Music selections by Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander musicians for AA.NH/PI Month.
Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson, known professionally as H.E.R. (pronounced as "her," standing for "Having Everything Revealed") is an American R&B singer-songwriter. H.E.R. is a compilation album comprising songs from the singer's EPs H.E.R., Vol. 1 and H.E.R., Vol. 2, and includes six additional songs.
Indie pop band Japanese Breakfast is fronted by vocalist, guitarist, primary songwriter, and bestselling author, Michelle Zauner. For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women) is the band’s fourth album, following 2021’s GRAMMY-nominated album, Jubilee.
Jay Som is the stage name of American indie musician, Melina Mae Duterte. Born and raised in the California Bay Area to Filipino immigrant parents, her music and cultural identity as a Filipina-American significantly influences her work. Belong is her first release of new material in 6 years since the release of Anak Ko in 2019.
Israel Kamakawiwoʻole, also known as Bruddah IZ, or simply IZ, was a beloved Native Hawaiian singer and ukulele player. His heartfelt style blended traditional island sounds with a soft voice, making his music feel intimate and personal. He's best known for his 1988 recordings of "Somewhere over the Rainbow" and "What a Wonderful World,” which were released in 1993. Ka ʻanoʻi features a rerecording of these classic songs.
The Linda Lindas are a Los Angeles-based punk rock band with mixed Chinese and Latinx heritage. The group consists of two sisters, a cousin, and their close friend. No Obligation was released on Epitaph records and was written during school breaks and on weekends. Their song, "Yo Me Estreso" features accordion played by "Weird Al" Yankovic.
Nothing's About to Happen to Me is the eighth studio album by Japanese American singer-songwriter Mitski and picks up where she left off musically on her previous studio album The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We. Mitski reunites with Patrick Hyland as producer and engineer, with the album featuring instrumentation from The Land touring band. The album "finds Mitski immersing herself in a rich narrative whose main character is a reclusive woman in an unkempt house. Outside of her home, she is a deviant; inside of her home, she is free." The album cover is a painting by fine artist Marc Burckhardt.
Kalani Peʻa is a native Hawaiian singer-songwriter known for his contemporary Hawaiian music. He's won multiple GRAMMY Awards for his albums featuring his soulful vocals and modern take on Hawaiian classics. No ʻAneʻi is his second album. The title translates to "We Belong Here." The theme of the album is to remind people of the value of becoming primary resources of the land on which they live and that people maintain and retain the resources so that everyone in Hawaii will benefit.
Olivia Rodrigo returns with her highly anticipated third studio album, following the critically praised GUTS and SOUR. The release marks her next chapter as one of pop's most compelling young voices, building on the momentum and acclaim that have made her a three-time GRAMMY Award winner.
Blood on the Silver Screen is the third studio album by the American musician Sasami Ashworth. A pop record, it follows her 2022 hard rock and industrial metal album Squeeze and her eponymous 2019 indie rock debut.
Silk Sonic is an American musical superduo composed of musicians Bruno Mars (who is of Puerto Rican and Filipino descent) and Anderson .Paak. (who is of African American and Korean descent). An Evening with Silk Sonic, showcases their talents on an exemplary R&B album influenced by classic funk and Motown and Philly soul.
Toro y Moi is the main musical project of Filipino American electronic musician, producer, and artist, Chazwick Bundick. The album took a new stylistic approach compared to his previous work, incorporating elements of emo rap and choral music, and inviting a number of collaborators, including Don Toliver, Porches, Kevin Abstract, and Benjamin Gibbard.
Steven Zhu, known mononymously as ZHU, is an American electronic music producer, DJ, singer, instrumentalist, songwriter, and filmmaker who has been active since the beginning of 2014. ZHU's ambitious new album, GRACE, is the follow-up to the critically acclaimed 2021 release, Dreamland. The GRAMMY-nominated artist recorded most of the album in his hometown of San Francisco at the iconic Grace Cathedral. ZHU teamed up with Devault and BabyJake on lead single "Revelations."