The Best Summer Band, A Cozy Mystery, And More! (ZAN! #5)
five cool things by creators from across the Asian diaspora
While some may be fans of secrecy (like whoever draped this sign around a lamppost I saw on the street), any good reader of ZAN! knows that these recommendations are never meant to be kept to yourself. It’s all about amplification, baby!
So start your weekend on a high note by checking out this week’s list of five cool things made by Asian creators. And if you find something you love — don’t keep it a secret.
🌟 FIVE ZÀN THINGS
🎵 Sunset Rollercoaster 落日飛車
Joining the ranks of “Artists I’m Upset I Didn’t Know About Sooner” is Taipei-based band, Sunset Rollercoaster!
(They even played at Coachella before I knew them. I’m so embarrassed.)
Sunset Rollercoaster is a five-person indie band that is self-described as “romantic pop.” But after listening to their music, you’ll find that they seamlessly meld together multiple genres: city pop, synth pop, jazz, soft rock, and more.
Although they hail from Taiwan, the band uses a mix of English and Mandarin (and occasionally Japanese?!). Their recently released Spotify Singles reflects this blend: their song “Candlelight” is performed entirely English, while “In My Head” (腦海中) is a cover of a Mandarin song by another Taiwanese indie band, The Loophole (露波合唱團).
With music perfectly suited for sipping a cocktail on a patio, I hope you enjoy Sunset Rollercoaster as much as I do! (Like seriously, I’m such a fan. Please come back to New York. And forgive me for being a bad member of the Taiwanese diaspora.)
📖 Julia Lee - Biting the Hand: Growing Up Asian in Black and White America
If you read Minor Feelings by Cathy Park Hong and wished that you could read another book like it, add this book to your list now!!
Julia Lee’s memoir is an incisive look into that in-between space of being Asian in America, providing sharp insight into how we see the world (and how the world sees us). In each essay, she weaves together vivid storytelling with scorching honesty, backed by a healthy dose of critical scholarship.
Through the stories of her life — from her childhood living through the 1992 LA riots, to her experiences in elite academia — Lee provides readers with a challenge: to face white supremacy head-on with a vision for a new humanity. (I teared up while reading the final chapter.)
🎵 Zeph - "character development"
“character development” is the debut album of Zeph (Zephani Jong), a Korean-American alt-pop singer-songwriter known for her endearingly chaotic social media presence and bite-sized songs.
Released just last month, “character development” is a perfect encapsulation of Gen Z heart, angst, and optimism. I especially love “like everyone else,” a shy-girl bedroom pop anthem. Stream her new album now!
🎥 Aloners (2021)
Aloners is a Korean film that was originally released in 2021 (but has been made available for streaming recently).
This movie is a slow and subtle one; a painfully realistic look into modern isolation. It follows Jina, a loner who struggles to connect with others — including her father, neighbors, and eager-beaver trainee.
On a side note: I would probably not recommend watching this movie alone. Not that it’s scary, but you will be desperately craving human interaction once it’s over. So make sure you have someone lined up to have a good chat with afterward (and maybe a hug), ha.
📖 Jesse Q. Sutanto - Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers
For some reason, most of my book recommendations thus far have been more on the serious side (Bullet Train is the main exception). So I thought it was time to recommend a book that is low-stress — perfect for when you’re just hanging around.
Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers is a book that fits squarely in the category of “cozy mystery.” If you were a fan of Dial A for Aunties, you’ll find that Vera Wong’s is a perfect extension of the same vibe — including lovable characters and a plot that occasionally veers into “bonkers” territory.
Enjoy it with a nice cup of tea (it’s about a grandma investigating a murder in her teahouse, anyway!).
BONUS! 🎵 Jungkook - “Seven”
Respectfully: If you haven’t streamed this song yet, what have you been doing?!
BTS Member Jungkook’s solo debut “Seven” is — DARE I SAY IT? — the song of the summer. And the world seems to agree: it recently hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
So don’t deprive yourself. Listen to Seven, and then sing it every day of the week.
(🎵 monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday saturday sunday 🎵)
🙇🏻♀️ Now, it’s your turn!
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Until next time,
Rebecca
I will look for this "Aloners" movie this weekend on streaming. And that "Seven" song is so upbeat and catchy! Thank you Rebecca!
I love this newsletter! So happy to have found you!