Manila's HOEST Quit Software Engineering for the Decks, and Hong Kong's Hotpot Records Signed Him

Raphael Mukhi quit a software engineering job to DJ Manila's clubs under the name HOEST. A Hong Kong and China-based label called Hotpot Records signed him for regional touring across Asia, Manila nightlife outlet Midnight Rebels reported in August.

HOEST didn't start behind the decks. He started as a host, promoter and events ambassador in Manila's nightlife industry before moving behind the decks in 2018. At the time Mukhi had a day job as a software engineer. He started taking gigs on the side, then quit the job outright in late 2019 to chase music full time.

HOEST released "Talk About It," a collaboration with Lesha and vydd on After The Noon Records. The New Hue PH called it a techno-house track that lodges "a tale of desire."

He hoped it could "bridge underground dance music to the mainstream audience, especially here in the Philippines."

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Hong Kong Comes Calling

The Hotpot Records deal, reported by Manila nightlife outlet Midnight Rebels in August, is a bigger structural shift than a single release. Hotpot operates as both a label and a management agency, with what Midnight Rebels describes as "deep infrastructure rooted across mainland China." For an artist who built his name on Philippine club circuits and out-of-town gigs he booked himself, that's the difference between chasing dates one group chat at a time and having an agency route them. The partnership is pointed at structured regional touring across Asia and, Midnight Rebels reported, debuts in China and Europe, though neither side has put dates on a calendar yet.

Manila's house and techno scene is small enough that everyone in it can name who helped them up. Signing with a label that puts his name in front of mainland China doesn't change that.

Cover photo via Midnight Rebels.