Pride started as a rebellion, so let’s riot! We’ve curated a list of bangers to add to any Pride playlist. Our playlist, featuring LGBTQ+ artists with roots from Japan to Iran, is sure to get the party bumping. Take a listen and discover the amazing musical talent within the queer Asian Pacific Islander diaspora.
No matter your music taste, from hyperpop to indie rock, we’ve got something for you to jam to.
1.“Legend ” – Alice Longyu Gao & Alice Glass
Starting this playlist off with a wild one! Chinese artist Alice Longyu Gao is the latest hyperpop sensation shaking up the music scene. Gao’s musical style is chaotic though self-assured. On “Legend,” she raps over production reminiscent of the trap stylings of the last decade with the postmodern metallic influence of the future. Her lyrics are brash, angry, and unapologetic. “Fuck you if you insecure/Bitch I’m fucking Alice/ I know, you talking shit you embarrassed/I know, you mad ’cause I’m the raddest,” she yells with fiery swagger. Gao reclaims the narrative of the submissive Asian woman with her unabashed and captivating musical persona, a subversion that is powerfully camp and intrinsically queer.
2. “Say It” – Sasami
Korean-Japanese-American indie rocker Sasami flexes her musical muscles, creating edgy gothic rock in her sophomore album “Squeeze.” Her single “Say It” is a venomous standout from that 2022 album. The song begins with aggressive drums and furious guitar. Sasami’s voice enters distorted like a demon speaking through the fog. “Say it, say it/Another day lost/Why won’t you let it out,” the singer begs through gritted teeth. She’s fighting for a relationship. One can imagine Sasami pleading with a lover or a friend to open up. Raw emotion runs through the song, electrifying audiences. The production stays angry, yet never erupts. It effectively builds tension that captures listeners as they mosh their pain…
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