+ community. What has it meant to have their support?
I think about my childhood, and wish I had as many queer artists as there are today to look up to. I feel like now is such a cool time for queer art and queer people in music, and there’s so much representation. It’s a very large community and we deserve to be heard and represented, so I’m very thankful.
When you hit the stage on Saturday, what will you most be looking forward to?
For all these shows, my goal is just to have as much fun as possible and give everyone energy. I’m excited to put on a good show, show some new music, and have a good time.
BOSTON PRIDE FOR THE PEOPLE FESTIVAL
Saturday, noon-6 p.m. (Jordy at 5:15) on Boston Common. Free. bostonprideforthepeople.org
Interview was edited and condensed.
Henry Bova can be reached at henry.bova@globe.com.