A child of the Disney channel generation, Koh tells FMT that Mitchie Torres, Shane Gray and Tess Tyler of Camp Rock were the ones who sparked her interest in music.
“I remember watching Camp Rock on Disney Channel, which totally inspired me.
“I wanted to sing like them and be as carefree and happy as they were when singing and performing. I just wanted to feel the excitement.”
Her musical journey started when she was 11, and in 2016, she became the youngest Malaysian to bag three gold medals at the World Championship of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in California.
Koh’s musical career has taken off since, and she recently released her latest track entitled Why Don’t You Live? Her ethereal, beguiling voice gives the song a sense of nostalgia and it is a treat to listen to.
As well as singing, Koh has gladly embraced songwriting as a means of self-expression.
“Intense emotions, like love or anger, anything at all, gets me to pick up a pen and write.
“And sometimes, it is the reverse, the melody comes first and then the lyrics. I usually consult my producer to see if we can make it any better.”
Koh feels very fortunate to have an audience who can relate to her stories.
“Having the ability to transform my feelings and emotions into an art that people can relate to, it’s a joy.
“Whenever I ask someone what they think of my songs, or if I hear comments from people, if they feel what I am feeling, it means I’m doing something right.
Koh says that while singing for other people is a great experience especially when people can relate to the song, the joy of creating something from scratch is almost indescribable.
“The feeling of creating something on your own … It is just something else, creating it is a beautiful thing to experience. It’s just incredible,” she gushes when speaking about her creative work.
This Kuala Lumpur-born lass is, of course, attending school as well. “It is hard to juggle school and music. Especially now that I am in my last year of secondary school and will be sitting for a big exam pretty soon.”
“At times I do my homework and even eat lunch in the car so I can get to rehearsals on time. And I don’t get to hang out with my friends as much. These are the little pleasures I have to sacrifice,” she told FMT.
Koh says her parents have been unwavering in their support and she is grateful to them for giving her the space to chase her dreams.
“I think I have said it before, so, it’s no secret – they are my secret weapon. Actually, they have been the driving force behind everything I have achieved.”
With hundreds of young people flooding into the industry, it can be a challenge to become that bright star among so many.
“Trying to stand out, not in a competitive way, but rather an ‘I want my story to be heard’ kind of way, and to put my story out there, is an uphill climb.
“In fact, a lot more comes into play than singing. There are other aspects such as production, promotion and marketing. To put music out there involves a lot of processes.”
The ambitious singer said, “In five years’ time, I see myself singing and dancing on a huge stage. Sharing my passion and telling my stories to all my dear fans out there. That’s where I intend to be. That’s definitely where I see myself!”
Young as she is, Koh has some wise advice from the hard lessons she has learnt along the way for those who are unsure of pursuing their dreams.
“Pursue your passion; let it be singing, dancing or acting, you name it. No one will take you seriously unless you take yourself seriously first … take pride in what you do … take the first step to believe in what you can do and have an impact on the world. Remember, it starts with you.”