AXEAN Festival 2025 Reveals First Wave of Artists

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AXEAN Festival has announced the first wave of its 2025 lineup, spotlighting Southeast Asia’s most compelling music talents ahead of its return to Bali on September 13–14.

Leading the initial roster are Filipino acts DJ Love, the pioneering figure behind the viral dance genre budots, and alternative rock band One Click Straight.

Set at Jimbaran Hub, the event will feature over 40 artists, blending genres from experimental rave to indie pop, and highlight the region’s diverse cultural soundscape.

Joining them are Shye and electronic producer Fauxe from Singapore, Su San from Malaysia, and Thailand’s DOOR PLANT and S.O.L.E., along with top Indonesian performers such as Jangar, Kelompok Penerbang Roket, Ministry Of, L’alphalpha, and XANDEGA.

“These are the Southeast Asian artists we think are ready to break out regionally and internationally,” said David Siow, co-founder of AXEAN Festival.

He emphasized that the lineup includes artists with strong homegrown fanbases poised for international exposure.

This year, AXEAN Festival introduces the SEA Club Showcase, a dedicated stage for regional electronic subgenres like Filipino budots, Indonesian funkot, Vietnamese vinahouse, and manyao from Singapore and Malaysia.

Co-founder Piyapong Muenprasertdee said this new showcase honors sounds that blend local culture with electronic forms.

“We see this not just as a trend but as a powerful vehicle to showcase our regional identity in new and compelling ways,” Piyapong added.

The festival’s selection process focuses on more than language or popularity.

“Export-ready is a core principle in how we curate artists,” Piyapong explained.

“It’s about selecting artists who are professionally prepared to navigate today’s global music industry—artistically, logistically, and mentally.”

AXEAN Festival 2025 will also feature its signature Music Conference and four-day Songwriting Camp.

The conference includes business matchmaking, panel talks, and speed meetings between regional and global industry players.

The songwriting camp invites selected artists and producers to co-create in a cross-cultural environment, building on the success of last year’s edition that produced 20 original songs.

Now on its sixth edition, AXEAN Festival has emerged as Southeast Asia’s premier music export platform, having featured 200 artists from 20 countries and connected over 240 delegates from 32 countries since 2020.

Backed by music aggregator TuneCore, a long-time festival partner, AXEAN maintains its mission to empower Southeast Asian artists.

“Our 5-year journey with AXEAN, including 3 years as stage sponsors, stems from a shared commitment: empowering Southeast Asian artists to reach global audiences,” said Cyrus Chen, Head of TuneCore Southeast Asia.

“AXEAN’s ‘export-ready’ curation philosophy mirrors TuneCore’s mission—providing the tools and platforms for artists to thrive beyond borders,” he added.

Jimbaran Hub returns as co-presenter, offering a creative space that bridges Indonesia’s cultural heritage with modern artistic innovation.

Early bird tickets are available now at Loket (www.loket.com/o/axeanfestival), with the full lineup and conference schedule to be announced in the coming weeks.

The AXEAN Festival is a prominent Southeast Asian music export platform, combining a music conference and showcase festival.

Launched in 2020 during the pandemic by music professionals across Southeast Asia, AXEAN Festival has successfully hosted both virtual (2020-2021) and in-person (2022-2024) events. Over five editions, it has featured 200 artists from 20 countries, attracted 240 delegates from 32 countries, and reached over 46,000 virtual viewers, along with close to 15,000 live attendees.

With its growing international reputation, AXEAN has firmly established itself as Southeast Asia’s leading music export platform. Its first venture into a new market beyond its original home base in Singapore and Bali garnered widespread acclaim among attendees, music industry professionals, and participating artists.