It’s been a great few years watching Asian artists finally get their flowers in the mainstream music landscape. Between Kpop, bedroom indie, and experimental artists, here are more ESEA Artists you might not know about yet – but you should.
Liang Lawrence
Featured track: ‘(not) a love song’
Liang Lawrence is a London-based singer-songwriter making sparkling indie-pop songs about youth, growing up, and relationships – or rather, the start of them. Having lived in 8 countries by the time she turned 18, Liang is very comfortable sitting in the in-between spaces.
Her crisp vocals and rhythmic guitar lend to a distinct sound that sits between shoegaze, indie, and elevated bedroom pop; they make for a sonic identity that is refreshingly endearing and unapologetically vulnerable. Just this year, she headlined EartH Hackney, and was nominated for a Rising Star at the 2o25 Ivor Novello Awards.
spill tab
Featured track: ‘Athlete’
Born in Bangkok with Korean roots and now based in Los Angeles, Claire Chica (known as spill tab) shines in her experimental reckonings. Playful synths meet layered vocals, sitting somewhere between the genres of dance, pop, and alternative.
Her songs are in English and French, and these genre-fluid sonics are a testament to her multi-cultural background split between Paris, Bangkok and Los Angeles, making music just as mult-faceted as her identity. Her last full length record, ANGIE, was followed by tours across Europe and the U.S.
H3rizon
Featured track: ‘Soul Ties (Don’t Give It Up)’
As far as girl bands go, H3rizon are breaking the bounds of what it means to have female solidarity within a culture that often loves to pit women against each other.
The Filipino girl group hailing from Sydney, Australia are the first ever Sydney group to be signed at Epic Records, and they front their Filipino heritage with everything they do. The girls Tiara, Gabby and Bernie met when they were 10 years old – having all been trained classically in various arenas, they share their skills to cover all bases of H3rizon.
mxmtoon
Featured track: ‘rain’
mxmtoon is an Asian-American singer-songwriter who first came to the spotlight on YouTube. Known for her confessional lyrics and stripped back acoustics, she’s released 3 studio albums and 8 EPs since 2018. Her latest album liminal space, released in 2024, is a product of her time in the music industry since then – drawing on her experiences as a woman in the industry, her queer identity, and her relationship with her family.
Celine Wanyi
Featured track: ‘Cosmic’
The Singaporean Hong-Kong based singer making waves in the R&B scene is one to keep on your radar. Celine Wanyi blends her signature smooth vocals with tales of heartbreak, self-discovery, and self-love.
Her background in music includes a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music, as well as support across Asian, American, and European editorial outlets. As a self-taught vocal arranger and music producer, Celine is constantly exploring the bounds of her own musicianship, defying categories and what it means to be an R&B singer in 2025.
Ok Cowgirl
Featured track: ‘Larry David’
Ok Cowgirl is an indie-rock band hailing from Brooklyn, fronted by Asian-American singer Leah Lavigne. The band never shies away from explosive feeling in their music, poking fun at ego, existentialism and modern culture.
Leah was classically trained as a keyboardist and began her music career as a solo artist, but felt that this was only a sliver of what she wanted to do. After forming Ok Cowgirl in 2018, the band released their debut album Couldn’t Save Us From My Gut in 2024, drawing on the surroundings of New York and the band’s identity.
Labit
Featured track: ‘MANGOES AND RICE’
Filipino singer-songwriter Labit is an LA-based singer-songwriter who just released his sophomore album this year. Previously a Southern California rocker, Labit’s music now shines in its warm, stripped-back sound that feels nostalgic and optimistic all at once.
Read more: Finding Home: An Exclusive Interview with Labit on His New Album SOL
Building a world with his music, this record references visceral experiences that feel distinctly Asian: whether it’s the sweetness of dessert or the feelings of his childhood, Labit also uses his platform to spotlight other Asian-led brands.
grentperez
Featured track: ‘Cherry Wine’
grentperez started out on YouTube with just a guitar, his voice, and an empty room. Today, he seamlessly invokes nostalgia and romance with every hum.
The Sydney-based, Filipino crooner is a household name in the indie singer-songwriter genre, and he shines in his ability to combine the best of tradition and a modern flair of contemporary artistry.
Rocco
Featured Track: ‘Only Boy’
Rocco is the Filipino singer, songwriter and producer hailing from New Jersey. After his music career quickly gained traction with singles “Baby Blue” and “Spin You Round” during his time at university, he decided to pursue this full time.
His playful and upbeat melodies underpin the tales of youth and growing older, bringing a charm to the universal feelings of adolescence. Rocco’s debut album Skin & Bone released the summer of 2025.
Lyn Lapid
Featured track: ‘In My Mind’
Lyn Lapid’s quick rise to fame through TikTok ukulele covers is backed by years of a burgeoning love for music. As a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, Lyn is also a classically trained pianist and violinist – solidifying her love for music at a young age.
Hailing from Baltimore, Maryland, Lyn’s Filipino-American identity certainly informs her navigation of the industry.
Wasia Project
Featured track: ‘ur so pretty’
You might recognise Will Gao of Wasia Project for his role in Netflix’s Heartstopper. The musical duo formed alongside his sister, Olivia Hardy, comes as a refreshing approach to contemporary music that blends an array of influences old and new: from jazz, to pop, to indie – the duo showcase a precision with their music that is well beyond their years.
Regina Song
Featured track: ‘the cutest pair’
Regina Song is a Singaporean singer-songwriter currently breaking bounds in the local scene. Since making her debut in 2021, Regina draws from her background in the arts as a piano major to construct her distinct sonic dream world.
With hushed vocals and crisp production, Regina’s music presents a move towards contemporary artistry in Singapore – and Asian artistry everywhere else.
ARI LEE
Featured track: ‘Cruel Lover’
ARI LEE crafts upbeat alt-pop songs about womanhood and independence. Hailing from Hong Kong and Portugal, the London-based singer humorously addresses relationships and gender dynamics – all while leading with an unapologetic individuality.
Paired with a strong visual identity (pearls and heels galore), ARI LEE is one to keep on your radar – for her witty lyricism and precise musical identity.
Lauren Juzang
Featured track: ‘FINE!’
Blending indie pop and folk sensibilities seamlessly, Lauren Juzang is a singer, songwriter and producer hailing from LA.
Her music addresses feelings of growing up and getting older, while maintaining the hope and optimism that comes from understanding and self-realisation. Her latest project EITHER WAY ??!? is a fun, bold, and self-produced project showcasing the artist’s expansive curiosity as an artist.
YUNHWAY
Featured track: ‘BIGGER’
YUNHWAY is a Korean rapper, singer and songwriter who is embarking on her trailblazing rise in global hip-hop and R&B.
Born in Korea but raised between Vanuatu and Portland, Oregon – YUNHWAY’s multi-cultural background shapes her futuristic and genre-bending sound, solidifying her sonic identity as something completely her own.
Zeph
Featured track: ‘physical’
Zephani Jong, or Zeph, is a singer-songwriter and producer hailing from Maryland and based in Los Angeles.
Known for her confessional lyrics, experimental production scapes, and bubbly personality on social media – Zeph released her first song “Forever & Always” in 2018, and never looked back since. An album, several EPs and even more singles later – Zeph continues to experiment, learn, and push the boundaries of her artistry.
Alina Ly
Featured track: ‘Shoebox’
Alina Ly transforms memory, grief, and love into cinematic, expansive, and soul-stirring soundscapes. As a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist – Ly blurs the bounds between genres, leading with crisp vocals, introspective lyricism, and atmospheric production; an evocative balance of vulnerability and vision.
no na
Featured track: ‘shoot’
no na is the four-member Indonesian girl group signed with 88rising, made up of Christy, Esther, Baila and Shafza. The girls combine their dancing and singing backgrounds to craft R&B-infused pop sonics and feel-good tracks.
The group only just debuted in May of 2025, and have already debuted on Spotify’s Top 50 in nine countries in Asia. With more to come, the band is only just getting started.
ALEXIS
Featured track: ‘u sure like to make me feel crazy’
Filipino-Australian pop artist ALEXIS blends the emotional storytelling of bedroom pop with the sonic textures of modern indie-pop.
With an approach that always fronts playful vulnerability, ALEXIS cements herself as one of the artists redefining pop music that is bold as it is honest – never shying away from the harder parts of personal feelings.
IA GLOWB
Featured track: ‘Gimme’
IA GLOWB represents a new kind of artist, hailing from Japan’s rising technological scene. IA, however, consists of the many minds of what music can be – rather than the who. Utilising music production softwares and collaborating with several producers all over the world, IA represents entertainment and artistry that moves with the times.
Existing between the lines of the real and the virtual, IA also experiments with what live entertainment can look like.
2Z
Featured track: ‘Borderline’
Korean rock band 2Z are known for their intense performances and genre-blending rock identity, capturing audiences with their explosive sound and on-stage presence.
Continuously experimenting between genres, 2Z now blends their signature rock genres with electronic textures, welcoming collaborations with producers and musicians to create an ever-expansive musical landscape within their world.
