Backstage Pass: Celebrating ESEA Heritage Month with Eastern Margins

One of my highlights from enjoying the festival from a punter’s perspective was catching the second half of DJ Love’s set. I’ve seen a lot of DJs play in my life and haven’t felt the energy that room had in a while. Seeing him dance on stage with the crowd showing him so much love, I actually got a bit emotional. The energy was electric and so heartwarming. My other highlight was opening the Hall/Phase 3 with AR. We played a lot of Eastern Margins releases, especially the tracks off our upcoming compilation Redline Impact, and it was great to see the crowd get re-energised and ready to dance for the rest of the artists on the Phase 3 line-up. 

I could go on about what Eastern Margins means to be me I will try to keep it brief. Essentially I stumbled across Eastern Margins on Instagram when I had first moved to London back in 2018. At that point in my life, I had quit the music industry three times due to the racism and tokenisation I had experienced as a queer, non-binary Chinese person. Eastern Margins welcomed me with open arms and not only have they supported me with my own DJ/music career but have really let me flourish over the last few years to help build the platform into what it is today. Kinda wild to think if I hadn’t been doomscrolling Instagram that day, I could’ve never had a career in music. I wonder where I would even be? And now after working with them for so many years, it’s great to be able to help push other artists’ careers and support these artists with navigating the obstacles they may face in the music industry.

I still think ESEA Heritage Month was a little quiet for the majority of the music industry. There definitely could be more representation for artists across the multiple sectors of the industry. I guess this is my inside perspective from working on the label and trying to push for more recognition of ESEA artists across the major streaming platforms and radio stations. However, there has definitely been progress over the years for ESEA artists gaining the representation and recognition they deserve so I hope the growth is exponential.

Being invited to play my first-ever concert with my band was a blast! For the first time, I got to hear my music really come to life. I couldn’t have asked for a better occasion or community to share this milestone with. My band had to catch an early flight from Stansted the morning after the show, so we brought all our stuff to the green room and stayed until the very end. We all fell hard for DJ Love!

Community—a place where misfits can fit in, find connection, and feel like they’ve found an extended family.

Not just during ESEA Heritage Month but all year round—love, support, community, and creativity. Seeing people claim their space and inspire others always makes me truly happy.

My highlight of Margins United was how it brought together so many people of ESEA descent under one roof. The atmosphere was incredible; everyone was so cool and had a great vibe. I loved seeing all the other creatives and artists, and I met so many inspiring people. It truly was the best day!

Eastern Margins represents culture through the genuine lens of the community. Typically, Asian representation can often be fetishised or viewed through a narrow “oriental” perspective shaped by outsiders. However, Eastern Margins captures the authenticity of our experiences and expressions, which is so vital.

I’d love to see more events organised by Eastern Margins, perhaps even a month-long residency featuring cultural programming. They have such a strong connection to the culture and community, and I believe they could truly lead and elevate ESEA Heritage Month in a meaningful way.

I’ve loved seeing the ESEA (East and South East Asian) community coming together to celebrate and support each other in one place. Today, I’ve been at the market selling custom kit for Rise United, a grassroots ESEA football club that has quickly become an extended family. We’re also selling local collectives and artists like Bugeisha Club and Gaurab Thakali. I’ve made so many ESEA friends over the recent years, and it’s great to see everyone thriving – shout out to ESEA Sisters, ESEA Community Centre (fka Hackney Chinese), MQT jewellery, and Lil Wong Bakes!

After the market, my highlight was seeing Jianbo perform alongside Nammy Wams. We were invited to join them on stage as a Vietnamese football team (Vinahouse Vixens), and we’re so proud to see our Vietnamese family shine. Community, mutual support, and love are what’s important, and you can find this in abundance at Margins United.

Two things truly stood out for me. First, the success of the Katsute100 stand was a huge highlight. I was overwhelmed by the incredible support from my friends, who helped with the operations and made everything run smoothly. It made me realise again just how much love and backing I have from an amazing team. Seeing our creative efforts pay off was rewarding, and I want to extend a special thanks to Suy and Zen Musubi for collaborating with Katsute100 to make it happen.

Second, it was such a great opportunity for our talented friends—DJ GLAY One, Riria, and ZEE-2—to showcase their skills on the Katsute100 stage. Watching people dance to their music and seeing the joy on their faces was priceless. On top of that, having my friends and family come out to support the festival and enjoy themselves through the night was the icing on the cake. It made me so happy to see everyone having a great time!

To me, Eastern Margins challenges the status quo of how our cultures are perceived and represented. It’s a space where we can express ourselves creatively, outside of mainstream stereotypes. Eastern Margins is about pushing boundaries—whether in music, art, or culture—and creating a safe space for our community to reclaim our narratives, explore our identities, and connect across the diaspora.

I absolutely loved meeting and hanging out with other makers, but the highlight of my day must be Carter Tam’s (@cartertam) handmade mahjong dress, which took her two months to make. An absolute work of art, and I just cannot stop gasping at it.

Eastern Margins is all about celebrating modern Asian culture in the most real and progressive way. I’m fascinated to discover other people’s new perspectives and their new takes on their own culture, whether through music, food, or craft. It’s about championing our heritage through a whole new lens.

I would love to see more and more people get involved and share their own take on what being an ESEA means to them.

The Jianbo & Friends show at Margins United was my favourite performance of all time, so it has to be my highlight. Sharing the stage with around 50 of my friends, with an audience filled to the brim with diaspora and community figures—it was nothing short of special. I’ve never done a show that felt more meaningful and culturally impactful; the energy was electric and palpable.

Eastern Margins is a cultural movement, a community, an idea, a feeling. It’s really whatever you want it to be, but it is tied together through the lens of ESEA unity.

If we could even match the energy of Margins United for next year’s ESEA Heritage Month, that would be a victory. This one was so special that it had me thinking: how can we beat this?

Being one of Jianbo’s many friends on stage during his set was a highlight. I saw familiar faces—people close to me—enjoying this monumental occasion, like Kai Wei, Mr. Lee, Ninja Tang, Humothy, LYAM, T.K.O., Hilts, Tiny, the Vinahouse Vixens, and, of course, BENEDICT WONG. Also, having the opportunity to introduce DJ Love’s set and enjoy the show with my family meant a lot to me as a Filipino!

Eastern Margins is not just a fad or a checkbox. It’s a brand, a lifestyle, and a community. My work here means the world to me because it allows me to see and do things I’ve only imagined with the people I consider my close friends and family.

People need to realise that Margins United wasn’t a one-and-done thing. We are always cooking. ESEA Heritage Month is amazing, but with Eastern Margins, and the events we do and the music we release, people can express themselves more openly and unapologetically all year round and for the rest of their lives.