SOUND TYPE 2025

SOUND TYPE Music Festival & Writers Residency returns for the second year! We are so excited to continue presenting one-of-a-kind sonic experiences with groundbreaking sound artists here at Asian Arts Initiative.

SOUND TYPE Music Festival is a multi-part series of live concerts and public seminars that pair musicians with writers to reflect on music practice and critical feedback pushing against category, form and stereotype. Taking place over five different weekends across the next 6 months, the Festival presents five unforgettable, genre-defying sonic performances. Each concert is followed by a public seminar led by the guest writer, offering deeper insight into the artist's sound practice, along with private workshops for the SOUND TYPE 2025 writers cohort.

The goal of Music Writers Residency is to support the ecosystem of the BIPOC and LGBTQ experimental music field by empowering a selected cohort of emerging and established music writers. By inviting professional writers for coaching, and connecting the residency cohort to AAI's diverse music offering, we aim to nurture the community of musicians and writers. This year's residency will be led by Joshua Minsoo Kim, one of the featured guest writers in SOUND TYPE 2024.

SOUND TYPE 2025 Musician x Writer Lineup:

Kengchakaj x Nate Chinen (May 23)

Mars Kumari x Alex Smith (July 11)

Yu Su x Elissa Suh (August 14)

You Nakai x Jordannah Elizabeth (September 26)

Burnt Pink x John Morrison (November 14)

Check out SOUND TYPE 2024 Zine to get a taste of the Festival's music offerings and writings from the 2024 writers cohort!