KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Asian pop artists are exploding into mainstream pop with their fresh sounds, modern style, and energetic performances. One of the trendsetting and rising Asian artists is Charmaine Koh, an 18-year-old pop and R&B musician exploding in the U.S. market.
With a growing discography and upcoming EP, Koh’s music features themes of youth and self-empowerment blended with modern pop and feel-good R&B that embody the style of today’s era. After her debut single, “Ordinary Girl,” garnered more than 140k streams. The next two singles collected more than 380k streams making Koh a certified rising pop and R&B princess of Malaysia and Asia.
“I’ve always looked up to Taylor Swift. It was odd for me to be an Asian and look up to Western artists. It was a huge thing for me growing up and heavily influenced me as an artist and my music,” she said.
As time passed, Koh added R&B and funk influences of Toni Braxton to give her pop vibes a harsher edge. With a summer release set for her debut EP, “Sunflower at Sundown,” Koh’s pop alternative sound mirrors Korean R&B for a perfect fusion.
Last month Koh dropped “Dreamin’,” the first single from her upcoming EP. Now, “Montage” is burning up the streaming platforms as a conflicting yet upbeat emotional track.
“You’ll be captivated by how catchy it is, no joke. In this EP, I can confidently say that the hooks and choruses are so sticky, you won’t be able to stop listening to them,” Koh exclaimed.
“There’s so much going on in ‘Montage.’ I wanted it to be a whimsical love song with deep bass and ad-libs - just like a real montage,” she said. “The song has a bittersweet meaning and is lively upbeat. It’s a happy song, and you can feel the love and enjoyment when you’re in love. But there’s the bittersweet feeling that knowing it will end, but you are pursuing it 100% all the way with no regrets.”
“Montage” is more than an upbeat pop ballad with smooth lyrics. Koh’s single has a vast aura and nonstop harmony, collaborating with producers Christopher C Ray Roberts and Marc E. Williams. The single is a favorite of Koh fans and getting noticed worldwide for its Asian and Western influences.
“Releasing ‘Montage’ was a new side of me,” Koh said. “My previous singles were pop, but ‘Dreamin” and the other tracks on this EP truly represent and reflect my sound.”
With two other singles from “Sunflower at Sundown” to be released before the EP drops in July, Koh said the collection revolves around the concept that sunflowers face East during the night, waiting for the sun to rise. This translates to the EP’s symbolic tone, color, and song both sonically and lyrically.
She added, “Change is always inevitable and can come in different forms, like ‘Dreamin’ that’s one step forward to embracing change and having an end in mind. ‘Montage’ is looking back at that change. I see the change happening, and I want to stay in the moment.”
In addition to Koh’s engaging lyrics and affectionate style, she hopes to uplift more Asian artists in the U.S. market. “Growing up, I didn’t get to see a lot of people who looked like me in the Western market; that’s why I’m pursuing this as an artist and making music that I love. I’m privileged to be in this position.”
Make sure to stay connected to Charmaine Koh on all platforms for new music, videos, and social posts.
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/artists/B07CJ28MKP/charmaine-koh
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/charmaine-koh/1374692310
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-311252679
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4AXM9QrBp5qGABjIQVPBQI
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF7e_VeGIqXAysNsgFuTuhQ
Socials:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charmaine.koh.942
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charmainekoh19/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/charmainekoh19
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