Music is universal throughout all human cultures, being a staple of different aspects of society. While Asian music seems to be a global phenomenon, with musicians like BTS and Yoasobi rising in popularity. However, what about Asian-American music? Have they found success in the music industry? Here are some notable Asian-American musicians that you need to listen to if you haven’t already.
In recent years, Olivia Rodrigo has become a household name, skyrocketing in popularity. However, some people may not know that she identifies as Filipino-American, since her father is of Filipino descent.
Popular singer Keshi (also known as Casey Luong) was also born to Vietnamese immigrant parents. He is known for his famous songs, “Limbo,” “like i need you,” and many more.
Going back about a decade, people will recognize the name Far East Movement, especially from their hit song, “Like a G6,” which was released in 2010. The group consists of Kev Nish, Prohgress, J-Splif, Jerm Beats, Ray Ro, Jon Street, and DJ Virman, who all descent from Asian ethnicities, ranging from South Korean to Filipino.
Michelle Zauner of the band Japanese Breakfast was born to a Jewish father and a Korean mother. People may recognize her as the author of the bestselling book, “Crying in H Mart,” exploring her identity and connection to her culture.
The renowned EDM artist Steve Aoki traces his roots back to Japan. He has found immense success over his long career, winning several notable awards and becoming one of the most iconic names in the EDM scene. If you like EDM or maybe haven’t tried listening to it yet, you might want to try listening to Steve Aoki.
The following artists are only a brief preview of the countless Asian-American musicians out there. Many other artists deserve to be mentioned. However, a limitation on the number of people I can discuss prevents me from including them.