Shawn Tulsi

Shawn Tulsi

Singapore Roots. Scene Shaping Visionory. Maverick Energy. Entrepreneurial Drive.

Long before the superclubs, the global brands, and the international stages, Shawn Tulsi was a Singaporean kid chasing rhythm and rebellion in equal measure. In the early 80s were spent riding a skateboard across Singapore, discovering the pulse of the city long before he ever stepped into a club.. That world pulled him into breakdancing battles and graffiti art, where music wasn’t just background noise, it was the bloodstream of the culture.

But the true ignition point arrived in the early 1991, when Singapore’s nightlife was still finding its identity and a new temple of sound appeared on Jiak Kim Street. The first night Shawn stepped into Zouk, everything shifted. The djs there, Jonathan Yeo, Cher, Jeremy Boon they weren’t just playing tracks, they were revealing an entirely new sonic universe. Early electronic house, new wave, underground imports… it was the kind of music you felt long before you understood it. Shawn didn’t just enjoy it, he found where he truly belonged.

He became part of the first wave that shaped Singapore’s early electronic soundscape: the vinyl hunters, the crate diggers, the kids who traded rare imports like secrets. There was no internet, no Shazam, just intuition, hunger and the thrill of discovery. Friendships forged on the Zouk dance floor later became the backbone of Singapore’s producer and DJ community.

In 1992, fate nudged him fully into DJing. A friend named Henky who was preparing to leave for the UK, sold Shawn his Technics decks and crates of UK and American house vinyl. That single moment pushed Shawn behind the decks and marked the beginning of a career that would echo across Asia.

The Rise of a Sound Architect

By the mid-90s and well into the 2010s, Shawn wasn’t just another name in the DJ booth, he was one of the sound architects of Singapore’s golden clubbing era. His sets carried soul, texture and a signature depth that made nights feel expansive, emotional, and unforgettable. He played in the city’s most influential venues, carved out musical identities for rooms big and small, and worked alongside promoters who trusted him to set the tone for their biggest nights.

And as his reputation grew, so did his reach. Shawn’s journey stretched across borders, from the top clubs of Singapore to South Africa, Mozambique, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Dubai. Every destination added a new layer to his sound, a new sense of atmosphere, a new understanding of how to build a night that people remember.

Superclubs, Global Stages & International Icons

Shawn’s career led him through an impressive constellation of dance floors of Café Del Mar, Ministry of Sound, Hed Kandi, Neo Pharaohs, Venom, Studebakers, Supperclub, and further afield at 330 Festival South Africa, Franco de Mozambique, Q Bar Bangkok, Dragon-i Hong Kong, and Rouge Dubai.

He was also a consultant and musical curator for major festivals such as ZoukOut, 3D, and regional electronic events across Asia—shaping atmospheres, building artist lineups, and setting sonic direction for large-scale audiences.

Along the way, he shared booths and stages with some of the most influential names in dance music: Bob Sinclar, Louie Vega, Defected In The House, Pete Tong, Josh Wink, Bert Bevans (Studio 54), Pizzicato 5, Paul Oakenfold, Leomeo, and more.

The Go-To DJ for High-Profile Experiences

Today, Shawn runs a thriving event and MICE agency in Thailand, while still remaining one of the region’s most sought-after DJs for luxury events and high-profile private occasions though highly selective about the gigs he chooses. His versatility is unmatched, whether he’s igniting dance floors with story-driven sets, crafting refined soundtracks for fashion runways, or weaving his signature chill-out, world-music, and deep-house narratives honed during his Café Del Mar years.

Global brands have consistently turned to him for musical direction and live performances:
MTV, Vivendi Universal, CHANEL, Saatchi & Saatchi, Armani, Gucci, Prada, Absolut, Breitling—a testament to his instinct, taste, and professionalism.

A true maverick with an entrepreneurial edge, Shawn approaches every set as a living narrative, crafted from experience, shaped by instinct, and delivered with the kind of confidence that only decades in the scene can produce.

Shawn DJ Sets

History of House Music Produced by Shawn Tulsi

 

Article written by Dylan D
Phuket Private Party.