Ahns Maps Kuala Lumpur on Debut Album Southeast Express
If you have ever driven the same stretch of road a hundred times without a second thought, Ahns wants you to listen again. The Kuala Lumpur singer-songwriter released his debut album, Southeast Express, on 16 October 2026, a 10-track record that turns the city's familiar roads, suburbs and industrial edges into songs about memory and belonging. It is out now on all streaming platforms.
A debut built around the city
Ahns grew up between Gombak and Segambut, and that geography runs through the album. Across its 10 tracks, Southeast Express draws on everyday Malaysian details, the roads people travel daily and the places they call home, to explore how our surroundings shape the way we remember and feel. The sound moves between alternative pop, dream pop, indie rock and ambient textures.
"With Southeast Express, I wanted to explore these little moments we often pass by, and how they quietly become part of our story," Ahns said of the record.
A first listen before the release
Ahead of the release, Ahns held an intimate first-listen session on 15 October. Guests gathered at BMW Millennium Welt before being driven to RAPTROOM for the playback, with live music and a chance to talk with the artist about the stories behind the songs. The drive across the city he writes about was part of the point.
The road to Southeast Express
The album did not arrive out of nowhere. Ahns released the singles Other Houses in February, Old News and Boys in April, and Swimming in July, then toured the country on his Satellite tour. He has played KL Fashion Week, featured in the Anugerah Lagu Indie Semifinal Showcase, and had airplay on HITZ FM and Alt Radio Tapau. His live shows lean on self-directed footage he has collected over the years, extending the music into a visual record of the people and places behind it.
Where to listen
Southeast Express is streaming now on Spotify and Apple Music, and Ahns posts more about the album on Instagram. For more of what the city has to offer this month, see our guide to what is happening in KL, and for another release landing locally, read about The Weeknd bringing Samra Origins to Malaysia.
