Cupnoodle —@GUMPOONGPF/ INSTAGRAM
With the ability to do what you’re keen on is a privilege, but it surely must also be enjoyable. That, in a nutshell, is an aphorism that Thai singer-songwriter Cupnoodle aka Sasha Natasha Johst abides by.
However whereas Sasha’s melodies are certainly onerous to withstand, upon nearer scrutiny, her self-penned pop tunes—amongst them the toe-tapping “Nothing Nothing Nothing,” the ruminative “Therapist” and her irresistible newest single “Bababababy”—aren’t additionally the disposable, cotton candy-coated kind that don’t have a lot going for them apart from their catchy hooks. Under no circumstances.
They could sound anthemic as all get-out, however quite a lot of them additionally reveal thought-provoking themes and advocacies—though you may actually groove to them regardless of their edgy darkish themes. Once we spoke to Cupnoodle lately, we requested her if the hopeful vibe in her severe topic issues is deliberate.
“I didn’t suppose that my songs had been all that hopeful actually, however individuals saved giving me that suggestions,” she advised Inquirer Leisure over Zoom. “Yeah, hope is such an essential factor, however from my perspective, I need to keep sensible whereas being hopeful. It’s not like, ‘Oh, the world is ideal, so let’s not battle.’ That’s not my vibe.
“However life could be horrible generally. It’s nearly like embracing the fact, but remaining hopeful. Maybe that’s the type of hope mirrored in my songs.”
There’s one thing extra thematically important about Cupnoodle’s songs than the skilled title she’s chosen to be recognized for—like when she sings about interracial relationships in “Pineapple on Pizza,” or when she weighs in on the extra essential issues in life in “Arithmetic,” or coping with psychological well being in “Therapist.”
Whereas we thought that selecting “Cupnoodle” for her title was a catchy stroke of genius, we requested her if it wasn’t a priority that folks may not take her or her songs significantly due to that title.
“Bababababy” cowl artwork —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Completely different perspective
“Thanks for listening to my songs and taking a deep dive into them. You’ve performed your analysis, and I’m studying about myself by way of you,” she beamed. “But it surely was extra of an intriguing facet [than a concern] for me.
“Truly, becoming right into a class or a advertising and marketing strain is the precise problem. In fact it could have been a lot simpler if I simply known as myself Sasha. However the level I’m attempting to make right here is that it doesn’t actually matter what I name myself. I’ll make the listener take me significantly due to the music I make.
“Artists give you their very own [unique] names on a regular basis—Girl Gaga, David Bowie, Freddie Mercury, and so forth. It could appear so out of the field if I dare name myself such a foolish factor, but when I’m doing one thing severe, I really feel like, ‘Why not?’ What I’m attempting to current to the world is a special perspective.”
In 2022, Cupnoodle was hand-picked by Spotify as the most effective indie artists in Asia—with good purpose. In our Q&A with Cupnoodle, she additionally talks in public about her upcoming album for the very first time:
You wrote “Therapist” after a breakup, whereas “Bababababy” is about an unrequited attraction due to one’s incapacity to precise it. Are your songs primarily based on private experiences?
There are two sorts—they’re both private or concept-based. A lot of them stem from my private life, however not all the time. So I’d say they’re 70 p.c private and the opposite 30 p.c comes from films, TV sequence, associates’ experiences, or something that I hear, suppose or examine.
It’s all the time about sharing a singular perspective about one thing. I really feel prefer it’s the 12 months 2024 already, so each breakup tune has been written about. It’s like in case you don’t have one thing totally different to say about the identical topic, then why write about it? That’s what occurs when songwriters handle to jot down nice songs about love and breakups.
Who’re your largest musical influences?
It’s tough to say as a result of all of us have very eclectic musical tastes. However I’d say when it comes to songwriting, possibly Freddie Mercury of Queen. A few of his songs might not appear all that severe, like “Bicycle” or “We Will Rock You,” however I really like the lyrics or the best way he tells a narrative, coupled along with his approach of performing—it’s simply genius!
Alicia Keys can also be somebody that I really like. And Britney Spears has all the time been amongst my first musical influences (laughs).
I all the time tread this line between being artistic and being private. So among the songs that I’ve put, like “Not Prepared” or “Therapist,” are fairly private, and a few, like “Nothing Nothing Nothing” or “Bababababy,” are a bit bit extra artistic conceptually or production-wise. So I feel it’s not solely nearly attempting to get individuals to really feel like they know me, but additionally about my must push the boundaries on the artistic aspect.
Are you accustomed to Filipino songs or Filipino artists?
No, however I did hearken to some after I was youthful—like Charice, however she modified her title already. And Sarah Geronimo, too. However I additionally know that the Philippines has nice singers. After I go on YouTube, it’s like, “Oh my God!” I don’t know what you guys do over there or why is it that everybody is superb (laughs)?
In your view, ought to singers write their very own songs?
My opinion on that is, I perceive there are performers and there are artists. Say Britney Spears. I’m an enormous fan of Britney, however whereas she doesn’t write her personal songs, she’s such an incredible performer.
Alicia Keys, then again, writes her personal songs, handles her personal manufacturing, however doesn’t do choreography onstage. I really feel like within the fashionable world, an artist ought to specific herself by way of any medium obtainable and simply say what she means when she sings one thing and imply what she sings. You need to be genuine [in whatever you do].
What can your followers anticipate from you within the coming months? A full-length album maybe?
Sure, in a approach. “Third of Might” is my subsequent single, really. This 12 months is an thrilling one as a result of there can be a brand new tune each six weeks till we attain 10 songs. The challenge that I’ll quickly be releasing is an album, however I’m not releasing it like everybody else is doing. I really feel like I would like to carry your hand as we hear by way of every single collectively.
Possibly it’s too early to say this, however OK, I’ll let you know anyway (laughs). The challenge is known as “Cupnoodle: Style Check”—and it’ll be very totally different. It’ll be testing you as an viewers and testing creativity. And I can solely promise that you could’t predict what’s coming to you. We’ll undergo pop, GarageBand, R&B … we’ll undergo ballads and gradual songs, So yeah, we’ll undergo a style take a look at!
You began singing at age 4, and also you had been actually shy as you had been rising up. Was music accountable for you popping out of your shell?
Yeah. It’s nearly like shyness was the impediment I needed to hurdle to get to do what I need. So, for me to get to sing, I needed to shake it off. You already know, after I was youthful, I assumed, “What’s up with this shyness?” I simply anxious about getting bullied by my associates in class in Thailand … and the bullying was actual.
So after I modified colleges, I assumed, “If the trainer asks who needs to sing, I’m going to be ready.” I used to be prepared to only elevate my hand. I simply knew that I needed to work up the nerve and braveness to only take step one.
After that, I grew to become referred to as the singer … and it isn’t a bizarre factor. We all the time make enjoyable of that child in school who needs to sing, so I simply needed to come out of my shell and do it.
What an inspiring story! This may be empowering to kids who’re going by way of the identical factor.
Yeah, it’s a comic story. But it surely turned out to be the most effective days of my life! I used to be in ninth or tenth grade after I entered a singing competitors in class. And that was the primary time that my complete class would see me sing.
All my associates—all 30 of them—got here to see me and had been type of on the point of make enjoyable of me. They didn’t know that I might sing as a result of they’d by no means heard me earlier than that. There was a singer earlier than me and he or she was fairly good. And one in all my male associates was like, “Oh, you’re actually gonna undergo with this? And I assumed, “OK, simply wait and see…”
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So, I sang “Born To Strive” by Delta Goodrem. And actually, as quickly as I sang the primary sentence, everybody stood up and so they had been like, “How might you cover this from us?” After that, it was like, the key’s out! That’s why I hold stressing how essential it’s [for anybody with a dream] to only take that first step.
