JoySauce Radio: Songs to end summer with a bang

We've got some fresh, hot tracks perfect for your end-of-season playlist

These songs are perfect for your end-of-summer celebrations.

Still frame from NIKI's "Buzz" music video

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. 

As the days get shorter, there's nothing like a killer playlist to keep it feeling like summer. This end-of-summer playlist is all about hanging on to those sunny moments and keeping our energy up as we transition into the autumn days. This month’s Joysauce Radio playlist features some fresh new sounds from artists who are currently taking the music scene by storm. If you haven’t heard of these musicians yet, what have you been doing all summer?

“Big Dawgs” by Hanumankind ft. Kalmi

Sooraj Cherukat, known by his musical moniker Hanumankind, has been making a name for himself in the South Asian hip-hop scene this past year. The Kerala native spent his adolescence in Houston, where he was exposed to Southern hip-hop, which ultimately became the blueprint for his career later in life. “Big Dawgs” featuring Kalmi and the video has garnered an impressive 80 million views since its release about a month ago.

“Buzz” by Niki

Niki’s third album, which just released this month, has been one of this summer’s most anticipated releases in the Asian music scene. The Indonesian singer-songwriter has been making major moves in the music industry since her first album release in 2020. Since then, she’s released two more albums, including her latest, Buzz. The vibe of the title track is slow and mellow, but still packs a bubbly punch. Put this on your playlist if you feel like holding on the last final glimpses of summer.

“back from the dead” by Lyn Lapid (with mxmtoon)

This angsty tune about a former flame coming back into your life out of nowhere features two rising stars in the indie-pop scene: Lyn Lapid and mxmtoon. The two young Asian American artists came together to stretch their songwriting and vocals muscles together on a dream collab for Lapid. The budding singer was a fan of her industry senior mxmtoon (who has new music out soon!) and admired her from afar before their collaboration. It’s a lovely and unlikely story that ended up as a song you’ll definitely want to add to your playlist to play at your end-of-summer picnic.

“I Lied, I’m Sorry” by Chloe Qisha

This tune is for all the people who can’t help but get off their feet when they listen to a song that has great energy. “I Lied, I’m Sorry” is Malaysian native Chloe Qisha’s latest single and it's about teenage angst, she says. The backtrack is upbeat, the vocals are dramatic, and the song is a certified bop. The accompanying video features drone footage of the singer dancing up the stairs and it looks dope, you’ll definitely want to check it out.

“Jaano Jot” by Sonny Singh

Those familiar with Red Baraat may recognize Sonny Singh as the trumpet player from the extremely successful Indian percussion band, but he also makes his own music independent of the project. “Jaano Jot” is a single off his upcoming album, Sage Warrior, which is set to release Sept. 6. Singh’s music has always been spiritual and devotional in nature, with elements drawn from his Sikh faith, and this track, though it is more upbeat in nature, is no different. The visuals in the music video which were filmed in Singh’s hometown, New York City, are vibrant and pair beautifully with the meditative track.

Published on August 29, 2024

Words by Anjana Pawa

Anjana Pawa is a Brooklyn-based culture reporter who regularly covers music, entertainment and beauty. You can find her on Twitter at @apawawrites.