Local Artist Shye-Anne Brown on How Music has Helped Her Grow as a Young Woman
“But making music has been my sanctuary, it really allowed me to express myself and helped me to come out of my shell.”
For an artist who began making music in her bedroom on Apple’s free app, GarageBand, 19-year-old Shye-Anne Brown has come a long way. Brown, who goes by the stage name of Shye, has since appeared on Spotify’s dazzling billboard in New York City’s Times Square, and has since released hits like 'Love U', which has over 1.6 million streams on Spotify. But for her, it isn’t about the fame. “Making music has always been my sanctuary,” she says – and she hopes that her music will help her listeners and fans achieve the same comfort that she finds in it.
You’ve often been referred to as a “bedroom-to-billboard artist” or even an "accidental" musician. Why’s that?
I started out with writing songs and playing simple chords (which I learnt from the internet) before transitioning to using music software like GarageBand and Logic to produce more. It was all done in my bedroom, and that’s where I still make my music. It’s accidental because I guess I never intentionally set out to pursue music. I’m not musically trained, nor did I grow up in a musical household: I also didn’t know anything or anyone in the industry! Music was just a way to pass time and learn something new, a hobby – in a way, it still is, but obviously, I take this ‘hobby’ very seriously now.
I think I realised I would love to keep making music when people actually turned up to support me at my first ever showcase at Vans Musicians Wanted. More people started coming to subsequent shows. To see and hear them singing and dancing along to my songs really solidified the fact that I loved what I was doing. That will always be special, and I’m very thankful to be able to share my music with others. Hopefully, my music has brought someone happiness and made things a little better for them.
You’ve released two albums in the past two years, Days to Morning Glory, and Hello TRINITY. How do they differ?
Days to Morning Glory is no doubt a little more emotional and mellow: I like to call it the “emo Shye era”, because I wrote the album during the pandemic and when I was struggling with growing pains. That emotional state transitioned into Hello TRINITY, which I feel is a more confident and uplifting body of work. I wrote it after getting to know myself more and realising my own self-worth. There were definitely still challenges, but I was in a much better place.
How has your music helped you find yourself and celebrate your story?
I’m not very good at expressing myself, and I can still be a bit socially awkward and shy. But making music has been my sanctuary, it really allowed me to express myself and helped me to come out of my shell. It is the therapy that I needed, so I hope, in some way, that it has benefited others as well. Through all the processes of being a “DIY” artist, I’ve learnt so much and have gotten to know myself, both my strengths and weaknesses. Apart from all the amazing opportunities, awards and experiences, I have also gained patience, perseverance, knowledge and self-worth, which to me, are the things that make every moment of my story worth celebrating.
PHOTOGRAPHY Joel Low
PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT Eddie Teo
STYLING Gregory Woo
HAIR & MAKEUP Sha Shamsi using KMS HAIR and CHANEL BEAUTY
