Being Free: Fauxe Finds Growth With The Raw Spontaneity Of His ALTRUISM Trilogy

The seeds of growth are firmly embedded within Fauxe’s storied career (Credit: Courtesy of Fauxe)

There exists an air of mystery when it comes to the discipline of electronic music. What secrets lie beneath that sawtooth wave? What does the web of wires on a modular synthesiser trigger? What exactly is a producer doing behind that laptop screen? Deciphering the enigmatic processes of an electronic mastermind is something that’s often left to the imagination, and when it comes to the peculiar, ever-in-flux pursuits of Fauxe, there’s always an overflowing sense of intrigue.

Few producers are as versatile as Fauxe, whose works can’t be placed in any one genre (Credit: Basil Tan)

A freeform producer and genre juggler, Fauxe puts out fluctuating works that blur the boundary between the organic and synthetic, with live components mingling with in-the-box instrumentals. Fauxe emerged in the early-2010s to a milieu that instantly recognised his unparalleled talent, in spite of his attempts to remain unrecognisable with a mask that formed his visual identity. His early string of EPs revealed his experimental ventures into the territories of boom bap, jazz, chill-hop, trip-hop and hip-hop; with a habitual inclination towards crisp, glitchy arrangements and wild utilisation of samples. With a rock-solid portfolio and distinctive approach, he would go on to collaborate with the likes of Mediocre Haircut Crew, Sam Rui, FFION, G-Preme, BGourd, and Shye over the years, reinforcing his status as a producer who wasn’t just desirable, but incomparable.

Back when Fauxe used to don a mask in his performances (Credit: Moonbeats Asia)

Another quality that makes Fauxe stand out is his fondness for behemoth-sized visions, displayed in his numerous endeavours throughout his career. From his Singapore Beat Tape series that remixed local songs of the ‘60s, to his 2018 Ikhlas album that reimagined Malaysian heritage music, and the ambitious HYBRDTHRY collective he founded in 2015 that united rappers and beatmakers in the scene, Fauxe has always been one conceptual dreamer with ideas that reach for the moon. His gutsiest move yet, the ALTRUISM trilogy – with its debut album released in 2019 – is an undertaking that shows a more raw side of his creativity. Centred around the idea of improvisation and harmony, the ALTRUISM project motivated Fauxe to form a community band to fully realise its potential, with an output of near-orchestral proportions.

Fauxe released the second entry of ALTRUISM, titled NEW LIFE!, at the end of 2020, wrapping up a chaotic year with a pensive, beguiling, almost-intrusive invitation into the way he works. Full of unplanned ‘magic moments’ and minimal takes during recording – Fauxe also took a back seat in parts of the engineering process – the 17-track frontier introduces a Fauxe (and co.) who’s vulnerable but free, expressing primal ideas in his element with no wrong way of doing things. Unchained jazz jams, fuzzy piano solos, casual monologues and communal sing-a-longs are just a handful of the numerous elements that make up this unpredictable medley, offering an enthralling glimpse into the mind of the inventive producer. In NEW LIFE!, without any production barriers or limbo to restrain him, Fauxe simply sounds like he’s having fun.

If you’ve always wanted to know who Fauxe truly is, his ALTRUISM trilogy might just be the introduction you need. Sharing more about this chapter of his story in this interview, Fauxe opens up about putting the new album together and the changes he’s embraced along the way. This is a Fauxe who's ready to keep on growing, and where that leads is something the scene should brace itself for.

“NEW LIFE! Is fun when you treat the 30-minute experience as a short musical.” (Credit: Basil Tan)

So let’s jump straight into the new album. Titled NEW LIFE!, what does this embody and represent for the ambitious ALTRUISM trilogy?

 

NEW LIFE! is a symbol of non-compromised music. It’s a step towards breaking down the layers that bind us all as people from this land, and it’s part of the thematic approach that I set myself up for during this three-part series called ALTRUISM. In part two, I exploited my options as much as I could to explore and implore my love of harmony. You can, too, say it’s anyhow-music, atonal music, etc. It doesn't matter. It’s like a newborn baby. You gotta take it as it is. Also, NEW LIFE! Is fun when you treat the 30-minute experience as a short musical. Just imagine that everything that was composed for it was as Singaporean as the experience of making it for you to listen.

Do you have any standout anecdotes or key tracks from constructing this experimental album?

I, unfortunately, do not. As written in the lil’ bio on Sun Eye's Bandcamp, if you didn't get it midway, trust me, neither did I.

“I realised that with my own growth as an artiste, it also meant that I was growing as a person, which led me to believing in new ways of doing and accepting things.” (Credit: Basil Tan)

Was there a different way in your songwriting approach this time around, as compared to the first ALTRUISM chapter?

 

I'd say what's clear is that there were little to no sampling involved in this. So that should be one fact you would immediately realise, especially after the first 15 minutes.

I love how many moments on the album (especially in the album’s first half) capture an intimate rawness and freeing sense of improvisation. Were the songs indeed recorded with minimal takes and without planning?

 

Absolutely. I hired an engineer to engineer the vocal takes I added on later in the year; actually, it was more like in December. I realised that with my own growth as an artiste, it also meant that I was growing as a person, which led me to believing in new ways of doing and accepting things. It might be cool to see rappers or famous musicians in the studio orchestrating with the engineer and producer bla bla bla, but honestly it all boils down to how you utilise a moment and make it your own. Having an engineer there meant that I had one less thing to worry about and more space to actually think.

Fauxe performing with ALTRUISM for the Ikhlas launch gig at White Label Records (Credit: White Label Records FB page)

In contrast, some tracks have a meatier anatomy with more structure like “EMPATHY” and “NEW LIFE!”. Do you write all the arrangements for the full band? Or is this still a very spontaneous process?

 

Those two are the only songs I wrote that featured members from ALTRUISM. I've been writing arrangements for them for about two years now, and I'd say that the spontaneous elements come when we are recording, if anything. When I write now, I’ll like to implore as much as I can before we start recording, which I can then explore further.

You know I can’t not ask about the rearranged “Home” cover. What’s the deal with that? Do you consider yourself a patriot?

 

I think your question itself is the greatest way to explain it. The truth is, we are currently divided by many perspectives and backgrounds; by many things, I believe. But like all problems, everyone should have a thing that we can all agree on and never need to question. In fact, it should be celebrated. Thus, my cover of “Home” is that. It’s the fact that you could really try and figure out new ways to express old songs. And like I've mentioned, I'm not in the process of revealing what's on the surface. I'm here to just explore the various layers that define us. So in a simple way, my real honest reply would be why not/so what/or any other phrase that could explain that whole vibe.

As a community band, the ALTRUISM collective believes in spontaneity and vibing off one another (Credit: White Label Records FB page)

From introspective year-end monologues to grand orchestral interludes, the album is just full of surprises. How do you always stay inspired to challenge and shatter the status quo?

 

By not letting my mind be artistically part of the status quo. Realistically, you can pan out the success, emotional stress and financial gains of every musician you come across from as far as the ’60s. You can learn from everyone that has done their part and watch how that also crumbled some people till they became numb. My own mentors that I follow in the world are old and almost depressed-like doing what they are doing. So what’s one thing I've learned? Be one of a few and always have time to play my PS4, cycle, and spend time with my wife and friends. I'm learning to do that. My friends are the best.

As a whole, this album is a melange of moods, styles, and bold, oft-unexplainable exploration. What would you like listeners to take away from this album?

To remember to listen to this in full, and then perhaps never again. And then, if you do return, you are one of a few as well.

“My next step is to not actually be impacting Singaporeans who make music, but to be able to educate Singaporeans as much as I can.” (Credit: Fauxe FB page)

Was this album recorded in your new studio space? It looks like it’s shaped up quite well.   

 

70% of the album was recorded in my old space in Geylang. 30% of it was done in my new space here in Kembangan called School of Altruism.

Are you often busy with other musical projects elsewhere? Music must be a full-time activity for you.

Indeed man. Like, I've learned now as a 30-year-old that my next step is to not actually be impacting Singaporeans who make music, but to be able to educate Singaporeans as much as I can about what music represents and means for us. I can’t wait to focus on that.

“Until we move away from the West in terms of just influence, we will always be a step behind from creating our own national sound.” (Credit: Fauxe FB page)

There are few in the scene who approach music-making as imaginatively as you. Do you feel that there isn’t enough experimentation from local musicians? Is there room for it?

 

There is plenty of room, and I believe there is plenty of room because there aren’t many who explore as imaginatively as I do. And that's great! Because that means I have more people to inspire or influence as much as I can while I'm here, so long as they are open to receive it. And learning from my predecessors, as long as I take care of myself, I can take care of others.

And finally, you’ve certainly come a long way from your masked origins. What are some major takeaways that you’ve learnt on your journey so far?

That until we move away from the West in terms of just influence, we will always be a step behind from creating our own national sound. In any case, that’s been my problem to deal with. And I feel I've been steadily doing my part. Now, it's time for me to teach people how to do that – not just expect that out of them.

(Credit: Roshan Menon)

You can now listen to NEW LIFE!, the second entry of Fauxe’s ALTRUISM trilogy, on Sun Eye Records’ Bandcamp page. You can also listen to his past repertoire on his Spotify page. Follow Fauxe on Facebook and Instagram to stay updated with his activities.