Darker Than Wax’s tour marks 15 years of connecting communities
Dean Chew reflects on the label’s Singapore roots & international network ahead of the RASA event this Friday
Singapore-based label Darker Than Wax is marking its 15th anniversary in 2026 with a series of events across Asia and beyond.
Founded in 2011 by Singapore-based DJs and producers Dean Chew and Kaye, the label has spent the past 15 years releasing music and building connections with artists and communities across different scenes.
By its 10th anniversary, DTW had developed an extensive catalogue spanning house, broken beat, jazz-influenced sounds, experimental beats and other leftfield styles, with releases from artists including Munir, Halal Sol, Bongomann, similarobjects and Jitwam.
Over the years, DTW also built ties with Gilles Peterson, Lefto and Bradley Zero, and has run its own radio residencies on stations such as Worldwide FM.
In addition to music releases, it also champions the daytime party series BREW.
“BREW started off as a lazy afternoon no-fuss type of listening party, and over the last eight years or so, it has grown into a homegrown staple and favourite in our community, and it has been gratifying to see how much it has impacted the community here,” Dean explains to Mixmag Asia.
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When asked to highlight a standout project from the crew’s history, Dean points to the Casio x DTW G-Shock collaboration: “The collaboration was quite special, in that it allowed us to experiment with a different medium using music as a conduit.”
For Dean, maintaining connections has always remained central. Reflecting on DTW’s local and international outlook, he says: “It’s really part of the label’s DNA to stay curious and connect with various pockets of communities and artists around the globe. The more we do that, the more it bridges the gap and what better way to do that than music?”
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DTW’s anniversary programme has included events in Seoul, Bangkok, New York and Hong Kong, with upcoming dates in Singapore, Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Taipei.
The next event takes place this Friday, September 18 at RASA, teaming up with Tokyo-based collective Querico for the night, with Yamarchy, Dean Chew, Dexter Colt, Helios XL and failtrylagi on the line-up.
Amira Waworuntu is Mixmag Asia’s Managing Editor, follow her on Instagram.
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