Phuket’s music scene has undergone a remarkable transformation in just a few short years. The island that once relied on DJs and local bands now hosts Tiësto, stages full-length performances of Swan Lake, and sees audiences roaring Rammstein’s “Du Hast” in unison with Till Lindemann.

And somewhere along the way, the line between audience and performer began to blur: these days, people aren’t just singing along – they’re stepping onto the stage. 

The team behind Lotus Arena, Phuket’s standout concert venue in Bang Tao, has not only reshaped how international stars perform here but also redefined what karaoke can be. Their newest creation, Opera, is a club where anyone can step into the spotlight – not simply to sing, but to perform. On a real stage, with real musicians, supported by professional acoustics.

Opera is, in every sense, far beyond traditional karaoke. But then again, so are Tiësto or Lindemann shows – a far cry from “Hotel California” echoing from desktop speakers.

The flawless flow

Opera’s origins trace back to a karaoke room inside Shaman Lounge, where the team first experimented with bringing concert-level sound into an intimate space. Achieving that level of acoustic precision in Phuket was no easy feat – and required technical solutions few venues attempt even today.

“Our sound is professional– and we don’t use that word lightly. We worked with experienced audio engineers who calculated sound-reflection angles, installed a mix of reflective and absorbing panels, and designed the room to avoid the usual ‘echo chamber’ effect. Unlike most karaoke venues, our sound doesn’t float around aimlessly – it’s delivered through a line-array system straight from the stage, exactly where the musicians are,” say the founders of Opera Karaoke.

The engineers also took on one of the biggest flaws in club acoustics: deafening volume near speakers and dead zones in the corners.

“Our system fills the room evenly,” they explain. “Whether you’re standing next to a speaker or across the space, the sound pressure is the same. That’s a little bit of magic from our audio team.”

Make some noise

And when the team says “musicians on stage,” they truly mean it. Opera includes the usual library of backing tracks, but as an offshoot of Phuket’s top live concert arena, it couldn’t possibly stop there.

Guests perform alongside the Shaman Band – a professional live act that recently opened the preview event for the MIR music festival in November.

“We have our own house band with a distinctive style. They play regularly at Shaman Lounge, and at Opera they back our karaoke guests live on stage – helping them feel like genuine stars. Singing with real musicians, especially musicians of this calibre, is a completely different experience. Strong female vocalists, polished delivery – everything,” the founders say.

One of the biggest advantages of performing with a live band? You’re never alone on stage. The Shaman Band supports you, follows your rhythm, and adapts to your voice in real time. That flexibility transforms the moment: it’s no longer karaoke – it’s a performance.

The golden decades reimagined

Shaman Lounge has long been known as one of Phuket’s premium nightlife destinations, but with Opera the team wanted to introduce a more relaxed, let-your-hair-down kind of sophistication.

“We imagine Opera as a warm, welcoming cabaret – in the best possible sense. Our inspiration isn’t modern karaoke bars but the golden era of European nightlife: the 1920s and ’30s. The age of jazz and swing, of the Moulin Rouge, of people dancing and singing through the night. For years we’ve been building this community, and what we cherish most is the atmosphere – a place where people greet each other, smile, and sing together. And yes, the interior truly is beautiful. Guests are already asking to use it for photoshoots,” they say.

And indeed, the community keeps growing. Shaman Lounge offers fine dining and intimate afterparties. Lotus Arena brings international and Thai stars to the big stage. And Opera Karaoke? It’s where you become the headliner.