Forbes reporters, venture capitalists and business leaders across the region judged over 4,000 nominees before selecting the top 300 people who best represented what Asian youth had to offer.
Talented and beautiful, it is clear that SYA deserves her place, one of eight Malaysians, on this list. But, her rise to fame came so suddenly that emotionally, she is still trying to catch up to herself.
“I have moments where I’m filled with imposter syndrome,” she explained.
But, SYA strives to push past her fears and work as hard as possible because she knows that where she is right now in her career is special. ”I put a lot of pressure on myself to make sure I appreciate that I am where a lot of people dream to be.”
A perfectionist by nature, SYA struggles to see herself the way others see her. Her formative years were spent constantly moving due to the nature of her parents’ work and she grew up deeply introspective as a result.
It is a blessing in that she has a depth of thought and feeling to draw from for her art, but a curse in how she feels every setback as a personal failure.
The image of a rap artist is one that is larger than life. Yet, an artist’s image can often be an aesthetic choice that is not an exact reflection of the real person.
SYA‘s music and Instagram page showcase a woman confident in what she has to offer the world.
In real life, SYA is a sweet, shy 25-year-old with a slight sadness to her. She is still grieving the loss of her dearly departed mother. “I’ve been dealing with anxiety and depression since my mom passed.”
It has made some of the more unsavoury aspects of fame, such as rude and hurtful comments from social media users, harder to brush off, she said. “People have this perception that because you’re a musician you ask for it. But it’s not a free invitation to bully somebody.”
Simply being female in a male-dominated industry already puts a target on her back. Being young and completely new to this industry doesn’t help either. Her bilingual verses, unconventional delivery and ethnicity have all been used to criticise her.
But, SYA is determined to appreciate the blessings in her life and not let negativity bring her down. “I’m trying to only listen to those around me who have seen me break down and cry and fight the battles that led up to this point.”
It helps that she has friends who are like family. SYA said that her best friend Heidi and other close friends “are my everything.”
In some ways, grief has been a turning point for SYA. Coming from a conservative family with conventional dreams for her, it took a life-changing event like losing her mother to make her leap into the unknown.
Her willingness to trust in herself paid off. SYA is the first female Southeast Asian rapper signed with Def Jam Asia, a brand synonymous with rap music.
SYA’s journey to becoming a signed artist is the stuff of dreams. “I dropped the first freestyle track in 2018 and in 2020 I was signed.”
She had shared a freestyle track she recorded to Twitter and it went viral. The response was so positive she shared another freestyle rap video, and then another. These soon caught the eye of Malaysian rapper and producer, SonaOne.
“SonaOne is truly a brother.” He encouraged her past her self-doubt and she counts him as one of the most influential people in her life.
With her loving friends by her side and a will like iron, this young artist is only just getting started. “I feel like I have much more to give.”
Follow SYA on Instagram, YouTube and Spotify to enjoy her music.