Asian American Pacific Islanders have made innovative and wide-ranging impacts in music and film. With their stories as diverse as their cultures, AAPI artists have worked hard to accurately represent their communities, creating new genres and their own canon to reference. Asian American Pacific Islander filmmakers and artists blend their experience in Western life with traditional values, culture, and heritage, and their success has no end in sight.

Celebrate AAPI Heritage Month with Universal Production Music.Check out our curated Asian music available to license for your next media project and register to access a library of high-quality tracks.

AAPI in Music

New up-and-comers are taking AAPI music to exciting sonic heights. Soulful Indian American cool girl Raveena sings in both English and Hindi, while American Idol winner Iam Tongi continues to bridge tradition and novelty.

 

ISOxo and Knock2

Julian Isorena (ISOxo) and Richard Nakhonethap (Knock2) have been dominating the festival and rave scene for the past couple of years, with sold-out shows and a loyal fanbase. The two met at 16 when they played their first show together at the San Diego County Fair and have been best friends and frequent collaborators ever since. Heavy on trap and bass, the pair have amassed a huge following with their unique performances, high-energy sets, and mind-shattering flips.

Raveena

Hypnotic and hopeful, Raveena’s discography is a dreamscape. A soulful Indian American artist, Raveena Aurora started her career after independently releasing her first EP, Shanti, in 2017. Since then, she’s gone on to release two full albums to critical acclaim alongside a second EP, blending new genres, concepts, and instruments which each release. Her sophomore album pays homage to the history of South Asian music, incorporates Indian instruments, and is sung in both English and Hindi.

 

Iam Tongi

Season 21 winner of American Idol, 19-year-old Iam Tongi made waves across the islands and mainland with his story, talent, and passion. Originally from Kahuku, Oahu, Tongi and his family relocated to Way, Washington in 2019 due to being “priced out of paradise” and Tongi went on to become the first Pacific Islander to win the show.

But winning American Idol was just the beginning. Collaborating with Hawaiians and Hawaii-born artists like Kolohe Kai and Jack Johnson, Tongi hopes to see more Polynesians in the music industry. Having just released chart-topping singles and his first holiday EP, Tongi is one to keep an eye on.

Want to channel the sound of the South Pacific into your next project? Check out the flexible licensing offerings available from Universal Production Music and discover Pacific Islander-inspired music for your film and video projects.

AAPI Films Make a Splash at The Box Office

A-listers and fringe sensations alike are building on the legacy forged by successful AAPI filmmakers such as Mira Nair and Justin Lin. These 2024 releases are not to be missed.

Monkey Man (2024)

Dev Patel’s directorial debut is a story of never-ending courage and determination. Starring Patel and shot in India, the film plays on the Asian folk tale of the Monkey King and transforms the traditional tale into an action-packed blockbuster as he fights his way through corruption and injustice. A box-office hit, Monkey Man is a love story to India and the faith, hope, and power of a community standing together.

Past Lives (2024)

Receiving nominations for Best Original Screenplay and Best Picture at the 96th Oscars, Past Lives was written and directed by Celine Song in her feature directorial debut and stars Greta Lee and Teo Yoo. A bittersweet, tender tale of childhood friends-to-lovers, Past Lives follows two childhood friends over the course of 24 years while they contemplate the nature of their relationship as they grow apart, living different lives.

 

Dìdi (July 2024)

Premiering at Sundance in 2024, Dìdi won the Audience Award: U.S. Dramatic and U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award: Ensemble, and everyone is excited for this film to hit the theaters. An American coming-of-age comedy-drama, Dìdi is written and directed by Sean Wang in his directorial debut. Set in the noughties, it follows a young Taiwanese American boy as he grows up in the States, learning to skate, talk to girls, and love his mother.