We had the good fortune of connecting with Amrita Soon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amrita, we’d love to hear what makes you happy.
It’s the little things that make me happy. Like finding matching sox, hearing grandma laugh, time with family, ice skating, finding a giant dandelion, and making a wish on it. Music makes me happy. Writing and performing, getting to express and share emotions, experiences, and stories with an audience make me happy. Happiness is seeing my friends and family happy. I didn’t realize how much happiness was around me until I stopped trying to do everything and be everywhere for everyone. I’m learning that happiness really is fleeting, and you can still feel happy even if you feel other emotions too.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m very much an introvert, and the thought of being an artist and performing never crossed my mind- for me, or my parents. I feared being in the spotlight and talking to people. Expressing myself and performing was one of the biggest challenges I had to overcome. Sometimes it feels like a song wants to be heard and along with the support and encouragement from the people around me, it gives me the courage and motivation to keep at it. What was very reassuring was realizing that everyone feels the same emotions, so there’s not really a brand new idea that hasn’t been thought of. What sets me apart is that I’m sharing from my perspective and my voice, but it’s the same idea and feelings someone else has already written about in the past. It takes a lot of the pressure of trying to be different! Music has taken me on so many adventures I never even dreamed of- performing in Nashville, on television in China, and recording my own music and I’m always pleasantly surprised when these things happen.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We Malaysians are really proud of our food, so we would probably go have Roti at a coffee shop (we call them mamak) in the morning, and visit the twin towers and the lovely bookstore at the mall there. If the weather is good, we’d go to the park and then go listen to some live music.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My family and friends, and friends I co-write with. I don’t know where I’ll be without their support, encouragement, and advice.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amritasoon/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/amritasoon

Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0amxkyGtZNA3pn83mkrtNz?si=vXBsbmdbTWeTk1YnHaLX7w

Image Credits
photo (at Bluebird cafe of performance with cello and guitar) taken by Patricija Belak

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.