5 Asian-American DJs Making Waves in EDM

Jetset LA’s Party and EDM guru Bryan Gosling shares his FAVE FIVE Asian-American DJs making waves in the EDM/House music scene: 

1. Steve Aoki

The Crazy Japanese Jesus known for his insane live sets where he sprays champagne, throws cakes, and crowd surfs on a river raft.  This elctro-house musician is also Grammy-nominated and produced under his own record label Dim Mak Studios.

(Singles to check out: “No Beef”, “Boneless”, “Light That Never Comes”)

 

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Why I Love Clara C’s New Video “Things Untold”

Clara C just released the official video for her new song “Things Untold,” putting her enticing vocals and adorable personality on display once again for our viewing pleasure. The video is a montage of Clara’s blissful and heartwarming moments with her friends, which goes perfectly with the song’s message of making memories while feeling alive. She and her friends dance in a car. They play mini golf. They don’t care about the gloomy weather outside, and they certainly don’t need money, fame, or even sunshine to have a good time. To create lasting memories, all you need are friendship and positive vibes.

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akaDAN Documentary Premiere Brings Friends and Family Together

Several weeks ago on February 1, I had the pleasure of attending and volunteering at the akaDAN Documentary Premiere, held at the JapaneseAmericanNationalMuseum in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles.

You might be thinking, “What’s akaDAN, and what is it about?” It is an incredible story documenting the reunion of a Korean-American adoptee, Dan Matthews (better known as Los Angeles-based musician DANakaDAN), and his biological family in Korea, including a twin brother he never knew existed!

Dan and his production team had the opportunity to travel to Korea in the summer of 2013, during which he attended the International Korean Adoptee Association (IKAA) and underwent the process of being reunited with his family. The documentary follows Dan and his team through the whole process, highlighting the raw emotions of each scene. I had the chance to watch most of the film, and it is an incredible journey to follow. I can guarantee that one moment you’ll be laughing at and along with Dan, and the next you’ll have tears rolling down your cheeks without realizing it.

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SHINee, 2PM, Girls Day and more at FREE LA Kpop Festival Next Month

shinee

You’ve been hiding under a rock if you haven’t heard about the extremely grand and extremely free Kpop concert that KBS is putting on next month. But just in case you really haven’t: KBS America is hosting a free Kpop concert featuring some of the hottest names in K-pop on April 12 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and Sports Arena! Yes, that’s right. F-R-E-E—a bold word that rarely hits the Kpop scene! But even though it’s free, attending the concert will still require a ticket. This information has not been announced yet, but you can stay informed by following LA Kpop Festival on Facebook.

Now, you must be thinking: sure, it’s free, but who’s even showing up?  Continue reading “SHINee, 2PM, Girls Day and more at FREE LA Kpop Festival Next Month”

Alex Dang on “What Kind of Asian Are You?”

Hailing from Portland, Oregon, Alex Dang is an aspiring poet who wowed us all with his performance of “What Kind of Asian Are You?” for the Portland Poetry Slam at the 2013 National Poetry Slam.

A strong voice full of passion and emotions, Alex delivered a powerful piece of poetry about Asian American stereotypes and the undying questions that are asked over and over to many Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, questions like “What kind of Asian are you?” and my favorite, “Where are you REALLY from?”

Alex dissects the root of the question, starting out with sarcasm linking everything Asian to himself, because obviously everything Asian has to be connected in some way.

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3 Asian-American Authors on the Rise

3 Asian-American Authors On the Rise

If ten years ago you asked me to name an Asian-American author, my only answer would have been Amy Tan. She wrote the best-selling novel, The Joy Luck Club, about four Chinese American immigrant families in San Francisco. It came out in 1989—that’s a quarter of a century ago.

In recent years, however, more and more Asian-American writers have emerged from the woodwork and made a name for themselves by sharing their unique stories with the world. Let me tell you about a few authors who are currently doing just that!

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Run River North Performs at the Troubadour

RRN1

On Monday March 3, Run River North (formerly known as Monsters Calling Home) performed live at the Troubadour. The show sold-out once again for the second time. The Prowling Kind, a band hailing from Phoenix, Arizona, opened up for Run River North, and indeed the music from both bands were amazing.

Run River North is made up of six Korean-Americans Alex Hwang, Daniel Chae, Jennifer Rim, Joseph Chun, John Chong and Sally Kim. The band first entered my radar when they performed at the 2011 Kollaboration Los Angeles show held at the Nokia Theater. While they were not the winners of the show, their sound was hard to forget. From then, the band has done very well for themselves and made impressive accomplishments from going on tour and opening for Anberlin, performing on Jimmy Kimmel Live, being picked up by label company Nettwerk Music Group to releasing their debut album!

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4 Badass Asian Females Breaking Double Stereotypes

While we often see the quiet, submissive Asian-female stereotype portrayed in the media, Mnet America’s new show ‘Alpha Girls’ is a refreshing documentary series following the lives of four female industry leaders kicking ass in non-traditional career paths: model Soo Joo Park (@soojoopark), hip-hop illustrator Mina Kwon (@MINAKWON), DJ and producer TOKiMONSTA (@TOKiMONSTA) and fashion designer Miss Lawn (@misslawn), founder and creative director of the label Hellz Bellz.

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Welcome to the Blog

Kollaboration LA

We have all thought about it at one time or another: why are there not more Asian-Pacific American voices in the media? Well, it is time for our voices to be heard! Kollaboration is officially launching this blog as a part of our ongoing effort to promote APA visibility in the media. This blog will serve as a positive yet critical space for passionate writers to use their voices to create conversations on issues and topics most pertinent to the APA community. We hope to contribute to the continuing conversations and engagements of today’s happenings.

Given that our issues rarely receive mass media coverage, we believe it is up to ourselves to take the lead in empowering our community to create change. Our blog will celebrate the many accomplishments made by APA figures by starting conversations centered around various topics in music, film, television, fashion, and more.

Join us on this journey as we discuss, share, and learn.

We all have a voice—now let’s use it.

Sincerely,

Michelle & Lee
Kollaboration Blog Editors

Welcome to Kollaboration 2014

Hello & WELCOME to Kollaboration!

In 2014, we are taking our movement to the next level to inspire and support our API artists, leaders, and community. In our 15th year, we are going full force to live out our core values of people, artistry, and empowerment.

Our website is still under construction. Please keep an eye out for our blog & updated features!

We are currently accepting AUDITION applications for our 2014 city competitions.

THANK YOU for your support!

Empowerment Through Entertainment

Christine Minji Chang
Executive Director