Get Ready With: Shye, Singapore's Rising Dream Pop Sensation
“I feel like the fluidity of the different genres I listen to plays a huge part in the kind of music I make today. I never want to stop developing my taste so I’m open to listening to pretty much anything,” says singer-songwriter and producer, Shye.
The 18-year-old self taught musician started making music out of her own bedroom — everything from writing, recording to mixing — melding her soft, hypnotic vocals across a range of genres, spanning electro-pop, bedroom pop, folk and techno, for a sound that is uniquely her own. But it was only when she entered the Vans Musicians Wanted contest earlier in 2018, where she won and went on to perform at Guangzhou, China, where she really hit the scene.
Since then, she has released her debut full-length album, days to morning glory, at the end of 2020, which has become of NME’s top Asian albums of 2020, and bagged the Album of the Year award at the *SCAPE Youth Music Awards earlier this year. And prior to that, she has been keeping busy with performances at numerous indie festivals, such as Singapore’s Baybeats, Kuala Lumpur’s Urbanscapes, even opening for Clairo when the indie-pop musician performed in Singapore in 2019.
If anything, it’s certain her star is set on a sky-rocketing path. The former theatre practitioner at School of the Arts, Singapore, who is currently studying at Lasalle College of The Arts, teases a fresh new single for the year. “I’ve had to put my music on hold for the past month or so because of my hectic school schedule. Now that it’s a little more settled, I’m getting back into working on new music, experimenting with new styles and improving my production skills. My 1st single of 2021 is coming soon, so please stay tuned!” We most assuredly will.
Ahead, we follow Shye as she goes about her beauty routine, talk everything from beauty, her influences, and what it’s like being a young female musician in Singapore today.
Skincare... "I always start my day with splashing some cold water on my face or even running an ice cube over it. It’s really refreshing and it definitely helps to wake me up!
When getting ready for an event, I usually try to do a mask the night before or on the day of. My skin is pretty sensitive so it’s hard to find products that work for me. My favourite face mask is the Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay (S$25), I mix it with apple cider vinegar and it has helped with my acne scarring and it makes my skin glow."
Makeup... "I’m definitely not a makeup guru and because I still get outbreaks, I try not to cake on too much. I usually go for more simple and light makeup looks, concealer from Time Balm (S$35) and a hint of blush from Sunnies Face (S$20). But I do love a strong wing though so on days when I feel like changing it up, I’d use Chanel’s Inimitable Waterproof Multi Dimensional Mascara (S$55) and Le Liner De Chanel Liquid Eyeliner (S52). With having to be masked up these days, I feel it’s all about the eyes and lashes!"
Beauty muses... "I wouldn’t say I have any specific make up inspiration but I do love Audrey Hepburn and 1950s glam make up with an emphasis on the eyes, but without the eyeshadow. As for hair, I made the best decision by cutting my bangs a few months ago!"
Creative influences... "I love different kinds of genres and am heavily influenced by their many different characteristics. It makes me really happy to be able to experiment and explore so many different sounds. To put my favourite sounds together and to make my music that way, hopefully it will never be categorised into a specific genre."
On being a young female musician today... "As a young female producer, I do feel like I have to prove myself and my craft more. I take my music seriously and this is definitely not just a passing phase. There may be a tendency for people to look at me as just a singer/songwriter, even though I record, produce and mix all my songs myself. However, I really do appreciate how supportive people have been."
"A compilation of old and new songs I adore and NEED."
All images courtesy of Shye.
This article originally appeared in the April 2021 issue of L'Officiel Singapore.
