Artists exciting us in 2024 / December

As we've proudly mentioned before, the Asian scene is thriving. Among the plethora of talent spread across the region and diaspora, we keep on excitedly unearthing more and more names that may not be too familiar to some but are definitely worth your attention.

In the spirit of sharing, Mixmag Asia will be featuring a number of arguably under-the-radar artists who are currently making exciting noise in—and freshly out of—their respective scenes.

Prepare to expand your playlists.

Based in Jakarta, Asa Kusumah honed her craft with the #aboutwax collective, mastering vinyl mixing and developing a signature style that fuses house, techno, minimal, and more into unforgettable sets. Her journey began in 2013, mentored by seasoned DJs and countless hours spent crate-digging at Jakarta’s iconic, now-closed Monka Magic store. From opening for Poolside early in her career to being featured on HÖR, sharing decks with Job Jobse and Interstellar Funk in Bali, and performing at Joyland Festival, Asa has earned a reputation for crafting eclectic, vibe-rich soundscapes. Her sets seamlessly span house, microhouse, techno, minimal, nu-disco, re-edits, and psychedelic beats. In addition to her role as Group Head of Marketing for 3000 Group, Asa's DJ career continues to impress and is one to watch.

JiaLing, a Baltimore-based artist with Taiwanese roots, transitioned from 15 years of classical cello training to visual arts, film, and club music production. She self-releases music under her alias and label, Big J, with highlights including her debut album ‘家 (jiā)’ which came out earlier this year, her collaborative EP ‘WOE’ with Kade Young and ‘WHISTLE TIP’ with Farsight. Known for her dynamic breaks, club, and acid tracks, she’s collaborated with Jersey Club’s KAYY DRiZZ and Baltimore’s Calvo. JiaLing’s work, including a remix of TREKKIE TRAX co-founder Seimei’s ‘Tokyo Funky Breaks’, has cemented her reputation in the underground music scene.

Bangkok mainstay Rui Tang has long been on our radar, and it finally seems she’s getting her long-deserved flowers across Asia with non-stop China tours and regional headline sets. Take a look at any (of the many) killer Thai festivals and events, and Rui seems to be a part of it, where her hypnotic blend of indie dance, organic grooves, and acid-infused house never fails to grab ears. Born and raised in the Tibetan mountains, her rich heritage seamlessly weaves into her meticulously crafted sets, adding a unique depth to her contemporary sound that is always engaging. This year, her return to Wonderfruit is set to be one of our must-see highlights from the weekend.

Cut through the noise—sign up for our weekly Scene Report or follow us on Instagram to get the latest from Asia and the Asian diaspora!