Standing up against stereotyping, artists celebrate Asian Heritage Month through music and storytelling
Musicians push back against anti-Asian hate, speak out about their experiences of racism in live concert
Kristina Lao. Photo by Kyrani Kanavaros
Vancouver Asian Film Festival and Elimin8Hate present See Us, Hear Us: Songs of Resilience on May 26 at 7:30 pm. at D/6 Bar & Lounge.
THROUGH SOULFUL MELODIES, folk pop, and original songs, Asian-Canadian artists are all set to address stereotypes and issues surrounding anti-Asian hate at See Us, Hear Us: Songs of Resilience, an upcoming showcase of live music.
Celebrating Asian Heritage Month, the concert is being organized by Vancouver Asian Film Festival (VAFF) and its social-advocacy arm, Elimin8Hate.
Kristina Lao, event producer and one of the evening’s performers, says the idea behind the concert is to challenge the model-minority myth through words and music. But what is even more exciting for her is to be able to do so while shining a spotlight on the diversity and differences among individuals within the Asian community. For the Hong Kong-born artist, her heritage is something to be treasured every day, and the opportunity to be part of a show with a strong social-advocacy element offers a home-like feeling. She hopes to share that with those who have experienced hate in any form.
“When you experience a show with a group of people, that experience becomes collectively yours,” Lao says. “And to do that with songs that are empowering, reassuring, intimate, and honest makes a big difference.”
With seven performances lined up, including one by a 12-piece band, the event will honour the rich experiences and contributions of Asian-Canadians while offering the audience a taste of various genres.
One of the songs that Lao is especially looking forward to performing is “Choices”, an original written with producer Karl Dicaire, which talks about her experience of feeling out of place.
“That is an important song for me which I wrote at the height of the pandemic, when I was reading and seeing a lot of anti-Asian hate crimes rise,” says Lao, the first Hongkonger to get into the London School of Musical Theatre. “I have had many conversations recently about people from the Asian diaspora not feeling a sense of belonging in Canada. And that to me is a feeling I am very familiar with.”
Amanda Sum. Photo by Belen Garcia
After Lao’s opening act, Chinese-Canadian songwriter and producer Serena Sun will take to the stage. Specializing in pop music, Sun has independently released nine singles. Her songs are reflections of her experiences living in different parts of the world while being culturally entrenched.
Kayee Lee, founder of the Vancouver Asian Film Festival, will perform on acoustic guitar. A singer-songwriter, independent filmmaker, and former broadcast journalist, Lee is known for showcasing the power of diversity in front of and behind the camera, having led multiple projects in the local entertainment industry.
Also taking part in See Us, Hear Us: Songs of Resilience are multi-instrumentalist Jasmine Orton, whose writing ranges from string-quartet arrangements to abstract electronic sounds; Katana, who presents alt-pop with jazzy influences and the pulse of R&B; and Asian Persuasion All-Stars, a 12-piece indie-rock band.
Amanda Sum will bring her indie-pop originals to the show, performing as a soloist. Sum, who “dances between theatre and music”, is known for songs that feature her all-female Asian band.
Sum also recently collaborated with a team of filmmakers and Hollywood stars to produce a six-minute film to raise awareness about anti-Asian hate. The movie, released in honour of the Asian Heritage Month, is close to Sum’s heart. Along with her voice, people will also get to enjoy her acting skills in it. Directed by Mayumi Yoshida, the short film is set to “Different Than Before”, Sum’s new release, and goes live worldwide on May 20 at 12 pm PST via YouTube and Vimeo. (A conversation with the film’s creators and performers takes place May 20 at 11 am on YouTube, facilitated by Sabrina Rani Furminger and hosted by ExplorASIAN.)
The film’s opening shot, set in a Chinese restaurant in Vancouver, shows world-renowned actor Tzi Ma enjoying dinner with his family. Ma, a versatile actor, known for his roles in movies like Rush Hour, Mulan, and The Farewell, will astound viewers with his smooth character transition, from a “jolly dad” to an enraged personality standing up against racism.
Playing one of Ma’s daughters, actor Olivia Cheng is depicted as furious yet calm when a group of racist visitors tries to mock the bride-to-be. Ma, who turns out to be a pop singer of his time, initially ignores the discriminatory comments, but as hecklers continue to test his patience, he ensures they leave with a lesson.
“This is a subject and a film we are extremely proud of, and the process has brought the entire team so much passion and healing,” Sum says.
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