By Jocelle Koh

Asian music journalism mainstays Asian Pop Weekly and Freshmusic (founder of the inaugural Freshmusic Awards) team up to celebrate their 16th and 19th anniversaries respectively; launching blind box showcase series “SEAtide” featuring three mystery acts from Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan on the 16th of August.

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.

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.”

With a focus on sustainable events management, SEAtide hopes to encourage a more connected music ecosystem within Asia that can effectively support export through a grassroots approach. 

As for Freshmusic, who is celebrating a huge 20th anniversary milestone in 2026, they hinted that this may not be the last we hear of SEAtide in the near future, naming it as one key project they will continue to support with Asian Pop Weekly and other partners moving forward.

“Perhaps a series of SEAtide happening in Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong (and more), to keep ourselves and our audience curious and always ready to explore new exciting acts, which is one of the key spirits of Freshmusic”

Two media platforms which have consistently been models of sustainable growth and community support for local music ecosystems around Asia, SEAtide blind box showcase is certainly one you won’t want to miss. Get your tickets here!

SEAtide Blind Box Showcase – Freshmusic x Asian Pop Weekly Anniversary Celebration
Time: Doors open 7pm, Show starts 7.30pm 
Entry Fee: Pre-Order $20 (til 15th August 2025) | Doors $25
Date: 16th August 2025
Location: Saylah Studios
Address: 180 Paya Lebar Rd, #11-02A Yi Guang Factory Building, Singapore 409032
Ticketing Link: https://bit.ly/SEAtide1