44 page colour zine, supporting the recent Ayo Ke Disco compilation

Who made the first records in Asia? Who brought jazz to the region? How did musicians work around censorship? What do vinyl collectors really think about the industry now…? 

These are the burning questions – and answers – from the deep dive investigation of Norsicaa as she pored through countless research papers and geeked out on facts with fellow aficionados, while curating her compilation Ayo Ke Disco: Boogie, Pop & Funk from the South China Sea (1974-88).

Brimming with fascinating stories, archival photos and music recommendations, the Ayo Ke Disco zine paints a vibrant picture of how the modern music industry developed in South-East Asia. Outside of academia, this is the first time such a meticulously researched summary of the region’s musical history has been available to the public in a highly digestible format. 

It also features candid interviews with her extensive network of South-East Asian vinyl collectors – including Dean Chew (Darker Than Wax), Maft Sai (Zudrangma Records), Gia Fu (Canton Mambo), Ani Phoebe (Bad Times Disco), Munir (Midnight Runners) and many more.

Tapping DJ and former Melodies International designer Mafalda Daniel for the layout, the publication channels the aesthetic of late 70s music magazines and expands upon the liner notes of the Ayo Ke Disco vinyl compilation.