When he announced that he would be retiring his Gentle Bones project in Singapore last July, Joel Tan also comforted his surprised listeners by assuring them that there was still plenty to come from him.
What followed was a period of silence, which — unbeknownst to many — was a time when preparations were made for the next chapter of the singer-songwriter's career.
Reemerging this February as the latest addition to Warner Music Asia's lineup, Gentle Bones delivered on his promise to his fans by unveiling the very first page of that chapter — 'The Right Words'.
The 28-year-old recalled encountering writer's block while trying not to "dilute the message of [his] previous positive music", and it was this obstacle that would go on to become the inspiration behind the number.
"It was a song that we all loved and agreed would be right. So the agreement and the consensus were the reasons for it being the first song. I think it was perfect. It really stretched me sonically and thematically and I think it resonated with the team who would build on top of the audio to promote it," he shared.
With his sights set on spreading his music beyond Singapore and growing his international following, Gentle Bones is also working on a new EP, which is expected to be unveiled sometime during the third quarter of this year.
Speaking to Hear65 in an interview, Gentle Bones explained how he came up with his latest single, shed some light on his decision to close the Singapore chapter of his career, and teased what fans can expect from his upcoming EP.
Hi, Gentle Bones! To get us started, tell us what you’ve been up to in the last few months.
I have been working on new music to put out which has come into fruition in its beginning phases via the release of my latest single ‘The Right Words’.
Who are some artists from the region you’ve been listening to lately?
I've been listening to Rangga Jones, and Valentina Ploy and keeping up with Clara Benin’s stuff.
The announcement that you would be retiring the Gentle Bones project in Singapore came as a surprise to everyone last year. Could you shed some light on what led you to make that decision?
Why I made that decision was mainly because of just a couple of shifts. [One was] what I want for my life. I think the whole Gentle Bones project was a huge privilege for me to have been a part of, especially with its very — I would say at least to me — quick and very exponential success ever since I started it as a YouTube channel when I was 16. So the covers were doing really well. And then my first single 'Until We Die' did really well.
Yeah, so I think it was about time after many years of great experiences and learning and growing as an individual person. I think it did end up being a little disorientating for me as an individual to be purely seen as an artist that goes by the name of Gentle Bones. So I'm going to be concentrating on my personal pursuits where I'm from. And I think there's a lot of room for me to grow as an individual outside of being a singer-songwriter. I've been very appreciative to have been a part of the music industry and to have contributed to the music industry. I think as with anyone, you know, life has many twists and turns. I'll always be a fan of what Singapore has to offer [to] me with music.
"I think there's a lot of room for me to grow as an individual outside of being a singer-songwriter."
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Congratulations on signing with Warner Music Asia! How did this partnership come to be?
Thank you for the congratulations. I was very lucky to have been approached by Nicholas Cheung of the Warner Music Asia team, actually. He reached out and he was interested in signing Gentle Bones. I'm just honoured that [he] noticed what I've been trying to do as a singer-songwriter for a while. And so I think it was a good opportunity to release more music with a team of very prominent industry professionals and see where it could go.
Now that you’ve begun a new chapter of your career, how have your goals and expectations of yourself changed?
I've never really had many. I always try to live up to the expectations of those that I work with. And because of what Gentle Bones has become and [also because] the amazing projects that it has produced are clearly not the result of just one person's work, I always try to just provide the most I can to the people around me. I think growing together has always been a good plan, in my opinion, so I [will] just continue to do that.
"Because of what Gentle Bones has become and [also because] the amazing projects that it has produced are clearly not the result of just one person's work, I always try to just provide the most I can to the people around me."
You’ve mentioned that you’ve “reached the point where you feel that continuing to release positive music only dilutes the beauty in the messages of [your] previous songs”. How does your new single ‘The Right Words’ address this?
I wouldn't say my new single addresses how continuing to write positive music only dilutes the message. But it was an inspiration for the song in the sense that [there was a] very simple idea that I didn't want to dilute the message of my previous positive music, and therefore I was a bit stuck. And then the writer's block served as inspiration for ‘The Right Words’.
And interestingly enough, as the song was written, it also kind of revealed a lot more depth to the idea of writer's block in the sense that the right words are hard to find these days. I always try to write stuff that not only keeps up with the music I'm interested in nowadays but also keeps up with how much I've grown as a person, therefore encapsulating that in the song. Yet, I also try to be genuine in the sense that I try to write music that can serve to empower others or at least provide some sort of emotional identification. I think 'The Right Word' sums it up pretty well.
"Interestingly enough, as the song was written, it also kind of revealed a lot more depth to the idea of writer's block in the sense that the right words are hard to find these days."
This is your first release under your new label. What made you decide that this was the right song to reintroduce yourself with?
I wouldn't say it was the right song to reintroduce myself with. I would just say that it was a song that we all loved and agreed would be right. So the agreement and the consensus were the reasons for it being the first song. I think it was perfect. It really stretched me sonically and thematically and I think it resonated with the team who would build on top of the audio to promote it.
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Let’s talk about your forthcoming EP. In what ways does it differ from your past releases?
I wouldn't try to encourage listening to it by saying that it differs from my previous works. But I would say that it has definitely encapsulated a lot of the electronic musical lessons that I've learnt throughout the years [while] going back to folk/acoustic pop roots that I started my singer-songwriter journey with. I think that the ideas that this EP will address will hopefully reveal more insights into the themes that I usually explore.
"I think that the ideas that this EP will address will hopefully reveal more insights into the themes that I usually explore."
Credit: Gentle Bones Facebook
Aside from releasing new music, what other plans do you have to expand your reach internationally?
I just hope to release music and just, you know, creatively have fun. And I think always I always try to keep in mind that I am to create music that will inspire or at least bring new revelations to the people that have been listening to my music for a while. I think it is important that we grow together. So if I'm able to reveal any form of growth [and] if it helps those listening to it, then I think I've done a good job.
"I think I always I always try to keep in mind that I am to create music that will inspire or at least bring new revelations to the people that have been listening to my music for a while."
Finally, do you have any words for fans who have been awaiting your return?
I'm just very glad to be releasing more music and hope to continue to improve as a singer-songwriter. And hopefully, [I can] just be of service to not just those who listen but also those who work with me and we can move from there.
This interview has been edited for clarity.
