Non-binary Malaysian artist Moreofthem releases new EP pertama/01 and it’s having us hooked on what’s next
Courtesy of Lorena Cristea
By Lorena Cristea
Whether you’re wondering who’s the next sensation in the underground London scene, we’ve got you! Moreofthem, London-based artist of Malaysian descent who goes by the pronouns they/them, has just released their latest EP, pertama/01, in a magnificent show at Freddie’s Bar, the heart of University of West London.
Courtesy of Lorena Cristea
The opening act was Jean-Marvell, a Londoner singer and songwriter with an impressive soprano range and soulful lyrics. Growing up in a musical household, Jean has it all! From the vibrant stage presence to the perfectly built orchestra, he’s going to make you wonder ‘Who’s this guy? I should check him out ASAP.’ His original track, Pedestrians, is definitely worth checking on, as he narrates the underneath, the avoidance of one’s sentiments towards another, and nevertheless, the fear of being true to ourselves, as seen in the lyrics ‘In this mirage, we all keep love to our feet/ Walk on emotions, we’re too blinded to see/ We’re nothing but pedestrians’. And if you’re into The 1975 type of sound, then Jean will satisfy your musical taste buds with the hypnotic vocal chords he possesses.
After a quick break that left the audience ecstatic for the next act, Moreofthem joins the stage, along with their band. The first track they played was capture the moment, a song rooted in attitudes such as chasing opportunities and leaving social norms aside. The beat, although it reminisces a hyper-pop/ y2k punk-rock sound, is very much of a gen Z manifesto, lyrically speaking: ‘Fixated on dances, fit in with the masses/ Rant account for emotional bagging’. Moreofthem, although an artist that has a baggage of achievements to accomplish, takes the responsibility of an advocate, a voice for the voiceless. This is particularly more noticeable in the track so predictable, where they dig into the never-ending dilemma of attachment issues.
Courtesy of Lorena Cristea
What makes Moreofthem so relatable and stand up in a generation who is more comfortable sharing their mental health issues publicly is that they know you’ve been there and nonetheless, they’re creating a platform through what they know to do best, which is music. What I’ve found compelling is that they’re not afraid to play with music genres, they’re willing to take the risk.
The night ends with their own interpretation of blink-182’s All the Small Things. And if you grew up cutting your bangs at home and having posters all over the room with your favourite punk bands, like I did, then you missed out on a moment worth taking you back into the nostalgia of being the ‘social reject’, wrapped around the frequent phrase ‘but it’s not a phase, mum, it is who I really am!’
Moreofthem can be found on platforms such as Instagram, where they regularly update fans on their upcoming gigs and concerts, as well as Spotify, where you can now have a listen on their EP.