Interview: To Yearn and To Find Yourself: Shye's Show At ‘Music Matters Live Singapore’

Komal Gupta
5 days ago
4 min read

On September 27, Shye stepped onto the main stage at Clarke Quay for Music Matters Live Singapore—and owned it. She’s a Singaporean singer-songwriter who doesn’t just perform;She commands your attention. Offstage, Shye might be quiet and reserved, but onstage, she’s a powerhouse. Her music carries weight: whether it’s in the lyrics, the tracks, or the way she delivers them.

That night, she riled up the crowd with her setlist: “999,” “Cecilia,” “PRINCESS,” “JOKE,” “Waited for You,” and “NEED.” Each performance was raw and full of intensity.

Shye does it all herself: from writing, producing, to even managing her career. That independence comes with its own challenges, but it also means her music stays completely true to her vision. Before Shye stepped onstage, we sat down with her to discuss her process, her inspirations, and why she makes the music that moves us.

Q: How does it feel to perform at Music Matters Live this year?

Shye: Very exciting! I’m really excited to play tonight. I feel like every show is a different experience. It’s a different opportunity. So I’m very thankful for this!

Q: What’s your ritual before stepping on stage?

Shye: I like to zone out and kind of keep to myself before shows. ‘Cause if I have a lot of things to do, my mind gets very foggy. And then when I go on stage, I can’t concentrate. So I like to relax, and I watch cat videos on my phone to just chill before.

Mido: You’re a cat person?

Shye: Yes, I have three cats. [enthusiastically] So I love cats!

Q: “3am” has such a late‑night mood—how would you describe the vibe of this song and tonight’s performance of it in three words?

Shye: “3am” is, I would describe it as… gentle.

Manager: Yearning, right?

Shye: Yeah, yearning. Like you’re thinking of someone. And… gentle, yearning and… What’s another word? [laughs] Gentle, yearning and… [thinks].

Mido: Would you say it’s kind of emotional?

Shye: Yeah, it’s very emotional, yeah. But for my performance later, I would say it’s energetic, but personal and very ‘Shye.’ It’s very me.

Q: How do you hope your music, especially songs like “3am,” impacts your listeners emotionally?

Shye: I hope the song can be almost like a soundtrack. So if they are thinking of someone, maybe they can listen to the song and hopefully it comforts them, and keeps them company when they feel a bit overwhelmed by their emotions. And it’s kind of like a love letter to my listeners.

Q: If your fans had to sing one line of “3am” with you at a concert, which line would you pick and why?

Shye: I like the line “where are you?” It’s like you’re calling out for that person. It could also just be like you’re calling out for something that will make you feel safe. Yeah. [shy]

Q: Which of your past songs feels most personal to you, and why?

Shye: I have a song called “Cecilia.” I wrote it during a time when I felt a bit lost in my musical direction. So I just wanted to write a song about trying to find yourself again. I think that would be a very personal song for me because it was written during a time when I felt a bit unsure of what I wanted to do.

Mido: So what’s that like? I believe this could’ve been one of the challenges you faced, right? Are there any other challenges that you faced in your career that shape who you are today and the kind of music you are pursuing?

Shye: Because I’m completely independent, I manage my staff and I do all of my music production myself. So that is also a challenge because now, especially, we have to make so much content for social media and stuff like that. So it’s kind of like... I’m really proud of myself for being able to do it, but it’s also a challenge at the same time. I think it has really shaped me as a person and as an artist, because it’s made me true. I’ve had to stay true to myself constantly, instead of maybe just doing things because that’s what everyone else does. So it’s definitely helped me find myself as a person.

Mido: So being yourself is the message.

Shye: Yes, yes!

Q: Outside music, what inspires you most?

Shye: Inspires me… I like to read a lot. So a lot of my songs are inspired by, I guess, things that I’ve experienced and also things that my friends have maybe experienced. Or stuff that I’ve read about in films. That’s where a lot of my lyrics stem from.

Yeah, but other than that, I won’t say I’m a very interesting person. A lot of people think like you do music, you must be so cool in your everyday life. Like no, I just stay at home; I play with my cats. I like to go for tea. Yeah, very simple things like that keep me grounded.

Q: If you could change one rule about performing live, what would it be?

Shye: One rule? Hmmm.. [thinks]. Nobody is ever allowed to sit down during a concert!

Mido: Actually, in this concert, I feel like no one is sitting.

Shye: [agrees enthusiastically] No one is sitting, yeah [laughs].

Q: Any message you would like to share with the Mido readers out there?

Shye: Hello! If you listen to me, thank you so much! And I hope my music can be a safe space for you and can bring you some comfort. Hopefully, we will be able to meet one day. Thank you!

If you caught Shye live at Clarke Quay, you know it was unforgettable. Which song hit you the hardest? We’d love to hear your thoughts! Drop a comment or slide into our DMs on Instagram or X!

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