88rising’s Road To FAM Finale: A Stellar Showcase Of The Power Of Asian Music – Review

If there’s one thing you need to know about music from Asia, it’s that it’s undeniably limitless.

If you take a look at the esteemed artists and the most prominent songs coming from Southeast Asia alone, there’s a unique seal of innovation on every single output, infused and driven by a colorful array of cultures and rich histories. Taking this and tastefully blending it with an eclectic mix of creative inspiration from all over, you’ve got a plethora of exciting acts who are defining and redefining the region’s music, one hit at a time. 

This is exactly what 88rising was able to spectacularly showcase through their Road To FAM tour of Southeast Asia.

Produced and curated by Future Asian Music (FAM) — 88rising’s very own music platform dedicated to championing up-and-coming artists from Asia — in partnership with Levi’s®, the Road To FAM aimed at shining the spotlight on a meticulously handpicked set of four emerging artists from the region. Beginning last May 2025, the tour stopped at four different cities — Manila, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Jakarta — before closing everything off in electrifying fashion in Bangkok last July 9, 2025. 

With the Road To FAM finale officially being part of the music program of Thailand’s SPLASH – Soft Power Forum 2025 — the country’s flagship program aimed at uplifting its culture and creativity — the show was more than just another concert being held in the nation’s capital; it was concrete proof of a shared dedication to artistic excellence and innovation.

Indeed, just the fact that it was decided to become the first ever concert held at the historic Hua Lamphong Railway Station (yes, with actual working trains) was already a sign that this was not going to be your typical concert. And, as the wheels (no pun intended) for this trailblazing event were finally set in motion, everyone in attendance that evening was in for a thrill ride, powered by some of Southeast Asia’s finest in music today.

Warming things up for the night, artists from Thai record labels WAYDAY and IAM began the concert with a relay of performances, with rising acts AOM from Hangnokyung, EYE from EYERICE, ICE and NOODEE from MKF, Mighty from WHITELIE, Pookan from Dansonthaya, RATTANAPORN and Sammy Niche taking the stage and showing off their individual artistic chops.

For an event purposefully aimed at highlighting emerging Asian acts, there could not have been a better way to kick off this historic show. On its own, this opening was a display of the diversity that music from Asia innately possesses, with the artists putting on performances to let the thousands in attendance know whom they should definitely be on the lookout for next.

With this, the Road To FAM finale was officially underway, as viral Thai singer and songwriter and DREAMGALS member GALCHANIE took to the stage next. Entrancing those in attendance with her very own sweet and sultry brand of pop-R&B, she playfully delivered her hit tracks “Baby Tee,” “SUCCUBUS,” “My bad,” and more.

Keeping the energy going, renowned Thai R&B singer Flower.far went up immediately afterwards. Showcasing a goosebumps-inducing performance of her dreamy hits, the fellow DREAMGALS member let the thousands packed within the four corners of Hua Lamphong know just how much of vocal powerhouse she is through her hit tracks “Like a fool,” “Priority,” and more.

Switching things up, award-winning rapper Ramengvrl then delivered a fiery hip-hop set, with the Road To FAM Jakarta headliner serving out bangers like “CA$HMERE,” “Vaselina,” “GOOD GIRL,” and more, naturally emanating both unapologetic swagger and girl power from start to finish. 

Following this, Fariz Jabba then turned the heat up a couple of extra degrees, as the storytelling rapper jumped from hit after hit in his sonically adventurous hip-hop discography. Exhibiting a fierce yet fun stage presence all throughout his adrenaline-charged set, the Road To FAM Singapore top-biller dished out tracks like “Kalah,” “Star Girl,” “Ape Sia,” and more. 

Recognized and revered as a pioneer in Malaysian hip-hop, Zamaera then immediately conquered the stage, showcasing to everyone present why she is undeniably worthy of being regarded as an absolute trailblazer back home. Exuding total confidence and playful charisma, the Road To FAM Kuala Lumpur main star performed a slew of her fan-favorite hits, including “Get Munni,” “Kill My Vibe,” “Big Fish,” and more, showcasing just how much of a captivating performer she is. 

Taking things into a guitar-driven, pop-rock direction for a bit, Zack Tabudlo took to the stage, slinging and riffing on his electric guitar and consistently singing his heart out. Constantly engulfed in a flurry of moody lighting unlike any of the sets before and after his, the hitmaking singer-songwriter and Road To FAM Manila headliner blessed the Bangkok crowd with tracks such as the viral “Pano,” “Give Me Your Forever,” and even an impassioned cover of Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris” that had everyone present singing along.

Shortly after, excited screams began reverberating in unison through the walls of the historic venue, as popular Thai boy group PROXIE effortlessly transformed the whole show into a mini concert of their own. Clearly being the biggest draw of the evening, the T-pop six-piece’s set was met with constant cheers and fanchants, as they seamlessly went through such hits as “TRAFFIC,” “KISS KISS,” “Bad Shawty,” and more. 

At this point, the crowd and the energy were clearly at a fever pitch but the night was definitely far from over.

Ending the evening with an unforgettable bang, the Road To FAM finale headliner MILLI took her rightful place center stage, clad in a striking custom denim outfit from head to toe that matched the very aura of her artistry — powerful and playful. Backed by a full live band consisting of her friends from university, the esteemed Thai rapper-singer was clearly more than proud and excited to represent the very best of Thailand’s music on her home turf. 

Delivering an exhilarating set consisting of “Mirror Mirror,” “Menace,” “The Weekend,” “ONE PUNCH,” and even the live debut of her then-unreleased track “SICK WITH IT,” MILLI was absolutely in her element from start to finish.

From the moment she stepped foot on stage, MILLI effortlessly captivated and commanded the attention of every single person present. The DREAMGALS member’s presence was magnetic and her frenetic energy was absolutely infectious, easily getting the entire venue to go wild, dance, jump around, and party to their hearts’ content. By the end, her performance was an unstoppable high octane rollercoaster ride you just didn’t want to ever stop — the perfect way to end such a stellar set of performances.

As the evening officially capped off, I couldn’t help but recall what MILLI told me when I interviewed her before the show started. Upon being asked what the importance of Future Asian Music’s support for her fellow Southeast Asian artists is, MILLI noted how the platform’s name itself indicates that all Asian artists can come together, and thus can be united like “one big family” through the platform’s initiatives. “We all have something similar and I’m so proud that we’re tag-teaming together to bring our culture to the world,” she stated, noting Southeast Asian cultures in particular have many similarities. “We’ve been influenced by other cultures. Now, it’s our turn.”

Indeed, if there’s one thing that the Road To FAM finale in Bangkok proved, it’s that today’s Asian artists, especially those from Southeast Asia, are not just breaking barriers but they are also more than capable of reaching new heights. Ultimately, they are ready to conquer not just the region, but the entire world. This is only just the beginning.