Photo Illustration by Maria-Juliana Rojas. Photographs used in illustration by Frederick Cochran; FA TAL DOPECHILD; Paris Mumpower; David Fernandez; Dyang Jong; Adobe Stock
Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month by checking out music from these great up-and-coming acts — from hip-hop to synth-pop to indie rock
Asian pop acts like BTS and BLACKPINK have taken over the world in recent years, but what about homegrown Asian-American artists? Sure, a small handful of American musicians of Asian descent have made a name for themselves in the US, such as Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast, indie singer-songwriter Mitski and house DJ and producer Yaeji. And there are Grammy-winning artists. like Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Olivia Rodrigo and H.E.R. who are well-known among mainstream audiences, though it’s doubtful how many listeners are aware of their Asian heritage. A recent study found that a whopping 44% of Americans can’t name a single famous living Asian American.
But that all might soon change as Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) continue to gain visibility across the entertainment industry. Just as AAPI creatives have been making significant strides in film and TV lately with blockbusters like Beef and Everything Everywhere All at Once, countless AAPI artists have been steadily gaining notice in their respective corners of the music world. In honor of Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we’ve highlighted ten up-and-coming AAPI artists in genres from hip-hop to synth-pop to indie-rock, and included suggestions for similar acts to check out. There’s also a Spotify playlist below where you can listen to their music.
LOVE X STEREO
Composed of Korean-American vocalist Annie Ko and guitarist/producer Toby Hwang, the Seoul-based electro-rock duo Love X Stereo mix synthpop with alt rock and punk rock to create dreamy, immersive songs marked by ambient synths and Ko’s ethereal whispers. Among their many accomplishments, the dynamic pair has played SXSW twice, clinched a best electronic dance album nomination at the 2017 Korean Music Awards and contributed to soundtracks for the K-dramas Love Alarm, Summer Strike and Cheese in the Trap. This past weekend Love X Stereo dropped “Lucid / Dreams,” the lead single from their upcoming EP 안녕ÄNɎƏŊ (안녕 is a Korean word for both “hello” and “goodbye”), a collaboration with the LA-based avant-pop artist DA1SY DØØM that’s scheduled to be released this June.
BIG PHONY
Big Phony’s soothing, low-key acoustic sound and clever, heartfelt lyrics might remind listeners of folk legends like Elliott Smith and Nick Drake. Born and raised in New York City, Big Phony, whose real name is Bobby Choy, moved to South Korea after falling in love with his parents’ native country and is presently based in Seoul. The indie folk musician has written songs for countless films and TV shows like The Good Doctor and for legendary artists such as Andrea Bocelli and the Korean punk outfit No Brain. He also currently co-hosts The Noonchi Podcast. Choy says that his unusual stage name is a reference to The Catcher in the Rye and “a constant reminder to stay decent and humble.”
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By Regina Kim
International Media PR : DFSB Kollective
Featured Artists : Love X Stereo / Big Phony