Cover A rising star in the music world, Sarawakian musician Belle Sisoski captivates audiences with her soulful voice and poignant lyrics, blending contemporary electronic music with traditional instrumental sounds (Photos: Fady Younis)
A rising star in the music world, Sarawakian musician Belle Sisoski captivates audiences with her soulful voice and poignant lyrics, blending contemporary electronic music with traditional instrumental sounds (Photos: Fady Younis)
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Malaysian musician Belle Sisoski is known for her innovative tunes that mix electronic dance music with the sounds of traditional instruments from her hometown Sarawak
Musician Belle Sisoski’s room—a familiar backdrop if you’ve seen her on TikTok or Instagram—is a creative space with a fascinating collection of musical instruments. A keyboard takes centre stage, flanked by a violin on one side and traditional Sarawakian instruments on the other: the tapi and sape—both instruments from the lute family—and the keringut nose flute.
Sisoski’s childhood was spent mostly in her hometown of Sarawak, Malaysia and steeped in the rich tapestry of her homeland’s cultural heritage. These early experiences would inspire her to think of ways to blend traditional instrumental tunes with electronic dance music (EDM) to create her unique brand of sounds.
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In 2022, the Gen.T Leader of Tomorrow’s composition Stop Your Games stood out among 20,000 global submissions to clinch second place in the 2023 Commonwealth Song Contest, propelling her to international fame.
She shares more about her journey to preserving the cultural heritage of her hometown in our video series, My First, a collection of 1-minute shorts featuring young leaders talking about the first pivotal moments in their careers. Scroll further down for other key highlights from our conversation with Sisoski.
Watch the My First series on our Instagram, Facebook or YouTube.
Her musical roots
“I grew up in a musical environment and was exposed to different genres of music. My mom is a music teacher, so I was classically trained in the violin and piano when I was young. I found out she had a Masters in ethnomusicology; I was very intrigued by it and studied the thesis that she wrote.
“We collected ethnic instruments from my hometown and I learned to play them. Having a strong classically trained foundation was helpful for me to learn new instruments. Then, I started to incorporate them into my music.”
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Her process of making music
“It depends on my mood that day. Be it energetic, sad or excited, I pour whatever I am feeling into my music. The harmony and chords make a big impact on the song. I start with chords and then develop it into a melody with the beats, and then move on to the genre of beats. This could be genres like techno, house or reverse bass, whatever portrays that element.
“I normally blend Southeast Asian ethnic instruments. Each instrument creates a different tone and sound and adds a lot to the piece I want to create. For example, some instruments make metallic or plucky tones, some are warm and some produce white noise. I choose whichever inspires me.”
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A significant turning point
“I was in high school and was severely bullied. That was a character-building period for me. I started to change my perspective on things and that was when I found music to express myself. Music became my gateway to escape into my own world. It drives me to be passionate, motivated and have the grit to do the best in everything I do.”
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Her daily routine
“My routine typically involves making music, working out or sleeping. I usually go for morning or night runs around the park near my home. Every day, I produce and create music; I am always working on new ideas. I also spend time with friends and family as I get inspiration from them, sometimes through the topics or issues we discuss. I study those emotions and channel them into my music.”
Quotes are edited for clarity and brevity.
Meet more Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow from 2024.
Tatler Gen.T My First series
In Tatler Gen.T’s My First video series, we explore the milestones of the Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow who are positively influencing the region, setting a path for those who will follow in their footsteps.
