The BURO Impact Awards celebrates the creativity, originality, passion, and accomplishments of Malaysia’s trailblazing talents. Ahead, we delve into conversation with our Artist of the Year, Belle Sisoski.
What you see is what you get with Belle Sisoski. While most burgeoning (and even seasoned) stars grapple with crafting a memorable persona and relatable story that will resonate with the masses, it only comes naturally to the Sarawakian artist.
Call it that unfiltered, zealous, liberal Gen Z sensibility or simply a clear understanding of one’s calling, but Sisoski talks and moves with a sense of purpose and identity that most 19-year-olds are still struggling to find. It only takes a quick press of the play button to understand why this young artist is a special star in the making. With her love for ethnic instruments at the forefront, Sisoski has created a unique blend of music merging the old and new that is palpable and infectious to those who hear it.
Unsurprisingly, she has amassed millions of fans around the world on social media. Her TikTok and Instagram, which frequently document her creative processes and awe-inspiring live performances, currently sit at 1.3 million followers each while over 160,000 listeners have her on rotation on Spotify. Her song “Stop Your Games” clinched second place at the 2023 Commonwealth Games, propelling her onto the global stage.
Ahead, discover the journey of our Artist of the Year for the BURO Impact Awards 2024.
MUSIC IN HER DNA
As clichéd as it sounds, Sisoski’s love for music truly started in the womb. The Sarawakian artist developed a natural love for music because of her upbringing. “I grew up in a very musical environment,” she says. “My mother is a music teacher so from a very young age, I was exposed to different kinds of music, especially classical music. When you grow up in that sort of environment, your whole life becomes music and it has been my passion ever since I was born.”
But her love didn’t just stop at classical instruments. While trebles and clefs make up her DNA, so does her tribal ancestry. After reading her mother’s thesis on ethnomusicology, the study of ethnic music, Sisoski found herself enthralled by the subject and dove deeper to reconnect with her ethnic roots found in indigenous Sarawakian Iban tribes. “That was when I started gradually collecting all these long-forgotten musical instruments and heirloom pieces,” she explains. “Because of my strong classical music foundation, it was really easy for me to pick up different types of instruments.”
Currently, Sisoski can play over 30 instruments, ranging from the piano and violin to the tapi, a two-string lute originating from Sarawak’s Lun Bawang tribe that almost went extinct, and engkerurai, a mouth organ made up of bamboo and gourd.
A UNIQUE SONIC BLEND
To listen to Sisoski’s music is to look into the past and peek into the future. From her shrill war cries that utilise tribal throat singing techniques to the fusion of bass and strings, the multi-hyphenate takes traditional relics and ancient practices to modern heights that will seize you with rapture. The result is a genre-bending fusion that is unlike any other.
“The ethnic elements share a part of who I am, my roots, my culture, my traditions, and everything in between,” she expounds. “Meanwhile, the cinematic elements tell a story and I try to make it as stimulating as possible so listeners can create scenarios in their head,” she says, eyes gleaming. As for the choice of electronic dance music, Sisoski explains that it has the “highest and biggest potential to introduce these ethnic instruments to younger generations.”
Despite garnering millions of listeners in her niche, the work is never done for Sisoki. “I’m constantly pushing myself to improve every time. Evolving is so important. You have to always search and seek new answers and new things to learn,” she says. Her method of knowing when you’ve progressed? “Aim to cringe at your previous work. That means you’ve grown,” she laughs.
HEAD- AND HEART- STRONG
To marry the old and new in bold and audacious ways as Sisoski has done is to exude that very same boldness and fearlessness. Unwavering and steadfast in the face of naysayers, Sisoski’s unapologetic self is a breath of fresh air. Donning her native-inspired outfits, slicked-back mullet and brazen smirk, she exudes an aura that shouts “This is me, take it or leave it” like that of a bonafide rockstar.
Because she’s the type of artist who doesn’t use her music as a shield or mask but rather, as an armour to tackle the world head-on and squander any preconceived stereotypes. To be so unabashedly yourself can rub people the wrong way—but according to Sisoski, that means you’re doing it right.
“Authenticity makes other people uncomfortable but it’ll never make you uncomfortable. When you are in tune with your emotions and at peace in your own skin, that’s your true self,” she says. “You might make people uncomfortable but there’s going to be people who love you for it, too! So don’t second guess yourself and lead with your heart, not your mind because that’s where the overthinking happens.”
What keeps her going is how she sees her music bring people together. Never to shy away from heavy and taboo topics such as debilitating anxiety, child neglect, climate change, and more, the multi-hyphenate relishes in creating immersive auditory and cinematic experiences that encourage listeners to reflect. “I love storytelling and how it can impact people. People want to feel connected, like they belong somewhere, which is why it’s important for me to have songs like these.”
“Some people may think that traditions should be kept as it is or that what I’m doing is gimmicky,” she shrugs. “At the end of the day, this is the way to revolutionise. The world is progressing and if you don’t progress with it, you’re going to stay stagnant,” she firmly states.
“What you love is not going to grow or expand the way you want it to if you don’t try to adapt. The best way is to leverage what we have, which is technology, and just keep evolving be it in music, fashion, or art. The modern and traditional don’t always have to oppose each other, they can complement one another.”
HER TRUE CALLING
For the songbird, music is the best way to showcase her culture and ethnic roots. “Music is a universal language. It can convey emotions, ideas and cultural traditions without even using any words.” After all, while it’s easy to be captivated by Sisoski’s one-woman shows as a DJ and performer, her purpose has always been to entertain and educate.
“I’ve received a lot of comments saying that I’m making these traditional instruments look cool, which I appreciate. While that isn’t the goal, it’s still getting somewhere because I’m still bringing awareness to them. It’s all about highlighting our indigenous tribes and bringing my cultures and traditions to light.”
When asked about what she would like to achieve as an artist, her answer came simply and without a moment’s hesitation. “I want to create a legacy of reviving long-forgotten ethnic instruments and heirloom pieces,” she states. “I wish to give tradition a new way home, back to our roots in our own way.”
It’s a monumental task for any person to shoulder but Sisoski is up for the challenge with a few upcoming projects up her sleeve. “We’ll be going on more tours next year and also expanding on a series I’ve been working on called Wonders of the Southeast,” she details. “It’s a short-format series where I introduce the background of ethnic instruments but we will also be expanding into long-form documentary-styled videos where I’ll meet the tribes and the makers of these instruments. So please look forward to that!” the artist lets us in excitedly.
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CREDITS
Editor-In-Chief / JASON LIM. Creative Direction and Styling / SARAH TAI. Text and Interview / MARISSA CHIN. Art Direction Assisted by / EVE LYN LAU. Photography / CHAM ZIHAO | MÒ SHĒNG RÉN. Assisted by / SAIFUL AZWAN. Videography / DENNIS KHO. Makeup / WAN NING FOR YSL BEAUTY. Hair / MAY WOO FOR SCHWARZKOPF PROFESSIONAL.
Check out the 2024 BURO Impact Award winners here.
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