Following Don’t Let Me Drown, Tabitha’s newly released EP, Things I Should Have Said, offers an even more intimate sound and aesthetic of the singer. The three tracks, Warning Sign, Hurricane, and Wyd?—which Tabitha told us is her current go-to—are a reaction to the obstacles that she has overcome in 2019.

“Things I Should Have Said is about the many ups and downs I faced this year. It forced me to really look at how I was reacting to situations around me and reflecting if that was the best way to handle things,” Tabitha shared.

“The EP was me really understanding that I don’t need to dim my light to make others feel comfortable. It was such a raw period for me when we were putting it together, and when it came to the visuals that were going to accompany it, I wanted to make sure that it wouldn’t distract the listener from the message of my music.”

Curious to know more about this rising star? Read on for five facts you might have not known about Tabitha Nauser.

Tabitha’s shot to fame came 10 years ago in 2009, on season three of reality TV singing competition Singapore Idol. At just 17 years old then, the singer finished in third place, while Sezairi Sezali emerged the champion.

Her most memorable moment on the show was belting out Taiwanese singer A Mei’s Mandopop hit, Ting Hai during the Top 11 elimination round.

(Related: Star Of Netflix's Singapore Social Mae Tan Reveals Behind-The-Scenes Details About The Show To Singapore Tatler)

Born to a Swiss father and Singaporean Indian mother, Tabitha shared with us in an interview this year that she grew up watching her mother sing. 

“The first time I knew music was my calling was when I was about 6 years old, watching my mum, who was a Tamil singer, perform on television.” According to The New Paper, her mother was also the fourth runner-up in Miss Singapore World in the late '80s.

Before Tabitha topped the local charts on Spotify and iTunes with hit single Bulletproof, you might have already heard her on radio, after she was crowned local radio station 987FM’s Radio Star in 2013. Helming the role for four years, Tabitha hosted a hip-hop segment Turn Up With Tabitha in the afternoons. She left the station in 2017 and released Bulletproof in the same year.

“I had always wanted to release an EP. There had been plans to release one as far as two years back, but it just never materialised. I think there must’ve been at least three different variations of the EP before I landed on this final version,” Tabitha revealed.

“After two pushbacks to my EP plans this year, I sat down a couple of months ago and decided that Things I Should Have Said needed to come out before the year ended. And by pure stubbornness, I made it happen.”

(Related: #Tatlergram: What Are The Cast Of Netflix’s Singapore Social Up To Now?)

Her collaborator, Adam, wasn’t the only one she said goodbye to this year. Formerly signed to Sony Music Entertainment Singapore, Tabitha has parted ways with her label, choosing to release her EP independently.

“I won’t lie—its very daunting. There are so many things I have to think about now that previously I never knew about because that’s the luxury of labels doing everything for you,” she said.

“I learnt a lot quickly, from deciding who will be doing my distribution and publishing to making sure that everyone is getting the correct splits. It’s hard work for sure, but I appreciate this independent release so much more because all the small wins feel so much bigger in my eyes.”

Read Singapore Tatler's exclusive interviews with the Singapore Social cast: 

Sukki Singapora | Mae Tan | Paul Foster