Ella Jay Basco marked the start of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month with the release of her latest single “Bubble Tea” on Sunday.
The upbeat track will be featured in her upcoming album, along with other tracks such as “Eye to Eye.”
The 15-year-old actor and singer-songwriter, who is of Filipino and Korean descent, often includes references to her culture in her songs.
“I love incorporating different pieces of my culture, the food and music, the dancing, everything into my career,” she told Variety.
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Her debut EP “Middle School,” released in 2020, includes “The Filipino Song,” which is about discussing her heritage with someone she introduces to her family. She also wrote and sang “Nadu” (“Me Too”), a track which has Korean lyrics.
For her latest single, Basco took inspiration from the popular tea-based drink that originated in Taiwan.
“It’s a summer anthem specifically for Asian kids,” said Basco.
Incorporating elements from films such as “Little Rascals” and “The Goonies,” the song’s music video, which was directed by Asian filmmaker Bianca Catbagan, focuses on Basco and her friends enjoying bubble tea while hanging out in Koreatown and other spots in Los Angeles.
Basco, the niece of actors Dion and Dante Basco, started her acting career with hit shows “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Veep.” She branched out into music after her feature film debut as Cassandra Cain in the 2020 film “Birds of Prey.”
Featured Image via Ella Jay Basco
