When rapper and producer Zamaera touched down in Austin for SXSW 2026, she came with a crew.
Having previously flown the Malaysian flag solo at the festival, this year she returned as the organizer of “Made in Malaysia,” the first-ever showcase dedicated to spotlighting the region’s independent music scene on one of the world’s most influential stages.
Credit: Image courtesy of Press
The night kicked off with Texas-based DJ VÖ.A_2000, who threw down a kinetic opening set to warm the crowd before Zoe Tan, who drew them into a more atmospheric space. Shaped by life between Kuala Lumpur and New York City, Tan’s indie-folk sensibilities carried the kind of duality that resonates deeply with diaspora audiences.
Credit: Image courtesy of Press
Lil Asian Thiccie pivoted the room hard, her hyperpop-meets-hip-hop fusion landing with a playfulness that immediately won over the 150-strong crowd. Veteran rapper Naadi then took the stage for one of the night’s highlights.
His 2025 hit ‘Big Naadi Nod’ fused early 2000s NYC street culture with his desi roots and melodic rap flows before electronic producer I-SKY closed the supporting acts with a genre-spanning set rooted in Southeast Asian sonic influences.
Zamaera’s headlining set ranged across hip-hop, trap and electronic production. Her single ‘Ikan Kekek’ became the showcase’s centerpiece, a proof of concept that local inspiration travels far.
“When I first performed in South by Southwest, I was there flying the flag on my own,” she said. “But bringing my friends, my peers, my crew here together, this feels like the real mission. There’s so much fire back home, and we finally got to show that on the world’s stage.”
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