For those who don’t know, May is AAPI Heritage Month — a time dedicated to honoring the contributions and achievements of those descending from Asian and Pacific Islander lineage. In celebration of AAPI Heritage Month, check out these three artists forging their own paths in the music industry, all of whom deserve a spot in your daily music rotation.
1. Keshi
About The Artist: Born Casey Luong, Keshi entered the music scene in 2017 via SoundCloud under his childhood nickname-turned-stage name. What initially began as an experiment and outlet for his music-making passion snowballed into immense online popularity and him leaving the medical field after being signed by Island Records in 2019. The Texas native/UT alum (hook ‘em!) has since released a full-length debut album and embarked on two wildly-successful, back-to-back world tours with new music to look forward to on the horizon.
Signature Style: Known for his dreamlike falsetto voice and raw emotional lyrics, Keshi fuses traditional R&B with elements of lo-fi and hip-hop in a way that nobody else can.
Recommended Songs: To get a sense of how well Keshi blends genres, listen to “GET IT.”
For a look at Keshi’s more somber and emotional side, listen to “drunk.”
2. Thuy
About The Artist: Bay Area native and singer-songwriter Thuy (pronounced ‘twee’) grew up loving music, citing icons like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera for piquing her interest in pop stardom. But it wasn’t until 2015, after winning a radio contest in her hometown, that the singer realized her dreams could become a reality. Not long after, Thuy traded her medical career for a music one, her 2021 debut EP i hope u see this catching everyone’s attention and her most recent EP girls like me don’t cry cementing her as the upcoming artist to watch.
Signature Style: Thuy uses her songbird-like vocals and silky runs to create melodic R&B tracks reminiscent of the late 90s/early 2000s artists she grew up loving.
Recommended Songs: To hear Thuy’s soothing voice on full display, listen to “universe.”
For a catchy yet authentic track detailing what it’s like to go back to a toxic relationship, listen to “in my head.”
3. DPR LIVE
About The Artist: DPR Live (also known as Hong DaBin) is a South Korean rapper under the Dream Perfect Regime collective, a label that he and three others (DPR Ian, DPR Cream, and DPR REM) co-founded. It wasn’t until after he had fulfilled his mandatory military service and reflected on what he wanted out of life that Live decided to pursue music professionally, releasing his first song, “TILL I DIE,” in 2015. Since then, Live has steadily gained popularity, with his three EPs and debut album finding domestic and worldwide success.
Signature Style: DPR Live boasts an eclectic hip-hop sound, distinct flow, and catchy tagline (coming to you live!) that work perfectly together, bringing a fresh sound to the K-hip hop/K-R&B scene.
Recommended Songs: To hear Live’s soft, melodic rap side, listen to “Jasmine.”
For a peek into Live’s fun, upbeat side, listen to “Summer Tights.”