Tag: asian artists

On the Rise: Introducing 10 of Southeast Asia’s Hottest Artists

Southeast Asia’s music scene is one of the most culturally diverse and it’s not just growing, it’s exploding. Here, listeners actively champion homegrown sounds and propel niche local genres. From Indonesia’s Ambyar and to the Philippines’ hip hop and Thailand’s Thai Indie, local sounds are bubbling out of the region as listeners embrace music that reflects unique local cultures. As appetite for local music grows, artists like Thailand’s Jeff Satur, the Philippines’ Cup of Joe, and Indonesia’s Hindia are proving that regional traction is the new benchmark, building fanbases across Southeast Asia.

Get to know some of the artists defining what it means to be making music in  Southeast Asia today. They are bold, personal, and unmistakably original.

52Hz, Vietnam

Vietnam’s 52Hz is a rising star in Asian music, bending alt-R&B, indie pop, and electronic sounds. Her breakout hit, “Đợi,” showcases her gift for intimate yet expansive storytelling. “No matter how messy, unclear, joyful, or painful, creativity can be shaped into something meaningful that can truly move others,” she says. 52Hz believes that artists should “confidently bring something personal and uniquely “theirs”.” As an Asian artist shaping the global soundscape, she balances individuality and cultural identity, amplifying her reach to global listeners through Spotify. 

BUS, Thailand

Thailand’s BUS is a rising 12-member T-Pop group named as a Spotify RADAR Thailand artist in 2024. For BUS, music is personal, with each track reflecting their personality and passion. “The most exciting thing is seeing fans happy, that connection drives everything we do,” they say. “That connection drives everything we do.” Whether crafting songs or dropping music videos, “the moment it’s out,” they continue. “We look forward to hearing what fans think. Their support pushes us to keep getting better.”

Cup of Joe, Philippines

Hailing from the Philippines, Cup of Joe is a band pushing the boundaries of modern Pinoy music with their inspirational lyrics, fun visual identity, and catchy melodies that spike LSS (last song syndrome). As they aptly describe, “Asian music has many stories to tell, and [it has] always been a blend of tradition and new wave forms.” Driven by the belief that “with good music and the right platform, anything is possible,” the band is turning international heads while staying rooted in what makes them uniquely Filipino.

Firdhaus, Malaysia

Known for crafting soul-baring ballads that balance delicacy and depth, Firdhaus first captured regional hearts with the viral phenomenon, “在加納共和國離婚,” which soared onto the Top 50 charts in Singapore, Malaysia, and Taiwan. This proves that “a good song with a real story” and genuine emotion possesses a universal language capable of reaching audiences beyond borders. He’s among Asian artists who are “no longer just trying to fit into typical molds,” he says, but are “creating our own stories.” That raw authenticity doesn’t just define his music; it also fuels his profound connection with fans.

Hev Abi, Philippines

Filipino artist Hev Abi is a Spotify RADAR Philippines artist carving his own musical world with fresh and captivating sounds in the Philippines hip-hop scene. Since launching his smash album Kung Alam Mo Lang, in partnership with Spotify, he continues to cement his musical style and connect with new audiences through the platform. Fueled by a passionate fanbase, he says “it’s just a different feeling when you’re performing onstage and you can hear and feel the sheer energy, love, and support from the crowd, it really gets you going.”

Hindia, Indonesia

Indonesian artist Hindia mixes indie rock, alt-pop, and electronic sounds to create raw, soul-stirring music. His breakout album, Menari Dengan Bayangan, became a generational soundtrack, now reaching over 12 million monthly Spotify listeners. As listeners today increasingly embrace music beyond language barriers, valuing artistry over literal understanding, Hindia urges Asian artists to “keep making sounds unapologetically our way.”

MILLI, Thailand

Thai superstar MILLI fuses hip-hop, pop, R&B, and traditional Thai music into a signature genre-defining style. As the voice behind massive viral moment “สุดปัง Sudpang” and F.HERO’s “Mirror Mirror” featuring MILLI and Changbin of Stray Kids, she made history as the first solo Thai artist at Coachella 2022 and more recently proved regional success with her sold-out Japan debut. Beyond personal expression, “music has become my life,” she says. As she celebrates the wave of Asian artists gaining traction in the global music scene, her message is clear: “Don’t let language limit you, spread our culture to the world.”

Regina Song, Singapore

Singapore’s Regina Song makes Asian alt-pop sound intimate with confessional songwriting and soft-spoken vocals. Standout track “the cutest pair” performed during her 2025 Southeast Asia tour marked a powerful breakthrough, proving her honest storytelling resonates with listeners across borders. “I like to be very diaristic in my writing,” she explains, using lyrics and music to process emotions while helping others do the same. 

Wren Evans, Vietnam

Wren Evans is breaking the boundaries of Vietnam’s alt-pop scene with his bold mix of R&B, hip-hop, and striking visuals. His viral hit, “Thích Em Hơi Nhiều,” amassed millions of streams, dominated Vietnamese charts and propelled his debut album, LOI CHOI: The Neo Pop Punk  across Asia. As the first Vietnamese artist to share the stage with South Korean singer-songwriter on.T, he says “music is becoming a borderless concept, empowering collaborations and connections, while letting each artist stay true to their identity.” 

Yura Yunita, Indonesia

With more than 500 million streams on Spotify and a spot on Spotify’s Top Indonesian Artists playlist, Yura Yunita introduces Indonesian culture to global audiences through music rooted in raw emotion. She acknowledges that “integrating culture creates a wider space for audiences to appreciate local music.” For Yura, every song begins with a story. “Lyrics are the heart of what I do,” she says. And with every verse, she brings listeners closer to something heartfelt and uniquely hers, to “build a strong emotional connection with the listener” no matter where they are.

Stream the We SEA You playlist to discover some of the region’s greatest hits.

82 Artists, 10 Countries, Limitless Sounds: Meet the RADAR Asia Class of 2025

The sounds of Asia are as diverse and vibrant as the continent itself. From the lively beats of Indonesian pop to the gritty rhymes of Pinoy hip-hop, the region is brimming with musical innovation.

Since 2020, Spotify has helped artists across Asia chart their paths to stardom through RADAR, our global program to support emerging talent. Now we’re thrilled to introduce the RADAR Asia class of 2025. Featuring 82 artists, the class represents Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

These artists span a range of styles and genres, reflecting the continent’s rich musical landscape. Representing RADAR Indonesia, acts like The Lantis evoke the nostalgia of ’80s Indonesian pop, while Aftershine brings the beautiful sound of Javanese pop to the forefront.

“RADAR is motivation. It fuels our passion, pushes us to dream bigger, and reminds us that every song we create has the potential to reach someone, somewhere,” said indie pop band The Lantis. “It’s a reminder that our music matters, that our stories resonate, and that there are listeners out there waiting to connect with what we create.”

With T-pop on the rise, RADAR Thailand welcomes groups like LYKN and FLIRT, as well as alt-rock duo SHERRY.

“We’re truly honored to be part of this year’s RADAR Thailand lineup,” said SHERRY. “Spotify is all about its users and creatives. It allows us to highlight our hard work and craft to a bigger audience in Thailand and beyond. We can’t wait to show our fans what we have in store for them in 2025.”

To the east, RADAR Philippines welcomes Pinoy female rapper Zae and Baguio-raised indie band Dilaw, among others, while pop and hip-hop acts such as Ánh Sáng AZA and CoolKid join RADAR Vietnam.

RADAR 新勢力, which is dedicated to the wider Mandopop space, welcomes newcomers like 艾蜜莉AMILI and Eileen Yo游宇潼. And in Japan, where RADAR is locally known as Early Noise, the 2025 class includes AKASAKI and Billyrrom. Finally, from the home of K-Pop, rookie group MEOVV is RADAR Korea’s first featured artist of the year.

“Music and culture are always evolving, and at Spotify, we’re here to celebrate that,” said Kossy Ng, Spotify Head of Music, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong & Taiwan. “With RADAR, we’re excited to shine a light on the breadth of incredible rising talents in Asia that span different genres and sounds. There’s so much to discover and something for everyone. We’re committed to supporting artists for the long haul, helping music from Asia reach fans all over the world.”

As part of the program, RADAR artists receive Spotify support through a dedicated playlist and special editorial placement. This support is clearly making waves in Asia and beyond. Globally, five of Spotify’s top 10 RADAR artists last year came from the Philippines. In Korea, meanwhile, last year’s RADAR artists saw a 34% boost in their average daily streams in the six months following their entry into the program. Bernadya is another success story: The 2023 RADAR Indonesia artist experienced a stunning 91% surge in monthly listeners a year after joining the program and became Spotify Indonesia’s top artist of 2024. This momentum continues across the region, with our RADAR Vietnam playlist boasting more than 70% international streams.

Ready to meet the full lineup? Discover the RADAR Asia class of 2025 below.

RADAR Indonesia

Adikara
Aftershine
Deborah Hanna
Difki Khalif
Elsa Japasal
Rafi Sudirman
Rony Parulian
The Lantis
Tissa Biani
White Chorus

Stream our RADAR Indonesia playlist.

RADAR Thailand

ALIE BLACKCOBRA
Daou Pittaya
FLIRT
GALCHANIE
guncharlie
Hunsick
Kakagoesbackhome
LITTLE JOHN
LYKN
Pearprapa
PONCHET
SHERRY

Stream our RADAR Thailand playlist.

RADAR Philippines

ALLMO$T
BGYO
Costa Cashman
Dilaw
ena mori
JERGE
Justin Vasquez
ONE CLICK STRAIGHT
Young Blood Neet
Zae

Stream our RADAR Philippines playlist.

RADAR Singapore and Malaysia

Danial Kifli
Dominic Chin
empty page.
Fahimi
Firdaus Rahmat
ICEBOX
karan
Kidd Santhe
lovlaine
Nadeera
NAKI
RENE
Yokez

Stream our RADAR Singapore and Malaysia playlist.

RADAR Korea

MEOVV

Stream our RADAR Korea playlist and stay tuned as more participating artists are unveiled throughout the year.

RADAR Japan

7co
AKASAKI
Billyrrom
Brandy Senki
Lavt
noa
PAS TASTA
reina
Retro Riron (レトロリロン)
ziproom

Stream our RADAR Japan (aka RADAR: Early Noise) playlist.

RADAR Vietnam

Ánh Sáng AZA
CoolKid
GUrbane
VƯƠNG BÌNH

Stream our RADAR Vietnam playlist.

RADAR Hong Kong

Arvin曾傲棐
Billy Choi
Gordon Flanders
Michael C
Nancy Kwai
risy
Rover
SOPHY
Tr33 
Uchu Yurei

Stream our RADAR Hong Kong playlist.

Radar 新勢力

阿蘭 AC
艾蜜莉AMILI
Andr
齊翔XIANG
Eileen Yo游宇潼
JUD 陳泳希
公館青少年GGteens
Haezee
Mandark
Marz23
PPlin 林芃逸
王ADEN

Stream our Radar 新勢力 playlist.