Singer, songwriter, and producer Fern Tan came through and sang “Lotus” with Cavill for this episode of Sound Fiesta. He has been steadily making strides in the industry through his mononymous stage name Fern. and through his clique at Kindred. From multiple awards including People’s Voice Favorite Collaboration award at the 2019 Awit Awards to being one of the pioneering acts at 88rising’s Filipino-centered label PARADISE RISING.
The independent artist does not want his genre defined, let alone be tagged as pop. “…I just want to create more art,” Fern. explained to us in a quick chat before his performance. This strong sentiment and unadulterated desire to express himself is thoroughly seen in his body of work, from his debut to his most recent release. His taste is only matched by his skillset that go hand-in-hand in creating dreamy and atmospheric sound that captures a relaxed and somber state of mind. We can’t help but agree that his music transcends genre and mood.
Hey Fern., how are you doing with the new album?
Pretty okay, I’m very happy with the relationships/connections i built during the process. I do think that I can do better in terms of the music that I put out though.
Will it still be in the “coolpop” genre as you described your works before?
That was a joke I used to make before because I didn’t like the fact that people called my music pop. I don’t really want to put myself or my music in a certain genre, I just want to create more art.
You and your peers at Kindred have ushered in a new wave of music in the country. Is it fair to say that this genre is more recognized now locally?
I feel like what we’re creating in Kindred goes beyond genres. A lot of the artists in the band come from very different backgrounds and I feel like that’s what makes it so special. The fact that we can create art and be aligned even if we come from different backgrounds musically.
Let’s talk about live performances. What do you like most about it?
I love just being able to connect with people genuinely through art. It does not get any better than that.
Do you have any pre-show rituals?
I always eat trolli gummy worms before performing.
Dream live performance venue?
Anywhere with genuine listeners.
When do we see you again?
When my mom allows me to go out of the house.
Sound Fiesta is in collaboration with Playhouse Studio for video production and Kindred Productions for audio management. This video was shot in The Astbury, Aspace, Makati City.
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