ARTICLE: Who We Are: Asian American Unity Fest in NYC by Jeremy Duke

“Going to shows, I would sometimes never see Asians at all. Like, barely. But here? Seeing so many Asians in the same fucking room, in the hardcore punk scene—it’s the most beautiful thing ever.”

Who We Are: Asian American Unity Fest in NYC
by Jeremy Duke
Cover Photo: Ray Mock

All the way from my home in Oklahoma City to Queens, NY, I wondered how different the Asian American Unity Fest would feel compared to any other show I’d been to.

With a stacked lineup showcasing some of the finest Asian-American bands in US punk and hardcore, I knew it would be a good time. But sitting in the green room with festival organizer—and three-band performer—Karin (of Ferment, No Values, and The Tarrys) after the final set of the weekend, we both knew it had become something more.

“Going to shows, I would sometimes never see Asians at all. Like, barely. But here? Seeing so many Asians in the same fucking room, in the hardcore punk scene—it’s the most beautiful thing ever,” Karin said.

Karin on stage with Ferment (Photo Credit: Ray Mock)

“A lot of these bands inspired me: No Model, Dog Breath… just all these Asian-fronted hardcore and punk bands. Truly, from the bottom of my heart, they changed my life.”

As a Korean adoptee (a full generation older than Karin), who has long turned to punk and hardcore as a way to survive and make sense of the world, I couldn’t miss the chance to be there the first weekend of May 2025. What started as a single show for AAPI Heritage Month had grown into a full-on two-day fest.

Fest flyer by @lucifers_daddy.666

With help from Sehun, vocalist of No Model (whose Saturday night set felt unforgettable), Karin pulled together a lineup of Asian-fronted bands across the heavy music spectrum. From NYHC mainstays Dog Breath to the debut of No Values, the event became a celebration of talent and community.

“I sent Karin a list of all these bands doing cool shit, and he hit them all up. He asked, ‘Would you be down for this?’ and they were all like, ‘Yeah!’ My mind was fucking blown,” Sehun said.

No Model (Photo Credit: Ray Mock)

Tracing the Roots of Community

The fest featured fifteen bands over two nights, the first at Trans-Pecos and the second at TV Eye—both in Queens. It was amazing to see how so many people with roots across the world had all somehow ended up here, connected by this subculture and what it gives back.

No Model set from AAU 25 (Video Credit: @FrontRowPoster)

Some found it through close friends.

“In college, I became more politically aware and started creating a lot of socially and politically charged artwork,” said Pierre, vocalist of Dog Breath. “Around that time, a friend took me to my first DIY hardcore punk show. I got elbowed square in the face, and the energy got me hooked.”

Dog Breath (Photo Credit: Ray Mock)

Others, like me, came in through media.

“I grew up listening to a lot of indie, metalcore, grunge, pop punk—discovered a lot through MySpace, YouTube, and local radio,” said Molly, vocalist of Cherub Chains. “Some friends made me CDs titled ‘screamo music’ in middle school. Later, I found bands like Have Heart, Stick to Your Guns, and Terror. That’s how it all started.”

Cherub Chains (Photo Credit: Ray Mock)

Some connections went way back.

“How absurd and magical it felt to hang out with Sehun from No Model again,” said Nishad, vocalist of Dusters. “Me, him, and Shawn from Dusters were all in homeroom together when we got into punk. Life is stranger than fiction sometimes.”

“In seventh grade, I saw Nishad walk in with a devil lock and a Misfits patch on his jacket,” Sehun said. “I thought, ‘I gotta be friends with this kid.’ We started our first band in seventh grade together.”

Nishad, Shawn, and Sehun reunited (Photo provided by Nishad of Dusters)

More Than Just a Show

Yes, there were wild pits, big singalongs, and stage dives. But the people who put this fest together wanted it to be more than a celebration—they wanted it to mean something.

“Life is really fucking rough. Honestly, the only point of being alive is to live—and shit like this is what matters,” said Ferdous, a fest attendee and vocalist of Richmond, VA’s Listless.

Photo Credit: HeeJin Kim

Between sets, community orgs took the mic: AZN AMERICANA, Asian Psychedelic Collective, Los Pelones Boxing Gym, Break Free Fest, Nodutdol, TDYK Distro, Wing Luke Museum, Supporting Pan Asian-Owned Resources Collective, Students for a Free Tibet, and others. They offered resources, stories, and reminders of what’s at stake.

“This generation is intentional about how they use their time, space, and platform,” Molly said. “The friendships we’re building across the country—it’s only possible because we’re putting in the time and effort. It takes a whole village.”

A representative of Nodutdol speaks on organizing for a world free of imperialism (Photo Credit: HeeJin Kim)

The event was also a space to speak on hard truths and global realities.

“The coalition that’s formed in support of the Palestinian struggle is incredible,” said Nishad. “We’ve sustained one of the largest protest movements in history against genocide and settler colonial states.”

“Asians need to confront anti-Blackness within their families, their friends, and themselves,” Ferdous said. “We don’t get to claim oppression without standing up for others. So much of what we do wouldn’t be possible without Black communities—it’s built on their backs.”

Namatay Sa Ingay (Photo Credit: Ray Mock)

Chang-hwan, No Model guitarist and adoptee advocate, spoke to the need for outreach in overlooked places.

“I grew up in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. I was the only Asian person in my high school. For folks from small-ass towns like me, it’s still about reaching people one at a time.”

“I’ve been seeing more and more of us coming out and representing—it’s beautiful!” said Pierre. “I’ve always felt like it ends up falling on the shoulders of people of color to speak on the social and political issues of this country. And unfortunately, that’s still too large a pill to swallow, even within the hardcore community.”

(Photo Credit: HeeJin Kim)

He continued, “Isn’t that what this genre was built from? How did that part get lost? Anyway it’s about time the Asian community finally used their voices to speak out.”

“I have never used hardcore or punk to navigate my identity as a Vietnamese person,” said Huan Ngo, vocalist of Warden. “But I always wished there were more people who looked like me and enjoyed the same shit I did.”

“I think representation is great in that regard,” he added. “And I’m happy if this fest was able to showcase that—even to just one or two young Asian punks or hardcore kids. I needed more relatable role models growing up.”

(Photo Credit: HeeJin Kim)

Speaking Up and Taking Space

As the weekend wrapped, people reflected on what it meant to be part of something so deeply rooted in identity and expression.

“I would love to see more Asians in hardcore and punk start something. Start a band, book a show, make a zine—whatever your creative heart wants,” Molly said. “If you’re scared or doubtful—just do it. Be loud. Take up space. We’re here for you.”

SOUR (Photo Credit: Ray Mock)

“I couldn’t have imagined being part of something like this,” said Jeff, vocalist of SOUR. “Not because I wouldn’t feel it—but because I literally couldn’t imagine it existing.”

SOUR’s music was my entry point to a version of hardcore that offers connection to other people who look like me, something that’s been so hard for me to find throughout my life. 

Jeff writes as a Korean adoptee in a way that feels like permission, like hope. For other adoptees, for Asian Americans, for anyone who’s ever been made to feel like they don’t belong.

From left to right: myself, Sehun (No Model), Jeff (SOUR), Chang-hwan (No Model), four adoptees displaced to four different US states, brought together at AAU 25 (Photo Credit: HeeJin Kim)

This weekend reminded me that unity doesn’t just happen—it’s created. Through effort, intention, and showing up. And I’ll always be grateful to the people who did.

“The No Model set yesterday was fucking breathtaking. Every Asian hopping on that stage, chanting ‘Asian American unity’—it was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen,” Karin said, sitting beside me in the green room as we tried to process everything. “Growing up in Western society, they always push this image that Asian Americans are quiet and docile. But that is absolutely not the case. Not after this. We have voices—and I want the whole world to know this is who the fuck we are.”

Please check out and support everyone who was involved in Asian American Unity Fest:

Bands:

Brainwashed (Philadelphia, PA)

Dog Breath (New York)

Massgrief (Seattle, WA)

Namatay Sa Ingay (New York)

No Model (MA, NJ, MD)

The Tarry’s (Danbury, CT)

No Values (New York)

Dusters (New Brusnwick, NJ)

Balisong (Washington DC)

Cherub Chains (Seattle, WA)

Ferment (New York)

Frothing Mad (New York)

God Instinct (Philadelphia, PA)

Private Mind (Long Island, NY)

SOUR (Columbus, OH)

Warden (Houston, TX)

Organizations / Causes: 

AZN AMERICANA

Asian Psychedelic Collective

Los Pelones Boxing Gym

Break Free Fest

Nodutdol

TDYK Distro

Wing Luke Museum

Supporting Pan Asian-Owned Resources Collective

Students for a Free Tibet