Various Artists - Ayo Ke Disco: Boogie, Pop & Funk From The South China Sea (1974-88) [Soundway Records]

Soundway Records presents an exciting new compilation, delving even further into South-East Asia. Ayo Ke Disco celebrates emerging musical identities during the 1970s and 1980s in newly independent countries located around the South China Sea.

This time around, Alice Whittington (aka DJ Norsicaa), Soundway’s General Manager, steps into the spotlight, embracing her Malaysian heritage and selecting music from her vast Asian record collection. As well as running the label, she is usually found on international stages and radio stations, delivering an eclectic array of music.

For Ayo Ke Disco (meaning “Let’s Go To The Disco” in Indonesian), 10 rare disco-funk, psychedelic funk, synth, city pop, and Hindustani-Arabic groove tracks were carefully licensed from local labels, forming a snapshot of the vibrant discotheque and live scenes of Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and The Philippines.

The vinyl release also comes accompanied by Norsicaa's Ayo Ke Disco fanzine, featuring extensive research into South East Asian music history, archival photos, and exclusive interviews with some of the region's most respected collectors.

AYO KE DISCO FANZINE

Who made the first records in Asia? Who brought jazz to the region? How did musicians navigate censorship? What do vinyl collectors really think about the industry today? These are the key questions – and their answers – from Norsicaa's in-depth research, who went through countless research papers and immersed herself in data with fellow enthusiasts whilst curating her compilation. Full of fascinating stories, archival photos, and musical recommendations, the Ayo Ke Disco fanzine paints a vibrant picture of how the modern music industry evolved in South East Asia. Outside of academia, this is the first time such a meticulously researched summary of the region's musical history is available to the public in such a highly digestible format.