Various Artists - Ayo Ke Disco: Boogie, Pop & Funk From the South China Sea (1974-88)

Soundway general manager Alice Whittington, aka Norsicaa (DJ), selects 10 deep cuts from local labels, officially reissued on vinyl for the first time – forming a snapshot of the vibrant discotheques and live scenes across Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong and the Philippines.

Ayo Ke Disco’ (meaning ‘Let’s go to the disco’ in Malay and Indonesian) celebrates the musical identities emerging from the newly independent countries in South-East Asia during the 1970s and 80s. 

The artists featured here were known for exploring traditional sounds alongside funk, disco, city-pop and even political psych-rock, genres that were indicative of the exciting but often turbulent period. But despite the post-war backdrop of instability there came unprecedented levels of economic prosperity. With a hopeful buzz filling the air, the music scene was helping lead the way in reshaping the new identities of the region.