☆ 2025 AAPI Heritage Month Playlist ☆

text by digital-media

29 May, 2025

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KCSB-FM returns with a playlist celebrating the contributions of Asian-Americans to the musical landscape. This playlist is not meant to be comprehensive, but serves as a snapshot into the vast world of Asian-American art. Read through to discover political charged folk tunes, cosmic electro-soul pieces, classic turntablist tracks, beautiful ambience, and more!

PARKER’S RECS 

– No-No Boy is the project of Julian Saporiti, a Vietnamese-American musician focused on crafting songs that capture every facet of the Asian-American experience. Accompanied by a guitar, piano, drumkit, and the occasional squealing horn, Saporiti sings of the George Igawa Orchestra, a swing band formed within a Japanese-American internment camp during World War II. The band traveled all throughout Wyoming, playing jazz while simultaneously being kept under the watchful gaze of the United States. Saporiti creates a warm atmosphere with his music, and there’s an incredibly touching story inside each of his songs. 

– Formed in the early 90s by three young DJs, Invisibl Skratch Piklz helped change the face of hip-hop DJing. Made up of Bay Area Filipino Americans DJ Q-bert, Mixmaster Mike, and DJ Apollo, the group aided in shifting the focus away from flashy dance moves towards intricate scratches and rhythms. This group aided in the rise of DJ teams, allowing turntablists to function as a band with bassists, percussionists, and melody-makers. This track is an example of one of their dense compositions, filled to the brim with samples distorted and put back together by these talented DJs. 

– This song comes off of the 1973 release A Grain of Sand: Music for the Struggle by Asians in America. Chris Iijima, Nobuko Miyamoto, and Charlie Chin were of the first generation to resonate with the label “Asian-American”, and wrote songs recognizing the immense struggle of their mothers and fathers who attempted to survive in a country that constantly beat them down. “We Are the Children” references migrant workers, railroad builders, Chinese waiters and Japanese gardeners, unifies the experiences under a shared discriminatory experience. The song features an acoustic guitar, hand drums, and separated vocals panned to the left and right in a classic folk fashion. A very simple but powerful arrangement. 

– This entire album is dreamy and filled with that mellow 70s fuzz, but I’d like to highlight the oddball tune “Vegetables”, track seven on the record. Featuring only a hand drum and vocals, the song resembles a beat poem. The vocalist sings of the many Asian-Americans who participate in backbreaking work to ensure the comfort of many, including the migrant workers of California’s Central Valley. This song is very minimalist but incredibly charged with power, I strongly recommend taking a listen and paying close attention to the lyrics. The rest of the album is gorgeous as well!

 

MAYA’S RECS

– Covet’s “Sea Dragon” is a captivating instrumental track that blends math rock with elements of post-rock, creating a lush, intricate soundscape that feels both vast and intimate. Guitarist Yvette Young’s virtuosic fingerstyle playing intertwines with the band’s tight rhythms to evoke a sense of movement, like a sea creature gliding through the water.

  • “Seagirl” by Raveena, King Krule

– In this collaboration, Raveena’s ethereal vocals blend seamlessly with King Krule’s moody, brooding presence, creating a soundscape that feels both introspective and otherworldly. The fusion of Raveena’s Indian heritage and contemporary experimental influences make “Seagirl” a perfect reflection of her unique sound, combining soul, jazz, and pop with an atmospheric depth that draws the listener in.

– The Chinkees’ anthem “You Don’t Know” cuts straight to the heart of identity and cultural misunderstanding, delivered with the band’s signature mix of ska punk and biting social commentary. With its fast paced rhythms and sharp lyrics, the song critiques the hypocrisy of preaching unity while practicing exclusion, tackling themes of racism, judgement, and self expression. Hailing from a band with roots deeply embedded in both punk and Asian American identity, “You Don’t Know” embodies a fierce stand for individuality and the importance of looking beyond appearances to see the person within.

– Ley Soul’s “Intergalactic Janet” offers a cosmic journey through dreamy, electro-soul landscapes, blending mystical imagery with a sense of otherworldly wonder. The song’s lyrics invoke a feeling of transcendence, exploring themes of wisdom, cosmic energy, and the mysteries of the universe, all while anchoring the narrative in the figure of Janet, a being “from another planet.” With its ethereal melodies and otherworldly vibe, the track reflects Ley Soul’s unique ability to fuse futuristic sounds with a sense of spiritual exploration, making it a standout in the modern soul genre.

– Mei Semones’ “Tora Moyo” is a lush blend of jazz-infused indie pop, where her soft, sweet vocals in both English and Japanese effortlessly convey vulnerability and longing. The track’s introspective lyrics, with references to love and self-discovery, are complemented by her intricate guitar work, reflecting her jazz background and technical prowess. With its smooth rhythms and emotional depth, “Tora Moyo” showcases Mei Semones’ unique ability to merge cultural influences and musical genres, offering a personal, yet universally resonant, exploration of love and connection.

 

EL’S RECS

– Starting off strong with Pontchartrain, a hauntingly beautiful song about Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana. Chamber pop comes together to create an almost ambient atmosphere, with devastating piano, dark and gritty cellos, and whispering vocals that sound like Vienna Teng is telling me a secret. The song ebbs and flows almost like the lake itself, taking the listener through a journey of dark, murky waters toward uncharted territory. 

– Rock Bottom Blues is a youthful rock n roll song, with a nostalgic and clear 70s sound. It was formed by sisters June and Jean Millington, who had shared a love for music and playing together since moving to California from the Philippines in the 60s. This is the first all-girl rock band to rise to prominence in the US and Europe, and was loved by giant music stars of the decade like David Bowie and Deep Purple. Rock Bottom Blues sounds exactly like playful teenage rebellion, and is a song that makes you get up and dance after putting it on the turntable.

– Who Does Her Hair? by Kiss the Tiger is the perfect mix between envy and desire. A fast paced, indie rock song influenced by classic rock n roll and new wave punk, this song touches on queer crushes being coupled with jealousy. Lead singer Meghan Kreidler brings the energy with her ridiculously fun vocals, perfectly encapsulating the feeling of not knowing whether to hate or to be obsessed with that infuriatingly pretty girl down the street. 

– Yuka Honda is a Japanese-American experimental artist who currently resides in New York City. In Humming Song (Alone Together), Honda creates a fun and upbeat atmosphere, reminiscent of a sunny day. As the title suggests, the song has no lyrics and consists only of airy feminine vocalizations paired with a synthesizer drum beat, almost sounding like a cappella. As the song continues, more and more instruments add on until the vocals are just another quality of the song. Yuka Honda’s voice is just so captivating, drawing you in with a siren-like quality. It’s a fun journey all around, with a great build up and a satisfying release.

– AZITA, also known as Azita Youssefi, is an Iranian-American artist and musical teacher based in Chicago. Forgetting is a lovely slow rock piece, highlighted with strong piano, guitar, and even some stand-up bass. This song changes form as it moves on, varying from angsty and angry to sad and almost jazzy. Azita’s vocals are apparent and a tad unconventional, dealing well with the song’s discussions of growing older. This song is hard to pin down, yet is a lovely listen with a great emotional transformation. 

 

JAMES’ RECS

– Risk by the artist Lace, written and composed by college student Hannah Lugtu. The music produced by Lace is ethereal, intimate and beautifully troubled, especially their single named Risk. I had the privilege to chat with Lace about their origins and inspirations to create music to which they responded with, “ I’m a solo project from northern california. I’m a college student and I’ve self-produced all my tracks so far by myself in my bedroom. Before music I also used to do student radio and interviewed music artists, so I was lucky to connect with talented musicians who pushed me in the right direction.” (Lace). If you’re looking forward to any future releases by Lace stay tuned via their socials Lacehl !!!!

 

– Off of Bubble Tea and Cigarettes’ 2024 album we shouldve killed eachother, I found Emi, a song featuring atmospheric, romantic and ethereal trends to create an impact piece of art. Bubble Tea and Cigarettes’ Origins trace to New York City and in 2020,  members Andi Wang and Kat Zhang, decided to come together and make music. The band’s music is very similar to band Cigarettes After Sex, but with a poppy and unique flair that sets it apart from their counterpart. A perfect fit for this year’s AAPI playlist. 

– Feeling Blew’s Single released in 2024, I Wonder, a cover of Kanye West’s I Wonder off of the famous album Graduation released back in 2007. The artist resides in the American R&B Soul genre and has an extraordinary ability to take an existing piece of music and put their own artistic spin on it. They also have covers of, On Melancholy Hill, famous Gorillaz song and even Sweet Disposition by Temper Trap  (my personal favorite). I would highly recommend any of Feeling Blew’s music; you simply cannot go wrong when listening to their discography. 

– Under The Sun off of the album The Complete Discography  by Korea Girl is a band from San Jose California that formed in 1996 and the band’s name is inspired by singer Elizabeth Yi, who is of Korean descent. Their music is of punk and Shoegaze descent which fits the time period in which they released perfectly and their self-titled album “Korea Girl” was declared “Album of the Year” in 1997 by radio station KSCU. 

 

– Like most of Sugar Plant’s other music, A Furrow Dub is ambient by nature and comes from a collaborative soundtrack album by the name of Boogiepop Phantom Original Soundtrack. Sugar Plant is a Japanese-American Dream Pop and Shoegaze band formed in 1993. The band is composed of vocalist Chinatsu Shoyama and guitarist Shin’ichi Ogawa and the band’s name is inspired by a sugar factory in the city Kawasaki in Japan. 

 

EMMA’S RECS 

– In 2016, Thao & The Get Down Stay Down released their album A Man Alive, featuring the song “Nobody Dies.” A year later, a short documentary of the same title was produced, funded by the Center for Asian American Media. Nobody Dies follows Vietnamese American singer-songwriter Thao Nguyen and her mother, Nhan, as they visit Vietnam. It was Thao’s first time there and her mother’s first visit back after the Vietnam War. The documentary is an important exploration of Thao’s experience growing up Asian in the United States and Nhan’s experience as an Asian refugee in the U.S., along with the complexities of having extended family in Asia and the relationship between Vietnam and the United States. 

– Cameron Lew (刘国明) leads the “aggressive elevator soul” project Ginger Root (姜根), which released SHINBANGUMI in 2024. Lew has credited Showa-era Japanese culture (1926-1989), particularly the genre of City Pop, as a significant influence on his music and his sense of belonging within the Asian American community. “Show 10” perfectly encapsulates that. 

– Bella Salazar, Eloise Wong, and sisters Lucia and Mila de la Garza form the all-female pop-punk band The Linda Lindas. At just 10 years old, Mila was inspired to write this song at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic after a classmate told her his dad warned him to stay away from Chinese people. Eloise contributed to the song and, during the Los Angeles Public Library’s celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, said, “So this is about him and all the other racist, sexist boys in the world!”

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