“A scene worth documenting”: KEXP & AXEAN Festival bring Southeast Asia’s independent sounds to the world

From shoegaze and metal to traditional folk, KEXP and AXEAN Festival are giving international listeners a closer look at Southeast Asia’s independent music scenes through 12 exclusive live sessions.

Following our coverage of sub:shaman and motifs’ appearances on Live on KEXP, the organisers have shared the broader ambition behind the collaboration: to showcase the region’s musical range while making it easier for its artists to reach audiences abroad.

Filmed in Bali in August, the project marks the Seattle-based public radio station and music discovery platform’s first on-location recording trip to Asia. Curated by Diana Ratsamee, host of KEXP’s Eastern Echoes, the sessions began rolling out on 20 October.

Alongside the two Singaporean bands, the series features Indonesia’s Numeron, The Panturas, Çudamani, and Basajan; Thailand’s TONTRAKUL, Yellow Fang, Hariguem Zaboy, Inspirative, and Slowwves; and Malaysia’s Commemorate.

“We wanted to challenge the idea that Southeast Asian music can be defined by any single sound and introduce KEXP audiences to the incredible creativity coming out of the region,” Ratsamee says.

That approach places musical individuality at the centre of the project. Across the sessions, post-rock, shoegaze, and metal sit alongside folk traditions and contemporary music rooted in the artists’ respective cultures, offering several entry points into a region that resists a single genre label.

For AXEAN Festival co-founders Piyapong Muenprasertdee, also known as Py, and David Siow, the partnership grew from a longstanding appreciation of KEXP’s work. Eastern Echoes, which champions music from Asia and its diaspora, provided a natural connection.

“Being chosen as KEXP’s partner is an honor,” says Py, pointing to the station’s previous collaborations with festivals including Trans Musicales, Iceland Airwaves, and BIME. “Being added to that list tells us our work is being taken seriously and that KEXP sees Southeast Asia as a scene worth documenting, not a novelty, as we hope the rest of the world will too.”

Bringing KEXP’s production team to the region also helped address the geographical and logistical barriers involved in travelling to its Seattle studios. For the participating musicians, the opportunity carried an emotional significance that extended beyond the recording itself.

“I remember seeing the drummer of Basajan in tears after recording his set,” Siow recalls. “That was truly such a beautiful moment to witness.”

KEXP Chief Programming Officer Chris Kellogg says AXEAN’s commitment to independent music made it the right partner for an ambition the station had held for some time.

“Just like so much of the world, the music scene across Southeast Asia is deep and rich, and AXEAN was the best partner to help us bring some of that music to the global KEXP audience,” he says. “Their commitment to the music was clear from the outset.”

Beyond the sessions, both organisations hope the project will encourage listeners to explore the artists’ wider music communities and help build connections that could lead to touring, distribution, and licensing opportunities.

For Ratsamee, the audience’s discoveries are already an encouraging sign. “There's no shortage of talent in Southeast Asia, but there is a need for more platforms to share it with the world.”

Explore the performances on KEXP’s YouTube channel.