Let’s be honest—music has always been about sex, power, and rebellion. But some artists have taken it further, diving headfirst into the world of BDSM aesthetics and turning leather, chains, and power play into unforgettable artistic statements. These aren’t just musicians; they’re visual provocateurs who understand that sometimes you need to make people a little uncomfortable to make them really feel something.
The Leather Revolution
When we talk about BDSM in music, we’re not just talking about throwing on some black leather and calling it edgy. These artists have carefully crafted entire visual languages around themes of dominance, submission, control, and liberation—and the results have been both shocking and brilliant.
Madonna: The Original Boundary Pusher
Before anyone was ready for it, Madonna was already there. Her 1990 “Justify My Love” video was so controversial that MTV banned it, but that’s exactly what made it genius. Shot in black and white like a fever dream, Madonna strutted through hotel corridors in leather corsets, bondage-inspired accessories, and an attitude that said “I own my sexuality, deal with it.”
The video featured everything from leather harnesses to suggestive choreography that played with power dynamics. But here’s what made it art instead of just shock value: Madonna wasn’t being dominated or playing victim. She was in complete control, using BDSM aesthetics to flip the script on how female sexuality was supposed to look in pop music. Her “Human Nature” era doubled down on these themes. Remember that iconic performance where she appeared on stage in a full leather ensemble complete with a riding crop? It wasn’t just costume—it was commentary. Madonna was literally holding the whip, making it clear who was really in charge.
Rihanna: Unapologetically Kinky
When Rihanna released “S&M” in 2011, she wasn’t being subtle. The song’s lyrics were playful but direct, and the music video was a masterclass in BDSM-inspired visuals. Picture this: Rihanna bound in colorful rope, wearing latex, surrounded by imagery that would make your conservative aunt clutch her pearls.
But look closer at what she’s actually doing. In the video, she’s wearing a ball gag that reads “CENSORED”—a brilliant middle finger to critics who tried to silence her artistic expression. She appears in scenes with whips, chains, and bondage gear, but she’s never the victim. She’s the one in control, turning the traditional power dynamics on their head.
Her fashion choices throughout this era were equally bold. Red carpet appearances featured decorative harnesses worn as jewelry, collar-style necklaces, and leather pieces that borrowed directly from fetish fashion. She made BDSM accessories look like high fashion, and suddenly everyone wanted a piece of that aesthetic.
Lady Gaga: Performance Art Meets Power Play
Lady Gaga has always been about pushing boundaries, but videos like “Bad Romance” and “Paparazzi” showed her diving deep into themes of control, obsession, and power. In “Bad Romance,” she’s literally sold into sexual slavery but emerges victorious, turning her captors into the victims. The imagery is intense—white latex, studded leather, chains—but it’s all in service of a larger narrative about agency and revenge. Her fashion during this period was revolutionary. She wore harnesses on red carpets, turned BDSM-inspired headpieces into high art, and made latex and leather look avant-garde. But Gaga’s genius was in how she used these elements to explore fame itself as a form of bondage—she was commenting on how the industry tries to control and consume its stars.
The Dark Side of Rock
Rock and alternative music have always had a darker relationship with BDSM aesthetics, using them to explore themes of alienation, control, and human nature’s shadow side.
Nine Inch Nails: Industrial Kink
Trent Reznor didn’t just dip his toe into BDSM aesthetics—he dove in completely. The “Closer” video is a masterpiece of disturbing beauty, featuring imagery of bondage, latex, and mechanical restraint devices that look like torture instruments. But this isn’t gratuitous shock—it’s a meditation on technology, desire, and human connection in an industrial age. The video’s black-and-white aesthetic, combined with its unflinching look at BDSM imagery, created something that felt both deeply unsettling and strangely beautiful. Reznor uses these visuals to explore how we’ve become enslaved to technology and desire, making the BDSM elements metaphorical rather than literal.
Manson’s entire aesthetic borrows heavily from BDSM and fetish culture, but filtered through a gothic, theatrical lens. His performances often feature bondage-inspired costumes, leather, chains, and imagery that explores themes of religious oppression and societal control.
In videos like “The Beautiful People” and during live performances, Manson appears in elaborate bondage gear, corsets, and accessories that would be at home in any fetish club. But he’s using these elements to make a point about conformity and rebellion—the BDSM aesthetics become a visual metaphor for how society tries to control and punish those who don’t fit in.
FKA Twigs: Sensual Artistry
FKA Twigs brings a different energy to BDSM-inspired visuals. Her videos like “Two Weeks” feature rope bondage, but it’s presented as beautiful, artistic, almost dance-like. She’s transformed what could be restrictive imagery into something that feels liberating and empowering.
Her approach is more sensual than shocking—she uses elements like silk ropes, elegant restraints, and power dynamic imagery to explore themes of vulnerability and strength. The result is BDSM aesthetics that feel artistic rather than exploitative.
What’s fascinating is how these BDSM-inspired elements have crossed over into mainstream fashion and culture. Designers like Jean Paul Gaultier, Thierry Mugler, and more recently, brands like Chrome Hearts and Rick Owens, have all drawn inspiration from fetish fashion.
Harnesses have become red carpet staples. Chokers that look suspiciously like collars are sold at every mall. Latex and leather aren’t just for rock stars anymore—they’re high fashion. These artists didn’t just borrow from BDSM culture; they helped bring it into the mainstream.