Get ready to groove to the beats of Taiwan’s finest as the highly anticipated AXEAN Festival descends upon Singapore at the end of this month. It’s a musical extravaganza you won’t want to miss!
The AXEAN Festival, taking place at the Goodman Arts Centre from October 28 to 29, promises to be a sonic delight. And here’s the best part – tickets are available on a pay-as-you-wish basis. You can even pre-purchase your favorite brews to enjoy while you soak in the music.
This year, AXEAN Festival boasts an impressive lineup of both local and regional artists, offering a diverse range of musical experiences. From Singaporean sensations like Shye, ABANGSAPAU, and Jean Seizure to regional acts including Reality Club, The Itchyworms, Helsinki Lambda Club, KIKI, Ena Mori, BULGOGIDISCO, Shelhiel, and many more – it’s a musical feast for the senses.
But the real highlight of the festival is the debut of three sensational Taiwanese acts:
NIO
NIO is Taiwan’s hottest pop sensation, fresh from winning the popular songwriting reality show “Music Maker.” With a soulful voice and infectious melodies, he’s taken Taiwan by storm. NIO’s recent EP, “ANTI FOG LENSES,” showcases his talent and includes hit singles like ‘Sometimes’ and ‘When You Gonna (Get Your Shit Together).’ Don’t miss the chance to catch him live!
Cicada
Cicada, a four-piece instrumental band, creates music that’s instantly recognizable, just like its namesake insect. Their album “Hiking In The Mist” earned them a nomination for “Best Instrumental Album Production” at the 2020 Golden Melody Awards. Their latest album, “Seeking the Sources of Streams,” earned them the “Best Instrumentalist” award at the 2023 Golden Indie Music Awards. They’ve even contributed to the soundtrack of the acclaimed Japanese thriller film, “A Man.”
Robot Swing and LEO37
Robot Swing is a jazz funk band that embodies Taiwan’s ever-evolving indie music sound. Blending elements of R&B, soul, funk, and jazz, their groovy tunes have won hearts far and wide. Collaborating with artists from diverse backgrounds, they’ve earned a nomination for “Best Rhythm & Blues Song” at the 2021 Golden Indie Music Awards. Their debut album “System Booting…” was nominated for the “Best Band” award at the 2023 Golden Melody Awards and took home the “Best New Artist” award at Singapore’s Freshmusic Awards.
Joining Robot Swing is the multi-talented producer and rapper, LEO37. A Canadian-Taiwanese veteran in the hip-hop scene, LEO37 has been instrumental in pushing Taiwanese indie hip-hop onto the global stage. From bringing Wu-Tang Clan to Taiwan to organizing massive hip-hop shows, he’s been at the forefront of the genre’s evolution.
AXEAN Festival: Celebrating Southeast Asian Music
Born as a virtual music showcase festival in 2020, AXEAN Festival aims to elevate Southeast Asian music onto the world stage. It’s the first intraregional music showcase festival in Southeast Asia, bringing together the best indie acts from countries including Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, the Philippines, and South Korea.
This year, AXEAN Festival is proud to have the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) as a presenting partner, furthering their commitment to supporting Taiwanese artists and promoting their work beyond borders.