Latest news with #ZoeTan
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Free Malaysia Today
Local gal Zoe Tan hits the right notes in New York
Zoe Tan expresses how she truly feels through her songs. (Andrea Rhiannon Edmonds @ FMT Lifestyle) PETALING JAYA : Like many seven-year-old girls, Zoe Tan was hooked on Disney Channel's Hannah Montana. She dreamed of standing on stage, belting out bangers, and winning hearts – just like her pop idol. 'I remember standing up on the sofa, pretending to sing like her, and realising this is something that I really wanted to do one day,' Tan shared with FMT Lifestyle. 'But I just didn't have the confidence that I would be performing my own songs.' Today the 24-year-old from Petaling Jaya, who is completing her degree in recorded music at New York University, is a budding singer-songwriter in the American city, with the singles 'Distance' and 'Walk Out The Door' already under her belt. 'I've had a hard time communicating how I feel straight up in person sometimes. But when I'm songwriting, it's the total opposite. I'm completely fearless and I have so much courage within myself,' Tan mentioned. The second of three siblings described her sound as 'cinematic folk music', a genre she's carving out with her own flair in the Big Apple. Tan is slowly establishing herself as a self-made singer-songwriter in New York. (Izzul Ahiaks) 'I wouldn't be where I am without growing up in Malaysia. That's where I found my voice,' she said, naming Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, Shawn Mendes, and Ed Sheeran as key influences. 'What I bring to New York is my community and culture. My music is about creating connections through shared emotion.' Back in Kuala Lumpur for a short break, Tan is set to perform at Jao Tim on July 11. She'll also be releasing her debut EP next month, titled 'I Will Never Go Back to the Way Things Were Before'. 'Cinematic folk music is music that you can see, hear, touch, and feel with every fibre of your being. There's a certain perception of folk music that we have in mainstream media that I want to alter,' Tan explained. 'I want to bring elements from pop, soul, and R&B into my music … it's about capturing that feeling in the same way a movie does.' Tan hopes to tour the world with her brand of cinematic folk music someday. (Andrea Rhiannon Edmonds @ FMT Lifestyle) But music wasn't always centre stage. Tan once danced to a different beat – literally. Ballet, tap, modern dance, and figure skating filled her early years, thanks to her parents' encouragement. 'My school was putting up a Little Red Riding Hood musical and that's how I was introduced to musical theatre. I was so enamoured by the idea of music and performing. Of course, after trying out I realised I didn't like it and I went back to figure skating.' As fate would have it, music found its way into Tan's life through Ed Sheeran. She remembered falling in love with Sheeran's ability to 'tell stories that wasn't like a stage performance … he was just a guy with a guitar and I wanted to do something similar'. Her first song that really hit the right note? 'I'm At A Party And I Don't Want To Be Here' – an anthem about social anxiety. 'I was so proud of how I captured everything I was feeling. My parents loved it, too. It meant a lot because songwriting comes from such a personal place,' she added. Tan was inspired to stand on stage and sing just like her inspiration, TV's 'Hannah Montana'. (Hellen Madeitt pic) She recalled her very first public performance in New York at Pink Frog Cafe 'being scary' as it was away from the safety of her university. But soon, Tan found her voice through the kindness and support of the public. A high note in her journey so far? Performing at The Bitter End, a legendary music venue in Greenwich Village. 'Singers like Joni Mitchell and Taylor Swift have performed here. I remembered genuinely feeling the magic and the energy of all the artistes who have performed there before when I was up on stage. It was just a powerful feeling. It reaffirmed what I was doing,' Tan recounted. Ultimately, Tan hopes her music makes Malaysia proud – and one day, she dreams of taking it on tour around the world. 'I'm not in this dream for the money. It's just the feeling that it brings me every time that I do it. My ultimate dream is to just be able to live off of what I do comfortably, and to be able to share that and to grow my community,' Tan concluded. Follow Zoe Tan on Instagram.
Rakyat Post
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Rakyat Post
What's Happening This July Weekend: Pilates, Film Festival, & More
Subscribe to our FREE This weekend seems like a fun-packed one with the 8th Malaysia International Film Festival underway, a new music release party, and a water-filled celebration all the way in Johor. Here are some picks for a fabulous weekend: Legoland Splash Carnival | Until 3 August | Legoland Malaysia | Ticketed event Legoland Malaysia's Splash Carnival promises the wildest, wettest five-week of fun for the whole family. The theme this year is Music Fiesta so expect an exciting lineup of activities and musical performances from Malaysia's up-and-coming stars. Activities to look forward to include Boat Race, Dunk Fest Fun, Melody Quest, Water Limbo, and Beats on the Beach. Remember to get tickets from Legoland Malaysia's official website Rizal van Geyzel Live Standup Comedy | 18 July | KL Comedy Corner | 9pm onwards | Ticketed event Rizal van Geyzel, the co-founder of Crackhouse Comedy Club, is headlining the show this Friday in an intimate setting. Known for his no-holds-barred approach, the audience can expect a hilarious yet thought-provoking show. Tickets cost RM60 for singles while couples (2 pax) cost RM100. Get your tickets from Peatix Pingmin Weekend Market | 18-20 July | Pingmin Hub | 5pm-12am | Free public event This weekend, guests get to enjoy delicious food and drinks and shop for lifestyle goodies like candles, artwork and handicrafts, and clothes. The market is pet-friendly and entry is free. Flow at The Campus | 19 July | The Campus Ampang | 10.30am | Ticketed event Join a high-energy mat Pilates session set to live DJ tracks by Coffeeboy Records this Saturday! It's a strong core-focused class so get ready to leave the class feeling sculpted and chiselled. Remember to bring your own mat. Slots are limited so do get your tickets from The Flow Studio Sip & Indulge Afternoon Tea Party | 19 July | TGV Cinemas | 3pm | Ticketed event TGV Cinemas is throwing a fun tea party featuring a cake decorating workshop and a strawberry tiramisu workshop. Guests are encouraged to come dressed up according to theme – elegant, fancy, and floral. Interested? Head over to TGV Cinemas official website KL Heritage Sketch Walk | 19-20 July | GMBB | 10am | Ticketed event KL Heritage Sketch Walk, led by Gladys Simpson, is a unique, leisurely walking tour through Bukit Bintang. The tour blends storytelling and sketching while participants explore hidden lanes, heritage sites, and vintage charms. The tour also includes a gastronomic journey; sampling curated local bites and drinks in old Kuala Lumpur. Remember to get tickets from Entree Pass Zoe Tan x LOOOP: I Don't Feel A Thing At All | 19-20 July | 7pm-10pm | Ticketed event Zoe Tan is releasing her upcoming single 'I Don't Feel A Thing At All' on Friday, 18 July and is celebrating the moment with a two-day takeover of the store, AFTER HOURS, over the weekend. Come enjoy great live music, good food and drinks, and possibly win some sweet gift cards from LOOOP. To register, fill in the Google Form 8 th MIFFest 2025 | 19-27 July | GSC MyTown & Lalaport | Ticketed event The 8 th Malaysia International Film Festival is back with a diverse range of interesting movies from around the globe. There'll also be interactive post-screening Q&A sessions and thrilling activities. Tickets cost RM15 per person and can be bought from GSC's official website Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
