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Malaysian musician who can play 30 traditional instruments is captivating millions online

Belle Sisoski reveals how she fuses EDM with traditional instruments to create genre-defying sounds as she spearheads a cultural revival

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Belle Sisoski’s unique sonic identity has earned her more than a million followers on each of her major platforms, with her YouTube videos amassing over 100 million views. Photo: Belle Sisoski
Winnie Chung

At just 19 years old, Belle Sisoski moves with the certainty of an artist twice her age.

While her peers navigate university life, temporary jobs – even the occasional existential crisis – this Malaysian performing artist has already mastered more than 30 traditional instruments, composed genre-defying electronic anthems and built a social media empire, all while spearheading a cultural revival of Southeast Asia’s endangered musical heritage.

In today’s segmented music industry, where artists are packaged in neat little boxes, Sisoski defies categorisation.

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Classically trained pianist? Check. Digital native with millions of followers? Absolutely. Ethnomusicologist preserving near-extinct tribal instruments? Without question.

Her live performances that see her seamlessly shifting between throat singing, electronic production and traditional instruments would already be career-defining for most artists.
Belle Sisoski is known for her one-woman show that combines the ambience of ethnic instruments, cinematic music and electronic elements. Photo: Belle Sisoski
Belle Sisoski is known for her one-woman show that combines the ambience of ethnic instruments, cinematic music and electronic elements. Photo: Belle Sisoski
Her distinctive aesthetic – shaved sides with a warrior’s braid, slicked-back hair, well-known fashion accessories of Sarawak – mirrors her musical philosophy. Each performance and composition layers cinematic strings, pulsing electronic dance music (EDM) and indigenous instrumentation, all anchored by her remarkable five-octave range.
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