Mixmag Asia's best music of 2024

As 2024 comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to soak in the incredible range of sounds that the year has gifted us.

The Mixmag Asia crew has combed through the crème de la crème, and this list is a love letter to the rich, diverse, and ever-evolving electronic music scene across Asia; and the sheer audacity of sounds emerging from the region!

Expect to dive headfirst into relentless basslines, cosmic breaks, meditative chants, and dizzying industrial chaos. From the pounding energy of industrial rhythms to the hypnotic pull of deep, organic grooves, the scene has never felt more alive.

Some tracks captured the raw, high-octane energy of the underground with blistering percussion and distorted synths, while others invited introspection with lush, atmospheric layers and intricate melodic patterns.

It’s been a year of contrasts—chaotic yet refined, nostalgic yet forward-thinking. These are the 24 tracks that defined those moments, spanning sweaty late-night warehouse vibes to introspective soundtracks for quieter moments.

Ready to explore the sonic spectrum that made 2024 one for the books? Dive in below.

Title: Mono Stereo
Artist: Random Brothers
Label: UNDERRADAR Records
Purchase here.

This track by Random Brothers grabs you by the throat and refuses to let go. It opens with a relentless bassline and shadowy tones that pulse with aggression, setting the stage for vocal chants of “mono” and “stereo” to hypnotise. Just as the beat softens, teasing a momentary calm, it slams back with industrial grit and menacing synths that shriek like a dystopian siren. The chaos spirals upward, a dark symphony of piercing highs and pounding lows. The sonic turmoil dies down in the end, but not without leaving you with an eerie, spine-tingling sense of relief (or wanting more?).

Title: River of Three Crossings
Artist: Hideki Ito
Label: Hekdb
Purchase here.

Talk about a trip. Spacey. Relentless. Hideki Ito’s erratic breaks hit like a storm—sharp, and unyielding. Just as you’re caught in the chaos, it retreats, slipping back into its techno sanctuary. Chaos, then calm—it’s the push and pull that keeps you hooked. Ethereal meets raw energy, creating a track that feels unpredictable and “alive”, almost.

Title: मूलानि
Artist: Sunju Hargun
Label: Qilla Records
Purchase here.

Sunju Hargun’s ‘मूलानि’ is the perfect finale for Qilla Records’ 100th release, ‘Chakravyūh’, spiralling through layers of hypnotic chants and rhythmic intensity. The spoken word intro whispers ancient secrets, setting the stage for a meditative ambient build that’s also suspenseful in the best possible way. Deep, psychedelic, and spiritually charged, it bridges the hypnotic energy of the dancefloor with the introspection of solitude.

Title: Mantra of Vajra Armour 防瘟疫咒
Artist: Howie Lee
Label: MAIS UM
Purchase here.

Howie Lee crafts an otherworldly fusion of pulsing basslines and spiritual chants that feels both grounding and transcendent. Male and female chants ripple with character, their tones protective and piercing. A standout on the album that fuses Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhist chants and contemporary beats, it’s a hypnotic anthem of protection, blending ancient wisdom with club-ready energy—a bridge between meditative reflection and dancefloor release.

Title: Is Black Your Favourite Colour
Artist: Risa Taniguchi
Label: MOOD
Purchase here.

Risa Taniguchi’s accidental banger oozes dark, sweaty, late-night warehouse vibes. A relentless dancefloor weapon with its muscular drums pounding like a heartbeat under dim, flickering strobes. Razor-sharp synths paired with hypnotic vocal loops that coil and repeat pull you deeper into its groove-heavy grip. No wonder Nicole Moudaber handpicked her to release on MOOD with this one.

Title: 宇宙女人 Spacer Woman (Acid Trip Version)
Artist: Romain FX
Label: Bless You
Purchase here (vinyl-only release).

Romain FX’s long-awaited Cantonese cover of ‘Spacer Woman’ has finally landed, but, in our opinion, it’s the ‘Acid Trip Version’ that’s stealing the spotlight. This reimagined take dives headfirst into a kaleidoscope of acid synths, pulsating basslines, and intricate sonic layers, blending Italo-disco nostalgia with a bold experimental edge. It’s the kind of track that demands a full-volume spin, transporting you straight to Panorama Bar at peak hour—pure, unfiltered dancefloor euphoria.

Title: Crescendo
Artist: DJ MARIA.
Label: Blue Hour Music
Purchase here.

Beneath the initial simplicity of DJ MARIA.’s ‘Crescendo’ lies a deeply immersive and complex soundscape. It opens with a driving bassline that anchors the entire six-and-a-half-minute journey, laying a potent foundation that exudes power and precision.

Title: B1. Ruyi Jingu Bang
Artist: Polygonia
Label: Midgar Records
Purchase here.

In Polygonia’s EP, the influence of Journey to the West, a tale rooted in Buddhism, is evident. The tracks capture the essence of Sun Wukong, and ‘Ruyi Jingu Bang’ reflects the power of his legendary staff. Minimal yet immersive, this ambient-leaning track radiates a dark, dreamy energy. Laser-like synths dart through the soundscape, anchored by sinister undertones, delicate percussion, and hypnotic rhythmic trickles.

Title: Geyser
Artist: Albino Sound
Label: WORSHIP
Purchase here.

'WORSHIPLEFT002' delves into the realm of leftfield techno, as the EP’s title suggests. Featuring a distinctive synthetic production style, Albino Sound presents an exciting amalgamation of squishy snare sounds and metallic sound design, creating an ideal atmosphere for peak time moments, and Geyse is the perfect track to drop at 4am in an underground club, especially with its explosive opening that sets the tone for the rest of the night.

Title: HIERARCHY IS NATURE
Artist: rEmPiT g0dDe$$
Label: YES NO WAVE MUSIC
Purchase here.

rEmPiT g0dDe$$ has crafted a unique sonic landscape by weaving the distinct tones of Southeast Asian instruments into her forward-thinking approach to industrial sound. ‘HIERARCHY IS NATURE’ is a relentless ride of rhythms clashing, pushing and pulling, making your head spin in the best way. Menacing synths, wild and restless, bounce off each other, spiralling into an industrial whirlwind. Our advice? Just give into it and enjoy the ride. The track stands out with its quirky synth siren sound, followed by the addition of deep bass elements, culminating in a cohesive composition by the end, leaving a big room for imagination.

Title: ‘FM23’ (feat. Killa P, h4rdy) (Y U QT Remix)
Artist: DJ co.kr
Label: Solabeam Records
Purchase here.

Y U QT’s remix of ‘FM23’ by DJ co.kr is one the year’s bounciest and a tried-and-tested weapon responsible for countless rewinds, including during Mengzy’s recent set at Shi Fu Miz festival. Flipping the South Korean producer’s moody breaks-y garage track on its head, the duo crafted an insanely catchy earworm that chops up Killa P’s vocals over a cheeky new bassline.

Title: Easy for them
Artist: Rohaan
Label: VISION
Purchase here.

This year, ‘Easy for them’ elevated Rohaan to new heights. Released via Noisia’s Netherlands-based VISION label, the track stands apart as the only 140 track on his ‘Boy in a Dream’ EP, with all the other tunes at 160 and above. With stuttering vocals and rhythms amid heavy bass pressure, ‘Easy for them’ was, in our view, 2024’s answer to ‘Skanka’.

Title: 000 Baby (Om Unit Remix)
Artist: Mr. Ho
Label: Klasse Wrecks
Purchase here.

Updating a Mr. Ho classic from 2020, Om Unit’s remix of ‘000 Baby’ saw Klasse Wrecks start the year right as its first release of 2024. Sped up to a more dance floor-friendly tempo along with a rolling 808 bass, dubby percussion and a hypnotic acid line, this track is as much a groove as it is a meditation.

Title: Puppies
Artist: Fetus
Label: Kool Switch Works
Purchase here.

The title track of an outstanding EP, ‘Puppies’ by Fetus is breakbeat excellence. Released via Tokyo’s KOOL SWITCH WORKS, ‘Puppies’ opens with a delicious, Orient-coded woodwind sample that curls up like a wisp of smoke. Meanwhile, the drums and vocals recall old-school hip hop breaks - and it just works so well.

Title: 武者 Musha
Artist: T5UMUT5UMU
Label: Sneaker Social Club
Purchase here.

Sneaker Social Club is one of several Bristolian labels pushing the boundaries of UK club music in recent years. T5UMUT5UMU joined its ranks in June with ‘玄 Gen’, a five-track EP fusing diverse bass genres with Japanese-influenced drums and percussion. ‘武者 Musha’ opens the release with a threatening aura.

Title: Her
Artist: Cosmo
Label: JIN
Purchase here.

From the always-exciting JIN Records, Cosmo’s ‘Her’ is a lush, atmospheric listen, with floating, ethereal textures that radiate soothing energy, but with heavier, techier rhythms than the A side of the stellar record. The video perfectly encapsulates the mind-bending atmosphere and is a sound we hope to hear more from the Korean maestro.

Title: The Sixth
Artist: Dayzero
Label: Trekkie Trax
Purchase here.

Track two from Dayzero’s standout EP, ‘The Sixth Sense’ encapsulates the brilliance of this project. The percussion is the driver here, with such fresh tenacity that never feels forced or inorganic. On first listen, it’s nothing too crazy, but the more you get into it, its depth and intricacy become more and more apparent. It’s nothing over the top, but the ideas on display are executed so seamlessly.

Title: Still Dreaming
Artist: Arushi Jain
Label: Self-released
Purchase here.

Arushi Jain’s album ‘Delight’ is a strong standout for us this year, and it’s only right we include the introduction to this wondrous world she created. The serene, tranquil and thought-provoking project is heavenly start to finish, interweaving classic Indian vocals, synths, and an array of instruments. It’s an eclectic fusion, and although we’ve spotlighted the opening, listen to the full project and immerse yourself in this lush sound.

Title: Sand Testing
Artist: Stones Taro
Label: NC4K
Purchase here.

Stones Taro’s Dwellers Of The Seabed, a project centred around an underwater civilisation, is one of the more unique concepts of the year, and although in our initial write up ‘Deepest Downtown’ stood out, it’s ‘Sand Testing’ that we return to the most. The percussion is akin to Burial but has the vivacity and energy that Stones has become known for. It has that underwater feeling he was going for, but with the strangeness comes more energy, making for a club-ready heater.

Title: Dance Of The Ravens
Artist: Kiss Nuka
Label: Future Bounce
Purchase here.

Kiss Nuka’s ‘Witches Brew’ is a strong listen front-to-back, with bass-heavy unique synth sounds throughout, but the introduction condenses this palette into a chaotic, menacing gut-punch of a listen. The track gets a reimagining on the closing track too, retaining many of the same elements but with a complete rehash of tone and narrative.

Title: No C No A
Artist: FUKHED
Label: Self-released
Purchase here.

FUKHED’s been one of the ones to watch in 2024 it feels like, quickly rising up the Australian ranks. Her debut single is wildly impressive, with dreamy vocal chops are a euphoric, spacey blend before abruptly shifting into abrasive, gut-punching rhythms, making the track a balancing act executed perfectly. We’re expecting a big 2025 from the rising star.

Title: Untitled Breaks
Artist: Rafiki
Label: Safar Collective
Purchase here.

Indian left-field label Safar Collective debut compilation is full of highlights (Watashi’s Decadence is a strong contender), but Rafiki’s offering, ‘Untitled Breaks’ is arguably the most club-ready infectious groove on the project. Whilst a lot of the project is more left-field leaning, Rafiki’s undeniable slapper is a mainstay for us. That acid line is something else.

Title: The Man With No Teeth
Artist: Vell
Label: Boiled Wonderland Records
Purchase here.

Track one on Boiled Wonderlands ‘Made From Moss Vol 1’ from label co-founder Vell is astounding. It’s a deeply rich house track, with subtleties across the board tying together the menacing, swooping bassline. Hearing that bass on a good PA system is a must for any house enthusiast.

Title: Orbis
Artist: Jesse You
Label: Walls And Pals
Purchase here.

The joint EP from Walls and Pals head-honchos Mogwaa and Jesse You is gold front-to-back, but there’s something about Jesse’s ‘Orbis’ that is infectiously undeniable. The retro elements tie in so smoothly, and it’s a sound we’ve yet to hear from Jesse. To play around with these sounds and not fall into the cheesy, overly cliché sound is a feat in itself, and the track is executed so masterfully it only leaves us wanting more output from the elusive Korean label.

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