Dubbed as “TED meets SXSW,” Singapore’s Music Matters Live has long been one of the most exciting music industry platforms in the Asia Pacific. Functioning as both a conference and a festival, the event aims to foster connections and spark dialogue by gathering musicians, fans, and professionals alike. This year, the event introduces CreatorWeek, a week-long celebration of some of the buzziest emerging talent from around the world. Taking place from May 7 to 11 at CQ at Clarke Quay, this inaugural edition will feature over 50 burgeoning artists from 16 countries, across four nights and seven venues. With so much to pick from, why not rely on our handy guide to discover the freshest and most fashionable acts on this stacked lineup?
Find the full artist lineup and schedule here
Based in Singapore, this 18-year-old Italian-born singer-songwriter is certainly one of the brightest youn talents the country has to offer. After garnering an impressive following of over 20 million streams and views on YouTube and TikTok, this Gen Z sensation has since gone on to perform on big stages in Japan, the Maldives, Malaysia, America, the UAE, and even at last year’s F1 Grand Prix in Singapore. Buoyed by infectious singles such as Fighter, Hypocrite, and 7Oceans, Matilde G’s vibrant dance-pop repertoire is definitely a can’t-miss.
After graduating from Berklee College of Music, this young Hong Kong-based songstress went on to incorporate her four-octave vocal range into her uniquely soulful and sensual sound. As a self-taught arranger and producer, Celine Wanyi fuses elements of house, funk, UK garage, R&B, and pop into her sophisticated songwriting, which has quickly found a devoted fanbase. Following head-turning showcases on 88rising Radio and Soho House’s Soho Rising series, Celine is now poised to wow her motherland with her genre-bending compositions.
In 2022, Jewel Owusu won Triple J Unearthed’s Collaboration Competition, catalyzing a swift rise for the half-Filipino and half-Ghanaian singer-songwriter and producer. Since then, singles such as b-day and hurts, alongside EPs like happyforyou and Jool Wave, have made her the talk of the town in Melbourne, Australia. Combining R&B, hip-hop, indie, and alt-pop, her captivating sound forms the canvas for her authentic and self-reflective lyricism. Armed with songs that vividly resonate with the Gen Z experience, Owusu is set to become a breakout star.
Although they were formed fairly recently (through ABS-CBN’s Star Hunt Academy), Bini has rapidly become one of the hottest P-pop (Pinoy pop) groups in recent memory. The band’s name, which is taken from the Tagalog word “binibini” (meaning young lady), emphasises the group’s ethos of representing the modern Filipina – “sweet, fierce, independent, and informed.” And through two albums, two EPs, and 13 singles, these eight effervescent girls have certainly done just that with their blend of throwback bubblegum pop and contemporary EDM.
Hailing from Mumbai, Maalavika Manoj, better known by her stage name Mali, has already achieved plenty of milestones in her short career. From collaborating with Oscar and Grammy-winning composer AR Rahman, to headlining the first edition of Lollapalooza India, to her single Semi Automatic Butane being featured on Fortnite – it’s safe to say that Mali is on the cusp of mainstream global popularity. She deserves every bit of that acclaim too, because her angelic voice and classic pop sound are nothing short of spectacular.
Influenced by the likes of A Tribe Called Quest, The Internet and Jhene Aiko, Fi-Ne is a bilingual hip-hop and R&B duo with a string of hits in both Mandarin and English. Made up of Taiwanese singer-songwriter and keyboardist Suzy Lee alongside Panamanian-Guyanese drummer and MC Philip D’Avilar, these married musical partners thrive in their contrasting styles, which can deftly go from rap and jazz to pop and electronica in a blink. Riding high off their excellent 2023 album The Awakening, Fi-Ne should certainly be on your watchlist.
Initially formed by Indonesian siblings Gamaliel and Audrey Tapiheru, the group first gained attention in their teens when they began performing covers on YouTube. Amazingly, one of their viewers, another popular YouTuber named Cantika Abigail, contacted the duo to join the band, resulting in the birth of GAC. Since then, this trio has gone on to release three successful LPs via Sony Music. Known for their spirited amalgamation of hip-hop, R&B, and urban contemporary, the only thing better than their albums are their live performances.
Few possess a voice as powerful or as expressive as Nao Yoshioka. With a string of critically adored albums under her belt, this Japanese soul siren has garnered renown everywhere from her hometown of Osaka to her current home base of New York City. As her star-making performances at legendary stages such as Blue Note, Apollo Theatre, and Capital Jazz Fest (the biggest soul festival in the United States) have proven, her extraordinary pipes are the real deal. But beyond her laid-back croon, the magic of Yoshioka’s music lies in her sublime songwriting.