10 Filipino American Musicians You Need on Your Playlist

Your next favorite song might just come from a Filipino American artist you haven't discovered yet.

Filipino American musicians have been making their mark across genres, bringing fresh perspectives to hip-hop, R&B, indie pop, electronic music, and rock. Some have built dedicated followings through independent releases, while others helped shape musical movements long before the world started paying attention.

And while Filipino American History Month gives us another reason to celebrate their contributions, their music deserves a spot in our playlists all year long.

Looking to discover something new? Here are 10 Filipino American musicians worth a listen, along with a few songs to get you started.

1. Sierra Sikora

Indie Pop / Singer-Songwriter

If you're drawn to songs that feel like pages from someone's diary, Sierra Sikora might be your next favorite discovery.

The Chicago-based singer-songwriter and producer blends indie pop with personal, emotionally driven storytelling. Her songs explore relationships, growing up, and the feelings that aren't always easy to put into words.

Her 2025 EP Confessions introduced listeners to tracks like "The Ghost in Sage Green," while songs such as "Dear Athena," and "Jade" offer more ways to explore her songwriting. She's also been building an audience through independent releases and live performances around Chicago and Champaign-Urbana.

Her latest project, Aftertaste, released on October 23, 2026, features nine tracks and marks another chapter in her developing music career.

Start listening: "Dear Athena," "Jade," and Aftertaste.

2. Ruby Ibarra

Hip-Hop / Rap

Ruby Ibarra doesn't just make music you can nod your head to. She makes music that gets you thinking.

Born in the Philippines and raised in California's Bay Area, Ibarra brings Filipino identity, migration, and community into her powerful lyricism. Her songs move between English, Tagalog, and Bisaya, giving voice to experiences that aren't always represented in mainstream hip-hop.

Her 2017 album CIRCA91 explores the Filipino immigrant experience, while "Us," featuring Rocky Rivera, Klassy, and Faith Santilla, celebrates Filipina voices and solidarity.

In 2025, Ibarra won NPR's Tiny Desk Contest with "Bakunawa," a song inspired by Philippine mythology and her experience becoming a mother. Her winning performance featured an intergenerational group of Filipina musicians, including rock pioneer June Millington, bringing different generations of artists together through music.

Start listening: "Us," "Bakunawa," and "7000 Miles."

3. SOSUPERSAM

R&B / Electronic / DJ

If your perfect playlist moves effortlessly between nostalgic R&B and dance-floor favorites, SOSUPERSAM knows exactly what you're looking for.

Samantha Duenas, better known as SOSUPERSAM, is a Los Angeles-based DJ, singer, and former professional dancer of Filipino and Irish descent. Before making her name in music and nightlife, she performed alongside artists including Miley Cyrus and Kelly Rowland.

She's also the co-founder of 143, an influential R&B party that has built a dedicated following through its celebration of the genre and the communities brought together by music.

Beyond DJing, she's released original music, including tracks such as "Drip," "Good For It," and "Priority." Her DJ mixes are another reason to explore her work, bringing together familiar R&B favorites and unexpected discoveries.

Start listening: "Drip," "Good For It," or one of her live DJ mixes.

4. Toro y Moi

Indie / Electronic / Alternative

Trying to put Toro y Moi into one musical category is a challenge, and that's exactly what makes his work interesting.

Born Chaz Bear, the Filipino and African American musician became one of the defining artists associated with chillwave, a genre known for dreamy electronic textures and nostalgic sounds.

But he didn't stop there. His music has since explored funk, psychedelic rock, house, hip-hop, and alternative pop, creating a discography that rarely stays in one place for long.

His 2022 album Mahal also offers a connection to his Filipino heritage. Its title draws from the Filipino word for love, while its artwork features a jeepney, bringing a recognizable piece of Philippine culture into his visual world.

For listeners who enjoy artists who constantly experiment with their sound, Toro y Moi offers plenty to explore.

Start listening: "Ordinary Pleasure," "Postman," and "Freelance."

5. Manila Killa

Electronic / Dance

Don't let the name fool you. Manila Killa's music has traveled far beyond the Philippine capital.

Born Christian Gavino, the Filipino American electronic music producer grew up across different countries, including the Philippines, Indonesia, and the United States.

What began with teaching himself electronic music production eventually developed into a career built around melodic arrangements, atmospheric sounds, and collaborations with other artists.

Manila Killa helped establish the electronic music collective Moving Castle and was part of the duo Hotel Garuda before focusing more extensively on his solo career.

His 2022 debut album, Dusk, offers a great introduction to his sound, blending emotional melodies with electronic production. Tracks like "Dark Places" and "Dusk," featuring Lights, show how he brings together dance music and reflective songwriting.

Start listening: "Dark Places," "Youth," and "Dusk."

6. Lyn Lapid

Indie Pop / Alternative R&B

Ever had a song put your feelings into words before you could figure them out yourself? Lyn Lapid might have just the track for you.

The Filipino American singer-songwriter first gained attention in 2020 through TikTok, where her original music and intimate performances introduced listeners to her expressive vocals and relatable songwriting.

Her breakout song "Producer Man" helped establish her as a rising voice in pop music. Since then, she's continued writing about the complicated emotions that come with growing up, navigating relationships, and figuring out who you want to become.

In February 2025, Lapid released BUZZKILL, featuring tracks such as "coraline," "i'll be happy when," and "death wish." She followed it with an expanded edition, buzzkill (forever), that September.

More recently, she released "Casual Crime" on October 23, 2026, giving listeners another reason to revisit her growing catalog.

Start listening: "Producer Man," "coraline," and "Casual Crime."

7. Bambu

Hip-Hop / Rap

For Bambu, hip-hop is about more than clever rhymes and memorable beats. It's also a way to challenge systems, share experiences, and start conversations.

The Los Angeles-raised Filipino American rapper is known for his socially conscious music, drawing from his upbringing, community experiences, and political perspectives.

His lyrics frequently address race, inequality, immigration, and working-class life, making his music both personal and politically engaged.

In 2009, Bambu established Beatrock Music, a collective bringing together musicians, activists, and educators. He's also collaborated with fellow Filipino American artists, including Ruby Ibarra and Rocky Rivera.

His catalog includes 5AM in Manila (2013), Party Worker (2014), and Sharpest Tool in the Shed (2020). He has continued releasing music in recent years, including They're Burning the Boats in 2025.

For listeners who appreciate hip-hop with a strong point of view, Bambu's discography is worth exploring.

Start listening: Party Worker, 5AM in Manila, and Sharpest Tool in the Shed.

8. Labit

Indie Pop / Singer-Songwriter

Some songs remind you of a particular person. Others bring you right back to where you grew up. Labit's music has a way of doing both.

The Los Angeles-based Filipino American singer-songwriter, born Stephen Ordoñez, creates music shaped by family memories, relationships, and the experiences that influence who we become.

His 2025 album SOL is named after his grandmother, Solita, affectionately known as Grandma Sol. Across 18 tracks, Labit reflects on the people who raised him, the memories that stayed with him, and the lessons he's carried into adulthood.

One particularly personal track, "MANGOES AND RICE," draws directly from his Filipino American upbringing. Written as a conversation with his sister, the song revisits their childhood and the ways their family and cultural experiences continue to shape their lives.

Elsewhere, "PARALLEL" captures the realization of finding love in an unexpected place, while "CLEANING OUT THE FRIDGE" explores the difficult but necessary conversations that come with relationships.

For anyone who has ever looked back on their childhood and realized how much it shaped them, Labit's music offers something familiar.

Start listening: "MANGOES AND RICE," "PARALLEL," and "SOL."

9. Ang Sirena

Neo-Soul / Alternative R&B

Looking for something soulful, a little nostalgic, and perfect for a slow afternoon? Ang Sirena might be exactly what your playlist needs.

The Phoenix-based Filipino American singer-songwriter blends vintage soul, alternative R&B, and neo-soul, creating music that explores love, healing, and self-reflection.

She began releasing music independently in 2023 with her debut single "Hold Me," followed by her 2024 EP Alone But Not Lonely. These early projects introduced listeners to her expressive vocals and reflective songwriting.

In August 2025, she released Rose Colored Glasses, a six-track live-band project that brought a fuller, more collaborative sound to her music. She's also continued experimenting through collaborations with musician Jesse Espinoza.

Her work extends beyond recording and performing. Through Barkada Sessions, an independent artist showcase and workshop series, Ang Sirena helps create opportunities for emerging musicians to connect, collaborate, and share their work.

It's a fitting extension of her artistry, showing how music can be both a personal creative outlet and a way to build community.

Start listening: "Hold Me," "Rose Colored Glasses," and "Comfortable."

10. June Millington (Fanny)

Rock / Classic Rock

Before today's conversations about representation in music, June Millington was already helping break barriers in rock.

Born in the Philippines, Millington moved to California with her family and later co-founded Fanny, a pioneering all-female rock band, alongside her sister Jean.

In 1970, Fanny released its self-titled debut, becoming the first all-female rock band to release an album on a major American record label. At a time when rock music was overwhelmingly associated with male performers, the group challenged expectations about who belonged onstage.

As Fanny's lead guitarist, Millington helped establish the band as an important part of rock history. Her career also extended into music production and education, including work supporting women and girls pursuing music.

Her influence continues decades later. In 2025, she performed alongside Ruby Ibarra for NPR's Tiny Desk Contest-winning entry, "Bakunawa," connecting different generations of Filipino American musicians.

It's a reminder that Filipino American contributions to American music history go back much further than many listeners realize.

Start listening: Fanny's "Charity Ball" (1971) and Fanny Hill (1972).

Keep the Music Playing

There's no single sound that defines Filipino American music, and that's what makes exploring it so exciting.

The artists on this list have taken different paths, from writing songs in their bedrooms and building independent communities to helping redefine entire musical genres. Some draw directly from their Filipino heritage, while others bring their identities into music shaped by different influences and experiences.

Together, they show just how varied Filipino American creativity can be.

So, as Filipino American History Month comes to a close, consider giving your playlist a little refresh. Explore an unfamiliar genre, revisit a pioneering artist, or share a song from an independent musician with a friend.

After all, discovering great music never goes out of season.

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