Happy International Women's Day!
It's been said time and time again that life for a woman isn't easy, and sadly, the fact remains. We've seen it unravel in Barbie, when she skates into the real world, and heard about it through songs like Taylor Swift's 'The Man'. Despite all this, women everywhere continue to fight for their right to be heard, even if it takes double the work to do so. Artists across the region have been striving to lock down a place in the industry, inspiring rising acts to do the same and take the leap themselves, and it's time to honour them.
While every day should be Women's Day, Bandwagon curated a list of powerful and dynamic female artists and performers who've been making waves in the region. Get to know them below.
Valentina Ploy (TH)
If you're looking for feel-good pop music to vibe to, Thai-Italian pop singer-songwriter Valentina Ploy has a growing catalogue full of songs that can make you smile. Her sincere, honest, and heartfelt lyrics feel like they were written by a friend who knows how to make you feel better after a rainy day. It's how she'd intended, after all.
"I feel like when you share an emotion, song or even a word and you feel the same thing, it makes you feel really connected as humans—that's what I hope the listener can get from my songs. Whatever they're going through, hopefully [my album] can be like a friend," Ploy shared with Bandwagon in an interview.
Valentina released her critically acclaimed debut album PLOY, which features 'Bla Bli Blu' and 'I Miss My Freinds' (feat. Phum Viphurit), in April last year and has since opened for Coldplayfor the Bangkok leg of their Music of the Spheres World Tour. She is set to release more music and make more people smile soon.
Linying (SG)
Linying may be a household name in Singapore, but her listeners are spread across the world. With the release of her 2023 EP, House Mouse, the dream pop act continues to reinvent her sound through creative and innovative means.
"I cannot imagine making music for nobody, you know," Linying shared in an interview with Hear65. "I can't imagine how I could have grown up not having an experience that I thought I was alone in being mirrored in a song, and from that, realizing that, 'Oh, you know, other people feel the same way too.' That kind of solace and comfort, you can't get that anywhere else."
Last year, Linying collaborated with Josh Wei for Nadine Lustre's single 'Overgrown'. Talking about what it was like to bring the collab to life, Linying told Hear65, "It was, like it is with every artist I write for, an intimate experience, having to distil what someone really wants to express from an initial conversation. I was grateful that we had a few days to get to know one another before going into the song."
Tala (PH)
Filipina artist Tala isn't here to play games. Her haunting words will bring chills down your spine as she uses her airy voice to sing about intentional loneliness, codependency, and the agony of letting go in her latest single 'Retribution'.
Previously signed under a major label, the 'bruised' singer-songwriter is now with the CRWN-led label, Pool Records.
Aprxel (VN)
Aprxel has a knack for storytelling and manipulating Neo-Psychedelic sounds that listeners can use as a vessel to escape from their everyday lives. Inspired by childhood memories, love, and hope, the Mona Evie vocalist released her solo album tapetumlucidum<3 in November last year. Her dreamy debut record includes the tracks '<3', 'va'ng9999', and 'inanna'.
Nadin Amizah (ID)
Bandung-born singer-songwriter Nadin Amizah has always had music inside her. From her days writing about silly breakups at school, the 'Berpayung Tuhan' act has built her own magical castle pieced together by enchanting stories with a yellow brick road that traces her steps as she searches for the true meaning of love. She plucks inspiration from her surroundings, using them to pen her songs that would later take her to the SXSW Sydney stage.
"No amount of awards could validate you more than how you perceive yourself," Nadin told Bandwagon in an interview. "If you're good for yourself, if what you make keeps you smiling at night, if they speak for you, keep making. Keep doing you and let the outside validation follow."
Now with two critically acclaimed albums, Selamat Ulang Tahun (2020) and Untuk Dunia, Cinta, dan Kotornya (2023), Nadin continues to pave her own path as she realises her dreams.
潘PAN (TW)
潘PAN is here to make the hairs on the back of your neck rise. The Taipei-born rapper, formerly known as Aristophanes, pushes the boundaries of her artistry through chillingly dark and mesmerizing music that offers a nod to traditional Asian tones. She performs in Mandarin and English, and says that playing with both languages is "like featuring another artist who has a different way of describing things."
The 'Ghosts' act and Grimes collaborator recently released her EP, titled Reborn, which explores "domestic violence in the Asian household, the relationship between bodies and feminine identity, along with a hopeless human-made wasteland," she shared. She is set to release more music soon.
LUNADIRA (MY)
Lunadira isn't afraid to face her fears. The Malaysian singer-songwriter follows her heart, and so far, it's been leading her in the right direction. The Good Vibes Music Festival and SXSW alum released her debut album, i'll be alright, right?, in February this year
In sharing her inner thoughts with a live audience, the 'Crazy Dizzy' act shared with Bandwagon, "There were times when I did get emotional, because I could just feel people just listening and I felt like that is one of the most—because you do a show and sometimes it's a hit or miss but when that moment happens, when you when they're just quiet and listening, that's when I'm just like 'okay, s***, I'm actually writing and telling them about what is wrong with me.'"
It truly is all about connection, and while Lunadira is keeping things on the down low (save for her album release party this weekend), it's safe to say that you might find something that would make you feel less lonely from her debut record.
Closet Yi (KR)
Seoul-based DJ and producer Closet Yi is out there staking her claim in the Korean electronic music scene. Her work as a resident DJ and librarian at the Hyundai Card Music Library led to her to creating unique atmospheres at every club she performs at. These days, she out there travelling the world, dominating the most renowned clubs, and remixing music for other artists.
reina (JP)
R&B singer-songwriter and dancer reina has been blessing the world with her soothing and rich voice since she made her debut in 2022 with the release of 'Luxury'. The Tokyo-based w.a.u. act takes influence from '90s hip-hop/R&B, dabbling with a bit of rap in her music. She has shared the stage with the likes of VivaOla, Sagiri Sól, and Takuya Kuroda.
In February this year, she released her first EP, titled A Million More, which features the title track and her collab with Lil Summer, 'Games'. It's the perfect getaway to soundtrack your next night drive.