After winning TuneCore India’s AXEAN Festival 2026 Showcase Contest, Tamil composer, songwriter and rapper, Arivu has been selected to represent India at AXEAN Festival 2026 in Bali, Indonesia. The achievement marks a huge milestone for both the India’s and the artist’s independent music ecosystem, as it is the country's first participation in TuneCore's long-running partnership with AXEAN Festival.

As part of this initiative, Arivu will perform alongside independent artists from across Southeast Asia at the festival, providing him with a chance to showcase Indian independent music to a wider audience all around the world. Since 2021, AXEAN Festival and TuneCore have collaborated to support independent and emerging musicians across the region by creating platforms for networking, live performance opportunities and cross-border exposure.

Commenting on the opportunity, Arivu said, “It’s a great pleasure to perform at AXEAN Festival with TuneCore alongside artists from across the world. It’s an interesting experiment for me, observing how an audience unfamiliar with my language receives my sound. I’m just as excited to hear what artists from other parts of the world have to offer.”

Arivu has established himself as one of the most distinctive contemporary artists of India through a body of work that blends folk, modern and rap sounds with socially conscious lyricism. Beyond his independent releases, Arivu has also made an impact in film music. His notable credits include Neeye Oli, Single Pasanga, Enjoy Enjaami, Vaathi Raid, Thalapathy Kacheri and Golden Sparrow, earning him recognition across multiple languages and audiences.

As per TuneCore, the AXEAN initiative has been designed to strengthen musical connections across Asia while opening pathways for independent artists. At the 2026 edition, the artist will join fellow TuneCore-selected acts from the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam, highlighting the growing partnership between Asian independent music communities and offering Indian music a stronger presence on the regional stage.