Boiler Room debuts in Kuala Lumpur with Shelhiel-curated 'Kelab Durian'

Boiler Room is making its long-awaited return to Malaysia — and this time, it’s bringing the party straight to the heart of Kuala Lumpur. On 20 November, the global underground music platform will stage its first-ever standalone show in KL, titled Kelab Durian, a free-entry night celebrating Malaysia’s fearless mix of sounds, subcultures, and identities.

Curated by Malaysian pop auteur Shelhiel, Kelab Durian captures the city’s vibrant cultural pulse. The event opens with a multilingual greeting — “Salam sejahtera 大家好 வணக்கம்!” — a nod to Kuala Lumpur’s intertwined Malay, Chinese, Indian, and indigenous roots. The result is a showcase that’s proudly local, globally connected, and sonically unboxed.

 

 

 

 

 

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Kelab Durian is set to bring together every shade of Malaysia’s underground — from Malay dugem and funkot to Chinese manyao, Indian kuthu dapang, and contemporary club sounds that defy borders. The title itself evokes the durian: bold, spiky, and unforgettable — just like the city it represents.

At the centre of it all is Shelhiel, whose shimmering electro-pop and genre-fluid production have redefined what Malaysian music can sound like. He leads a lineup that spans both homegrown and international energy, including Jax Jones — the chart-topping British DJ and producer of Malaysian heritage, known for global anthems like ‘You Don’t Know Me’ and ‘Where Did You Go’.

Joining them are 0108 SLATAN, a KL-based creative collective pushing Malaysia’s hip-hop and electronic frontiers, and DJ Kicap aka I-SKY, a fixture in the city’s club circuit celebrated for his genre-hopping sets. Rounding out the night are Northern Anthem, DJ KOTE LEMBU, and otakotak — representing the next wave of KL’s underground, fresh, unpredictable, and proudly local.

For Kuala Lumpur’s club scene, Kelab Durian isn’t just another gig — it’s a moment of recognition. Boiler Room’s return marks the city’s rise as a Southeast Asian hub for experimental music and nightlife culture. It also reaffirms Boiler Room’s ongoing mission: to give local scenes a global stage.

Since its beginnings in London in 2010, Boiler Room has streamed over 8,000 performances across 200 cities, connecting communities and breaking down borders through sound. Now, Kuala Lumpur joins that story again — this time with its own distinct rhythm, flavour, and swagger.

The event is free entry — fans just need to apply for an invite.