JoySauce Radio: The Asian diasporic girls have summer on lock
Consider this your new Asian diasporic summer playlist full of fresh and upcoming artists
From left, cover art for “Wish U Well” by underscores, “Blush” by BINI, and “Photoshoot” by Chloe Tang featuring Yvng Jin.
Graphic by Ryan Quan
Words by Anjana Pawa
JoySauce Radio: Consider JoySauce Radio our own personal song recommendations—featuring some of our favorite tunes and videos—all from Asian and Pacific Islander artists around the world.
Summer’s winding down, but that doesn’t mean we have to slow down the music. This month, we're spotlighting the Asian and Asian American girlies who are absolutely dominating the pop scene right now. This month has been a doozy for everyone energy wise, with two eclipses shaking up the scene, but this playlist was tailored especially to keep the spirits up—even on the days when it feels difficult. Think sultry slow jams perfect for late-night drives, confident anthems you can shout out loud with the windows down, and everything in between. These girls have got you covered.
“Wish U Well” by underscores
April Harper Grey, who goes by musical moniker underscores, has spent the last few years building one of the most inventive discographies out there. Her music hops seamlessly between hyperpop that’s chaotic and gutted, to heavy, emotional ballads without ever losing her identity as a performing artist. "Wish U Well" leans into the latter style. It’s a track that feels raw amidst the rest of her discography. This is the kind of song you’ll want to blast through your headphones on a long, aimless walk.
“red bikini” by Hayley Kiyoko featuring Snow Wife
Hayley Kiyoko has built an entire era of her career around being unapologetically gay and "red bikini" keeps that streak alive and well. Teaming up with rising artist Snow Wife on this track, the two created a pop song that feels truly like it was made for the summer. It feels wistful and nostalgic, and would belong perfectly on a road trip playlist. The tune’s official visualizer features the two pop queens at a car wash, dancing and splashing around an inflatable pool in, you guessed it, red bikinis.
“superHuman” by Audrey Nuna, VALORANT
Audrey Nuna has been carving out her musical identity at the intersection of R&B, hip-hop, and pop since her 2021 debut album, A Liquid Breakfast. Since then, she's only expanded her reach, most notably by lending her talents as the singing voice for Mira in Netflix's KPop Demon Hunters. This single is her latest venture, a collaboration with cult-favorite video game VALORANT. The track leans heavily into the competitive and aggressive nature of the battlefield in the game and unmistakably reminds us that Nuna is full of range. She’s as comfortable singing in a three-piece animated girl group as she is commanding a battle arena anthem.
“Blush” by BINI
Eight-member girl group BINI is having an incredible year. The group debuted back in 2021 after a stint on Star Hunt Academy, and since then, the Filipino exports have gone on to break streaming records and play massive global stages around the world. “Blush” from their latest EP, Signals, is a girlish, flirty track with a fun hook that beautifully captures the giddy nature of a summertime crush. Sung across three languages—English, Tagalog, and Cebuano—the song showcases the multilingual fluidity that's become a signature of BINI's sound.
“Photoshoot” by Chloe Tang featuring Yvng Jin
Chloe Tang built her career the independent way, with no label, no major-machine marketing—just a catalog of songs she believed in that amassed millions of streams online. Tang can shift between two very different modes in her music—either a big, cathartic anthem built for shouting out loud, or something a bit moodier that’s more guarded. Her latest single, “Photoshoot,” which also features rising artist Yvng Jin, lands in the second camp. It’s a slow-burn track about being looked at on your own terms, choosing exactly how you want to be framed and by whom, and it’s a powerful and sultry song you’ll want to close out the summer with.
Published on August 25, 2026
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.
Art by Ryan Quan
Ryan Quan is JoySauce's social media manager, associate editor, and all-around visual eye. This queer, half-Chinese, half-Filipino writer and graphic designer loves everything related to music, creative nonfiction, and art. Based in Brooklyn, he spends most of his time dancing to hyperpop and accidentally falling asleep on the subway. Follow him on Instagram at @ryanquans, and check out his work on his website.