In recent years, Asians artists have been making their mark in the music industry. Behind the success is 88rising, the record label, management, and marketing company that has catapulted Asian and Asian American musical talents onto the global stage, including popular artists Joji, Rich Brian, and Niki. Since 2018, 88rising has hosted Head in the Clouds music festival, the first of its kind to showcase Asian music. In May of this year, the festival was brought to New York City for the first time.

Asia Society Magazine spoke with four Asian American artists who performed at Head in the Clouds New York — Paravi, P-Lo, Spence Lee, and Yeek — to hear about their journeys into their music career as Asian Americans and the significance of performing at a music festival celebrating Asian culture and representation.