Emel Rowe, co-founder of the Manila party series UNKNWN, was fresh from Europe when he spun for the Rolling Stone Philippines’ LIVE! afterparty: a star-studded affair filled with rockstars, celebrities, and partygoers celebrating the magazine’s maiden issue. The night kicked off with DJ and multidisciplinary artist t33g33 setting the tone with her electrifying mix of dance music classics, while Rowe shifted the energy as the after hours came alive in Bank Bar — an unlikely but perfect setting for the celebration, hidden behind a CLiQ kiosk inside a 7-Eleven.
Known for his eclectic selections and expert ability to read the room, Rowe has earned a reputation as one of the city’s most sought-after DJs. He has performed in some of Southeast Asia’s prominent clubs and music festivals, such as Equation Festival in Mai Châu, Vietnam, Savage Hanoi, and Berghain Ostgut’s Panorama Bar. Since 2023, Rowe has been a resident DJ of Wonderfruit Festival’s Forbidden Fruit stage, which takes place in Pattaya, Thailand, every December.
In Bank Bar, Rowe carried his afterparty set with no preconceived notions, allowing the night unfold organically. “With events and a lot of things, I’ve found it better to go into it with no expectations,” he shared. “It leaves a lot of space for a good time.”
And a good time it was. Rowe’s set took the crowd on a journey through deeper cuts of house and techno, shifting the vibe into warm yet percussion-heavy selections, gradually traversing towards an ethereal territory in between tracks. It was a testament of Rowe’s skill and versatility, making him a top billing choice in the clubs of Europe, or in Manila’s maximalist nightlife.
