AXEAN Festival and KEXP bring Southeast Asian music to the global stage in historic collaboration

The first Asia-based edition of KEXP’s celebrated Live on KEXP series features 12 independent artists from across Southeast Asia

AXEAN Festival has joined forces with KEXP, the internationally renowned Seattle-based public radio station and music discovery platform, to introduce the region’s eclectic, diverse music landscape to a global audience. The collaboration marks the first time that KEXP’s celebrated Live on KEXP series has traveled to Asia for an on-location recording project.

Filmed in August in Bali, Indonesia, during AXEAN Festival, the historic project features 12 exclusive live sessions from independent artists across Southeast Asia, challenging conventions of Asian music through uniquely compelling performances and a strong sense of individuality. Curated by Diana Ratsamee, host of KEXP’s Eastern Echoes, the sessions began rolling out on October 20 through the platform’s official Live on KEXP YouTube channel. Selected artists from the region include Indonesia’s Numeron, The Panturas, Çudamani, and Basajan; Singapore’s motifs and sub:shaman; Thailand’s TONTRAKUL, Yellow Fang, Hariguem Zaboy, Inspirative, and Slowwves; and Malaysia’s Commemorate.

Shared Ambition

For AXEAN Festival co-founders Piyapong Muenprasertdee (Py) and David Siow, the partnership represents the realization of a shared ambition to place Southeast Asian music firmly within the international music conversation. Having followed KEXP’s work for years, the AXEAN team found a natural point of connection through Eastern Echoes, which has consistently championed music from Asia and its diaspora.

“Being chosen as KEXP’s partner is an honor,” Py reveals. “KEXP has run these sessions with festivals like Trans Musicales in Rennes, France; Iceland Airwaves in Reykjavik; and BIME in Bilbao, Spain. 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.”

For David, the collaboration reflects AXEAN Festival and KEXP’s shared commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for participating artists to be heard globally. “It means so much more to the 12 Southeast Asian artists featured! I remember seeing the drummer of Basajan in tears after recording his set. That was truly such a beautiful moment to witness.”

Right Partnership

The decision to bring Live on KEXP to Asia had long been an aspiration waiting for the right partnership. KEXP’s Chief Programming Officer Chris Kellogg explains that AXEAN’s commitment to showcasing the region’s finest independent music and bringing communities together made it an ideal collaborator. “Our mission knows no bounds. Sometimes, it takes the right partnership at the right time to drive our work forward, and that’s exactly what happened with AXEAN,” he shares. “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. Their commitment to the music was clear from the outset.”

In the new Live on KEXP series, there’s a deliberate effort to represent Southeast Asia beyond familiar regional stereotypes and genre classifications, considering it a hotbed of underrated finds and exemplary talent. Diana Ratsamee, whose work on Eastern Echoes has helped introduce Asian artists to KEXP’s international listenership, approached the curation with an emphasis on musical individuality, cultural identity, and creative expression.

“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,” Diana says. Featuring 12 artists from Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia, the sessions traverse an expansive musical spectrum, from post-rock, shoegaze, and metal to traditional folk and culturally rooted contemporary expressions.

Going Global

The collaboration also highlights the importance of creating more equitable pathways for independent artists to go global and find their footing in music communities outside of their turf. By bringing its production team directly to Southeast Asia, KEXP addresses geographical and logistical barriers that have traditionally limited opportunities for regional musicians to record at its Seattle studios.

While the immediate spotlight is on the 12 participating acts, both organizations envision a more visible impact for the music industry in the region in a lot of ways, including encouraging international listeners to explore the region’s independent music ecosystems, expanding opportunities for touring, distribution, and licensing, and strengthening connections between Southeast Asian artists and the global music industry.

Positive response

The response to the sessions has been unanimously positive so far, with audiences across KEXP’s international listenership and the Southeast Asian music community embracing the performances and discovering artists they may not have encountered otherwise. YouTube comments and social media conversations show an improving appreciation for the region’s musical diversity, with listeners expressing excitement about new discoveries from the globally respected platform. Chris Kellogg adds, “Just as we had hoped, the sessions are helping create connections and spreading the joy of music across borders.”

Diana Ratsamee likewise sees the audience response as an encouraging indication of the appetite for more music from the region. “One of the most exciting things about this project has been seeing audiences discover artists they may have never encountered otherwise,” she shares. “There’s no shortage of talent in Southeast Asia, but there is a need for more platforms to share it with the world.”

As the sessions continue to reach listeners worldwide, AXEAN Festival and KEXP are helping ensure that Southeast Asia’s musical voices are not simply discovered, but heard, recognized, and celebrated on a global stage.

Catch the ongoing Live on KEXP x AXEAN Festival collaboration here.