Countdown to Magic: Exciting Insights from Artist FIG Ahead of Her Big Night in LA!
By. Alicia Zamora
A Conversation with FIG
In this exclusive interview with Alicia’s Studio, we sit down with Fig, a rising star in the indie pop scene. Hailing from Malaysia and now based in the bustling atmosphere of New York City, Fig has been making waves with her distinct sound and powerful lyrics. With her first headline show in Los Angeles just around the corner, excitement and anticipation fill the air as she prepared to showcase her artistry to a live audience.
As we chat, Fig reflects on her journey so far, having opened for notable artists in LA and how it feels to take the stage as a headliner. This moment marks a significant milestone in her career, allowing her to establish a deeper connection with her fans and create a memorable experience centered around her own music. Fig's passion for her craft shines through as she shares her thoughts on the energy of the crowd and the importance of her upcoming performance.
Additionally, Fig is set to perform songs off her album "FITS" live for the first time during this show, and we delve into the emotions tied to this album. Join us as we explore Fig’s inspirations, her creative process, and what it means for her to share her artistry with the world.
Diving In
Fig: Hi! I'm Fig, and I'm a Malaysian indie pop singer based in New York City.
Alicia: Congrats on your first headline show in Los Angeles! What’s going through your mind as you prepare for tonight?
Fig: Well, I've done a lot of shows in LA but opening for people, so I think it's just cool to finally do a headline show after opening for such amazing artists and just kind of finally see what the vibe of the crowd is at my own show.
Alicia: You’ll be performing FITS live for the first time at this show. How does it feel to finally bring these songs to the stage after working on them in the studio?
Fig: It's been cool.
Fig: I've been working on this project for a while, and I think it makes me feel more mature, so I think it'll be fun to just kind of... I used to also avoid writing about relationships, so I think it'll be a fun one to finally perform and be able to finally release songs that I feel comfortable with doing on those topics. So yeah, I'm excited.
Alicia: Is there a particular song from FITS that you’re most excited to perform live or one that you think will really connect with the crowd in a special way?
Fig: My favorite is “Solo Dates” because a lot of the time when I perform it, I’m like, who's here by themselves? And there's like one person, I'm like, 'What, why is there only one person here on a solo date?' But then I think, hopefully, more people will come to the show as a solo date. I relate to the song the most because it's a big personality thing for me doing things solo, so yeah.
Photos by: @elainetantra
Alicia: Do you have any pre-show rituals or ways to calm your nerves before hitting the stage?
Fig: Yeah, so I drink this thing called Pipaka and it's this like syrup, this throat syrup, this thing right here. I drink two of them, and if I don't drink two of them, I think I'm going to do really badly. It just soothes my throat, and I've been drinking it for a long time, so that's my pre-show ritual.
Alicia: Exciting news about your new project FITS! What inspired the project's name and what does it mean to you?
Fig: I kind of wrote it based on throwing a fit and being very angry, how I sometimes feel internally, wanting to be super dramatic, have a giant pencil, and draw everywhere, but not actually doing that on the outside.
Fig: So, I think it represents how sometimes I am doing these actions inside but actually not doing them on the outside, and how inside we have free will to do anything we want in our mind, so yeah.
Alicia: What’s your favorite track on FITS and why? What makes it stand out to you personally?
Fig: One of my favorite tracks is “Opposite Day” with this rapper who I love. His name is Yoshi T. I've been a big fan for so long, so I was very honored when he said he was down. And yeah, we shot a really fun music video of us playing basketball, and it was fun. So it's just a very fulfilling song. I definitely like bringing in a lot of collaborators that I love dearly, so it was an awesome track to have on the project.
Alicia: How do you hope listeners will connect with the music? Is there a specific emotion or experience you want to evoke through these songs?
Fig: This project is especially about the beginnings and ends of friendships or relationships, not just the sad endings but actually the happy endings and the feeling of relief and finding yourself after these friendships and relationships. So, I hope people find clarity or inspiration to be comfortable with themselves, which is very important. It’s a feeling that I hope people will experience.
Alicia: From the perspective of creating and performing, how has your relationship with your music evolved over time?
Fig: I think with performing and creating, I've definitely started to like, doubt myself less. I used to doubt myself a lot and feel really scared about just saying or presenting an idea. But I think now, I feel more comfortable presenting ideas to collaborators, even if it's bad, and being like rather than keeping it in my head and feeling blocked or just expressing myself and letting everything out. You can have ten bad ideas, but at least one of them can be good. At least you let it out, and you can see what it looks like outside of your head, so that’s something that I’ve been doing recently.
Alicia: Is there a song on FITS that you think will surprise your fans, or that’s different from what they might expect from you?
Fig: The song “Let It Burn,” which is the last song on the project, was definitely different. I did it based on a movie scene that I love. It's about leaving a situation, burning everything that comes with it, and leaving it happy. I think that song is definitely just different, tonally. I think fans would like and appreciate it.
Alicia: What would you like people to think when they hear the name “Fig”?
Fig: Corn, which is very opposite but also wanting to frolic in a field and having no care in the world.
Alicia: What’s next after the Los Angeles show? Are there any upcoming tour plans or special performances you’re excited about?
Fig: I'm doing some college shows, but nothing yet. I tore my ACL, so I'm going into surgery, and I'm like, 'Yeah, I'm out of it for like a few months.' Hopefully, I can go on some tours and do other things after that. But right now, we are more healthy, focusing on health, and then we'll see where it goes.
