NGA’s 2020 Music Wrap Up

2020 has been full of everlasting surprises, landing us here, at last, the end of the year. Despite being holed up in our homes for most of the year, many of us found ourselves alone, wondering what to do after plans and events were cancelled. In particular, one thing that has gotten many and the NGA team through this year was music. Music brought comfort through these trying times; it helped ease our worries, reminding us that there is light at the end of the tunnel. We asked the NGA team and our followers on Instagram about who their top musicians/groups were for 2020. So without further adieu, we’d like to share some of our top Asian and Asian-American musicians/music groups of 2020:

1. UMI

Tierra Umi Wilson, “UMI”, is an American RnB singer, songwriter from Seattle, Washington of Japanese and African-American descent.

Songs:

  • Sukidakara
  • Down to Earth
2. BTS

The world-renowned Korean boy group BTS has taken over the world since their debut and continues to enamour fans and non-fans with their music.

Songs:

  • Life Goes On
  • My Time
3. LUKE CHIANG

RnB/Solo musician Luke Chiang is a Taiwanese American singer, songwriter from Phoenix, Arizona.

Songs:

-Shouldn’t Be

-May I Ask

4. NIKI

Niki is an Indonesian singer, songwriter from Jakarta, Indonesia and is based in the US under the label 88rising.

Songs:

  • La La Lost You
  • lowkey
5. RINA SAWAYAMA

A former member of Lazy Lion, Rina Sawyama is a Japanese-British musician who after her solo debut in 2013, moved on to get critical acclaim for her recent album Sawayama.

Songs:

  • Cherry
  • XS
6. MITSKI

Mitski is a Japanese American Indie Rock singer, songwriter.

Songs:

  • First Love
  • Late Spring
7. RINI

Rini is a Filipino-Australian RnB/Solo singer, songwriter currently based in LA.

Songs:

  • My Favourite Clothes
  • Meet Me in Amsterdam
8. HWASA

Hwasa is a South Korean singer, rapper, and songwriter who first debuted as a member of the girl group Mamamoo.

Songs:

  • LMM
  • Maria
9. BEABADOOBEE

Beatrice Laus (Beabadoobee) is a Filipino-British singer, songwriter who started as supporting acts to The 1975, and Clario.

Songs:

  • The Moon Song
  • Coffee
10. JAY PARK

Korean-American Jay Park is a hip-hop artist that has successfully taken over the world as an independent musician.

Songs:

  • All I Wanna Do
  • iffy (Prod. GroovyRoom)
11. KESHI

Keshi is an Asian American artist who started off creating lofi music in 2013 but moved on to become a singer, songwriter.

Songs:

  • blue
  • talk
12. TIFFANY DAY

Tiffany Day is an Asian-American, who after a video of her singing ‘Hallelujah’ into a well, continued to pursue a career in music with her harmonious voice.

Songs:

  • Autopilot
  • TWFNO
13. WOLFTYLA

Hailing from New York, Wolftyla is an Afro-Korean American who gained popularity through Vine and is now a vocalist and lyricist.

Songs:

  • All Tinted
  • Butterflies
14. RICH BRIAN

Rich Brian is an Indonesian rapper, record producer, singer, and songwriter from Jakarta.

Songs:

  • DOA
  • Rapapapa (feat. RZA)
15. JOJI

Former internet personality Pink Guy and Filthy Frank, Joji has made his name in the music industry as a singer, songwriter, and music producer.

Songs:

  • SLOW DANCING IN THE DARK
  • MODUS
16. ERIC NAM

Korean-American Eric Nam moved from Atlanta, Georgia to South Korea to pursue his passion for music debuting with Cloud 9 in 2013. Check out his podcast ‘DIVE Studios’

Songs:

  • How You Been
  • Love Die Young (English and Korean version)
17. JACKSON WANG

A Hong Kong rapper based in South Korea, Jackson Wang first debuted in the K boy group Got7 and continued a solo career afterwards.

Songs:

  • I Love You 3000 II
  • Pretty Please
18. JAPANESE BREAKFAST

Japanese Breakfast is a solo project by musician Michelle Zauner.

Songs:

  • Boyish
  • Head Over Heels
19. MXMTOON

Asian American Maia (Mxmtoon) is a singer, songwriter from Oakland, California known for her ukulele skills and lofi chill pop music.

Songs:

  • unspoken words
  • almost home
20. DAVID SO

Known for his comedic videos on youtube and his association with JustKiddingNews, David So began his music career not long after.

Songs:

  • Honeymoon Avenue
  • I Want You Around

Honourable Mentions

CENJI

Songs:

  • Sunday Candy
  • All My Friends
EAJ

Songs:

  • 50 proof
  • Pacman
ERIC REPRID

Songs:

  • June Blues
  • Don’t Worry
JHENE AIKO

Songs:

  • Lightning & Thunder
  • Lyin King
JEN Z

Songs:

  • Falling to Your Knees
  • Talking Loud
LANA CONDOR

Songs:

  • Raining in London
  • For Real
STEVE AOKI

Songs:

  • Delirious
  • Waste It On Me
AUGUST D

Songs:

  • Daechwita
  • Moonlight

Source

Cover Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/26/well/live/music-therapy-cancer.html – Jamie Jacob


Edited by Jack Hillis

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