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JoySauce Radio: Let these tracks carry you into the new year

A new year is a great time to reinvent ourselves and these songs celebrate one of the best things about new beginnings: vulnerability

From left, cover art for “The Sound of Silence” by ARKAI, “Cellulite” by Audrey Nuna, and “What We Became” by Chance Emerson.

Photo illustration by Ryan Quan

Words by Anjana Pawa

JoySauce Radio: Consider JoySauce Radio our own personal song recommendations—from the tunes and videos our writers love to DJ-produced mixes of dance floor bangers—all from Asian and Pacific Islander artists around the world.

Happy new year! This January, we have a collection of songs for JoySauce Radio that celebrate one of the best things about new beginnings: vulnerability. This list moves us through cinematic soundscapes, heart-wrenching ballads that show us what reinvention means, and unforgettable throwback hits that prove all big things have to begin somewhere. Press play and let these tracks carry you into the fresh start ahead.

“The Sound of Silence” by ARKAI

This New York-based electroacoustic duo doesn’t just create songs, they create soundscapes. As you listen to this track, which is lush with strings and soft bass beats, you can feel the motions of the notes on each musician’s page. The buildup of the song is full of tension and the relief feels cathartic. Their latest album, Brightside, which includes this track, is nominated for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album at the upcoming 2026 Grammy Awards.

“Kill The Night” by Bryan Chase

Bryan Chase is no stranger to making a banger. The South Korean music industry veteran has been in the music scene since 2017 and “Kill The Night” is the Korean American rapper’s latest release. In the song, he yearns for a love that’s not quite his. The emotional, vulnerable lyrics are masked with an electronic back track, which creates a high-energy and relatable track. The accompanying video is slightly haunting and a bit strange, with imagery of vampires in the dark night.

“Locked In” by SAILORR

SAILORR’s latest release is a smooth R&B track that is full of yearning. The 26-year-old Vietnamese American has had strong momentum in the past year, garnering several viral hits like “POOKIE’S REQUIEM,” which made the rounds across social media in 2025. Her latest release, FROM FLORIDA'S FINEST DELU/XXX [for my delusional ex], is a deluxe version of her first album and was released in December 2025. It contains this track and includes several hits that have her classic sound, but also several experimental elements, like dreamy pop and electronic, which pushed her out of her comfort zone.

“What We Became” by Chance Emerson

If you’re a fan of country music, you’ll love this song by Chance Emerson. Self proclaiming himself as a “half-asian cowboy” in his Instagram bio, the young singer-songwriter has a knack for writing country-inspired, heartwrenching ballads. “What We Became” is his musings on an old love and how regret builds up over time. His raspy and tonal voice adds an additional layer of emotional depth that makes this the ultimate sad bop.

“Cellulite” by Audrey Nuna

Audrey Nuna may be collecting accolades and recognition for her work on “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters, but we can never forget some of her earlier work. The 26-year-old Korean American has been making music since 2019, releasing hits like “Comic Sans” and “Jack Harlow,” which were hits in the R&B and trap-inspired pop world. Ahead of the Grammy Awards in February, where we hope to see her on the red carpet, we decided to take a listen back to some of her old hits. “Cellulite” is a standout, both sonically and visually. Nuna proved very early on in her career that she has a long way to grow, well past 2026.