A vibrant collage of six diverse musicians standing and performing against a colorful, fiery gradient background, each with distinct outfits and instruments, conveying energy and creativity.

Some awesome artists to enjoy this AANHPI heritage month and beyond

There are tons of amazing AANHPI music artists out there, so allow us to introduce you to some of our favorites

Words by Anjana Pawa

Happy AANHPI Heritage Month! This is a chance for us to celebrate the artists shaping culture on their own terms—whether they are pushing boundaries of what can be made, blending traditions they grew up with into their immigrant identities, or telling stories that don’t always get the spotlight. From genre-bending musicians to independent powerhouses carving out spaces for themselves in the industry, here are some artists that deserve your attention this month and beyond. Whether you’re looking for something soulful, experimental, or high energy, these artists bring deeply personal perspectives to their work while expanding what AANHPI artistry can sound like.

SuperKnova

Growing up trans and Asian American in the Midwest, Ellie Kim says music was always a therapeutic outlet for her, but not necessarily a life goal at first. Her musical alter ego, SuperKnova, created a safe space for her to explore her identity as a queer person. The Korean American artist does it all herself: writing, producing, engineering, and mastering her own guitar-driven alternative pop songs. But music was never the ultimate career goal for her—things just fell into place. Before the birth of SuperKnova, Kim became a physician, earning a medical degree before fully committing to a creative life path. Today, she's a multi-disciplinary artist, musician, writer, and activist for trans and intersex justice.

Songs to explore: “Serontonin Serenade,” “Glitter and Blood,” “Ava Gardner”

Pia Mia

Pia Mia is one of the few Chamorro artists to ever break into mainstream pop. She was born and raised on Guam and started off performing at weddings and community events on the island. By the time she was 13, she and her family moved to Los Angeles so she could pursue a music career. What set Mia apart from the very beginning was her business instincts. When meeting with major labels as an emerging musician, she made clear that she was not seeking a standard artist deal, but a partnership with her own label, Wolfpack Entertainment, which she had launched at 16 years old. Her first single "Do It Again" earned platinum certification, and she has since garnered more than 400 million streams worldwide.

Songs to explore: “Do It Again,” “Fight For You,” “Bitter Love”

Raveena

The self-identified “Punjabi Space Princess” has always refused to water down her music for western audiences. Immigrating to the United States from Punjab, India at a young age, Raveena Aurora started making music when she was just a child and studied several forms of Indian classical instruments, including the harmonium and the tabla. Her music blends contemporary R&B and jazz with classical South Asian elements, which creates a fusion soundscape that feels entirely new to the listener. Lyrically, the 32-year-old singer-songwriter switches seamlessly between languages she grew up speaking in the home. She also launched the Aurora Loving Kindness Project, a mutual aid hub with grant cycles specifically for Black, Brown, and queer musicians, creating safe spaces and community for those who are underprivileged in the industry.

Songs to explore: “Honey,” “Still Dreaming,” “Headaches”

Hanumankind

Born in Kerala, India, Sooraj Cherukat spent his formative years in Houston, where he absorbed the sounds of hip-hop from artists like Three 6 Mafia, Project Pat, and UGK. He worked a traditional nine to five at Goldman Sachs while moonlighting as an Internet rapper with the moniker Hanumankind before eventually deciding to dedicate his life to music. That gamble eventually paid off when his 2024 single “Big Dawgs” went viral on Tiktok and landed him a record deal with Capitol Records. Since then, he's performed all around the world, across festivals like Rolling Loud Thailand, Lollapalooza India, and Coachella, marking a turning point for Indian hip-hop globally.

Songs to explore: “Big Dawgs,” “Run It Up,” “Monsoon Season”

Taimane

If you've never seen Taimane play ukulele, you must head to YouTube immediately. In her hands, the four-string instrument that people don’t often take very seriously becomes a vehicle for intricate flamenco beats, heavy Led Zeppelin riffs, Beethoven melodies, and even Polynesian ceremonial music. Any assumption you’ve ever had about the limitations of the ukulele will disappear after you’ve seen and heard her play. Her identity as a Pacific Islander comes through when you listen to her music. Her 2022 album HAWAIKI, named after the Polynesian spirit land where gods and goddesses dwell, is her most personal statement yet—a concept album rooted in her Samoan and Hawaiian heritage, incorporating Tahitian ukulele, Tahitian drums, and Samoan percussion.

Songs to explore: “Water,” from her NPR Tiny Desk Concert, “Wipeout,” “Wicked Game”

Ali Sethi

Born in Lahore, Pakistan and eventually moving to the United States to pursue higher education and a music career, Ali Sethi is one of the most internationally recognized Pakistani artists around. He trained under legendary classical musicians in his adolescence and now roots his own art in that training to create club bangers that have deep South Asian textures and melodies. He uses ghazal and sufi music to create a fusion that’s new and fresh, but still embraces history and culture. His 2022 song “Pasoori” with Shae Gill went viral globally, gaining more than a billion views on YouTube. As an openly queer Muslim artist navigating borders and bans, his music and writing is an act of courage as much as it is artistry.

Songs to explore: “Pasoori,” “Chan Kithan,” “Love Like That”

Published on May 13, 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.