Malaysia is making history at South by Southwest. On March 15, the Made in Malaysia stage at Las Perlas in Austin marks the first time a national Malaysian music showcase has ever been presented at the globally renowned festival. Curated and headlined by rapper, singer-songwriter, and producer Zamaera, the night brings five boundary-pushing Malaysian artists to one of the most influential cultural platforms on the planet.
The lineup spans the full range of what Malaysian independent music looks like right now. R&B vocalist Murty, indie singer-songwriter Zoe Tan, hyperpop and hip-hop provocateur Lil Asian Thiccie, and electronic producer I-SKY join Zamaera on the bill. Texas-based DJ VÖ.A_2000 opens the evening. The set times run from 7:45 PM through 12:45 AM, a full night of music built to make an impression.
Zamaera, who also founded Mean Malaya Entertainment, has been the driving force behind this moment. “Our music may sound global, but it’s unmistakably Malaysian,” she said. “Every track carries the mix of languages, influences, and stories that shape our culture. With the Made in Malaysia stage, we’re not just performing songs, we’re sharing our identity, our creativity, and our voice with the world.”
The showcase lands at exactly the right time. Malaysia’s independent music scene is producing artists who blend Malay, Chinese, Indian, and Indigenous cultural roots with hip-hop, R&B, electronic, and alternative sounds in ways that feel genuinely fresh. This is a scene that has largely operated below the global radar, and SXSW 2026 changes that.
Made in Malaysia is one of the few Southeast Asian showcases at this year’s festival. For anyone in Austin on March 15, Las Perlas is the room to be in.
Made in Malaysia, SXSW 2026, Set Times:
7:45 PM – 8:45 PM | VÖ.A_2000
8:55 PM – 9:25 PM | Zoe Tan
9:35 PM – 10:05 PM | Murty
10:15 PM – 10:55 PM | Zamaera
11:05 PM – 11:35 PM | Lil Asian Thiccie
11:45 PM – 12:45 AM | I-SKY