In pictures: Black Pomade reflects on Asia's unique dance scenes & spaces

Milan’s own Black Pomade is known to have a knack for blending New York disco and Chicago house into irresistible sets. As the mastermind behind the Ruínas collective and the Whoopee party series, he drops analog synths, groovy basslines, and infectious beats that light up dancefloors across Europe and Asia.

His sound has reverberated across Europe and Asia, lighting up clubs in Bangkok, Seoul, Tokyo, Osaka, Vienna, and Sofia, alongside legends like Nicky Siano and Satoshi Tomiie.

With releases on Last Forever Records and Rollover Milano, seems like Black Pomade has no plans of slowing down—especially after launching the vinyl-only Manzo Edits series in 2023, with more heat lined up for 2024 on Whopee Rec.

In a whirlwind tour across Asia, he picked up on a fascinating contrast to European scenes, showcasing a unique blend of warmth and cultural immersion.

This gallery of personal images he shares with Mixmag Asia reveals not just the dynamic crowds but also the unique atmospheres of each venue. Whether it was the packed dancefloors in Bangkok or the serene, music-focused spaces in Singapore, the tour underscored a universal passion for music and dance that transcends geographical boundaries.

Explore Black Pomade’s journey through Asia’s dancefloors and scenes, and read his personal thoughts below:

"Touring through Asia, I was struck by how genuinely kind and welcoming everyone was. Maybe I’m just naively falling for the stereotype, but I genuinely felt a warmth that’s often missing in Europe, where people sometimes act like they're too cool for school. Relax, we're all here for a good time!

One thing that caught my eye was how clued-in everyone is about the European scene. They know what's hot and what's not, which makes you think: perhaps European DJs should take a leaf out of their book and explore beyond their comfort zone. Again, I’m generalising: I’m not saying that no one in Europe knows about what’s going on elsewhere, but in general, there’s more of the feeling of being in a bubble.

It was a bit of a learning curve figuring out the dancefloor vibes, though. I'm used to rowdy crowds, so seeing folks just bopping along made me wonder if I was doing a terrible job. Turns out, they just have a different way of enjoying the music, and then sometimes the drop comes and it's like flipping a switch—suddenly, everyone's cheering.

I was also quite impressed with how some small but perfectly curated clubs really go all out to create an immersive experience, from the decor to the music. It’s like stepping into a different world, all revolving around the sound, without going over the top: just the right balance.

Finally, despite some initial expectations of stark differences, I found that the contrast wasn't as big as the clueless me initially thought. At the end of the day, we all just want to have a good time, and the vibe of enjoying music and dancing is pretty universal.

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Several standout experiences include Osaka's Bar Cauliflower, where I kicked off and wrapped up the tour at the little hidden gem. It's like finding the secret level in a video game—smoky, intimate, and filled with people who love the music. The resident DJs (Mori Ra, Roy Comanchero, and Daisuke Kakimoto) and community vibe made it feel like a home away from home.

Then there's Tokyo's Mitsuki— a proper institution. It's got a perfectly curated design, a killer sound system, and a DJ booth that feels like a cosy nook. The backstage area is big enough for a decent shindig, and the local DJs I played with—Daiki, Sht, and SGT—so young yet so skilled, really blew me away!

I also got the chance to connect with the guys from Rainbow Disco Club, with whom I collaborated to organise a memorable party in Lisbon. We even had a meteor fly over the party, quite the cosmic coincidence!

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Finally, it’s no secret that digging in Japan is a pleasure, I even had to ship back a box. Favourite spots were Rare Groove, Newtone, and Compufunk in Osaka, Jet Set in Kyoto, and Lighthouse in Tokyo. Dangerous!

In addition to the cities of Japan, there was also Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. The city itself might seem a bit sleepy by day, but the nightlife? A whole different beast. Johnny Vicious put together a wicked line-up at The Iron Fairies, and the crowd was all in—sweaty and wild, just how we like it.

I also had a great time at a more intimate and community-focused spot called Fono. I got invited by Wayne after we met at SputnikRekordz, where I spent way too much for some Malaysian rare groove gems and recorded a vinyl set for their YT channel.

My Vietnam stop happened during the Lunar New Year, so things were a bit quiet. Still, Da Nang surprised me with its budding underground scene. 63 Hertz and Supergato are doing a lot of things right that I can’t wait to see paying off.

In HCMC, I was supposed to play at The Lighthouse, but unfortunately, it was shut down just before I arrived. Thankfully, the locals Jordan MyHero and DJ Ouch! sorted out some last-minute gigs, including a chilled pool party at The Villa Project.

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One of my favourite stops had to be at Bangkok. The city's got so much to offer, and the music scene is buzzing. More Rice Records became a regular haunt, and the night with Seelie at Never Normal started slow but ended with a bang—definitely one for the books.

Had a blast in Singapore largely thanks to my mate Ulysses. We shared decks at Offtrack, a nicely curated listening bar, and later at his Mugic party series. He's built a solid community of music enthusiasts, which made the gigs feel special.

However, Soeoul would probably be my top pick for the tour. The initial welcome from the HOLE and MixMixTV guys was really nice, and the night at ARGA with Daulsoul was absolutely mental—packed and going strong until sunrise. I left the place with the sun out and a big smile on my face. Seoul's got this amazing energy, and I could definitely see myself living there. Special thanks to Jeepsooni and Minji for being excellent guides and introducing me to many locals."

Amira Waworuntu is Mixmag Asia’s Managing Editor, follow her on Instagram.

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