Way With Words, Soul On Sleeve: A Chat With Shak’thiya Of Shak & The Baits

Shak’thiya (second from left) and his backing band, The Baits (Credit: Neon Lights)

You’re just as likely to spot Shak’thiya Subramaniamm (or Shak) on national television as stumbling upon his acoustic artistry at a low-key open-mic sesh. The prominent singer-songwriter will soon add yet another pat-on-the-back accolade to his gig resume, and that’s the indie-credible stage of Neon Lights, as the magnetic frontman of Shak & The Baits.

Word travels fast in a huddled yet thriving local live scene, and raw talent doesn’t go unnoticed. I first encountered Shak’thiya’s charismatic presence when he opened for bittymacbeth back in 2016, and he was further brought to my attention as one to watch by Tim De Cotta a year later. In 2018, Shak’thiya was promptly thrust into the national spotlight when he joined an ensemble of other homegrown musicians - including Charlie Lim and Vanessa Fernandez - in reinterpreting a National Day anthem. And just like that, Shak’s notability began to sky-rocket.

Yet despite the takeoff, Shak’thiya preserves an unfazed intimacy in his self-penned jams. Brimming with smoky soul and spot-on pop sentiments, his compositions reflect a refreshing maturity beyond his youth. Pegged as everyday stories, his songs materialise from personal experiences and stray observations, spun eloquently with a slick way of words, shaped by his earlier years delving into spoken word. It’s no wonder Shak’thiya has been regarded as a captivating lyricist, with anecdotes that’ve involved sleep-talking and taxi rides in solitude.

Together with his backing band, The Baits, Shak’thiya’s sound shifts into a higher gear, morphing from introspective narratives into full-bodied performances worthy of regional tours and festival bookings. Prior to his upcoming Neon Lights conquest, the storyteller shares how he’s taken to the burgeoning fame, and his adoration of words.

It takes a certain eloquence to mesmerise audiences with just a guitar and words (Credit: Beng Hui)

Hi Shak. You’ve been hyperjumping to fame these past couple of years, what with noteworthy mentorships and National Day campaigns and all. How do you process this growth of yours?

I haven't, actually. Sure I feel super thankful and lucky that these things have happened, but I'm still the same guy going to the same places and hanging out with the same people to my knowledge. You can take the boy out of Jurong, but you can't take the Jurong out of the boy.

How do you mentally switch between playing solo and playing in a full band? Do you feel more at ease perfomring solo or with the band?

Nahh, I'm equally on edge when I do both the solo thing and when I am with the band. It's more forgiving when I make mistakes solo and I'm only letting myself down. But with the band, my mistakes in terms of not performing to my best ’cause I'm letting the nerves get to me or if I forget something kinda eats away at me because it's not just me that looks bad, you know. But ultimately what's done is done, and I just try to ‘Meet The Robinsons’ a bad gig and keep moving forward.

It’s hard finding and connecting with a band that just gets you, and each other. What keeps the chemistry of The Baits tight? And how did y’all find each other?

It's such a long story, but what I will say is that it all happened at and around Blu Jaz Cafe.

I interviewed Tim De Cotta in 2017, and when I asked him who were his top three local musicians at the moment, you were on his list. How do you feel about this recurring praise you get from peers in the scene? And he’s not the only one!

Humbled. I mean, I really don't think I've done anything to warrant praise from Tim and anyone else. I'm just an Indian boy from Jurong West that knows like, four chords. But I appreciate everything everyone has done for me and the scene, and I will do my best to keep the music here healthy and alive.

Shak’thiya has continually received praise from numerous peers in the scene, and he deserves it (Credit: Henzy David)

Did you have any heroes in the local scene growing up?

This band called SIXX, Rudra, stillsunrise, The Steve Mcqueens; literally everyone that played on every floor of Blu Jaz. There were so many and the list is only expanding.

There’s a strong element of soul in your musicality and vocal style. Was that always the intention? Or did you just stumble into it?

It was years of playing all kinds of simple songs in various genres and then slowly understanding that soul had to be the base of everything I want to pursue; be it funk or r&b or jazz or the blues. For me, it all had to come from soul, so that's where I guess it comes from. This is all an accident I'm trying to see through to the end, whatever I perceive that to be.

As a songwriter, storytelling is an integral part of the performance. How do you stand out as a storyteller in a milieu filled with so many singer-songwriters?

I guess it's mostly just keeping my head down and focusing on being honest, working my strengths and sharpening my weaknesses. I don't write to stand out. I write because I love words and what they tend to paint.

Does your background as a spoken word artist help with this?

I was never a spoken word artist. I just wrote a few stories and shared them in a spoken word setting. That being said, being in that space really helped me understand that the delivery and intent of a piece is everything. And I got to hang out and talk to people that were equally in love with words.

Shak’thiya was one of those chosen to participate in The Great Singapore Replay, an initiative that saw him re-interpret classic anthems from the local music scene (Credit: The Great Singapore Replay)

One event that obviously thrust you into the spotlight was the National Day campaign. How did it feel to have the eyes of the nation on you?

It was something I'll never forget that I was a part of. And really, it was such an honour and humbling experience.

You’ve also toured regionally in the past year. What lessons did you learn from that experience? Do you have bigger dreams for world domination?

I've always had small dreams. I just want to eat comfortably and do the things my fellow countrymen are able to do like buy a house and stuff. But I also see opportunities to play in the region, and if I am being very honest, I am not ready to hit the region yet. When I am, I will see what comes of it. If nothing happens, I'm more than happy to still play at bars and weddings and all that.

That long-awaited EP is finally coming (Credit: Henzy David)

Are you working on any new material right now? What’s been the inspiration behind your songs lately?

I am sitting on an EP that's done and working on writing an album to follow that. I have been in a weird writer's block as of late, like I keep writing in circles or I haven't lived the song I'm writing – so I'm just living life.

And lastly, how does it feel to play for Neon Lights?

It's terrifying. I really hope this feeling will go away ASAP ’cause I just wanna have fun.

For more information on Shak’thiya, you can follow his solo artiste page; and for The Baits, their band page. They will perform at Neon Lights 2019 on Saturday, 23 November.