Boey is a singer-songwriter from Malaysia who is now based in the UK.
He writes songs for the broken-hearted, for those just falling in love, but most importantly, for the people whose voices are not heard. His recent releases, “When Will It End?” and “Civilisation,” address the current state of the world and highlight the disparity between people living in different parts of the globe.
Fresh on the heels of his new album, The False Prince, Boey has no plans of stopping. Now more than ever, he feels that music and art have important roles to play in shifting society’s perspective on current issues. Stay tuned for more music from Boey in the near future.
With The False Prince out now, we took some time to hear from Boey. Read below to learn more about Boey, the story behind The False Prince, and what’s to come.
Hi Boey! Let’s start with how did you get your artist name?
Hi there! “Boey” is actually my last name. My friends used to call me that in college and university as it’s simpler and easier to remember than my first name. Over time, I started introducing myself as “Boey” to strangers, and it just made sense for my artist name to be “Boey” as well!
What city are you from, and where are you based now?
I’m from a small town called “Ipoh” in Malaysia. I grew up there and moved to the UK for my university degree. I’m now based in the UK where I’m working as a hospital pharmacist.
At what point in your life did you decide to pursue a career in music? How did you get started?
Ah, I wish it were a career! It’s still very much a hobby at this point. But after university is when I basically decided to put out my music on streaming platforms. I got started in music when I was in high school – I learned the violin when I joined my high school orchestra. But, writing songs has always been a creative output of mine. Learning the violin just ensured that I had somewhat of a musical foundation to build upon.
How has your upbringing played a role in shaping who you are and defining your sound?
Growing up, my parents and sisters would play a range of different genres of music at home. I guess this crept into my subconscious mind, and that’s why my songs are rather diverse in terms of genre. But as I began writing more songs, I feel that I’ve now found my groove in RnB music.
How would you describe your sound to readers who may not be familiar with you?
I’d like to say it’s a mixture between contemporary RnB and piano ballads. You will find that in my catalogue – I essentially flip-flop between those two genres quite a bit.
Do you have any hobbies outside of music? What do you do to stay creative?
My day job really consumes most of my time, but when I do get a chance to relax, I’ll either write music or play video games. I’m a huge Nintendo nerd – Zelda and Pokémon are my two favourite video game franchises. Fun fact: I can probably name all the fully-evolved Pokémon in the whole series!
Who are some of your main musical influences?
This is an easy one! Mariah Carey is my main musical influence without a shadow of a doubt, in particular when it comes to singing in falsetto. I just love her airy falsetto or “whispers” so much, and you can probably hear some of that in my music. I also listened to a lot of Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran in my teenage years, and I would say that they definitely inspired me to become a songwriter.
What’s one of the proudest moments of your music career so far?
I’m still very much in my early stages of my musical journey, but I’d say being played on BBC Introducing in Kent earlier this year with my friend, Jemerine Chan was a highlight for sure. In fact, any radio play I’ve received whether in Malaysia or the UK has been exciting for me, as I grew up listening to the radio and discovering new music through radio play.
What would you say are the greatest lessons that you’ve learned so far?
To just go for it! Shoot your shot in whatever you’re passionate about. If it’s something you want to pursue, you just need to get yourself out there and make opportunities for yourself.
Now onto your release, The False Prince. What inspired this album?
The False Prince was inspired by my fascination with experimenting with my falsetto. I wanted every song on the album to have some sort of falsetto featured on it. As I’ve developed as an artist, I’ve grown to understand my sound more, and I think that my falsetto has become something that my listeners tend to associate me with.
What is the overall theme of The False Prince?
I explore a range of topics on The False Prince. It starts off with “When Will It End?,” which is a song that talks about the current state of the world and highlights our growing helplessness and frustration at what’s happening out there. “Civilisation” is another song which dwells on this topic too. On the other end of the spectrum, you’ll find songs like “Sinners,” which encourages you to break through your boundaries and live your best life. So, I guess there isn’t an underlying theme throughout the album, other than my use of falsetto in each song.
What was the inspiration behind the cover artwork for The False Prince?
I wanted the visuals of the album cover to feature some sort of connection to royalty, as the name of the album implies. I was initially considering wearing some sort of royal costume for the artwork photo, but then I decided that it would look more like a Halloween costume than a sleek look which I was going for. So, eventually I settled on just using a crown as an accessory, which I think worked out well in the end.
What was the creative process like when making The False Prince?
Whatever scrap of time I could find outside of work, I would be writing songs! The theme of the song would vary depending on my mood at the time, which explains why the album covers such a diverse range of topics. I would send my vocal demo to my trusted producers, who are based in Romania and Indonesia! And, I started writing this album in Malaysia when I was still working there last year; I then continued writing the album when I moved to the UK for work. So, it’s definitely a body of work that has grown with me over the past year or two.
How long did it take to complete The False Prince?
I’m actually writing two albums simultaneously – The False Prince is essentially only part one of this project. Both albums are finished now (that’s a secret!), and I took about a year and a half to write and record them.
Is there a specific song on The False Prince that speaks to you the most? If so, why?
The album opener, “When Will It End?” is one of my proudest compositions, as I feel that it perfectly summarises how most of us feel in this current global landscape. What’s happening in some parts of the world is cruel and almost inhumane, but all we can do is watch as innocent people suffer through senseless conflicts. I do think there is hope for peace in this world, but it will take a concerted effort from all of us to ensure that there is some kind of change before the world as we know it ceases to exist.
What message or messages do you hope fans take away from The False Prince and your music in general?
To speak out about current issues and take a stand against prejudice and inequality in our society. This world can change for the better, but only if we all play a part.
What’s next for you? Are you working on any upcoming projects, or do you have any upcoming shows that we should be on the lookout for?
I’m working on the visuals for my next album! I can’t share too much information about it at the moment, other than that it is a reflection of the tracks you hear in The False Prince.
Where can we follow you on social media?
Website: https://linktr.ee/yikmingboey
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yikmingboey
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yikmingboey
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6rgGhhquiyHRb9IodAYGYU
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/boey/1665339436
Before you go, let’s ask you an off-topic question. What is your favorite food?
I can’t resist a good burger or tortilla wrap!
Thank you for the great interview; wish you much continued success!
