By Jocelle Koh & Sinead

Not to be confused with Sinead O’Connor (the loved singer), OUR Sinead is much loved by the Asian Pop Weekly community too! Hailing from the UK, but having spent time in Beijing and Taiwan, Sinead and I bonded over a mutual love of Guo Ding and the rest is history. 

Five years later, she’s celebrated many milestones with us, graduating from writing lyric translations and news articles to interviewing some of her favourite acts for Asian Pop Weekly. 

With an interest not only in mandarin music but also all the different sounds and textures which make up the Asian music landscape, Sinead’s thirst for unearthing unique perspectives and focusing on nuances rather than big commercial trends continues to contribute deeply to what Asian Pop Weekly has evolved into today.

1. Hi Sinead! By way of introduction, can you share with us your favourite artist of all time and why?

My favourite artist changes all the time, so let me go for my favourite artist of the moment instead! It has to be Su Yunying 蘇運瑩and especially her single ‘Yuan圓’. I love it the uniqueness of Su’s voice, also the beautiful lyrics about the natural world. It somehow makes me feel both peaceful and full of energy at the same time.

2. You grew up in UK but spent some time in Beijing and also Taiwan. What was it that piqued your interest in Asian music?

At first, I was using it as a study aid, another way to learn new vocab. Then I slowly stumbled across artists I really loved (Li Ronghao 李榮浩 and Cosmos People) and the YouTube algorithm did the rest.

3. As someone who has both an eastern and western perspective on music scenes, do you think that we see more bridging of gaps and crossovers than before? What’s your favourite crossover of 2024?

There have always been crossovers and collaborations, but perhaps we are more aware of them than before, and of course it is now easier than ever to work together internationally. Top collab of the year has to be the Hyukoh/Sunset Rollercoaster who have gone one better by creating an entire album together.

4. How do you think being open to music from different cultures shapes our perspectives and contributes to a better world?

On one hand, music can be used as a way of learning about other people – a window to another language, culture, or way of looking at the world. But sometimes (more often?) I feel like it is less about differences and more about similarities, about the lyrics that speak to you or the beat that moves you, about that moment of connection. Even if it’s only for the duration of the song, I think music does have the power to remind us we are all human.

5. You’ve been working with APW since 2019! What’s your favourite piece you’ve ever worked on and why?

The one I think about a lot is the interview I did with Fool and Idiot. It was one of my first ever times interviewing a band, and especially one which I was such a huge fan at the time (Jocelle can tell you). It felt like a huge milestone and privilege to work on.

Interview with Fool and Idiot 傻子與白痴 – The Rise and Rise of Fool and Idiot – Asian Pop Weekly

6. Which music scenes in Asia currently excite you the most/have a special place in your heart? 

I am excited about the Thai scene. It feels like Thai dramas/music are becoming much more well-known abroad, and thanks to the international popularity of artists like Phum Vituphurit and Lisa, more eyes will be turning that way. 

7. If you were to suggest three Asian artists to an overseas listener, who would you suggest and why?

I would have to try to cover all bases! First, No Party for Cao Dong 草東沒有派對 for their classic, anthemic Taiwanese rock. Then Reese Lansangan for her soft acoustic sound. And finally some Gareth T for the laid-back, but also pretty soulful, Cantonese RnB.

8. What is your biggest wish when it comes to shaping international perspectives around Asian music?

I think there can be a certain conflation of certain music styles and songs, with many scenes reduced to their most famous singers. I would hope to see more nuance in understandings of the scene, and that this could build further interest.

This article originally appeared in Asian Pop Weekly’s 15th Anniversary ‘fluffy’ zine in a piece titled: ‘In Conversation with Asian Pop Weekly’s Sinead & Arya – A Sum Of All Parts‘. Get the zine here.