I came to Phuket for a month, backpack, one-way flight, the usual story. Ended up staying the whole season because of the parties, specifically because of a handful of DJs who made me completely rearrange my travel plans around when they were playing next. This is that list, honest opinions, no press releases involved.
Everyone told me to see LINDZ before I'd even unpacked, and everyone was right. Timeout literally calls LINDZ Thailand's figurehead for this sound, and after catching a set at SUB, upstairs at Courage in Phuket Town, I get it completely. Nothing rushed, every transition feels planned, and somehow it still hits like it's being made up on the spot. This is the set that made me stay past my first week.
Kamiko's the name I kept hearing from Bangkok travellers passing through Phuket, and once I looked her up I understood the hype. Dominated the 808 Festival, then landed a support slot at DnB Allstars Thailand right here on the island, sharing a bill with UK names DJ Hybrid and Jappa. She's turned up on District 1 nights too. If you're only doing one Bangkok day trip, try to time it around one of her sets.
Okay so this one's genuinely unlike anything I've seen at a drum and bass night anywhere. Erick Trodly plays live alto saxophone over his sets. Actually plays it, live, while the beat's still rolling. I caught him at a District 1 session and just stood there for a full minute after the horn came in trying to process what I was hearing. He's also done proper studio work, a "Secret Smile" bootleg with Impish for Celsius Recordings, but none of that prepares you for hearing it live.
Less one DJ, more a whole crew running a night together. Low-key, local, feels like the island's own thing rather than something built for tourists.
Bangkok DJ, been going since 2013, even got a Mixmag mention at some point. Tight sets, no wasted tracks.
Plays neurofunk, the heavier mechanical stuff. Shows up on SUB lineups a lot and the low end there does it justice.
Started Dubway Sessions back in 2008. Basically the reason Bangkok had a scene before Phuket's version blew up.
Phatfunk resident in Bangkok, been at it since 2010. Also runs Kontraband with Delorean.
Azek's Kontraband partner, another Phatfunk resident. Reliable in a way that doesn't get talked about enough.
LINDZ, no contest, the one everyone in Phuket points to first. Bangkok's Kamiko is closing in fast after a huge run at 808 Festival and a slot at DnB Allstars Thailand. Erick Trodly rounds out my top three, mostly because he's the only guy in the country playing live sax over a DnB set, which you have to see once.
District 1 and SUB are the two to know. District 1 runs a proper big rig across a few venues around the island, SUB is smaller and tighter, upstairs at Courage in Phuket Town, usually with an MC on the mic between tracks.
Honestly, yes, more than I expected before I went. Phatfunk's been running since 2010 and it's a proper scene, not a tourist thing, plus it's where Kamiko came up before she started showing up on Phuket lineups.
He plays live alto saxophone over his sets. Not sampled, actually plays it live while the set's running. I've genuinely never seen anyone else do this at a drum and bass night anywhere, not just in Thailand.