Creative Capital: The Singaporean hip-hop and dancehall artist who has headlined festivals all over the world
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Artistic Capital: The Singaporean hip-hop and dancehall creative person who has headlined festivals all over the world
MAS1A has returned home to claim her identify at the superlative of Singapore'south music scene.
Singapore-born MAS1A has toured and performed in over 20 countries, headlining festivals such every bit Called-for Man, Laneway, Ultra Music Japan, and nearly recently at Sing Jazz. (Photo: @AmyBoyy for Noa Studios)
04 Nov 2022 06:48AM (Updated: 04 Jul 2022 09:31PM)
Chances are, you watched box office smash hit Fast and Furious 8 when it hit the cinemas dorsum in April 2017. But did yous know that the vocal sampled in the flick'due south championship track Speakerbox – which was also used in the global trailer – was by a Singaporean artist?
The proper noun of the song sampled is Warriors Tongue and the artist is MAS1A.
Built-in in Singapore and raised in Canada, MAS1A – previously known equally Masia Ane – earned her stripes in the rap and hip-hop scene in the Us and was inspired past the sounds of Jamaica. Most of her career was established overseas, during which she worked with such luminaries as Pharrell, Dr Dre, The Game, RZA of Wu Tang Clan fame, and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers' John Frusciante.
She's back on home ground now, breathing life into her art and injecting some new coolness to our Panthera leo City's music and creative scene.
Architect, creative person, entrepreneur, arts educator, festival producer, sauce-maker – MAS1A bills herself as all that, and more. She is both a calm, nerveless intellectual, likewise as a rebel wild-child, eager to shake things upwardly.
Here, in a new CNA Lifestyle series where we speak with creatives making their mark in Singapore, MAS1A chats about her creative processes, being business organization savvy, and her special jerk chicken sauce.
WHAT ARE You lot WORKING ON RIGHT At present?
I'm finishing my new album Far East Empress, which is my first album since returning to the place of my birth, Singapore! I've collaborated with Southeast Asian artists to bring a unique sound to a hip-hop and dancehall influenced album. The media has labelled me the hip-hop queen of Singapore, but I feel Empress (the album) is more than unique to my heritage and character. We released the first single and video off the anthology at Straits Clan last month called Time Wastin' (which was shot in local nightspot Sum Yi Tai), and information technology's creating quite a buzz.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT INSPIRE You lot AND HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS LATEST Album?
Trip the light fantastic toe inspires me because it always fascinates me how an individual can challenge himself or herself toward their personal best past expressing with their bodies. Dancing is fun and a stress reliever that teaches the states not to have ourselves also seriously! I used to insist that whatever producer, DJ or collaborator that I worked with had to dance to our vocal. If our creation doesn't make your trunk respond, so it's non the right song. In Singapore, I attend dancehall instructional classes at O Schoolhouse, EV Dance Studio or Beat Factory Dance.
Before life as a performer, I was a painter. I was shy, hated photographs or being in the public center. Now, whenever I demand to think my thoughts, I will find [a tranquillity spot] and only pigment. It is an imagination palette cleanser and information technology reminds me of where my journey started.
WHO IN SINGAPORE INSPIRES You?
Singaporean designer Lisa von Tang. She creates gorgeous statement jackets and dresses that I have simply dreamed of – and she made it a reality. I remember watching her pre-style show madness. Everyone was request her questions and she handled them decisively and efficiently. Information technology'south not enough to be visionary – yous need decisiveness to testify you really know what you desire. She'south iconic to me. If I need to brand a conclusion I'll say "What would LVT practice?" followed past "Ok, so now what would the Far Due east Empress do?"
READ: Creative Capital: The Singaporean entrepreneur who tells stories through clever numberless
As A Artistic, HOW MUCH Concern SAVVY Do YOU NEED TO Have? Practice Y'all CONSIDER YOURSELF BOTH AN ENTREPRENEUR AND AN Creative person OR JUST THE LATTER?
I consider myself an artist-entrepreneur but always leading with the creative person championship. The joy of beingness an creative person is creating something from nothing – telephone call it imagination, problem solving or just playfulness. The entrepreneurial side I would frame in the context of making this creation relevant, scalable and sustainable. It's well-nigh seeing things come to fruition across your own artistic madness.
Business organization savvy is important to whatsoever artistic arts and crafts even if you accept a huge team. Understanding your business allows you lot non to go ripped off, and to hire the correct people for your team. With applied science making and so many things hands-on these days, having business savvy becomes more than and more than relevant. I expect at business savvy as some other form of artistic expression.
DID You lot EVER HAVE One OF THOSE "WHAT IN THE WORLD AM I DOING?" MOMENTS?
Yes. I moved hither from Jamaica where I used to tend to my mango copse, [go for swims] in the ocean, melt wiggle chicken with old Jamaican aunties, write songs every day, sing with my friends (even the ones that couldn't sing) then fly to New York once a month to share the music and lyrics I've written with the label. There has been a civilization shock of my own civilization, just I'm learning and enjoying the process.
HOW IS Beingness A CREATIVE IN SINGAPORE Unlike THAN IN OTHER COUNTRIES?
I hear "No Lah Masia, cannot!" a lot more often than in North America, particularly for anything that has never been done before.
I think collaboration is more hard in Singapore, due to the competitive nature of the culture. In that location is a prevailing suspicion for "stealing ideas and contacts" as opposed to collaborating on concepts and networks. That said, I practice notice this is changing with the younger generation as they reach out beyond our borders.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE TOUGHEST CREATIVE Challenge Y'all'VE FACED Then FAR?
Costs. Ideas are like an endless well – at that place's always more than where that came from. Unfortunately, funding is non always every bit immediately replenishable. Singaporeans are as well accustomed to a high level of quality and comfort – so the expectation for the venue, free gifts or hospitably elements are high. It's the chicken and egg conundrum: Y'all want to attract the funding but beginning you demand to create the scenario that will crave that funding.
TELL ME Nigh YOUR Jerk Chicken SAUCE? AND IS THAT THE FUTURE FOR YOU?
I really missed Caribbean area cooking after moving to Singapore, and noticed how much Southeast Asians love spicy food. "Jerk" is a Jamaican way of marinating nutrient – information technology is smoky and very spicy because of the chilli they utilize called "scotch bonnet". You can't get those flavours here, so I embarked on growing the spices in Singapore and Malaysia. For the by 2 years, I tested the marinade recipe at my Singapura Dub Club Wiggle Chicken pop-up events and people loved it, coming dorsum for seconds and thirds. Information technology volition finally be set up for sale at the end of this yr, just in fourth dimension for Christmas.
READ:Artistic Upper-case letter: The Singapore artist who paints on Hermes Birkin bags
TELL Us SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR Artistic PROCESS WE WOULD NEVER EXPECT.
I have my creations to the person that would exist the most unlikely audition for it. Information technology's and so as to sympathize the flaws. For example, if I write a rap song, I'll brand my mom – who does not listen to hip-hop – cheque it out to see what dislocated her or if she plant annihilation offensive. If I make a wiggle craven marinade, I'll go to the kopitiam uncle who wants his S$three kolo mee and detect out his response.
This doesn't hateful I will censor myself or drastically change anything. I just want to understand perspectives that are not my own, so that I don't become as well self-obsessed equally an creative person. Artists create to limited and share a message, but there is less purpose when your bulletin is not understood.
WHAT'S THE DREAM?
It's a big one. Commencement, I want to successfully earn the respect and recognition as an creative person, MC and songwriter that broke stereotypes and pioneered sounds earlier there were Asian faces in hip-hop and dancehall music. Equally any good Singaporean would – I want to be remembered every bit one of the best to ever exercise it. Secondly, I want to open a jerk shack in Singapore and franchise it throughout Southeast Asia. Thirdly, I want to create a hip-hop and reggae-inspired kids show, through which I tin can share positivity, creativity and possibilities.
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