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when I sing or say something that
someone connects with and feels
comfortable enough sending me a
message telling me so. That’s my
growth and success. And I hate to call
these fans my “followers”. They’re my
online friends.
MDot contains your hit single You &M.
What is that song about?
On the surface it’s a love song, like a
tale of Romeo and Juliet. On a deeper
level it’s about how individuals
can’t exist alone. We always need to
have someone, at least one
person in our lives, because
all our experiences sculpt
our personalities and add
different layers to us. If we
lived alone we would never
be able to develop or grow as
people.
What has been the pinnacle of
your journey?
When I won the Malaysian
Music Industry Award for
Best English Album. I had
only been back for three
years and was a brand new
artiste. I went to the awards
night right after arriving
home from overseas. My
sister told me to prepare a
speech and I laughed. I was
severely jet-lagged, wearing
very high heels, sitting
halfway up the auditorium
and literally falling asleep.
When they announced that
I had won, my mother had
to elbow me. Then came
the very challenging task of
walking all the way down
without falling in front of the
camera.
Has there ever been a moment so low
that you wondered whether it was all
worth it?
I thought I had reached that point
when I got back to Malaysia. Before I
returned I had actually retired from the
music industry. I had done showcases
for big names like Simon Cowell and
all of them said, “Oh you’re great,
but we’re not ready to sign an artiste
that looks Asian”. You can have the
most talent in the world and the best
team, but ultimately you do need
to have luck on your side. Timing is
everything. So if things don’t work
out for you don’t give up. If it’s your
passion take a breather, come back
refreshed and keep at it.
Have you seen progression in Malaysia’s
music industry over the last five years
and is it heading in the right direction?
The Malaysian music scene has
progressed hugely and social media
has played a big part. Previously new
acts didn’t really have a platform to be
heard but now social media gives them
that opportunity. And yes, it’s moving
in the right direction.
I’d like to hear more Malaysian
artistes being played on the radio and
not be referred to as “local acts”. In the
UK you would never hear British bands
being referred to as a “local band”. You
don’t need to put labels on them.
There is still a separation between
an international and local act here. The
minute we stop the branding and level
the playing field is when people will
stop pre-judging the music before even
listening to it. If I were to play you
two acts without telling you which is
international and which is Malaysian I
think many people would be surprised.
The standard of Malaysian music is
pretty much up there.
You’re related to the famous Chinese
kapitan of Kuala Lumpur, Yap Ah Loy.
How so and what was your first reaction
when you found out?
He’s my mother’s great grandfather.
I knew about him as a child and
even did a project on him in primary
school. We often visited my
grandfather’s sisters and I
remember a huge portrait of
him hanging at the entrance
hallway. My grandfather
always had the most amazing
stories to tell about Yap Ah
Loy and I thought it was so
cool to have a direct link with
Kuala Lumpur’s history.
What’s on your personal
playlist and when do you hit
the “repeat” button?
Royals by Lorde, What Now
by Rihanna, Sunset by Kate
Bush, Pagan Poetry by Bjork,
Knight Moves by Chilly
Gonzales, Aurora by Eric
Kupper and my two songs,
Why and Come When I Call.
I hit the “repeat” button for
Happy by Pharrell Williams.
How do you break through a
creative block?
By not allowing myself to get
stressed over it. Fixating on it
only intensifies the stress and
puts unnecessary pressure on
myself. I just keep my mind
and heart open, embrace the
experience and trust that the
inspiration will come.
Imagine that you’re giving the last
concert of your career. Where is it and
what are you performing.
It’s in Madison Square Gardens and
I’m performing Starlight and Hold On
from Eclecticism and You & Me and
Why from MDot.
If you weren’t a singer, you would
probably be a....
Beach bum.