May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and, as GGA’s resident music fanatic, I want to highlight some of my favorite AAPI artists and bands. Most of them are women because, let’s be honest, I have to stay on brand. I’m an avid lover of indie, rock, alternative and folk, so most of these entries fall into those genres. But I also love experimentation and musicians who color outside of the lines, and it’s safe to say that every selection on this list pushes boundaries while creating catchy tunes.
So, without further ado, here’s my compilation of AAPI artists and bands that should be on your radar.
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Japanese Breakfast
Michelle Zauner, a.k.a. Japanese Breakfast, is probably one of the more well-known names on this list. Fun fact: Zauner is Korean-American, and she derived inspiration for her musical moniker from growing up in Oregon with a Korean mother and white father. Many peers assumed she was Japanese and didn’t know Korea was a country.
Japanese Breakfast is the definition of dreamy indie pop, with Zauner’s soothing vocals complementing the vast instrumentation with which she experiments.
From the thumping, bass-driven, synth-infused “Be Sweet” off her 2021 album Jubilee to the tender strings and singing bells of “Till Death” from 2017’s Soft Sounds from Another Planet, Japanese Breakfast spans genres to provide gorgeous tunes with lyrics that break through the worldly noise.
Favorite tracks: “Paprika” from Jubilee, a cover of Bon Iver‘s “Skinny Love” from Spotify Singles and “Glider” from the Sable original soundtrack.
Rachael Yamagata
Rachael Yamagata‘s versatile voice pierces through soft melodies, riding on the crest of beautiful piano-driven descants, ethereal string arrangements and lush guitars. Her voice fluctuates between the smoothness of butter and the roughness of sandpaper.
If you’re looking for an artist in the realm of Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson, if you’re hunting for your next favorite indie/alternative/folk musician, look no further than Rachael Yamagata.
Favorite tracks: “I’ll Find a Way” from Happenstance, “Something in the Rain” from the Something in the Rain original soundtrack and “It’s Always The Little Things,” a duet with Guo Ding.
Low Leaf
Angelica Lopez, who performs as Low Leaf, creates music offering a transcendent experience, fusing multiple instruments to craft a unique sound. A classically-trained pianist, Lopez taught herself how to play the harp and brings her multi-hyphenate background to her music. It’s catharsis for the ears, taking you on an immersive journey through the facets of existence.
I suppose listening to Low Leaf makes you feel like you’re floating. It’s altogether calming, heady and energizing. Lopez injects her trademark sound with strings (expect a lot of the harp), piano, guitar, electro-pop sounds and haunting yet lulling vocals.
Favorite tracks: “Cleansing Incantation” from Palm Psalms: A Light to Resolve All Darkness, “Set Me Free” from Akashaalay and the 2018 single “Inner G.”
Karen O
Karen O is most known as the frontwoman of the New York rock outfit Yeah Yeah Yeahs (a band near and dear to my heart). Are you even a human if you didn’t blast “Maps” at 2 AM while wading through an existential crisis as a 20-something?
While I recommend a Yeah Yeah Yeahs deep dive, Karen O’s solo catalog is worth exploring. She composed the original soundtrack for 2009’s Where the Wild Things Are and was nominated for an Oscar for “The Moon Song” from the Joaquin Phoenix-led Her. In short, Karen O boasts an impressive resume.
Like many artists on this list, Karen O pushes the genre envelope, from navigating the thrashing rock sound of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs to the tender, stripped-down acoustic tunes on her 2014 album Crush Songs. Her pliable vocals weave seamlessly between grating, guttural rock and mellow, dreamy indie.
Favorite tracks: “Bullet With Butterfly Wings” cover from the Prime Video series Hanna, “Woman” from Lux Prima and “The Moon Song.”
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Mitski
If you’re a fan of Dickinson, chances are you watched Sue (Ella Hunt) pleasure Emily (Hailee Steinfeld) to the volcanic, explosive “Your Best American Girl” by Mitski. That was my introduction to her music, and I haven’t looked back since. Mitski’s music runs the gamut of musical expression, from guitar-heavy rock anthems to serene piano-driven tunes and electronic-infused jams.
It’s challenging to categorize Mitski. She transcends genres with sharp lyricism, infectious hooks, get-up-and-dance melodies and a smooth voice.
Favorite tracks: “Your Best American Girl” (you never forget your first) from Puberty 2, “Liquid Smooth” from Lush and “The Only Heartbreaker” from Laurel Hell.
Run River North
Indie folk-rock band Run River North released a cover of The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside” on their 2017 EP Superstition, with over 41 million listens on Spotify. The trio brilliantly morphs the popular mid-aughts jam into a stunning ballad, complete with lush strings and goosebump-inducing vocals.
Alex Hwang, Sally Kang and Daniel Chae genre-bend while crafting radio-friendly, toe-tapping tunes and inventive pieces in equal measure. Run River North knows how to create music that sonically speaks to the soul, whether it’s a rocking, drum-driven anthem or a seamlessly harmonized acoustic track.
Favorite tracks: The 2019 single “Wake Up,” “Funhouse” from Creatures in Your Head and “Monsters Calling Home” from their 2014 debut album.
Meg & Dia
I discovered Meg & Dia in 2006 as a junior in high school, jamming to their rock-heavy album Something Real with my best friends. The magnitude and the swift gut punch of the lyrics for “Monster,” inarguably the duo’s biggest hit, wasn’t lost on me. After an eight-year hiatus, seeing Meg and Dia Frampton resurface in 2019 instantly whisked me down Memory Lane.
With Dia’s angelic pop vocals and Meg’s catchy guitar licks, Meg & Dia cross genres, from their rocker roots to the alt-indie, electro-pop vibes of their 2019 album Happysad. Meg & Dia’s more polished and mature sound, coupled with hard-hitting lyrics, showcases their evolution as humans and musicians.
Favorite tracks: “Monster” from Something Real (and the sisters’ recent rework of the song in January 2022), “Lit Match” from Happysad and the 2022 single “Little Fires.”
Jay Som
Queer singer-songwriter and guitarist Jay Som, whose real name is Melina Mae Duterte, creates dreamy “bedroom pop” that soars on lo-fi aesthetics and indie rock tones. Amid the experimental sounds she employs, her lyrics ring with heartache and raw tenderness.
Whether you’re into rocking electric guitars, sweet pop sounds or laid-back acoustic jams, Jay Som has the cure for what ails you. Som’s voice has a leisurely feel to it — there’s an easy, meandering quality with which she sings that typically lives in the lower register. It’s utterly relaxing and serotonin-inducing.
Favorite tracks: The 2016 single “I Think You’re Alright,” “Tenderness” from Anak Ko and “Back Of My Hand” featuring Bachelor and Palehound from Doomin’ Sun.
Thao & The Get Down Stay Down
Alt-folk rock outfit Thao & The Get Down Stay Down spins groovy, bass-infused tunes that’ll make even self-proclaimed non-dancers get up and dance. Frontwoman Thao Nguyen’s raspy yet sweet vocals perfectly complement the group’s sound. The band plays with various styles to curate a catalog that’s all their own.
The band’s ’70s-influenced vibes fully immerse listeners into a different era, complete with fun guitar licks, punchy keyboards, heavy bass notes and Nguyen’s unique speak-singing. If you’re a fan of Neko Case or Rilo Kiley, then Thao & The Get Down Stay Down will scratch that musical itch.
Favorite tracks: “Guts” and “Fool Forever” from A Man Alive, “Temple” from Temple and “Holy Roller” from We the Common.
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Fanny
I’d be remiss if I left out the “Godmothers of Women Who Rock.” While Fanny isn’t entirely comprised of AAPI members, the rock band was co-founded by June and Jean Millington, two Filipina-American sisters, in 1969. June played guitar and provided vocals while Jean played bass and sang, Nickey Barclay provided vocals and keyboards and Alice de Buhr played the drums and sang.
Fanny broke racial and gender barriers in the 1970s. They were the first all-female rock band to sign with a major record label and boast a multi-album deal. David Bowie also hailed them as titans of their craft, gushing about how they “played like motherf*ckers.” As a lifelong mega-fan of Bowie, I know he would never lead me astray.
Favorite tracks: “Ain’t That Peculiar” from Fanny Hill, “You’re the One” from Charity Ball and “Blind Alley” from Fanny Hill.
Who are your favorite AAPI artists and bands? Sound off in the comments below!
This article was originally published on 5/22/22.
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
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