Inch Chua Interview: SXSW 2010

Hailing from Singapore and raised on the teeny-pop of the late '90s, Inch Chua creates her own blend of electronic folk music inspired by the Postal Service and Fiona Apple. Known in her homeland as the frontwoman of Singaporean alt-rock outfit Allura, Inch is eagerly anticipating her debut US performance at SXSW after releasing a pair of EPs in 2009, 'The Bedroom' and 'Peace, Love & Mistletoe.' Spinner recently caught up with Inch, who revealed her affection for a certain Australian and voiced her opinion that hip-hop is dead.

Can you describe your sound for readers who are unfamiliar with your music?

Kooky and quirky, just the way I like men.

In addition to your solo work, you also front Allura. Why did you decide to go solo?

Well, the guys from Allura had to serve national service and they will only be released in about two years. Hence, partly due to boredom, as well as seeing it as the right opportunity, I decided to take this time of hiatus to work on my solo material. The guys were really supportive of my decision. It was actually with their encouragement [that] I decided to go ahead, or else I would have just been stuck with my insecurities.

How do you change your approach to writing and performing solo, as opposed to when you're fronting a rock band?

I much prefer writing my solo stuff -- a little more personal and less genre restriction -- but I most definitely prefer playing and recording with the band. It's more fun 'cause there's more input, and when you perform, there's always security in numbers. I don't see any problems dealing with both roles, 'cause it's all about unleashing the right alter-ego for the right outlet.

So is Inch your real name, or is she your alter-ego?

Inch is actually my real name. Everyone thinks it's a stage name and even if they do find out it's my real name, I get a whole string of bad jokes.

What are your biggest musical influences?

Very varied. I grew up listening to what my Mum listens to: The Carpenters, Bee Gees -- all the evergreen stuff. Then I had my fair share of rebel punk rock, and then my current experimental, electronica phase.

While we're on the Bee Gees: Barry, Robin, Maurice or Andy Gibb?

Tough call. Robin, Maurice and I share the same birthday, which makes me feel cosmically connected for some strange reason [laughs]. Okay, I'm just kidding about the connected part, but I think I'll go with Barry! Manly looking man with caveman facial hair, but sings one octave higher than I usually do. Hot!

Between your cover of Britney Spears' 'Toxic' and the Backstreet Boys' 'As Long as You Love Me,' it seems like you have a soft spot for the teen pop of the late '90s and early '00s. Why did you decided to record those tracks?

As much as I wish I grew up listening to the great sounds of '50s, the flower power of the '60s, the disco of the '70s or the electro '80s, I'm undoubtedly a '90s kid. I think it was only in the '90s that I discovered MTV. Teen pop was pretty much what was hip then. Besides, when I first discovered MTV, my mother thought it was the devil and locked all the music channels, so all this music became like the forbidden fruit for me. And you know how these things go -- the more you don't have it, the more you want a taste of it.

What's your musical guilty pleasure?

Boy-band, girl-band music and hip-hop. Generally, I like to say that real hip-hop's dead, 'cause all you seem to hear now on radio is overproduced tracks about grinding a girl in the club or getting wasted. But occasionally you get really nice, catchy tracks that won't wash out your brain, like stuff by OutKast and Gorillaz.

What's the craziest thing you've seen or experienced while on tour?

I got hit by a car once in Malaysia. Allura was up there for a show. I was just crossing the road to head to the convenience store and a car just came out of nowhere and ran over my right toe. It seemed like the car was going so fast its tire just went right over my toe somehow. It was still intact, but it bled and hurt like hell.

What's your biggest vice?

Okay, I'll own up! [I'm a] compulsive nose digger.

Singapore is a long way from Texas. How do you view the challenge of playing at SXSW to a much different audience? What are your hopes and goals for your set?

9,837 miles to be exact and it would be the first time I'm setting foot on US soil, so I'm just excited as a kid about everything. I'm not sure what to really expect, but I'm just hoping to leave an impression somehow.


Dan Shapiro is a contributor from Seed.com. Learn how you can contribute here.