The month-long celebration features new livestreams, music, short films, playlists, and more.
Amazon Music joins IMDb, IMDbPro, AEG, Gold House, Pacific Bridge Arts Foundation, and Transparent Arts to present the Identity 2021 live stream, which will feature figures like Dumbfoundead, Sherry Cola, Mike Shinoda, Karen Fukuhara, Kalani Peʻa, Taylor Rapp, and ATEEZ.
May marks Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the annual event honoring the achievements and contributions of the Asian and Pacific Islander community in America and around the globe. To celebrate and raise visibility for the API creative community, Amazon Music today announces a new slate of events and content for APAHM, including live streams, new music, playlists and more.
Identity 2021 Livestream
Amazon Music, IMDbPro and IMDb are coming together with AEG, Gold House, Pacific Bridge Arts Foundation (PBA) and Transparent Arts to present the 2021 installment of Identity 2021. Streaming live Saturday, May 15 at 5 p.m. PST on Amazon Music’s Twitch Channel, this year’s event will feature live performances, PSAs, panels and more from some of the most groundbreaking members of the APAHM community, including Mike Shinoda, James Reid, Guapdad 4000, ATEEZ, Kalani Peʻa, Taylor Rapp, Steve Aoki, and more. Co-hosted by Dumbfoundead and Sherry Cola, the event will raise money for the PBA’s scholarship programs and the AAPI Community Fund. As part of their support for Identity 2021, IMDb and IMDbPro, will also present an IMDb “Fan Favorite” STARmeter Award to Karen Fukuhara (The Boys, Suicide Squad), and AEG will host a special sports panel discussion entitled “Changing the Game,” featuring Michelle Kwan, Dave Roberts, Scott Akasaki, and Jamie Storr, and more.
Weekly APAHM Amazon Original Series
Amazon Music is also releasing a weekly series of Amazon Originals for APAHM, celebrating some of the most exciting API artists across a wide swath of genres including hip-hop, K-pop, R&B and more. Debuting each Friday on Mixtape Asia—Amazon Music’s playlist of the best new music from API artists—the series will kick off this Friday with “Rent Free,” a brand-new Amazon Original track from Dumbfoundead, featuring Filipino American singer, songwriter and record producer, Jeff Bernat. Amazon Music will release additional Amazon Original tracks from up-and-coming boy band ATEEZ, actor and musician James Reid, TikTok power couple AJ Rafael and Alyssa Navarro and singer, songwriter, and actress Jules Aurora.
New Playlists Honoring API Voices
Amazon Music will also launch a new collection of playlists for APAHM, including “Made in Hawaii,” which spotlights the works of Hawaiian musicians. Debuting this Friday, the playlist is curated by GRAMMY-Award-winning singer/songwriter and producer Kalani Peʻa and not only honors Hawaii’s music legends but also the young Hawaiian musicians breaking new ground. Amazon Music will also debut “The Collective,” a new playlist dedicated to the best new hip-hop from API artists from around the globe, as well as a brand-new [RE]DISCOVER playlist on the iconic collective and record label, 88rising. The streaming service will also spotlight a variety of existing playlists celebrating regional scenes across Asia, including “Bollywood Tadka,” “K-pop Now,” and more.
Short Film and Twitch Series Celebrating API Women Creatives
As part of Amazon Music’s APAHM activities, Amazon Music will also release a brand-new short film celebrating the API women artists and creatives who break norms and defy stereotypes to redefine culture. Directed by Asian American director Christelle de Castro with Mamag Group, the short film will debut May 28 and feature candid conversations with lane-switching artists like Deb Never, Joyce Wrice, Mallibu Miitch and Audrey Nuna. Accompanying the short film, Amazon Music will also debut new weekly episodes of “Group Thread: IYKYK” Amazon Music’s weekly Twitch show featuring artists and creatives from around the world. Airing every Friday at 5 p.m. PT, the series kicks off on May 7 with a conversation between Joyce Wrice and UMI.