15 tracks by female Asian artists perfect for your "Performative Male" starter kit

2025 has seen many trends come and go. However, one of the most prominent TikTok trends this year has been the specific archetype of males known as the “Performative Male.” Some traits include listening to artists such as Laufey, Clairo, and Beabadoobee and indulging in genres ranging from jazz to reggae.

Moreover, they enjoy sipping on matcha, are incredibly passionate about feminist literature, and prefer to listen to their music using their tangle-prone wired earbuds. So if you're looking to embark on your journey toward becoming a "Performative Male" who stands out from the rest, or you just have really great taste in music, here are 15 tracks by female Asian artists perfect for your "Performative Male" starter kit.

@flolerigolol performative male #humor ♬ original sound - flolerigolo

Vira Talisa — ‘For the Time Being’

A soft, peppy jazz tune by Indonesian artist Vira Talisa that feels like it was dipped in retro Disney or Broadway-inspired tunes. ‘For the Time Being’ is sure to put a bit of a pep into your step with the bouncy back baseline and the delicate, smooth vocals pairing perfectly with the meaningful lyrics that talk about having hope even in the darkest of times and always being able to find the silver lining in the most dire situations.

Perfect to listen to while wearing your wired headphones and walking down the street to get yourself your favourite thirst-quenching matcha strawberry.

Clara Benin — ‘hiding in the bathroom’

‘hiding in the bathroom’ is a melancholy tune by Filipino indie darling Clara Benin that captures the dreadful feeling of imposter syndrome that feels suffocating and restrictive to the point where you might want to run away and hide.

The melodious ballad adds another impactful layer to the overall message of the song as it blends haunting acoustic guitar lines and layered vocals to create a hard-hitting track that talks about the fragility of the mind when feelings of imposter syndrome come flooding in. The lines back up this theme as they say, “It feels so wrong to be here, I feel like a fraud I'm overstimulated, I don't know what to say next all I could think of now is that I should've just stayed home with my dog.”

Mei Semones — ‘Tora Moyo’

‘Tora Moyo’ is a chaotically beautiful melodious jazz piece by Brooklyn-based Japanese artist Mei Semones. The eccentric guitar chords build an organised mess like using mismatched pieces to somehow create a cohesive puzzle. But this distinct style of music fits the theme for this track that talks about the extremities of love and the cocktail of emotions that come with falling for someone new, such as confusion, overwhelming love, and sometimes even a bit of hurt and desperation to satiate the craving of being loved by the other person as much as you love them.

The lyrics say, “Tomorrow, the day after too, let’s meet again on Saturday. Never tired, never bored, even if my fingertips are worn and torn. A gentle voice, big ears, bring you with me, love in every city.” Perfect for when you're pondering the mysteries of love that this track talks about while you're dabbling in reading and even annotating a bit of feminist literature in a small hidden gem café.

soye — ‘Baila, Baila’

‘Baila, Baila’ is a slow track that feels like the embodiment of loss with the beautiful and hypnotizingly smooth and soft vocals by Korean singer soye. The track mixes Korean and Spanish lyrics. The track talks about the feeling of emptiness and despair that comes with a separation between two lovers.

The lyrics capture this sentiment as they say, “Forever, we will dance (bailaremos), I’ll be here (estaré aquí). How could you leave like that, without a letter, without a kiss, without a goodbye?” This track is the perfect song to listen to while thrifting in a quaint vintage store trying to look for a new everyday tote bag to store your wired headphones and favourite jazz CD in.

Hana Vu — ‘Records’

If ‘Records’ could be summarised in two words, they would be quiet devotion. Created by Vietnamese-Korean artist Hana Vu, the song talks about being in love with someone despite any circumstances that could befall upon them. The track is a beautiful and haunting acoustic tune, making it feel like a silent prayer that packs an emotional punch. The strong vocal performance enriches the tune, making it sharper, cutting the audience much deeper.

The lyrics twist the knife as they say, “Oh, how the time goes out of place and all of its glory changes shape the grass it still grows, again and again. And even if it won't I′ll still want you then.” This song would be the perfect soundtrack to watch the sun dip and hide behind the trees while basking in the glaze of golden hour, just doing some journaling and reflecting about your day.

Tarrarin — ‘Wanita’

‘Wanita’ is a classic jazz track by Indonesian artist Tarrarrin that combines a lilting melody with angelic layered vocals to create a dreamy sound.

The track follows the theme of describing the strength of women even in the face of adversity, such as being heartbroken by a man. The track also proceeds to question why all those men would mistreat and underestimate the women they were with while simultaneously patting the women on the back for presenting their incredible resilience and walking away from the disrespect.

The lyrics back this up as they say, “The specialness of a woman. Many have tried to break her heart, but her face only grows more radiant when she rises again, healing from heartbreak.” At its core, the track is about honoring the irreplaceable value of women and recognizing that their true beauty shines brightest when they heal and stand strong.

For the everyday "Performative Males" who love to dabble in a bit of feminist literature—learning about the strength of women through every word, line, paragraph, and chapter they read, this song is truly an anthem aligning with what they believe in.

Ify Alyssa — ‘Roda-Roda’

‘Roda-Roda’ is an upbeat indie soul-jazz track by Indonesian artist Ify Alyssa. This track paints a picture of joy, movement, and optimism, using the simple act of tightening shoelaces as a symbol of readiness to embrace the day.

The imagery of “laju roda-roda” (rolling wheels) captures the momentum of life, carrying the listener toward new destinations with rhythm and excitement. Bright, playful refrains and onomatopoeic chants add to the celebratory energy, making the song a reminder to greet tomorrow with laughter, hope, and a light heart.

Milena — ‘Worry doll’

‘Worry doll’ is a chill and playful soft jazz track by Korean artist Milena that incorporates various musical elements to create the perfect lulling track that juxtaposes the track’s theme of constant overthinking and needing the person they love to be there for them so that they can help to quiet their mind. The extent of love to the point where they need to replace the presence of their significant other, even with a ‘Worry doll,’ should they be absent.

The lyrics reinforce this message as they say, “There goes my overthinkin' I don't want you to notice so I should buy a worry doll before I walk into the door where you would sit and wait for me.” This track is the right fit for a moment where you’re distressing from the hectic nature of the day, wishing the person you love was right by your side, but settling for trying a new mango matcha recipe as your version of a ‘Worry doll’ instead.

Avara — ‘Another Beautiful Sunday’

‘Another Beautiful Sunday’ is one R&B track on this list that has a heavy seductive vibe. The track features Indian-American artist Avara and definitely lets her airy and beautiful voice shine through as it melts together with the dreamy retro-sounding synths and slow drum beats, making the song a relaxing experience to listen to. The track is definitely one to listen to while unwinding in bed with a book in hand and ridding yourself of the stresses of the hectic day.

Shazza — ‘i’mprettysuretheworldisending’ 

‘I’mprettysuretheworldisending’ is a soft pop ballad that was written by Singaporean artist Shazza. The soft lilting vocals beautifully relay the themes of taking the time to slow down and appreciate life even in the most hectic moments of adversity. The song takes listeners on a detailed journey of the most intricate and small moments in life, celebrating moments of happiness and being so glad to be alive to appreciate them.

The lyrics paint the story of taking a peek into the lives of everyday strangers such as Shannon, Hope, Timmy, and many others. The lyrics say, “And all the things I feel but don't quite say I'm pretty sure the world is ending, and there's no use in us pretending, otherwise it's no surprise, but I'm so glad to be alive with you today.”

This song is definitely the anthem for when you’re romanticising your life even when your earbuds are all tangled or the new café you decided to try didn’t have ceremonial-grade matcha.

Yel — ‘When you were asleep’ 

‘When you were asleep’ is a track that perfectly relates to the title as it presents itself as a dreamy and otherworldly lo-fi synthpop track by Korean singer Yel. The overall sonic direction of the track aligns with the theme, which is believing that a previous partner was something of a dream since they are everything that you fantasise about and wish for in a significant other but they slipped away.

The track draws similarity to when you have an amazing dream while you’re deeply asleep, and how that dream slips away as your eyes crack open at the break of dawn. The yearning to go back and live in that dreamlike part of your life with the person you once loved.

The lyrics say, “They see me as a confident girl but all the words that mattered to me come right from your throat. Hate to see you with other girls, but I won't keep you for too long, I need time to grow, and it was like a dream to me, you were everything I dreamed of”—peeling back to the surface level of confidence to expose the vulnerability that lingers within the heart of the song.

Andien — ‘Rindu’ 

‘Rindu’ is a cute and chilled-back track that features Indonesian singer Andien. Picture this: matcha in hand, wired earbuds in, while listening to this track while all your thoughts are being filled with the person who made you smile, made you want to get out of bed that morning, the laugh you hear echoing in your mind when you close your eyes. This song is the perfect situation song for a moment just like that.

It represents the times when all your thoughts are consumed by the one person you can’t get out of your mind even if they are the one that got away. The lyrics cement this narrative as they say, “The glittering night arrives, even silence speaks. My thoughts are filled only with our moments together. I often turn them into the beautiful dreams I long for. Do you feel the trembling inside your chest? The same way I feel it? I miss you.”

Natsu Summer — ‘Shiosai Sunset’ 

‘Shiosai Sunset’ throws a bit of funk into the mix with its heavy reggae influences balanced out by the hypnotic and amazing vocals by Japanese singer Natsu Summer. The track holds an incredibly nostalgic vibe as it tells the story of a summer drive unfolding, where sea breezes, sunsets, and quiet memories of a first kiss blur into the present.

Framed by shimmering horizons and the sound of waves, it captures the tender certainty that love and fate are no coincidence. The lyrics frame this narrative as they say, “Our first kiss was three summers ago, kissing fish, you clumsy person wrapped in the orange of the setting sun sunset breeze, holding hands.”

NIKI — ‘Tsunami’