UMI: Bravery

When we invited Tierra Umi Wilson to create a playlist for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, centred around the theme of bravery, the Seattle-born singer-songwriter was drawn to songs that are uplifting, free-spirited and confident. Much like the songs on her own upcoming album, Forest in the City, they’re a reminder to be “unapologetic in your self-expression and your journey”, she tells Apple Music. “I curated a collection of songs that bring me peace—songs that elevate your energy and bring a smile to your face and movement to your body. Songs that feel like a breath of fresh air.” The Japanese and African American musician sought to highlight fellow voices in her community, like, for example, the Filipino American artist Yeek, whose song “3000 Miles (Baby Baby)” appears below. “[Yeek] is not only an inspiration to the AAPI community, he’s so experimental and embodies the idea of a cross-genre artist,” she says. “He inspires me to try new things with my sound and not to believe in any boxes.”