Southeast Asia is rich with creative talent waiting to be discovered. Behind some of the popular media you know and love lie extraordinary stories of pure grit and passion. And it is these lighthouse stories that have lit the way forward for future talent from the region to find their own place amongst global giants.

So here’s to the dreamers whose creations have made a significant mark in their respective fields, and beyond.

Kuok Meng Ru – CEO and co-founder of BandLab
Kuok Meng Ru saw an opportunity to democratise music creation when he moved back to Singapore after studying overseas. What if your first musical instrument was already in your pocket – on your mobile phone? And with that, BandLab was born. An all-in-one empowering platform for community, collaboration and creation, the music platform has successfully launched the global careers of musicians including d4vd.

Wisdom for aspiring creators: “Be authentic. Pick something that aligns with who you are.”

Nguyễn Khánh Duy – Associate art director
From failed architecture school applicant to associate art director at the legendary Riot Games, Nguyễn Khánh Duy relentlessly forged his own path with his passion for art. His wins at student art competitions attracted the attention of Riot, and he’s been creating skins for League of Legends heroes that are loved by millions of players worldwide ever since.

Wisdom for aspiring creators: “Treat every little thing you do – every small asset, every detail – with full respect. You never know when your work will become part of something huge.”

Joy Ngiaw – Composer
Not only has Joy Ngiaw won an award for her score in Apple Original short film Blush, the Malaysian composer also made history as the youngest composer to write the logo music for major studio Skydance Animation. Alongside her professional accomplishments, she’s passionate about breaking barriers as a Southeast Asian woman in the film and TV scoring world, taking pride in paving a path for more diverse voices in the industry.

Wisdom for aspiring creators: “Own your voice and embrace your identity. Stay true to who you are and never underestimate what your story can bring to the table.”

Listen to Joy’s compositions

TangBadVoice – Rapper and director of photography
TangBadVoice, or Tawanwad Wanavit, is one of Thailand’s most distinctive rappers with his reference to resonant real-world issues in his music. Not content with painting vivid pictures with his music (for which he creates his own album art using Procreate), he’s also the director of photography for the hit series Gelboys and an accomplished photographer in his own right.

Wisdom for aspiring creators: “Experiment with everything. If it works, it works, and failing doesn’t mean failing. Failing is just another path.”

Listen to TangBadVoice’s music

Hindia – Singer/Songwriter
Baskara Putra, better known as Hindia, first appeared on the Indonesian music scene as the frontman of alternative rock band Feast. Raised as an artist by Logic Pro and its community, he’s since embarked on a path as a solo artist, releasing critically acclaimed albums, not just for how good they sound, but also for their deep vulnerability spanning topics from his personal life to social issues.

Best piece of advice ever received: “Wear your references and inspiration on your sleeves. Never shy away from showing the things you’ve seen and heard that make you tick.”

Listen to Hindia’s music