Celebrating Asian Pop Weekly's 16th and Freshmusic's 19th anniversaries, the platforms have teamed up for a new event with with mystery acts from Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan on the 16th of August at Saylah Studios.
To be hosted at Singaporean live and production space Saylah Studios, SEAtide represents Asian Pop Weekly and Freshmusic’s enduring commitment to cross-cultural dialogue and expansion into the live music space.
Location: Saylah Studios
Address: 180 Paya Lebar Rd, #11-02A Yi Guang Factory Building, Singapore 409032
Tickets: https://forms.gle/uLvEwG3oVgbTf1WG8
Using the playful concept of a blind box to encourage music discovery and curation across geographical borders, the idea started in November 2024 when Freshmusic founder Yuneng Chen spontaneously created the concept to host MimikBanka表情銀行‘s guitarist Robin 人友 on an impromptu visit to Singapore. While the concept had legs and was well-received, with tickets selling out in a day, it was shelved due to the logistical barriers that came with such events, until it was reignited over a catch up with Asian Pop Weekly founder Jocelle Koh.
“When we did our first blindbox showcase on our own, we had a vision of who we could invite but very soon, we realised the scope would be pretty limited. Working on this project with Asian Pop Weekly through SEAtide, it opens up new horizons and endless permutations of lineups we can have. It also marks an important step of us collaborating with like-minded partners from different regions, and no longer just doing things on our own.”
Featuring three mystery acts hailing from Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan, the showcase aims to infuse fun and excitement back into the music discovery process, showcasing local talent side by side with deep cuts from across the region. Asian Pop Weekly founder Jocelle Koh shares the deeper meaning and her hopes for this showcase.
“For many people, the concept of music discovery is a foreign, even uncomfortable process. Put aside languages or cultures, the very instance of unfamiliar sounds puts us in a headspace where familiarity is prioritised. This decreases the diversity of music ecosystems because our artists are encouraged to create music that already sounds familiar to audiences, which impacts not only our musical tastes, but also our creative and critical thinking skills as listeners, and openness to different cultures and experiences. Just as the name suggests, SEAtide encourages people to focus not on the gaps that separate us, but the tide that connects us. This concept is central to what both Freshmusic and Asian Pop Weekly stand for, and we’re super excited to bring this to a physical space.”
Featuring two solo acts from Singapore and Malaysia respectively and a band from Taiwan, not much else will be revealed about the acts until they take to the stage on 16th of August. The only hints lie in their miniature figurines displayed on the top of SEAtide’s poster, with cryptic descriptions of each musician. Asian Pop Weekly’s Jocelle gives a final hint as to the identities of these acts:
“The last hint we can give is that all three artists are proudly independent, multifaceted and freewheeling creatives who have made speaking their mind their life’s work. They all have unique attachments to their hometowns, be it Singapore, Malaysia or Taiwan and incorporate these attachments in fresh, exciting but always authentic ways into their work.”
Supported by the market society, a budding media and ecommerce platform focusing on the pillars of love, giving back and happiness, Co-Founder Diana Toh saw deep alignment in Freshmusic and Asian Pop Weekly’s anniversary showcase with their brand values.
“At The Market Society, we believe creativity is a powerful catalyst for connection. Supporting SEAtide felt like a natural alignment with our mission to uplift independent voices, foster cultural exchange, and build communities through shared experiences. We are proud to back a platform that not only celebrates music discovery but also encourages a more conscious, inclusive, and joyful way of engaging with the arts.”
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Freshmusic was established in 2006 by 3 music enthusiasts in Singapore and slowly grew over the years. The independent online music review site was set up to share great music in the region, regardless of music genre and commercial considerations. Content includes music reviews, podcasts, interviews with musicians/bands and the annual Freshmusic Awards (FMA). FMA is now also one of the most recognized independent music award in the region, highly anticipated by music professionals in the Chinese music circle.
Current members of Freshmusic all have their own day jobs and run this as a crazy passion project.
Asian Pop Weekly, established in 2010 has since cemented it’s place as one of the only English-language platforms that specialises in reportings on Mandarin popular music.
Informed by a multitude of disciplines and perspectives both practical and theoretical, diverse and with an ear to the ground; Asian Pop Weekly exists between cultural, disciplinary and national boundaries precisely to demonstrate the possibilities that exist when you look beyond our differences.
We are obsessed with the notion of bringing Mandarin and Asian music to the world as a means of bridging cultural divides; unearthing the best of what the scene has to offer and presenting it to Western audiences in ways that intrigue yet foster understanding.
We strive to produce fully independent, informed and intelligent content about the artists and topics we love; nothing more, nothing less.
The Market Society is a storytelling-led content and commerce platform that uncovers and amplifies meaningful narratives from independent artists, musicians, craftsmen, and purpose-driven brands. Founded in Singapore, it connects conscious consumers with hidden gems through curated content, creative collaborations, and community initiatives. With a focus on love, giving back, and happiness, The Market Society reimagines the marketplace as a space where storytelling fuels connection and commerce becomes a force for good.
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