It's Time To Upgrade Your Spotify Playlist!! (ZAN! #8)
five excellent songs from across the Asian diaspora, for every weekend mood
Happy Friday, all! ☀️
I’m working on some longer newsletters and essays at the moment, so I wanted to try this shorter format — a rapid-fire roundup of five songs by Asian artists.
And I do mean rapid-FIRE because these songs are all EXCELLENT if I do say so myself. (Many of these artists are younger or up-and-coming, and most of these songs came out fairly recently.)
Get ready to add these songs to your Spotify playlist, and let me know which one is your favorite.
for lounging on the beach and secretly feeling superior because of your elite taste in bluetooth speaker music… 🏖️
KIKI - Daydream feat. えんぷてい (emptei)
You can feel especially good about blasting this song and turning curious heads (ears??) because it just came out like, yesterday. It’s a collab between KIKI, a trio from Thailand, and emptei, an indie rock band from Japan.
for stepping out for a night w/ the gorls… 👠
Rhea Raj - Oops! Ur Single Now
Rhea Raj, an Indian-American artist who once competed on American Idol as a teenager, is definitely a rising pop princess. This song will make you feel like one, too.
for watching a perfect sunset while fireflies dance around you… ✨
Public Library Commute - Coyotes
Out of all the songs that Public Library Commute (aka Conrad Hsiang) has been releasing in anticipation of his first album, which drops in about a week, this song is one of the more contemplative ones. I’m anxiously awaiting the full album. (ANXIOUSLY, I TELL YOU.)
FOR WHEN YOU’RE JUST TRYNA DANCE… 🕺🏻💃🏻
Stephanie Poetri, Elephante & Zhang Yanqi - No Explanations
JUST HIT PLAY AND DANCE OK.
for reminiscing on your summer before everything slips away… 🥲
The Volunteers - Summer
(yes I am aware that this song is a few years old while everything else is new, but it is still relevant in my life and I feel that it should also be relevant in yours, thank you very much. & all hail yerin baek)
🙇🏻♀️ Now, it’s your turn!
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Until next time,
Rebecca
Great list! My Spotify Playlist does need a refresh!