Organized by Karpos Live, the first ever ASIYA: Asian Music Festival & Conference, successfully celebrates Asian Music and Culture last October 12 and 13, 2024, at the World Trade Center. The two-day event not only brought amazing artists and fans on one stage but also industry professionals for the conference. It is indeed more than a platform of professionals; it is a vibrant meeting ground for the music industry.
Come with us as we revisit the performances that happened at ASIYA 2024.
DAY 1
GABBA
The first set of performances was started on the Philippine stage by Filipino multi-instrumentalist Gabba, who recently dropped his latest single “Pockets” in August 2024. He once again showcased his amazing guitar skills that wowed the crowd. He also performed last March at Wanderland 2024.
NUMCHA
After Gabba, Thai singer-songwriter Numcha showcased her talents on the ASIYA stage, performing indie pop songs and her debut single, “Keep Cold.”
REESE LANSANGAN
Filipino musician and singer-songwriter Reese Lansangan made us feel at home with her performances. Reese also shared some beautiful messages that made everyone inspired. “You’re not alone, and I care for you, and I love you,” she said. She played some of her songs including “What is this feeling,” “St. Petersburg,” and “Home.”
BABYCHAIR
Babychair, a Malaysian band based in Kuala Lumpur, consisted of lead vocalist Sean, multi-instrumentalist Aaron, and keyboardist and synthesizer Young performed on the Asiya stage. The band’s hits, including “Dear,” “Dreamy Summer,” and “Staying Up All Night,” evoked retro and dreamy feelings.
FLU
Back on the Philippine stage, the Flu, a pinoy band from Manila, performed their songs “Ain’t Hidin'” and “Manila Bay.” The band also surprised the crowd by performing their newly released song “I’ll Be Mine” alongside Thai indie-pop singer Numcha, who had previously performed on the Asiya Stage.
IMASE
All the way from Japan, singer-songwriter IMASE opened his performance with “Shine Out.” He also performed his songs “Metro City,” “Demone Tamaniwa,” and “Rainy Driver.” With the help of his prepared notes, IMASE was able to convey his messages in English. He greeted the crowd and shared that he likes Filipino food, Gising Gising. He closed his set with his hit and viral song “Night Dancer.”
UDD
FIlipino band UDD, also known as Up Dharma Down, comprised of Paul Yap, Carlos Tañada, and Ean Mayor, performed “KAPOY” with their special guest, ZOYA. The crowds vibed with them as they performed “Luha” and “Run Deep.”
COLDE
Colde, a South Korean musician and part of the group OFFONOFF, played his songs “YAYAYA”, “Light”, “Sunflower”, and “WA-R-R” on the ASIYA Stage for the first time in Manila. Colde expressed his love for Jollibee and even shows off a personalized shirt, Colldee. He gave it to a lucky fan following his performance of “I’ll Color You.”
URBANDUB
Twenty-four years in the music industry, Filipino rock band from Cebu City, Urbandub, brought nostalgic vibes with their classic songs “First of Summer,” “Guillotine,” and “Fight is Over.” The crowd sang along with the band, and emotions were all over as they serenaded the audience with “Evidence.”
HYUKOH and SUNSETROLLERCOASTER
Korea’s Hyukoh and Taiwan’s Sunset Roller Coaster headlined the Day 1 of ASIYA Fest, bringing their “AAA Tour” on the stage. The tour is named after their collaborative musical project and album, AAA. They performed songs from their album, including “Kite War,” “Y,” “Antenna,” “Young Man,” and “Glue,” and ended with their hit song, “My Jinji.”
DAY 2
YSANYGO
The Filipino duo, YSANYGO, opened Day 2 of the festival, bringing their songs including “Even in an Alternate Universe,” “Fading to Black,” “Imprinted,” and “Comfortable Silence,” which a lucky fan requested for them to perform. The siblings also performed “Sunny when I’m with you” and their recently released song, “Pulso.”
9M88
9m88 is a Taiwanese singer, songwriter, and actress that is known for her lyrics to have bitter-sweet stories. The audience fell in love with her voice as she sang her songs like “Aim high,” “Leftlovers,” and “Frenemy.”
JOSE MIGUEL
Jose Miguel, a young jazz singer, mesmerized the audience with his smooth jazz approach on stage. The Filipino singer-songwriter captivated the audience with his well-known song, “5 Star Overthinker.” He performed as well at this year’s Wanderland.
SALASA
Salasa, is a rising pop singer from Japan. Her music combines jazzy undertones with soul, R&B, and rock influences. She performed songs from her albums, including “Roulette” from her recently released album, Golden Child.
ZILD
Zild, a Filipino singer-songwriter, producer, and lead vocalist of Pinoy Band IV of Spades, started his performance with “Superpower,” “Crab,” and “Dekada 70.” His songs are well-known that the audience got into it and sung along. He closed his performance with the songs “Medisina” and “Isang Anghel” from his 2022 album, Medisina.
SHYE
Singaporean home-grown producer and singer-songwriter, Shye, who competed in Chuang Asia Thailand, brought electropop music on the Asiya Stage. She showcased her unique style to the crowd and surprised them with her rendition of “Come Inside of My Heart” by IV of Spades.
JUAN KARLOS
Juan Karlos, a Filipino singer-songwriter known for his major hits “Buwan” and “Ere,” pumped up the crowd’s energy. The Filipino singer, who recently celebrated his tenth year in the industry, also brought his other hit songs “Limang Taon” and “Demonyo.” The atmosphere was immediately transformed with fun as he performed the chorus of “Ere,” changing the lyrics with “Meow.”
BALMING TIGER
Balming Tiger, a multinational alternative K-pop group, shown that they truly come together in spirit and energy. The crowd was seen jumping, dancing, singing, and enjoying the group’s performances, which included their well-known songs “Kolo Kolo,” “Armadillo,” and “Body Coke.”
BINI
Headlining Day 2 of Asiya, the nation’s girl group, BINI showcased their powerful vocals and dance moves performing their major hit songs “Cherry on Top,” “Karera,” “Salamin Salamin,” and “Pantropiko.” Blooms (BINI’s fandom name) experienced a “mini” BINIverse as the girl group brought six part invention for their live band and their well-known segment “Pangarap.”
It is certainly a new festival experience! The first ASIYA successfully brought various types of music together on one stage, providing festivalgoers with a memorable experience. ASIYA is a must-attend festival to witness and promote Asian music and culture, featuring both homegrown talent and musicians from neighboring countries.
Media Coverage by: P.Y. Vencio
