The showcase for YAØ’s debut album ‘Broke Pop Kids’ had just ended. YAØ opened the evening with an acoustic rendition of ‘I Can’t Sleep’, which has garnered over 1 million streams, along with the highly-anticipated new tracks off his album – ‘Who Say’, ‘New World’, ‘End Of The Day’, and my personal favourite, ‘WUW’. Although it was an intimate event, tension was high as YAØ gave it his all and hyped the crowd up.
I waited in anticipation and anxiety to get called in by his handler (we were called in alphabetical order and ZYRUP… yea) and entered a recording studio. The charismatic singer I witnessed earlier had been replaced with a more reserved, shy guy. YAØ greeted me with a slight awkwardness and the nerves immediately dissipated from my body.
We speak about his debut album ‘Broke Pop Kids’ and his passion for his craft that had become a driving force.
ZYRUP: You just wrapped up the album showcase, how are you feeling?
It was great! I still have nerves and am still shaking a bit but it’s a really nice feeling to be able to let everyone else hear my album. It was really invigorating.
What was your favourite memory from the showcase earlier?
I would say when the host ended the showcase by reading out messages that the audience sent in. It was really touching and meant a lot to me, knowing that people are listening.
That’s really nice, I thought that moment was so sweet as well. Well, I’m sure your closed ones must have gotten a sneak peak of your album prior to today. What was their response like?
Actually most of my close friends have heard the album already because I’m the type to reveal it to everyone. They’ve been supportive and really encouraging, and I love them for it.
Let’s have a chat about your upcoming debut album ‘Broke Pop Kids’. Talk us through conceptualisation for this album.
This album really started two to three years back when I was doing music full time and trying to get it right. It was tough because of the local music scene in Singapore, especially if you don’t have financial support. I found myself in a constant financial struggle but I didn’t want to burden my parents. Out of that, frustration grew in me but at the same time, I was still a passionate musician in love with what I was doing.
All the songs that I’ve put out before this were bright and fun even though I found myself slowly sinking into a dark place. It came to a point where I couldn’t sleep every night which inspired ‘I Can’t Sleep’. That was the first song that properly shifted my mindset to an ‘album-mode’. I am a musician, I’ve got something to say and so I should write an album. I was broke both emotionally and financially, I do Pop music, and I’m a kid because I still have the drive in me to do what I like. Hence, the title ‘Broke Pop Kids’.
Are you still in that dark place now or have you managed to move on?
I think I’m still in that dark place but this album helped me get those feelings out. I’m quite a reserved guy so it takes a lot for me to express myself and this album enabled me to verbalise the emotions I had.
I understand that ‘Broke Pop Kids’ reflects the little kid within us despite our struggle to find our place growing up. How would you describe the ‘little kid’ within you?
This ‘little kid’ is a moment in time when you were still innocent and did not know much about the world around you. It is pure joy and innocence that fades over time while you learn and understand how the world works. I think I’m speaking for many people that we all have this kid in us. This passion that we love but had to give up because apparently, money always comes first. This kid is always there although we tend to brush it off, thinking that it is not as important.
With all this yearning for childhood innocence, have you ever wanted to turn back time to relive your life as a kid again?
Definitely, we all have the good old days that we miss and want to return to. But even if I could do that, I wouldn’t change a thing. I would still do music because that was the talent that I was given.
You’ve talked about how pursuing music in Singapore is especially tough, but at the end of the day, what makes it all worth it?
When you have people coming up to you, telling you that the songs you’ve written have helped them through a tough time. That is one of the most special things that can happen for an artist. The fact that my work can translate an emotion and help someone through their day is amazing. Just putting out music is enough for me so even if nobody listens to it, it feels good because I know that I’ve let this emotion out and it’s a good pay off.
Apart from listening to this album, what other advice do you have for the broke pop kids out there?
Remember to acknowledge your broken self and face your demons. In such a ruthless society, you can’t stay silent. If you want to be heard, be brave and have conviction in what you say.
For people who are only getting to know YAØ for the first time through ‘Broke Pop Kids’, what do you want them to know you as?
Wow, that’s a really good question.
Um, maybe in three words, would that be easier?
I am you.
Lastly, you also have this playlist, ‘Sing Kids’ on Spotify of some of your favourite tunes by local artists.
AMAZING tunes.
For those who are still apprehensive about giving the local scene a chance, what would you like to tell them?
I know to give certain music a chance, it probably has to be really fun and take you off the edge but don’t close off your hearts too soon. The unheard voices are still very much there, they are out there calling out even if you don’t hear them. So give it a shot and maybe, music from Singapore will get heard throughout the world and we can be proud of something as Singaporeans.
Portions of this interview were edited for clarity and brevity.
Listen to YAØ’s debut album, Broke Pop Kids, below:
https://open.spotify.com/album/3XxjTbUp1JvSzP2sRvtBEU?si=kXgT3ZsiS_yz4whd7WL2Og