In the wake of horrific violence, we at Saint Audio stand with the AAPI community. We’ve gathered a list of some of the most noteworthy Asian-American artists making must-hear music. Our hope is that within this list, you’ll discover new favorites to add to your playlists. Be sure to follow all the artists on Spotify, or wherever you listen to music.
Aixi
Originally born in Bejing, this Los Angeles-based producer is creating heavy tracks that are inspired by the intersection of humanity and technology. Her new single, “Missing Link,” is set in “a world full of AI, [where] one tries to find their ‘missing link’, which would be their humanity.”
Ciel
Toronto-based Ciel is a DJ, promoter, and producer making thoughtful techno. She’s a part of the groundbreaking feminist collective Discwoman, and isn’t shy about speaking up for what’s right. Ciel’s vocal decrying of racism towards Asian people and her commitment to her feminist beliefs are as courageous as the unique sounds she explores in her music.
DriveSlowHomie
Boom-bap beats and jazz-influenced melodies permeate DriveSlowHomie’s addictive sound. The Indian-American producer is a part of Soul Food Music Collective, and is one to keep an eye (or ear) on.
Falldren
Falldren hails from San Francisco, but found his musical home within Soul Food Music Collective. Taking inspiration from Skeler, RL Grime, and Heimanu, Falldren is creating attention-grabbing wave music. His debut EP, Nuclear Fusion, is an introduction to this rising producer’s sound.
Foxen
Foxen’s music is dreamlike, sending the listener on a melodic adventure filled with bright, joyous pops of synths. Finding the balance between beauty and fun, Foxen is a producer that shows restraint and maturity beyond his years.
Giraffage
For longtime dance music fans, Giraffage is a name you’ll recognize. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he began streaming on Twitch, where he debuted his newest EP Basketball. His streams are a mix of quirky personality and great music—tune in and see for yourself.
glasse
The Soul Food Music Collective-affliated producer recently collaborated with Foxen and RamonPang on both the music and art for their single, “Lightwell”. glasse imbues a personal essence in their music, allowing their emotional experiences to permeate their memorable and affecting work.
Hex Cougar
Dark, moody textures and irresistible melodies are what sets Hex Cougar and his music apart from his contemporaries. His masterful sound design is unparalleled, and his distinctive style has inspired a generation of producers. Hex Cougar’s newly-launched label, Alter/Ego, showcases his role as a producer and a tastemaker in the electronic music industry. We spoke to Hex Cougar about his music, including his debut EP Under The Light of a Dying Moon, in an interview—read it to get inside the mind of the Los Angeles-based producer.
ISOxo
ISOxo’s neck-breaking beats caught the attention of trap music legend RL Grime, leading to the producer releasing an iconic tune on Grime’s record label Sable Valley. “Radial,” a collaboration with Knock2, lit the electronic music scene on fire, and became a mainstay in festival sets. The producer’s “Kids Gone Mad” set, originally shown as a part of RL Grime’s Halloween IX livestream, was recently nominated in r/trap’s Best of 2020 awards.
Juelz
Another Sable Valley alum, Juelz’s debut EP High Octane released on the label last year to critical acclaim. Since then, he’s gone on to collaborate with QUIX and RL Grime himself. His newest single, “Distancing,” is a prime example of his loud, aggressive take on futuristic trap music.
juuku
Cinematic and immersive soundscapes are juuku’s specialty. This visionary producer has collaborated with artists such as Manila Killa, and released a single with Rossy on RL Grime‘s Sable Valley label. Get to know juuku and read our interview with him.
Knock2
This San Diego-based producer is reviving the rave with his wild, breakneck take on dance music. With releases on Night Mode, Sable Valley, and Dim Mak, Knock2 is quickly skyrocketing to stardom.
Kwon
Kwon is creating dreamy, pop-adjacent electronic music in Los Angeles. Read our conversation with Kwon about his EP, Collections.
morimori
As airy and gossamer as it is bold and forthright, morimori’s music showcases his diverse abilities. His most recent releases include remixes of San Holo and Porter Robinson and a collaboration with Hex Cougar.
P3PPER
Seoul beatmaker P3PPER captures delicate textures and melodies in his future beats sounds. The 21 year old producer is set to release new music soon—but for now, listen to his track with Japanese vocalist Milkoi, “C. albidus”.
RamonPang
A founding member of Soul Food Music Collective, this buzzy producer is garnering attention from Four Tet and Baauer. You can learn more about RamonPang in our interview about his latest EP, Thin Sand.
SENZA
SENZA is a Korean-American triple threat—she produces, DJs, and streams on Twitch. Her headbanging beats have even caught the ear of superstar Alison Wonderland, with her most recent single “TEMPLE” getting played on Alison’s weekly radio show, Radio Wonderland.
Shigeto
This artist operates without fear of genre, generating compositions that feel fresh and innovative when compared with others working in the electronic space. Jazz, hip-hop, funk, and folk all infuse Shigeto’s music. He’s known for his frequent collaborations with renowned label Ghostly International.
Tsu Nami
Inspired by artists such as Mura Masa and San Holo, Tsu Nami is making her own brand of effervescent, melodic dance music. She recently released her single ,”Party” on San Holo’s bitbird label. Tsu Nami’s also known for her hilarious TikToks about producing.
yetep
Infectious and poignant, yetep‘s music inspires a host of feelings in listeners. Leaning into the big, buoyant synths that scream “EDM” and pairing those with emotion-forward pop melodies, yetep is making dance music fun again.
Looking for more ways to support the AAPI community? Donate to the Asian-American Legal Defense and Education Fund.
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