South Asian representation has been having a good time in the music industry these past few years. Lara Raj’s iconic Gap ad joined that movement, with her wearing an OM necklace and a bindi on her forehead, proudly, the trajectory has only been pointing up. It’s an epidemic that’s been a long time coming to cities all around the world. And why should Surrey be any behind?

Our very own local Harpo Mander, who has been the face of 5X (a barrier breaking South Asian music and arts organization based in Metro Vancouver) and was most recently its executive director, is starting a new role as senior manager for South Asian music at Umusic a record label based out of Toronto. Why this is a big deal has to do with the fact that no matter how much we shout for representation, real change lies with people that have power and so to create the necessary change in the industry, one must be in those power ranks. Harpo has done both beautifully. She is lovingly referred to as didi on Instagram because she has a been proud voice of the importance of connecting with her culture, may that be sharing a saree her mom hand painted, or how proud her work makes her when she sees the artists she saw potential in before the world did,reach big stages. Her Instagram page is a testament to all her work may that be as her position on board of BC’s crown corporation PavCo, or for young music professionals, she continues to push boundaries as a young south Asian woman and that matters. Junos came to Vancouver this year and for the first time had a south Asian category and she was co-chair of the south Asian music committee. Her authenticity in this world matters because it shows girls like me the full picture, the struggles, the winnings, the whole journey of creating true change. Music is nothing if the artists don’t get the fair compensation, the love and appreciation they deserve for it, and hence it becomes important to have platforms like 5X that make this their goal. Umusic having a South Asian music division is not a want anymore, when Karan Aujla’s North American leg of the tour alone is earning 28 million dollars, and Diljit Dosanjh is out here selling out Rogers like its easy work, that division becomes a necessity. Surrey and other cities in Canada are filled with talented singers, and musicians that are working hard for their big break, and it takes people like Harpo to be in those positions of power to provide them that opportunity.