LOS ANGELES – The inaugural 88rising Moonrise Gala celebrated Asian excellence in music and entertainment, honoring industry pioneers like Anderson .Paak, Jackson Wang and NIKI.
88rising, founded by Sean Miyashiro, is a music and media company dedicated to amplifying the voices of Asian talent worldwide. The company has played a pivotal role in breaking through artists like NIKI and organizing the highly anticipated Head In The Clouds festival, which returns to New York City this year on May 11th and 12th. Festival goers can expect to see performances from (G)-IDLE, JOJI, DABIN, BIBI, Wave to Earth, Young Posse, Balming Tiger, ILLENIUM and Atarashii Gakko!.
Guests at the Moonrise Gala enjoyed food by Chubby Group while witnessing a night filled with awards and exciting performances.
Emcee Jonnie Park, known as Dumbfoundead, steered the evening with humor and heartfelt tributes to Asian trailblazers.
CREDIT: Kyle Goldberg (BFA)
Filipino-American dance-pop artist Jocelyn Enriquez received the first-ever Moonrise Gala honoree recognition. Having captivated audiences with 90s hits like “Do You Miss Me,” Enriquez delivered a high-energy performance, complete with intense choreography, three decades later, keeping the crowd dancing and celebrating.
CREDIT: Kyle Goldberg (BFA)
Following Enriquez’s moving performance, Global Head of Editorial at Spotify, Sulinna Ong took the stage. In a touching moment, she shared a personal story about her journey from aspiring artist to presenting at the Gala, recalling how, as a young girl, posters of the next honorees, Invisibl Skratch Piklz, adorned her walls – to now having the honor of introducing the legendary turntablist group.
Invisibl Skratch Piklz, true to their reputation, delivered a compelling live performance with their innovative sound – keeping the audience enthralled and moving. The energy remained high as they received their award.
CREDIT: Kyle Goldberg (BFA)
Among the other esteemed honorees of the evening was Destin Daniel Cretton, the half-Hawaiian, half-Japanese director responsible for the critically acclaimed film “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.” Cretton’s presence and achievements were met with enthusiastic cheers from the crowd.
Jackson Wang, the ever charismatic performer and fashion trailblazer, took the stage to accept his award with swift grace, expressing his gratitude to his community and fans.
Maintaining the momentum, eight-time Grammy winner Anderson .Paak stepped up to receive his honor. He spoke candidly about his recent exploration of his Korean heritage, inspired by watching “Squid Game.” His speech, peppered with heartfelt “Thank yous” and “I love yous” in Korean.
Bringing the award show to a close was NIKI, the first Indonesian artist to grace the Coachella stage under 88rising. She captivated the audience with one of the first live performances of her new song, “24.” The introspective ballad paints a picture of her experiences as a 24-year-old on the cusp of turning 25, weaving a heartfelt tale through her lyrics.
As the main program concluded, the after-party kept the good vibes flowing well past midnight. Guests enjoyed refreshing beverages courtesy of Johnnie Walker Blue Label while DJ Noodz spun electrifying sets, with a set from 88rising’s newest group 1999 WRITE THE FUTURE.
Spotted mingling amongst the crowd were notable figures like rapper Rich Brian, singer Audrey Nuna, actress Gia Kim, actors Sam Li and Joon Lee from “The Brothers Sun,” singers Thuy, Lyn Lapid, and Filipino actress Liza Soberano.
The inaugural Moonrise Gala celebrated Asian excellence and set the stage for future generations. While anticipation builds for next year’s event, fans can stay tuned for exciting announcements from 88rising, including their highly anticipated Head in the Clouds festival.
Check out more of our 88rising content from Head in the Clouds from last year on The Knockturnal!
THUMBNAIL CREDIT: Kyle Goldberg (BFA)
