AXEAN Festival has partnered with Seattle-based public radio station and music discovery platform KEXP to bring Southeast Asian music to a wider international audience.
The collaboration marks the first time KEXP has taken its acclaimed Live on KEXP series to Asia for an on-location recording project.
Filmed in August 2026 during AXEAN Festival in Bali, the project features 12 exclusive live sessions from independent artists across Southeast Asia.
The performances highlight the region’s musical diversity and individual creative identities.
Curated by Diana Ratsamee, host of KEXP’s Eastern Echoes, the sessions began rolling out on October 20 through KEXP’s official YouTube channel.
The participating artists represent Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia.
Indonesia is represented by Numeron, The Panturas, Çudamani, and Basajan.
Singapore contributes motifs and sub:shaman, while Thailand features TONTRAKUL, Yellow Fang, Hariguem Zaboy, Inspirative, and Slowwves. Malaysia’s Commemorate completes the lineup.
AXEAN Festival and KEXP Share a Vision for Southeast Asian Music
The partnership marks an important step towards bringing Southeast Asian music to the international spotlight.
This is a shared ambition for AXEAN Festival co-founders Piyapong Muenprasertdee (Py) and David Siow.
The team had followed KEXP’s work for years and found a natural connection through Eastern Echoes, a program dedicated to showcasing music from Asia and its diaspora.
Py considers the collaboration an important recognition of AXEAN’s efforts.
KEXP has previously partnered with festivals such as Trans Musicales in France, Iceland Airwaves in Reykjavik, and BIME in Bilbao.
Joining this group reinforces the platform’s commitment to documenting Southeast Asia as a serious and distinctive music scene.
David also emphasized the opportunities created for the participating musicians.
He recalled an emotional moment when Basajan’s drummer became overwhelmed after recording the band’s session.
For him, the experience demonstrated how much the opportunity meant to the artists involved.
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Bringing Southeast Asia’s Musical Diversity to a Global Audience
KEXP’s decision to bring Live on KEXP to Asia had been a long-standing ambition.
Chief Programming Officer Chris Kellogg explained that AXEAN’s dedication to independent music and community-building made the festival a natural partner.
The project also aims to move beyond familiar stereotypes and narrow genre classifications often associated with Southeast Asian music.
Diana Ratsamee approached the artist selection with an emphasis on individuality, cultural identity, and creative expression.
Across the 12 sessions, listeners can discover a wide range of musical styles.
The performances span post-rock, shoegaze, metal, traditional folk, and contemporary music rooted in local cultures.
This approach reflects the project’s intention to show that Southeast Asian music cannot be defined by a single sound or style.
Instead, the region offers a broad creative landscape with artists bringing their own perspectives and influences.
Creating More International Opportunities for Independent Artists
The collaboration addresses geographical and logistical challenges that have traditionally limited Southeast Asian musicians’ access to international platforms.
By bringing its production team directly to the region, KEXP allows artists to record sessions without travelling to its studios in Seattle.
Beyond the exposure gained by the 12 participating acts, both organizations see opportunities for a wider impact on the regional music industry.
The project aims to encourage international listeners to explore Southeast Asia’s independent music scenes while creating potential pathways for touring, distribution, and licensing.
The sessions have already received positive responses from KEXP’s international audience and Southeast Asian music communities.
YouTube comments and social media discussions show growing interest in discovering artists from the region.
Kellogg sees these reactions as evidence that the project is building connections across borders.
Diana sees the audience response as an encouraging sign of growing international interest in Southeast Asian music.
She also highlights the need for more platforms to introduce regional artists to a global audience.
The sessions continue to reach audiences around the world.
Through this partnership, AXEAN Festival and KEXP aim to give Southeast Asian artists greater recognition and more opportunities in the global music industry.
Watch the ongoing Live on KEXP x AXEAN Festival sessions: KEXP YouTube
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