AJ Rafael has been a legend in the Asian American community for almost two decades. Ever since uploading his first YouTube video, his incredible voice has been the soundtrack of many of our lives. Since then, he’s expanded beyond music. Over the past couple years, he’s acted in plays, co-starred in the MCU’s Wonder Man, started a podcast with his wife Alyssa Rafael, and sang the national anthem at Padres Opening Day.
We recently had the chance to chat with Rafael about his career. Let’s dive in:
K-Snax: What was it like singing the national anthem at Padres Opening Day last year?
Rafael: Surreal in the best way. I grew up playing shows in SD. So standing on that field, looking out at Petco Park completely packed, felt like a full-circle moment. I know Padres fans are super loyal so it was an honor to sing in front of them. The year before last, I sang the anthem for the Padres for Filipino Heritage Night and it was cool to get a nice cheer when they played a short clip of my song “We Could Happen” after I sang. Very, very cool. So I’ve got a lot of love for San Diego!
K-Snax: What’s it been like hosting the Sweet or Savory podcast with your wife, Alyssa?
Rafael: Honestly, it’s one of my favorite things we do together. We already talk about everything at home, so the podcast just lets people listen in on those conversations. Hosting it with Alyssa has deepened our communication and given us a creative space that’s just ours. Also, I get to publicly acknowledge that she’s usually right haha.
K-Snax: Wonder Man is our favorite MCU series on Disney+. What was it like being a part of the show?
Rafael: Being part of Wonder Man was such a fun and meaningful experience, especially getting to work under the direction of Destin Daniel Cretton. It is a dream to be a very small part of the MCU. Most of the crew I worked with were POC and/or AAPI so that made the whole experience feel even more special. I’m glad it got renewed and hopefully Destin wants me back to check in more actors in season 2 haha
K-Snax: You did a podcast with our favorite coffee roaster, Mostra Coffee. How did that connection happen and what was that experience like?
Rafael: I met Jelynn Malone, Mostra founder, at a Filipino American History Month event up here in LA, and then connected with her again in San Diego when I was doing a musical at Cygnet Theatre called Tick Tick Boom! She actually came a few times and brought a bunch of friends, so I reached out to see if she was down to send some coffee for the cast and crew. She then asked me to be on their podcast, and I tried coffee cupping for the first time. Fun day.
K-Snax: You created Crazy Talented Asians in 2018. How has that shaped your views on community and representation?
Rafael: Crazy Talented Asians started because I didn’t see enough spaces that celebrated Asian creatives without qualifiers. Building CTA showed me how powerful it is when people feel seen and supported. Community isn’t about competition, it’s about creating more seats at the table. The show continues on at different spaces like East West Players, Moonlight in Vista, and we’ve had a lot of online programming as well. It’s very cool to have not just a stage full of AAPI performers, but also their AAPI families and friends supporting in the audiences as well.
K-Snax: How do your Filipino roots shape your approach to music and storytelling?
Being Filipino American is at the core of everything I do. Storytelling, emotion, family, resilience…Those are deeply cultural values for me. Even when I’m not explicitly telling Filipino stories, that perspective shows up in how I write, how I connect with fans, and how I lead with heart. The love that was shown to me by family at all the Filipino parties, church events, and even the Philippines itself, has shaped me and how I approach performing and writing.
K-Snax: What are you most excited about for the rest of 2026?
Rafael: I’m excited about a lot of things. New music, new collaborations, and continuing conversations around mental health, representation, and creative sustainability. I’m also excited about slowing down a bit and being more intentional with what I put into the world. Family is a big focus for me this year, especially after going hard the last couple of years with tours and everything. And more than anything, I’m really excited to be a dad.
What’d your favorite Asian snack?
Shrimp chips! Salty, crunchy…Once the bag is open, it’s over. Oh, and White Rabbit candies.
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