All The Light We Can't See, All The Things We Wish To Be

There is little holding back Angel and Iqie, the two rising musicians have maintained their unapologetic elusiveness by finding the commercial in the artistic. Their style — while being whole-heartedly Malaysian yet undoubtedly "international" in its appeal — provides a unique lens through which we can examine a new rise of anti-pop stars in Malaysia.

- Asha Farisha

For Iqie, it meant pushing himself to be visible in a genre that often gravitates toward the invisible. Meanwhile, Angel took a leap of faith to break into the Malay music industry despite being Chinese. But what is it like to be young and talented in a scene that often rewards conformity, where it is easy to be an outcast so long as one stays away from the status quo? Perhaps, the only way to find out might just lie in asking the wrong questions.

"I 'm not the one chasing fame; fame has to chase me," says Iqie, the lead singer of local pop rock band, Insomniacks. As a musician, there is little harm in bringing some attitude to the table. Think Kurt Cobain or Björk, who have shown just how being a tinge out of the ordinary may land you the chance to be seen. Likewise for Iqie — the 26-year-old has amassed an audience entranced by his personality just by being his wayward, carefree self. He even maintains that his hair is a blank canvas that he switches up every few months for wild styles (today he sports a bleached pink overlay) — uncommon seeing that most male musicians in Malaysia would prefer a more classic demeanour. “Because why not?”, he comments. Not worried about what others might think, his most rebellious state would be the way he has embraced his fame. Having been known through the band where he serves as its lead, Iqie has embraced the fame that came with it.