Over the past four years, PULSE has brought together a growing body of articles and reflections engaging with the rich and diverse practices of sound and music-making across Southeast Asia. This special issue, Resonating Across Borders: Building Bridges through Music in Southeast Asia, builds on that foundation by foregrounding initiatives that connect communities, cultures, and knowledge systems across the region.

Focusing on events and activities organised throughout Southeast Asia, this thematic volume highlights efforts to foster intercultural dialogue and to draw renewed attention to musical traditions, philosophies, and practices often marginalised within the accelerated dynamics of globalisation. The contributions consider how festivals, workshops, and community-based initiatives function not only as sites of artistic exchange but also as platforms for cultural negotiation, mutual learning, and the reframing of identity.

For this issue, we invited selected contributors to critically reflect on projects that advance cultural understanding and integration across both national contexts and transnational settings. These studies examine curatorial strategies and participatory frameworks that enable musicians and artists to engage with diverse cultural perspectives, support intergenerational knowledge transmission, and foster sustained dialogue.

This volume also demonstrates how such initiatives contribute to the sustainable development of local cultures, particularly through adaptive pedagogies and community-led practices. Where possible, the articles are accompanied by relevant media materials, including recordings and video documentation, extending the issue beyond a textual format into a dynamic and accessible resource.

Ultimately, this special issue aims to serve not only as a scholarly contribution but also as a source of inspiration for practitioners, educators, and curators working within and beyond Southeast Asia, offering insight into music as a connective, transformative, and socially engaged practice.

In these troubled times, when the very idea of globalisation is under increasing scrutiny, we invite you to reflect on the importance of building bridges with your neighbours, nurturing mutual understanding, and reaffirming the value of cultural exchange in an increasingly fragmented world.

We hope you enjoy this first selection, which will be followed by a second volume next year.

The Pulse Editorial Team