May marks Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the United States. And while SoundCloud has long been a platform that uplifts diverse artists and connects musicians across the world, we’re taking this time to celebrate the global Asian and Pacific Island community on SoundCloud. API music has always transcended the boundaries of a singular genre, with musicians pulling influences from their heritage, Diasporic communities, personal histories and more. The result is a sonic blend of sounds and stories that converse with each other and bring people together across borders.
SoundCloud Partners With Los Angeles’ Baryo HiFi
Earlier this month, SoundCloud proudly sponsored the second annual Baryo HiFi, a cultural festival held in the Historic Filipino Town in Los Angeles. The day was all about uplifting the musical talent of Filipino Americans and featured unforgettable live music, performances, vendors, food, merch and giveaways.
Missed out? You can still snag one of these limited edition tee shirts from the SoundCloud Store, designed as part of our Culture Drop Collection. The design features signature Filipino phrases like “Sige, ihataw mo” (“Go for it!”) and “Hataw Sayaw” (“Dance with force”), as a nod to “OPM Forever,” a tribute to the power of Original Pilipino Music.
Once you’ve done that, check out our exclusive Baryo HiFi 2025 playlist, made in collaboration with Filipino producer and DJ esta. over on his SoundCloud profile.
Celebrating Asian & AAPI Music: 3 Emerging Artists You Need To Know
SAILORR
Also known as Kayla Le, SAILORR is an emerging Vietnamese-American artist from Jacksonville, Florida, known for a contemporary R&B sound and her blackened grillz, a modern take on the Southeast Asian beauty custom. Getting her start on SoundCloud, SAILORR takes inspiration from 90s R&B and hip-hop, while adding her own modern twist and soulful vocals that reference her immigrant upbringing and Vietnamese heritage.
“...I was like, “Sailor just rings so well. That’s me.” And to tie it back into my culture and heritage, there was a mass exodus of [Vietnamese] refugees that came [to America] after the war, and they were all sailors essentially. I came from a bunch of fishermen.” -SAILORR, Billboard
Stream SAILORR’s debut album ‘FROM FLORIDA’S FINEST’ on SoundCloud.
Galdive
If you aren’t already listening to Indonesian R&B, let us fix that. Meet Galdive, the musical project of singer-songwriter Tisha and producer Osvaldorio from Jakarta. Their sound oscillates between R&B and electronic/dance music, bending the genres into something that is entirely their own. In May 2025, Galdive released their latest album, ‘Blue,’ a12-track collection that features one guest collaboration with jazz musician Quinn Oulton.
Steam Galdive’s latest album ‘Blue,’ on SoundCloud.
esta.
Francis Esteban, aka esta., is a Filipino-American DJ/Producer based in Los Angeles. After joining Soulection in 2013, he has gone on to make waves in the industry, from playing at Coachella and touring the world to releasing original music and producing for other artists. While he takes inspiration from classic hip-hop, his sound incorporates elements of trap music, R&B and more.
Stream esta.’s latest album, 2024’s ‘FRANCIS,’ on SoundCloud.
Now Playing: Voices Of Asia & The Pacific
Looking for more sounds from the API community? Check out the Clouds of Color playlist, Voices of Asia & The Pacific, featuring emerging global artists from the diaspora and beyond.