KSHMR on Neon Countdown, How His Sets Have Evolved, and Returning for Neon X

We at EDM House Network caught up with KSHMR ahead of Neon Countdown 2025, a milestone edition celebrating the festival’s 10 year anniversary under the name Neon X. KSHMR previously played at Neon Countdown in 2017 and 2018, appearances that reflect different stages of his career and a long-running connection with Bangkok’s New Year’s Eve crowd. As Neon marks a decade as one of Thailand’s most established year-end festivals, his return continues a relationship that has grown alongside the event itself. In this pre-event interview, we speak with KSHMR about his earlier Neon performances, the evolution of his live sets, and how he is approaching Neon X.

Looking Back at Neon Countdown 2017 and 2018

You played at Neon Countdown in 2017 and 2018 at different stages of your career. Looking back on those performances, what do you remember most, and how does returning in 2025 influence how you are approaching this set in Bangkok?

Playing for Neon Countdown on New Year’s has become an iconic part of the KSHMR story. They’ve been some of my favorite shows, and the parties afterwards have been wild. I’m approaching it like a very special show where I want to give the fans my best with new IDs and remixes to make it a truly special night.

The Evolution of KSHMR’s Live Sets

Your performances have grown over the years, moving between festival DJ sets and large-scale shows that include orchestral arrangements, live musicians, and structured storytelling. When preparing for a festival appearance, how do you decide which of these elements to include, and how has the way you build a KSHMR set changed over time?

You’re absolutely right from the beginning. I wanted to include stories as a part of my show, and depending on the environment, I’ll do that. In some cases, like at Ultra, even have an orchestral section join me on stage. It just depends on what’s possible given the event. For New Year’s, I think I’m gonna keep it a classic party high energy DJ set.

What a Year-End Festival Like Neon Means to KSHMR

Neon Countdown has become a key year-end festival in Thailand, closing out the calendar for both artists and fans. When returning to Bangkok for Neon 2025, what does playing a year-end event like this mean for you, and how does that context influence the way you approach your set?

To me, playing a year-end event like this is important because I get to reflect on the music that I’ve made over the year and present it to the crowd in the best way possible, giving them not only the new songs but a range of the classics from my past as well. I want to give these fans an experience they’ll never forget.

Looking ahead to 31 December 2025, KSHMR will return to Neon Countdown as the event celebrates its 10 year anniversary under the Neon X banner, taking place at Rajamangala Stadium. Having performed at Neon in both 2017 and 2018, this upcoming appearance adds another chapter to a relationship that has developed alongside the festival itself, offering a clear reference point for how his live performances have changed over time.

As fans prepare for New Year’s Eve, the question is how this evolution will be reflected on the Neon X stage. Will the set focus purely on a high-energy festival format, or will elements of the narrative approach that has appeared in parts of KSHMR’s recent live shows find their way into the night. With Neon marking a decade at the center of Thailand’s year-end calendar, his return on 31 December leaves one question open going into the countdown: what direction will KSHMR take for this anniversary moment?

Get your tickets now and see you on 30–31 December 2025 at Rajamangala Stadium as Neon Countdown celebrates its 10 year anniversary with Neon X!