In case you weren’t aware of it, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month begins next week. APAHM has been celebrated in May every year since 1978. May was specifically chosen to commemorate the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants and to honor the many Chinese immigrants who completed the transcontinental railroad in May 1869.
At Neon Entertainment, we pride ourselves on offering a diverse lineup of talent for your upcoming campus events. Our roster features artists from different cultures all over the world. For this week’s blog we want to get you ready for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month by featuring some of our talented artists hailing from Asia and the Pacific Islands.
Lijie
When she was just five years old, Lijie moved from China to the US with her parents. She started piano lessons at an early age which laid the foundation for her love of music and eventual career as an artist. After college she moved to Los Angeles to begin her career and has never looked back. She has released two albums, Roam and Lijie the Music Maker, which include several songs that highlight her Asian heritage. Besides to her talent as a writer, she is an exceptional live performer and enjoys touring the country to perform at various universities.
Fumi Abe
Though of Japanese descent, Fumi Abe grew up in the Midwestern United States. Over the past few years he has really made a name for himself as stand-up comedian in New York City. He has performed at numerous comedy festivals around the country and even took home the silver medal at the annual Devil Cup Comedy Competition in NYC. His down to earth humor is the perfect fit for college campuses as he rifs about family, being a millennial, and his white girlfriend. Fumi recently also teamed up with his friend Mic Nguyen to host a weekly podcast titled “Asian, Not Asian” where they use their humor to discuss what life is like for them as Asian Americans.
Will Jay
He may not yet be a household name but that’s soon to change. Will Jay is a talented singer/dancer and is being heralded as the next Asian american pop star. While growing up he was part of the popular boy band IM5 and performed hundreds of shows throughout the US and Canada. Jay made a huge impact when he began his solo career with the release of his hit single Leading Man. In this song he makes a powerful statement in defense of Asian american performers who have been passed over in favor of less talented white individuals. Will Jay is passionate about using his talent to promote change and will be both an inspiring and entertaining act on any college campus.
G Yamazawa
G is an accomplished rapper and slam poetry artist who has performed at many events all over the world. His performances are powerful and moving as he brings light to topics of disunity and racism in America today. He has commented on the importance of poetry allowing him to share his story of life as a Japanese American growing up in the south. He is well seasoned at touring and performing all around the country including at over 200 different universities!
Live performers are a great choice for fun campus events and they always draw a crowd. As you start planning your events schedule for next semester and into next year be sure to place some focus on diversity. All of these performers are proud of their Asian Pacific heritage and use their talents as a catalyst to raise social awareness. For help booking these fine artists or any other college musicians or comedians simply call Neon Entertainment today!
