Queer Malaysian singer Alextbh on embracing his sexuality, living in a conservative society and going global

Alexbth has gone from his first YouTube song getting four views to his single Stoop So Low being streamed 20 million times

He talks about openly singing about homosexuality in his home country, which is known for being conservative

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Haneesa Begum Published: 27 May, 2020

Malaysian singer Alextbh sings openly about homosexuality in his conservative home country.

MUSIC VIDEOS BELOW

Living in conservative Malaysia has not stopped the proudly queer Alex Bong from making waves in the music industry. Going by the stage name Alextbh, he writes songs that deal with relationships and heartbreak, and are mostly inspired by experiences in the modern-day dating world.

The Sarawak native got his first taste of music production when he was only 14. After his mother gave him an iPad, he started experimenting with the music software Garage Band. The first song he posted to YouTube received just four reactions.

Ten years on, the 24-year-old has appeared at festivals across Asia, opened for international stars including US singer Khalid and British electronic band Clean Bandit, and toured with Australian soul/R&B sensation Jess Connelly.

With a sound that straddles minimalist R&B and dream pop, Bong has notched up more than 400,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. The singer’s most played single, Stoop So Low, has so far been streamed more than 20 million times on the platform. Bong says Stoop So Low track represented a turning point in his career. Moving away from soundscapes inspired by electronic dance music (EDM), Stoop So Low became his first venture into R&B genre.

“I started with EDM because a lot of YouTube tutorials revolved around very loud, ‘synthy’ soundscape designs,” he tells the Post. “Once I made Stoop So Low, I realised the beauty of minimalist R&B and putting [my] vocals centre stage. [My musical style] has settled on R&B and I’ve been sitting here comfortably since then.”

Alex says that his recent tracks have pushed the envelope further, with lyrics that unapologetically embrace his sexuality.

Between, released in April, is accompanied by an enigmatic lyric video, featuring close-up shots of male bodies and blossoming flowers. This is the first track in which he discusses sex, using words such as “guy” and “boy” to refer to his lover.

In the past, Bong admits he subconsciously omitted such pronouns, perhaps because most of his fans are female.

“I have always been writing about heartbreak … never really about sex. I wanted to write a song that fearlessly expresses my sexuality without having to navigate my way around lyrics to make it sound neutral,” Alex explained.

This month, Bong released a music video for Moments with colourisation that gives a subtle nod to classic Hong Kong films. Moments acts as a prelude to his forthcoming EP, exploring the modern-day hook-up culture.

Set for release on June 12, Bong describes his new EP The Chase as his most “open and honest record” so far, hoping it will spark discussions on hook-up culture in the gay community. Specifically, he says that “relationships nowadays are so frail” and that “dating apps take away the opportunity to get to know someone before hooking up.”

Bong has shown that it’s possible for an out and proud performer to experience success in conservative Malaysia. Although some performers in the country’s music industry still disapprove of queer lifestyles, Bong says that there is a close-knit community of LGBT people supporting others creatively – and those are the fans he chooses to focus his energy on.

Malaysian singer Alextbh has many fans and ignores the haters.

With loyal fans hailing from the US to Indonesia, he pays no attention to the haters. “I’ve learned from the get-go that it is easier to brush off the negative responses because I’m here minding my own business, and I’m feeling great about myself,” he says.

“For one show, I brought my friends, because they’re amazing and talented drag queens. I brought them on stage with the pride flag, and it was queer as f***. It was like a big relief … knowing that there is a community out there that is so supportive in a country so repressive and so against us. It’s great to know in that one moment, for one night, I had the ability to make people feel at home.”

Bong says he originally wanted to please his parents by taking a more viable career path – which led to him completing a diploma in engineering. Only a year into his music career did he come clean to his parents about his real job. Fortunately, they were supportive and Bong has never had to look back.

Instead, he is set on going global. Bong says his long-term plan is to move to London or Los Angeles to be closer to his management team. With the coronavirus outbreak putting things on hold, Bong is keeping busy creatively, writing new songs and eagerly awaiting fans’ response to his upcoming debut EP.

Alextbh’s debut EP The Chase will be released on June 12