Taiwanese R&B singer, actress, and creative artist 9m88 (pronounced “Jo-m-Baba”) shared the soulful single + video “Whatchu Gonna…?” from her newly announced sophomore album 9m88 Radio, out August 8 via her label Jazz Baby Co. and Waves Collective. 

Produced by Rainbow Chan (AUS), the track’s jazzed-out production smoothly slides under 9m88’s silky R&B vocals as she croons over a break up, letting go of her past to begin again. “The song’s talking about organizing and tidying up a house to let go of a previous relationship. 

After a break up, I needed to take control back, and I didn’t want to feel like a mess anymore. It’s a goodbye song to an old lover and to my past,” 9m88 explains. A gorgeous, artfully styled music video directed by Candice Lo is paired with the intimate song, complete with colorful sets and stylistic dancing as 9m88 packs away her old relationship with the help of her friends. 

What’s your story as an artist? 

I was a fashion design major but I grew up loving singing. After a fashion internship in New York, I entered The New School Jazz and decided to chase after a music career in a D.I.Y way. I’ve been trying to establish my own label and expand my crew ever since. It’s been a fun ride and hopefully we will gradually connect with people from different places!

How did your rich heritage shape your creativity?

By having the influences and education from the East and the West, I get a chance to interpret my works through different lenses. It’s fun to play with the sound and the combination between two languages and visual styles.

What inspired this last release (“Whatchu Gonna…?”)?

One day when I was cleaning up my room and folding up clothes, I realized my inner self was in  a chaos just as my room was. I needed to swipe out some unnecessary or even toxic stuff in my life. Those toxins are like murky ghosts lingering around and trying to throw messages that I don’t need to hear. I guess this is a ritualistic and cathartic song of saying goodbye to the past,  like throwing away a bag of garbage.

Do you get inspired by other art forms?

Fashion is something I adore. I also love movies for sure. I enjoy going to the movies by myself. “Decision To Leave” by Park Chan Wook was the latest one I went to by myself !

Any funny anecdotes from the time you were recording or writing this?

I’m a rather serious person who I could only see struggles most of the time lol! I think I found so much joy receiving demos from my collaborators. They helped me carry out the vision of the record. 

What’s the worst aspect of the music industry today in your opinion?

Haha! Algorithm is a terrible idea. It unveils the greedy side of people. For us musicians, we are supposed to make something we are passionate about, but algorithms make some of us try to cater to a certain way of making music. And sadly, numbers matter for the industry and that makes me anxious too.

What’s a record that shaped your creativity?

So many records that have influenced me. I really love “Attica Blues” by Archie Shepp. It’s groovy, jazzy, self-advocated, and soulful.

Who is an artist or band you look up to today?

Daniel Caesar. I feel he is an artist who never loses his cool. Tasteful and low-key. 

What excites you the most about what you do?

I remember talking to someone that I admire with amazing talents along the journey, and I’m glad I’m doing it. My latest album “9m88 Radio” is the proof. I’m really grateful!

What is your view on genres and music styles since you mix a lot of them in your music?

I used to think I should stick with only one genre like Jazz or R&B and try to shred the woods as much as possible. But in that way, music won’t be that fluid. I want to play with different styles, perspectives, and phrasing so the music can provide something interesting.

What does music and art mean to you?

Music is something you can embody “time”. You go to a concert and listen to a band play that lasts for an hour, and you’re constantly listening to every single piece of sonic information. It’s the best way to pass time and really embrace minutes and seconds by not just staying in your head, and to share common interests with fellow audiences. Art is a personal thing, I think everything can be curated/ narrated as art. Music is definitely an art form and it’s rather amicable and resonant. 

How would you describe your act in one word?

Starry-night 🌌