Hailing from Singapore, VyN brings the nostalgic sounds of 1990s and 2000s pop-rock into a meaningful musical journey centered on mental health awareness. Founded by producer and guitarist Jon alongside vocalist Dessheren, the band began with a shared passion for creating music that blends the familiar spirit of classic pop-rock with a message that resonates beyond melodies.
Their name, VyN, meaning “Voices You Need,” reflects their mission to reach listeners through music and encourage greater awareness of mental health, particularly in Asian communities where the conversation remains important. Through their sound and songwriting, VyN hopes to give people a voice to connect with, a space to express their emotions, and a reminder that they are never alone in their struggles.
In this edition of City Stories, we discover the story behind VyN, the inspiration behind their music, and how they use their voices to create meaningful connections through the universal language of music.
For people discovering VYN for the first time, how would you introduce the band and the music you create?
We would introduce the band by our signature 90s and 2000s sound with the focus of promoting mental health awareness through song.
How did VyN come together, and what brought the members together to form the band?
VyN was formed when Jon (Producer/ Guitarist) wanted to create nostalgic recordings that will reminiscent of the 90s and 2000s pop rock era. He sought a vocalist to join him and Dessheren (Vocalist) responded to his ad and they started their regular jam sessions and song writing.
Where did the name “VyN” come from, and what does it mean to each of you?
VyN means voices you need.
To Jon, it is a poignant reminder of the lack of mental health awareness in Asian countries.
To Dessheren, voices you need are a constant way of showing her ability to express herself through song and music. She hopes to reach out to people with her voice.
How would you describe VyN’s musical identity, and what makes your sound different from other bands?
VyN has an extremely signature pop rock style that is almost non-existent in the 2020s. VyN is mixed and mastered with Jon’s signature style of mixing, which is extremely dense and full and captures the sounds of cassette and CDs.
What artists, bands, or musical influences have played an important role in shaping VyN’s sound?
My Chemical Romance shapes Jon’s guitars through the songs. MCR is one of the main inspirations for Jon. Dess is driven by the vocals of Hailey Williams from Paramore. She shapes her voice with the melodic punches and rhythmic waves of Hailey’s vocal styles.
When you create music together, how does the songwriting process usually begin?
Dess often starts with a melody that she hums and records. Jon gets the idea and starts the arrangements and builds upon it with the drum structures and bass riffs and guitars.
How do the different personalities and musical backgrounds of the members influence VyN’s songs?
VyN is extremely unique because the two heads are extremely different in their age group. Jon hails from the 90s while Dess is only in her 20s and is more used to 2020s commercial music.
Jon started to guide her through the recordings as he has his own recording studio in Singapore.
What kind of stories, experiences, or emotions usually inspire your lyrics?
Emotive stories with messages regarding the importance of mental health. Sometimes being a voice you need is about listening to people who have these problems.
Is there a particular VyN song that feels especially personal to the members? What is the story behind it?
Forget You resonates with both Jon and Dess. For Jon, the song reminds him of his mum that passed recently. For Dess, it is a song that reminds her of someone special in her life that she could not forget.
What do you hope listeners feel or think about when they hear VyN’s music for the first time?
Seriously, we just hope that they have a good time with the sounds and tunes that VyN produces. If they go deeper into the lyrics, they’ll see the messages we’re bringing.
How would you describe the experience of performing VyN’s music live compared with recording in the studio?
It is extremely challenging to perform music live because VyN relies on session musicians for the bass and drums.
Recording is a lot easier as Jon records most of the instruments. Playing live has a sought of wild adrenaline hit that is often very different from the polished way we record our stuff.
What has been one of the most memorable performances or moments you’ve experienced together as a band?
Experiencing the creative process of recording music videos is definitely it. We were definitely not used to acting out the actions and lip syncing the songs multiple times as we were recorded from various angles. It tired the whole band out but it was hell a lot of fun.
What have you learned about each other through making music and performing together?
Dess learned that Jon can be extremely stubborn and hard headed. Jon learned that Dess can be extremely emotional. Together they support each other really well.
Every band eventually faces creative differences or challenges. How does VyN handle disagreements when working on music?
We usually vote on it. Which is hard because there are only two major players in the band. So we often just agree to disagree. Lol.
What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a band so far, and how did you overcome it?
Making music in Singapore is extremely difficult because the entertainment scene is not promoted well here.
Ironically, getting our music across to Singaporeans is our greatest challenge. It’s still a work in progress, but we’re posting a lot on local forums reaching out to other musicians.
How do you see the current independent and live music scene, and where do you think VyN fits within it?
It is extremely difficult to fit in with the local scene. Most of the Singapore bands are either cover bands or focus on the extremes like hardcore metal or indie pop. There isn’t really a big live music scene in Singapore that we are aware of.
If you could collaborate with any Korean or international artist or band, who would you choose and why?
We would definitely want to collaborate with My Chemical Romance, Dess would love to pair her melodic vocals with Gerard’s maniacal style.
Looking back at your journey so far, is there anything you wish you could tell the VyN that was just starting out?
It isn’t easy to get your stuff out there. It takes a lot of work and it is really really really scary because the world is flooded with AI slop that makes its way to Spotify and YouTube.
The challenge is real but believing and recording your own music is definitely the way to go.
What can listeners expect from VyN in the coming months—new music, performances, collaborations, or something else?
Listeners can expect more music videos and collaborations with local artists. VyN is expecting to do its own livestream performance as well.
Finally, if VyN’s story could be described through one song, one place, or one feeling, what would you choose—and why?
This is actually strange, but the tagline from Johnny Depp actually fits. “Everything is in front of you.”. Never limit yourself, Never give in. Keep moving forward and the possibilities are limitless.
Leave a Reply