Photo Courtesy of BessChew
The success of her debut single “Getaway” is only the beginning for Bess Chew. Featured on prominent Spotify playlists across Asia, this Singaporean artist’s journey from a background in psychology and musical theatre to becoming a rising star is a compelling one. This interview delves into the creation of “Getaway,” the challenges of breaking into the music industry, and Bess’s plans for the future.
What sparked your early interest in the performing arts, and what specific roles or performances stand out in your memory?
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always had an interest in music and the performing arts. It’s hard to pinpoint the exact moment but perhaps my love for music first ignited when I participated in my first musical at the age of 7. A performance that stands out to me is the time when I was part of a children’s choir which sang in accompaniment to a Taiwanese pop star named “David Tao”.
Tell me about your experience training with a former Korean musical actress. How did that experience shape your singing style and approach to performance?
It was a very good and valuable experience, learning from a professional practitioner. I learnt from her how to annotate the lyrics of a song and also in the area of stage presence, which was an aspect which not many singing teachers could impart. My stint with her helped with my initial development of basic singing skills and it is a unique experience which I will always remember fondly.
Walk me through the process of creating “Getaway,” your debut single. What inspired the song, and what were the key challenges and rewards involved in its production?
“Getaway” was created during my time in SOMA. It’s fully written by me and it’s also one of the first few songs which I produced along with a friend of mine. The song was written during a period of time when I had not travelled overseas for a holiday for a considerably long time and my heart longed for a ‘getaway’ break.
I hope that this song can act as a form of ‘getaway’ for listeners who long for a break from their daily routines and hard life challenges. Hopefully through this song, listeners will be able to enjoy a virtual experience of being translated into a different ‘world’ where one enjoys the beautiful sight of “a place where blues and greens are bright”.
I think the biggest challenge was the vocal aspect of the production (e.g., vocal harmonies, adlibs). Thankfully, I had help from my co-producer in this and I also learnt a lot from him during the process of making this song. Initially, the instrumental arrangement for “Getaway” only involved MIDI instruments on GarageBand. Subsequently, all of these MIDI tracks were replaced by instruments recorded live in my school’s studio. It was rewarding to see the song develop into its fullness as it transitioned from MIDI instruments to actual live instruments
Your debut single was quickly featured on several prominent Spotify playlists. How did that feel, and what impact did it have on your career?
I remember I was actually on holiday in Shanghai when “Getaway” was released. I was in Shanghai Disneyland and I was looking at my Spotify profile when I realized that I had been added to New Music Friday Singapore. I remember feeling extremely happy and encouraged as I excitedly told my parents and cousins that my song had been added to the Spotify playlist. I later found out that the song was also added to two other editorial playlists – New Music Friday Malaysia and Poses – and that really encouraged and boosted my confidence as a singer-songwriter.
Describe your experience at the School of Music and the Arts (SOMA) in Singapore. What were some of the key lessons or skills you gained during your songwriting and production diploma?
Prior to my studies at SOMA, I barely knew anything about songwriting and production. Despite it only being a one-year course, I gathered plenty of knowledge and experience in music theory, keyboard skills, song structure, the functions of various recording equipment, and the usage of digital audio workstations such as Pro Tools. The final project of the course involved the production of 3 original songs which I wrote on my own and recorded in the school’s studio. This course laid a strong foundation for my songwriting and production skills, and has boosted my confidence in my musical skills.
What are your short-term and long-term goals as a musician? What kind of music do you aspire to create, and what message or feeling do you hope to convey through your work?
My short-term goal is to produce sufficient songs to make my first album this year. As for my long-term goal, I hope to gain prominence as a professional singer-songwriter and maybe even venture out into the acting industry.
What kind of music do you aspire to create, and what message or feeling do you hope to convey through your work?
I believe that music is a beautiful tool created by God which brings joy and healing to the human soul. I hope that my music will be able to bring joy, hope and strength to the hearts of listeners.
Who are some of your musical influences, and how do they shape your creative process?
As a young girl, I listened to both English and Korean pop music and I believe that this blend of genres infused in me as I grew up over the years has enabled me to create my own unique brand of music. My main musical influences are artists such as Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo and Korean artists such as NCT 127 and IU. I often take inspiration from these artists when creating the instrumental arrangement and vocal production of my songs.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians who are navigating a similar path?
My advice would be to firstly take a basic course in songwriting to be able to lay a strong foundation for your future career. Also, be confident in your own style and preference of music and do not be discouraged or intimidated if that is not the ‘popular’ preference of music among your fellow musicians and peers. Lastly, be passionate about making music and know that every little step you take brings you closer to your career breakthrough.
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