From grooving with funk collective Ryot Jones to standing in the spotlight solo, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1W2lXFuPedD_pKcnNZNVPg has always known how to put on a stellar show. The singer-songwriter sat down with FMT Lifestyle to discuss his unique musical blend of soul, funk, R&B and hip-hop.
00:00For me, the honest truth is the labels are the biggest hindrance.
00:06The growth of art and sound and experiences in terms of quality in Malaysia.
00:24If you've seen St. Kylo live, you'll remember the electric energy.
00:31His genre-blending sound of soul, funk, hip-hop and R&B leaves a mark long after the music ends.
00:50The multifaceted musician seems totally at ease in front of a crowd.
00:56It may come as a surprise to some to hear he's always nervous before a show.
01:01I've got a horrible stage fright. Until today, even though I do it so regularly, even performing to two people, I'm still nervous as I am to 20,000.
01:10I feel like it's so much easier to perform 20,000 than two.
01:14It makes sense that St. Kylo likes bigger crowds. He's performed for many large audiences over his career.
01:21The founder of funk band Riot Jones, the Taman Malawati-born performer, has opened for international acts such as Jaws Stone and British band Top Loader.
01:36He released his first solo single, Bad Bad, in 2022, followed by other hits such as Carole Baskin and Love Struck.
01:52It is perhaps no surprise that St. Kylo went down this path. He grew up in a musical family. His father was a percussionist and his mother was a dancer.
02:04I grew up with a lot of James Brown, BB King, Michael Jackson, Prince. So a lot of funk, soul, blues influence was my early, early influence growing up.
02:16I would sit in the back of my dad's car and like, you know, music would play Gypsy Kings, Santana, and then I would just be like picturing that I was doing that.
02:24And yeah, and then I just knew since I was young, like this was my calling. This is what I'm supposed to do. This is what moved me the most. And yeah.
02:33St. Kylo got his start at open mics across the Klang Valley, lugging his guitar from venue to venue.
02:42He recalls long nights waiting for taxis, hustling between spots just for the chance to perform.
02:48Today, he's singing for much bigger audiences.
03:03Yeah, I come from a really small place.
03:07On this corner of the world where big dreams can almost feel out of reach.
03:11But I've always believed in more.
03:12St. Kylo was recently one of 20 global artists selected for Jameson Distilled Sounds 2025, an international music platform curated by Grammy winner Anderson Paak.
03:31The results were the catchy Hollywood and electric anthem about big dreams in collaboration with Irish multi-instrumentalist Skinner.
03:39Musically, he hints that there's more to come, possibly even a full album on the horizon.
03:52A lot of times I've gotten the opportunity to sign a big label to sell out and do whatever, you know, like sing the pop stuff, do the typical thing.
04:00But I've been very, very stubborn and that has come with its drawbacks as well.
04:06It could be a lot easier if you just follow the path that is proven.
04:09But I've always chosen to walk in my own stride and trailblaze, my own direction and path.
04:14I say stay true to what you want because at the end of the day, when you make it, it will be the most fulfilling thing.
04:19St. Kylo is burning a path of his own in the local music scene, reminding us that the fundamentals of great music are simple, passion, authenticity and a lot of funk.
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