It was a Friday night. As usual, Little Tokyo in Los Angeles was full of night owls ready to socialize over good food and frothy drinks.
The patrons at the Far Bar on East 1st Street were no exception. The bar was full of mostly young and mostly Asian guests, all of whom appeared to be having a great time. However, this crowd had gathered for a purpose that went beyond just socializing. They were here for “A Celebration of Asian American Soul,” as presented by the online magazine Asia Pacific Arts and co-hosted by inVenture.
The star of the night was funk/soul singer Judith Hill.
The opening act was Dawen, a Los Angeles-based soul/r&b singer, and the star of the night was funk/soul singer Judith Hill.
Dawen was accompanied by beatboxer Vincent Bantasan, who had been eager to participate in the event. Said Bantasan, “I heard [the event] was for charity, so anything that’s appreciated and can benefit through any form of music and is a good cause, I definitely go for it.”
Judith Hill was also of the same mindset about giving back to the community. “I always love to support Asian Americans. I think it’s really cool that they are supporting each other.”
Support translated into camaraderie that Friday night, as everyone seemed to know everyone else, making for a boisterous atmosphere brimming with the sounds of hip hop and lively conversation. Brian Hu, a former editor of the APA and the night’s emcee, summed up the night: “Today is about celebrating the music and the idea that [Asian Americans] want to use music through our community. Music that moves us is the music that’s going to move us to action.” To see clips of the performances, you can watch APA’s video of the night.
Pictures courtesy of Philip Kim/Asia Pacific Arts.
Related Articles
When I first heard Judith Hill sing, I got goosebumps. When she shared the stage with Michael Jackson as his only female lead vocalist for his “This Is It” tour, she gave the King of Pop a run for his money. So imagine my excitement when I found out that Judith, a Los Angeles native [...]
Season 4 of The Voice is here! Christina and Ceelo are sitting out this season – and I’ll say that I’m pretty pleased with Shakira and Usher filling in their shoes. Monday night’s premiere episode opened up with a big bang (complete with a lovely rendition of The Beatles’ “Come Together” by the four judges). [...]
“When I graduated, all the music in my life came to a halt, and that’s when I realized I couldn’t live without it.” – Heather Park ISSUE: Winter 2010 DEPT: Personalities STORY: Anna M. Park Soul Barer It’s just a girl, a sheet and a camera. That’s Heather “Ah” Park’s video for her lead single, [...]
Need a new artist to follow? We’ve got just the girl! Check out Ka Lia Kang‘s music video for her single “Empty Soul”. Kang beautifully sings about the pains of heartbreak and false love. She may be young, but this girls got a big voice. We can’t wait to see whats in store for her.
What happens when you put three emerging Asian American musicians (from Boston, New York City, and Los Angeles respectively) in a group together? A musical force to be reckoned – Aziatix (Eddie Shin, Jay “Flowsik” Pak, and Nicky Lee) presents themselves as a refreshing entry into the music industry with a unique blend of r&b/soul, pop, [...]
The designer was increasingly plagued by ill health, however, and in 2002 he announced he was quitting fashion, bringing a 40-year career to close. Red Bottom Shoes http://redbottomheelsaustralia.webs.com/