Asian Women Who Are Changing Music
2023 has been an amazing year for music, and more specifically, women in music! Although the theme of Overachiever Magazine’s New Era Issue is unapologeticly influenced by Taylor Swift, I think it’s important to highlight some of the coolest Asian women who are also changing the music scene today.
Griff
Griff - 3,668,734 Monthly Listeners (via Spotify)
Born to Chinese and Jamaican parents in the UK, Sarah Faith Griffiths began making music by borrowing her brother’s logic: teaching herself how to produce songs in secret from her classmates. Griff is the type of curiosity and creativity that draws no boundaries between making beats, sewing your own clothes, or shooting a music video. And whilst it's easy to forget, Griff's rawly vulnerable lyrics are a vivid reminder of how young she still is.
Instagram: @wiffygriffy
YouTube: @wiffygriffy
Website: https://www.officialgriff.com
Mxmtoon
Mxmtoon - 5,371,634 Monthly Listeners (via Spotify)
Maia, a queer person of mixed Chinese, German, and Scottish decent, began releasing her music at 17 years old and grew her audience on YouTube under the alias mxmtoon. Her music is characterized by emotionally transparent, confessional lyrics, and often employs the ukulele.
Laufey
Laufey - 13,925,767 Monthly Listeners (via Spotify)
Laufey Lín Jónsdóttir (pronounced lāy-vāy) is a 24-year-old, Los Angeles-based singer, composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist whose jazz songs are about young love and self-discovery. Raised between Reykjavík and Washington, D.C. with annual visits to Beijing, the Icelandic-Chinese artist grew up playing cello as well as piano and studied at Berklee College of Music. Laufey was just nominated for a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album from her 2023 album ‘Bewitched.’
Beabadoobee
Beabadoobee - 17, 103,420 Monthly Listeners (via Spotify)
Beatrice Kristi Ilejay Laus, famously known as Beabadoobee, was born in the Philippines and raised in the UK. She’s amassed a dedicated fanbase through social media for her confessional bedroom pop songs and DIY aesthetic.
Instagram: @radvxz
YouTube: @beabadoobee
BLACKPINK
BLACKPINK - 19,528,303 Monthly Listeners (via Spotify)
BLACKPINK is a world phenomenon created by YG Entertainment known for their catchy mega-hits, flawless choreography, and international fashion stardom. The South Korean girl group is formed by Rose Park, Jisoo Kim, Jennie Kim, and Lisa Manobal. BLACKPINK concluded an international tour in September 2023 and has yet to announce future dates.
Instagram: @blackpinkofficial
YouTube: @BLACKPINK
Website: https://www.ygfamily.com/artist/Main.asp?LANGDIV=K&ATYPE=2&ARTIDX=70
Here's an honorable mention to LISA from BLACKPINK for recently becoming the first female kpop artist to reach 1 billion streams in Spotify history for her mega-hit song ‘MONEY.’ She’s also the only Thai member of the world-famous kpop group BLACKPINK!
Mitski
Mitski - 32,575,899 Monthly Listeners (via Spotify)
Mitsuki Laycock is a half Japanese and half American singer and songwriter who began to seriously pursue music during college at SUNY Purchase College's Conservatory of Music. Her newest album, The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We, is like a love that’s haunting he land. “This is my most American album,” Mitski says.
Instagram: @mitskileaks
YouTube: @mitskileaks
Website: https://mitski.com
Olivia Rodrigo
Olivia Rodrigo - 58,032,181 Monthly Listeners (via Spotify)
Olivia Rodrigo is a Filipino American singer and songwriter who just released her highly anticipated sophomore album GUTS (2023) following the wide-spead success of her debut album SOUR (2021) and announced a world tour for 2024. Her musical talent is attributed the way she expresses her emotions in an honest, outspoken, and gutsy way.
Instagram: @oliviarodrigo
YouTube: @OliviaRodrigo
Website: https://www.oliviarodrigo.com