Lea Salonga, actress, singer
Cover Lea Salonga, stage actress

With their broad-ranging talents, these performers increase the visibility of Asian musical styles and showcase the richness of talent in the region

The acclaimed artists on Asia’s Most Influential list transcend barriers with the power of music. Using the universal language of sound and melody, they connect and communicate with people from different backgrounds, delighting audiences on stages around the world. Through various forms, whether folk lullabies or the climax of a theatre performance, these Asian singers, composers and performers relay the range of human experience—sadness, excitement, bliss or longing. And, by showcasing their gifts, they increase the visibility of Asian musical styles and give truth to the richness of talent in the region.

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Kulleh Grasi, singer-songwriter and poet (Malaysia)

Tatler Asia
Kulleh Grasi, singer, songwriter
Above Kulleh Grasi

For the 2022 Venice Biennale, musician Kulleh Grasi formed Kulleh Comrades, the six-piece ensemble of Iban and Bidayuh artists to play at the opening night of the prestigious cultural celebration. The group, which included Kulleh, performed a repertoire of experimental music—a fusion of folk songs, Nusantara ballads and poetry—based on Sarawak tradition. The singer-songwriter, who is of Iban descent, considered the invitation to perform at the global event an honour and an opportunity for the indigenous peoples of Southeast Asia. 

Kulleh has been a long-time champion of indigenous music, having co-founded Nading Rhapsody, the avant-garde Borneo ethnic band that has represented Malaysia in many international music festivals. Apart from music, the artist promotes cultural identity as a poet, with Tell Me, his collection of works on indigenous life that has received praise from critics.

Read Kulleh Grasi’s full profile on Asia’s Most Influential

 

Above “Nimang Silimba” by Nading Rhapsody at Rainforest World Music Festival 2014 (Nading Rhapsody on Youtube)

Jeremy Monteiro, jazz singer, composer and pianist (Singapore)

Tatler Asia
Jeremy Monteiro, jazz singer, composer, pianist
Above Jeremy Monteiro

Singapore’s King of Swing, Jeremy Monteiro, has spent more than 40 years serenading the world with the rhythms of jazz. The pianist, composer and singer has written over 700 pieces, performed in more than 8,000 locations, and owns a record label. To celebrate his 45th anniversary, the maestro performed his acclaimed repertoire, including “From Paris to Segré” and “Brazilian Dreams”, in 45RPM Jeremy’s Jazz Journal at the Esplanade Concert Hall. Adding to his acclaim, his 2021 album, Live at No Black Tie Kuala Lumpur, rocketed to the 17th spot on the US JazzWeek chart.

Monteiro champions the genre with more than his musical performances. In 2021, he opened Simply Jazz by Tinbox in Singapore, which is not just as a dedicated venue for jazz lovers but also as a live stage for local jazz musicians burdened by the pandemic. The artist, who is also the musical director of the lounge, opened a second venue in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in November 2022.

Read Jeremy Monteiro’s full profile on Asia’s Most Influential

 

Above “Unforgettable” by Jeremy Monteiro & Friends (Jeremy Monteiro on Youtube)

Lea Salonga, singer and actor (Philippines)

Tatler Asia
Lea Salonga, actress, singer
Above Lea Salonga

Of performing for a live audience, Lea Salonga said to Tatler: “[I] enjoy being in a room where it feels like all of the heartbeats of everybody in that theatre synchronise and you’re having this common experience with, say 800, 1,000 or maybe even 3,000 people.” In September 2023, the acclaimed artist will make her return to London’s West End in Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends. The singer and actor is no stranger to the world stage, having played Kim in the original run of Miss Saigon in 1989 and being the first Asian to play Eponine in Les Misérables in 1993. For her turn in Miss Saigon, Salonga became the first Asian actress to win a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 1991. 

Since then, Salonga, who is known for her absolute pitch, has conquered the music and entertainment world, starring in theatre productions (The Sound of Music, Flower Drum Song), movies (she is the singing voice of Disney’s Princess Jasmine and Fa Mulan) and streaming series (Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin). Apart from tour dates in the US in 2023, the artist will join the lineup of Broadway Backwards, which benefits Broadway Cares and New York City's LGBT Community Center, in March. 

Read Lea Salonga’s full profile on Asia’s Most Influential

 

Above Lea Salonga Live from The Sydney Opera House World (Lea Salonga Official on Youtube)

Tatler Asia's Most Influential is the definitive list of people shaping our world today. Asia's Most Influential brings together the region's most innovative changemakers, industry titans and thought leaders who are driving positive impact in Asia and beyond. View the full list here.

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