The Office of Knowledge Management and Development (Public Organization), or OKMD, held “Talent Fest: Into the Music Universe and Beyond,” a national Talent Showcase event under the second phase of the Talent Everywhere project at 1981 Soul & Sold Shopping Center, Bangkok. It provided young musicians nationwide a real stage to demonstrate their potential while connecting with artists, experts, and music industry professionals to create opportunities for advancing as professional artists.
Talent Fest marked a significant milestone for the Talent Everywhere project after OKMD nurtured over 500 young musicians from more than 100 bands nationwide through the Music Boost Camp. This program focused on comprehensive development, from discovering musical identity and creating works to learning industry processes and preparing for a music career. Subsequently, 11 promising bands were selected for intensive development and to perform at Talent Fest.
The 11 bands performing at the Pre-Debut Showcase were Backyard, Do Zero, Follow Me, Magazine No.19, Red Ribbon, Sleeplezzz, Soulgoof, The Blue Pillow, The Make Shape, Zinith, and Zizters. Each presented original songs developed during the project, expressing their unique musical identity to audiences, fans, and industry professionals.
Throughout Talent Everywhere, youth not only learned performance skills but also developed their works from start to finish—discovering band identity, composing lyrics and melodies, recording, and refining their songs to Pre-Master quality under guidance from artists, producers, and industry experts, ensuring their work could be further developed after the project.
Dr. Tawarat Sootabut, Director of the Office of Knowledge Management and Development (Public Organization) or OKMD, said,
“OKMD values youth development through Camp-Based Learning, which offers real experience, peer exchange, and direct knowledge transfer from industry professionals. We believe investing in youth is a valuable investment, as they will be key drivers in Thailand’s creative economy. The Talent Everywhere project not only provides musical knowledge and skills but also builds networks, communities, and spaces for youth to grow, showcase their talents, and develop together strongly.”
Nick - Wichian Rukpaisan, Camp Director and Industry Expert, stated,
“The core of being an artist is discovering and shaping a clear identity. Young people need not only musical skills but also to learn creativity, self-expression, social media use, promotion, and career planning. Because the music world and industry constantly evolve, we aim to teach them to think, learn, adapt, and continuously develop themselves, while creating spaces for new artists to showcase their talents and enter the industry professionally.”
A key moment was the Talent Ecosystem Official Announcement, launching a development ecosystem that links youth, educational institutions, artists, experts, and industry entrepreneurs to enable young talents’ creativity to evolve into works, careers, and sustainable economic and social value.
“I have witnessed the young participants from audition day through every camp, seeing clear progress in musical skills, mindset, individuality, and stage presence. Most impressive is their dedication and diligence: they don’t just listen to advice but continuously practice and apply it. Some compose new songs; others learn social media skills. Everyone strives to develop themselves fully. I believe these youth will be vital to advancing Thailand’s music industry future,” said Ae Laongfong.
Following this was the Talent Empowerment segment, presenting scholarships to emerging artists to help them advance their music careers. All 11 bands received funding at varying levels based on their demonstrated potential and achievements throughout the project.
The Orbit Outstanding Artist award, with a 100,000 baht scholarship, went to Zinith.
The Kinetic Gravity Presence award, with an 80,000 baht scholarship, was granted to The Blue Pillow.
The Masterpiece Nebula award, with a 50,000 baht scholarship, was given to Follow Me.
The Majestic Stella Nova award, recognizing emerging stars ready to embark on their journey, provided eight scholarships of 20,000 baht each to The Make Shape, Magazine No.19, Do Zero, Backyard, Red Ribbon, Soulgoof, Sleeplezzz, and Zizters, with an additional Dynamic Galaxy Fan award of 10,000 baht to Zizters.
Additionally, all 11 bands received certificates and a Talent Fest CD Player compiling their songs, serving as mementos of their development journey throughout the project.
This scholarship distribution is a crucial mechanism within Talent Everywhere, ensuring youth development continues beyond training and performances. It opens pathways for new musicians to further develop their work, including music production, artist development, new creations, and increased opportunities to enter the music industry in the future.
Behind the youth development efforts, cooperation from artists, producers, and music industry experts has been vital. They shared experiences and provided close guidance, led by Nick Wichian Rukpaisan, Oh Jesada Sukthamrong, Ae Pongjak Pitsatanporn, Fluke Polkrit Srisamut, and Phum-Phumgeography Rujiiphaiboon from Music Sandbox, along with mentors from the music scene including:
● Chao – COCKTAIL
● Pae – MVL
● Oh – Waen Yai
● Tik – Playground
● Go – Natthaphol Srichomkwan
● Man – Laongfong
● Phol – CLASH
● Kop – Postcard
● Ton – ASIA7
● Nut – KLEAR
● Jap – The Richman Toy
Beyond the 11 main stage bands, Talent Fest also provided a platform for 30 other youth bands from the project to perform on the 67 UFO Stage and Satellite Stage, offering live experience across diverse music genres and opportunities to meet, exchange ideas, and network with music industry people.
The event atmosphere was designed under the concept “Into the Music Universe and Beyond,” portraying Talent Fest as a “launchpad” sending young musicians on their journey into the music universe. This included interconnected stages—Rocket Stage, 67 UFO Stage, Satellite Stage—as well as zones like Talent Comet Market, OKMD Zone or Space Station, and Mercury Mingle Zone, offering spaces for learning, showcasing work, business meetings, and networking with industry personnel and entrepreneurs.
The night concluded with a SUPERNOVA HEADLINER performance from national artists PARADOX and TILLY BIRDS, who performed live and passed on inspiration from senior artists to emerging ones, creating a vibrant atmosphere that connected multiple music generations in one space.
