Changing Mindsets

IT'S ALWAYS a nice feeling when you discover solid new music that strikes the right vibe, and when the music is by a local artiste, it's like you've hit a musical sweet spot.
This is what Nick Yungkit, better known as NYK, brings to the music scene in the country.
The 25-year-old made waves with his debut track FWB just last year. Last month, he released his second single, Make It on Me, which was produced in Sweden and features homegrown rapper Airliftz.
NYK, who's signed to Sony Music, says it was while he was "figuring out what to do with the second verse" of the song, that he decided he wanted the expertise of his friend Airliftz, especially since the two of them had promised to work on each other's songs.
"I immediately ... called Airliftz on his deal," says the rising singer, "[and] he wrote a verse in literally a day. The next day, he came back with it and it was great."
The refreshingly ambitious young man with a soulful voice counts John Mayer and Justin Timberlake among his icons, with the latter's influence apparent in his own singing style, albeit with a more contemporary edge.
At the start, NYK was merely posting YouTube covers and didn't really plan on having a career in music until he wrote FWB, which led to the deal with Sony Music.
That's when his mindset switched towards striving for a greater appreciation of locally-made music, and admits that "a lot of people working together" is what it takes.
"It's a goal to, like, change [Malaysians'] mindset on the arts," he says. "[A] lot of people say Malaysians don't support local music. I want to change that."
He explains that before the emergence of streaming platforms, albums were the only way to listen to your favourite artistes, and people were more willing to spend extra cash on international acts.
"Now that we have streaming platforms, there's no more barrier to that and you can just listen, but the music has to be good."
One of the perks of signing with a major recording label was an opportunity for him to work with Swedish producers Andrei Amartinesei and Pute Pettersson, who have worked with the likes of US pop star Kesha and K-pop band EXO.
"Without a doubt, the quality of their production and the ideas that we shot back and forth were top notch."
Despite the great experience in Sweden, he says producing good music is achievable even here, citing another local act, Alextbh, as also a "fantastic producer".
"I think it was really lucky for me to be able to go to Sweden, but I would have easily worked with these guys if I had the opportunity to do so."
He adds that the song produced on that trip, Make It on Me, has a link to FWB.
"FWB is a song about this guy who likes this girl and wants a relationship but the girl is like, nah, let's just have sex.
"Make It On Me is a song about meeting that girl."
Currently, he is working on an EP,where the songs will be based on the events of the first two singles, and what happens afterwards.
Explaining what can be expected from the EP, NYK says it is "the slow breakdown of the man getting more and more depressed and it gets darker and darker".
He adds: "I like that there's a bit of a story to the album."