Dubbed as Malaysia’s Ed Sheeran by his peers, meet Isaac Ho! Get ready to be swoon over his tunes!
Hi Isaac! Tell us more about yourself! Are you a full-time musician?
Hi! I’m a 23 year-old singer-songwriter with a penchant for cute cats (even though my girlfriend disagrees). I spend my time on video games and watching dumb YouTube videos when I’m not working my day-job or focusing on my music.
People know me as Malaysia’s Ed Sheeran but I’m not too fond of that title. I admire Ed greatly (I keep a portrait of his face in my room which I had from the time I tried to win meet-and-greet passes from his first concert in Malaysia) but I’d prefer to stand apart in terms of what we do. I would love to be known as a loop pedal artist, similar to the likes of Bernhoft and Brian Fitzy, as well as be recognized as a songwriter.
Tell us your journey as a musician! When did you first discover your passion for music?
How would you describe your singing style? Have you written any originals?
I would describe my performances as intimate as though I’m singing to my close friends. Usually when I sing, I think of the person I wrote my song about and, for me, it’s like I’m singing it to them. I have written quite a few originals. I’m slowly planning to expand on some of my unfinished material for it to reach a stage where I’m satisfied with how it sounds before taking it to professionals for recording.
Share with us the creative process of a song.
It usually starts with a feeling. I don’t have a clear subject matter in mind when I write; my process is quite emotive. Once the feeling comes to me, I think of a melody that best embodies it and then let the words fill themselves into the blank spaces.
Tell us a random fact about yourself/something people don’t know about you!
I like Minecraft. I play too much Minecraft.
Describe yourself in 3 words.
Melancholic. Introspective. Proto-hipster.
Who are your favourite local artists in Malaysia?
I’m a big fan (and friend) of Amrita Soon. I think her music reflects the struggles of introverts who are trying to be heard in a noisy world. I also really like Jes Ebrahim, Volatile, and Otam and Endee from FTP because they push the boundaries of what I’ve come to expect from local musicians. I admire Kelvyn Yeang from Ocean of Fire, Daniel Wong from Wanted Symphony, and Darren Teh from An Honest Mistake for all their efforts in expanding the local music scene and giving a chance for newer talents like myself and so many others to really be heard by audiences all over Malaysia.
Any advice to budding musicians out there? Any advice on how to get out there and make a name for themselves?
Hustle hard. Stay humble. Appreciate the people who push you and take their advice as motivation to move forward. It’s important to work together with others as the scene needs more cooperation and less competition. If you’re just starting out, practice is paramount. You shouldn’t go out thinking that being sub-par is acceptable. You want to challenge yourself and bring your performance to greater heights. Audiences will see that and appreciate it.
Any upcoming projects for you?
I’m currently arranging to record a single with a professional producer. Hopefully I can get it on the airwaves by the year’s end. I’m also aiming to hit that 1000 Like mark on my Facebook page 😉
What is a typical day in your life?
I wake up, hustle the day-job, then run over to night gigs (if I have one). Other times, I come home and practise my looping or write songs (Minecraft is a luxury). I do take time to tell my cat I love him and smoosh him with my great, big heart. Cat smooshing is a vital component of everyday’s de-stressing.
Any life mottos?
I don’t really have a life motto but I believe that hard work and sacrifice will ultimately pay off in the long run. At the very least, I can live with no regrets having put my all into everything I do.
Who is your all time inspiration in life?
Terry Fox. His will to overcome all odds really pushed in pursuing my dream of music. Not many people know this, but I had to undergo nose surgery to deal with chronic sinus issues that impaired my ability to sing. I thought of how Terry Fox was so determined to continue running marathons despite losing limbs and dealing with recurring cancer, and this really pushed me to test my own limits of what I could do with singing.
What is the ideal weekend for you?
Staying at home with my cat and my girlfriend.
Tell us what makes you smile the most? ☺
Cheesy as this may be, it’s my girlfriend. She says dumb things and makes stupid faces all the time because she wants me to laugh more.
Where do you see yourself in 2 years’ time?
Music-wise, I hope to still be writing and pushing out songs. Performing at larger venues around the world would be a dream come true.
Find out more about Isaac here!
Soundcloud
YouTube
