Growing Up With Grace: Shye Shares Her Process Of Manoeuvring Through Maturity

Even with all eyes on her meteoric rise, Shye isn’t fazed by the fame (Credit: Christopher Sim)

What happens when the luminosity of the limelight overlaps with a reticent personality? When you first glance at an artiste like Shye, a sky-rocketing singer-songwriter on the golden path to industry fame, you’d peg her as a musician with pristine clarity in her artistic vision – and you wouldn’t be mistaken.

If her Augus7ine EP was anything to go by upon its release in 2018, it offered a persuasive introduction of modish bedroom-pop bewitchery; a confidence in sound with quirks lodged in the right places. Her voice intimately crafts the core of each song, whether she’s reaching out to you in tingly murmurs, crooning atop a low-pitched vocal layer or expressing playfulness with loose falsettos. Interlaced with these are production elements that are more than just supporting characters, from minimal electronic beatwork to mischievously saccharine synth hooks. Augus7ine was indeed a focused and praiseworthy record, and a sweet victory for someone who pulled it off when she was just 16.

In her young career, Shye has already performed at international stages like Urbanscapes in Malaysia (Credit: Muhammad Shafeeq)

It’s often when this revelation hits when words like “wunderkind” and “prodigy” start to enter the equation, and deservedly so. But right now, Shye would rather you zero in on her present self, a more mature Shye who’s willing to bust out of her shell.

Her new debut full-length, days to morning glory, is a self-forged companion that tags along with her exponential growth, one that opposes her naturally reserved temperament. As her mouthpiece and shield, the LP lets her be frank about societal expectations, childhood nostalgia, falsehoods and forgiveness, without barring her from her habitual exploration of genres and techniques. With more eyes fixed on the rise of her career, Shye is now readier to face the world.

With the album ready to go on 11 December, Shye shares more about its conceptualisation, its relationship with her growth, and how she’s remained composed in spite of the influx of fame she’s receiving at this pivotal stage in her life. Just like her music, Shye keeps it cool in this interview.

At just 18, Shye has room for more stories to tell through her music (Credit: Christopher Sim)

Your efforts over the years have finally culminated in your much-anticipated debut album. How does it feel to get it off your chest?

I'm super excited, but anxious at the same time!

**Do you reckon the album marks a more mature approach from your Augus7ine EP?**

Definitely! I put out Augus7ine when I was 16. So for one thing, I’m two years older now and I'm no longer singing about crushes... LOL. This album, days to morning glory, is more reflective and deals with more 'mature’ matters so hopefully it will show my growth both as a musician and an individual.

One of Shye’s big breaks came from her win at the Vans Musicians Wanted showcase in 2018 (Credit: Jensen Ching)

The new tracks span a spectrum of genres from folk to techno. How do you anchor these varying influences together with a core that’s distinctively Shye?

Actually, I don’t have a solid philosophy as such with my music. I feel like I don’t have to follow the rules. I love the freedom of being able to put the sounds that I like together and just work with them and hope something decent comes out of it haha. I would define my sound as a bit of everything that I’m heavily influenced by. I’m okay with the fact that it doesn’t fit the idea of an industry norm of how music should be done. There's a beauty in the fluidity between genres that I wish to continue to embrace through my music.

Shye has opened for visiting acts like Superorganism and Clairo (Credit: Christopher Sim)

Lyrically, the tracks cover topics ranging from childhood nostalgia to awkward social encounters with friends in public. Are you generally a sharer in person? Or does that only come out more naturally in your music?

I’m a pretty private person and generally not a sharer. But when it comes to making music, it's allowed me to address those feelings and thoughts which I wouldn’t normally vocalise. I feel that childhood nostalgia and awkward social encounters are issues that people have experienced at one point or another.

The album’s lead single, “i’m fine, no”, addresses the pressure from fitting into a certain societal expectation at the expense of personal relationships. Can you share more about it?

It’s really a realistic acceptance on the issue of peer pressure that I think most people can relate to. It can really wear someone down if they're always trying to fit into society’s idea of what’s cool. I suppose it’s also to embrace the times when you feel off and to be mindful, because people might not be feeling as fine as they say or look.

“Each dawn is a chance to do better for ourselves.” (Credit: Christopher Sim)

Is there a primary message you’d like listeners to take away from this album?

I suppose it’s to remember that life is not going to be a bed of roses. But like the flower, the morning glory – which faithfully unravels every morning in the sunlight, only to fade away before the day is over – we need to show up for ourselves no matter the situation we find ourselves in. Each dawn is a chance to do better for ourselves. To stay hopeful.

“I started writing a little towards the end of 2017 as a way to pass time and to learn something new.” (Credit: Muhammad Shafeeq)

Do you have any quirks when you sink into your songwriting cave, such as habits to lock onto ideas or routines to get into a particular headspace?

Not really. It’s all pretty random and I just listen to myself and go with the flow. I do feel more comfortable writing the instrumentals before the lyrics though, it gives me a lot more space to experiment. I always prefer to let the instrumental lead me because there’re so many different approaches to music, and then from there, I focus on the lyrics.

When did you start making songs in your bedroom? And how did you learn to get so good at production?

I started writing a little towards the end of 2017 as a way to pass time and to learn something new. I started off doing covers then writing a few short songs on a keyboard we had lying around. I don't have any music background in theory or anything (still don't) so I'd just use Google to find chords. Then from there, I decided to come up with something on Garageband. I honestly didn't know what I was doing half the time, but I knew it was something I really enjoyed. After putting out my debut EP, Augus7ine, I shifted to working on Logic Pro and have been using that ever since. Experimenting with the software and just working on songs helped me learn more and practise. YouTube tutorials also helped. The biggest compliment I could ever receive is that my production is good, so thank you so much!! I'm not a professional. I'm still learning, but this is definitely reassuring.

“I’m not outgoing by nature, but I do enjoy performing my songs and interacting with my supporters.” (Credit: Baybeats)

With your dance and theatre background, would you say you’re in your element when you are on stage?

Honestly, I have not danced for a good few years, nor have I done much in theatre. Maybe they do help, but I wouldn’t say that I’m in my element when I’m on stage because of my background. I’m not outgoing by nature, but I do enjoy performing my songs and interacting with my supporters. Their responsiveness does make a difference. I think it really helps just being myself and having fun.

At your age, how are you dealing with this intense deluge of fame? And how do you juggle it with other aspects and interests in your life?

I think I’m pretty down to earth and being clear about my priorities helps. I’m also thankful that my family and friends don’t treat me differently so that really helps in keeping things real. It does get a bit overwhelming at times, not with the “intense deluge of fame”, but with juggling school and being a one-man show. But I’ve learnt to just take it in my stride and to just try to enjoy the process and learn as much as I can.

“It can be quite challenging juggling school and doing everything by myself. But I’m doing something I love, so it’s worth it.” (Credit: Christopher Sim)

Do you feel like you've become more connected with the local music scene through the years? How do you feel about the climate here?

I kinda feel like I’m connected, but also disconnected with the local music scene. I honestly wouldn't regard myself as being in the scene. I just make music and enjoy doing that. The local music scene here is really diverse and musicians take the craft seriously. Hopefully, the climate here will switch up even more so that Singaporeans will take local music seriously as well.

And to wrap up, can you tell us more about yourself when you’re not busy being the prodigious musician that you are?

When I’m not busy with music, I’m trying to stay on top of school! It can be quite challenging juggling school and doing everything by myself. But I’m doing something I love, so it’s worth it. I de-stress by fangirling over Taehyung from BTS and learning ITZY choreography! :p

You can can now listen to Shye’s debut album, days to morning glory on her Spotify page. Visit her Instagram channel to stay updated with her activities.