May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May is Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, a time to honor the rich histories, diverse cultures, and contributions of AAPI artists. Their influence has long played a role in shaping the sound of American music, yet AAPI musicians, producers, and leaders in the industry are still underrepresented and often overlooked.
Their journeys remind us why inclusion in the arts matters. At the Guitar Center Company, we believe in the power of music to build bridges, spark connections, and drive change. We are committed to creating spaces where all artists are seen, heard, and celebrated, so join us as we explore some of the iconic AAPI artists who have shaped the music industry today.
Yo-Yo Ma
Yo-Yo Ma is one of the world’s most accomplished musicians and a renowned cellist, known not only for his extraordinary technical skill and emotive performances but also for his boundary-breaking approach to music. He has released over 100 albums, won 19 Grammys, earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the National Medal of Arts, and performed for nine U.S. Presidents, including Dwight D. Eisenhower and Robert F. Kennedy. On top of playing with orchestras around the world, he has also collaborated with popular musicians, including John Williams, Carlos Santana, Miley Cyrus, and Sting.
Yo-Yo Ma has always approached music as more than performance, but as a means of bridging cultures and fostering understanding. In 1998, he founded the Silkroad Ensemble, a collective of musicians from diverse countries that were historically linked by the Silk Road - a network of ancient trade routes that connect East Asia with the Mediterranean Basin and Europe. The project merges cultural traditions from East and West, blending ancient instruments and modern genres to create something entirely new. His Bach Project—a series of performances of Bach’s cello suites in 36 locations across six continents—was designed to celebrate the unifying power of music in civic spaces. Each concert was accompanied by a community action initiative, reinforcing the idea that music and service go hand in hand.
His life’s work exemplifies the power of music to connect, heal, and create lasting cultural and social change.
H.E.R.
Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson, known professionally as H.E.R. (Having Everything Revealed), is a Grammy and Academy Award-winning artistic prodigy who captivated the world with her soulful voice, dynamic musicianship, and powerful songwriting. Her meteoric rise began with her debut EPs, H.E.R. Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 which earned her five Grammy Awards, including Best R&B Album and Best R&B Performance. In 2021, she won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Fight for You” from Judas and the Black Messiah and continued her Grammy streak with wins in categories like Song of the Year for “I Can’t Breathe” and Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Damage.”
H.E.R. is known for her emotional honesty and activism, weaving themes of racial justice, identity, and love into songs that are both deeply personal and socially resonant. But her artistry is not confined to vocals. She plays multiple instruments—guitar, piano, drums—with the kind of command rarely seen in today’s sphere, helping to normalize women, and especially women of color, as instrumentalists and producers in the mainstream.
Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo’ole
Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, also known as IZ, was a native Hawaiian musician whose music and voice carried the spirit of Hawaii.
His career began in the 1970s with the popular Hawaiian group Makaha Sons of Niʻihau, who helped revive traditional music at a time when American pop culture threatened to overshadow native sounds. But it was his rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World” that made him a legend. The track, recorded in a single take in the middle of the night, has since become one of the most streamed songs of all time, featured in movies, commercials, and playlists across the globe. The song was featured on his 1993 album Facing Future, which became the first Hawaiian album to go platinum and remains the best-selling album of all time by a Hawaiian artist.
Israel’s music combined traditional Hawaiian melodies with contemporary influences. He centered Indigenous Hawaiian perspectives in his work, singing about the struggles and beauty of his homeland, often weaving in themes of Hawaiian sovereignty, cultural preservation, and environmental stewardship. He helped revitalize Hawaiian language and music in the mainstream. Even his choice of instrument—the ukulele, often underestimated in Western music— became a powerful symbol of Hawaiian identity.
Israel proved that Native Hawaiian stories matter, that island voices deserve space on the global stage, and that music can be a form of resistance as much as joy.
TOKiMONSTA
Jennifer Lee, known professionally as TOKiMONSTA, is an acclaimed producer, DJ, and composer whose sound blends hip-hop, R&B, and experimental electronica. She began her career in the early 2010s, rising through the influential L.A. beat scene and becoming the first woman signed to DJ and producer Flying Lotus’ label, Brainfeeder. Her debut album Midnight Menu put her on the map, but it was her later work—especially her 2017 album Lune Rouge—that elevated her to global acclaim.
In 2015, TOKiMONSTA was diagnosed with a rare brain condition called Moyamoya disease. After two major surgeries, she temporarily lost the ability to speak and understand music. Over time, she retrained her brain, relearned how to produce, and returned to create Lune Rouge. The album was a triumph of her artistry and earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Dance/Electronic Album, making her one of the first Asian American women to be recognized in the category.
She’s spoken openly about her experience with Moyamoya, mental health, and the pressure to conform in an industry that often lacks diversity. In 2020, she launched her own label, Young Art Records, where she actively champions emerging artists—especially women and people of color—giving them a platform to experiment and thrive.
In an industry where Asian American women are still rarely seen behind the decks or on production credits, TOKiMONSTA shattered stereotypes about what producers look and sound like, reclaiming space in a genre where both women and AAPI artists are underrepresented.
These artists have left their mark on music and their stories have shaped, challenged, and enriched culture. Their journeys remind us why inclusion in the arts matters. We honor their contributions and commit to creating spaces where all artists are seen, heard, and celebrated.
