Alt-Pop New Zealand-based Malavsian pop star Reshma is excited to release her newest single and music video titled 'Where My Asians At?!?’ The bold single is a call to action to shed light on the lack of representation of marginalised communities in the local commercial music and arts scenes, alongside prejudices she has encountered from her own community.
"It's still important to ask auestions and spark discussions about representation, what community means for those who come from different backgrounds, and how to bridge that gap to connect with evervone equally." savs Reshma.
'Where My Asians At?!' is a reflection of Reshma's personal experiences as a woman navigating the music industry and her search for community after relocating back to Aotearoa New Zealand.
"There's a line in the song where I mention the personal stereotypes people have placed against me, specifically the assumption that I'm Gujarati, which I'm not. I was nervous about putting it in the track in case it got misunderstood," she says. "The idea behind that lyric is to challenge the mistaken stereotypes people put on us based on how we might look."
The track is paired with a bold music video directed by Jolin Lee, a writer-director based in Auckland. The choreography for the video was done by well-known K-Pop dancer and choreographer Rina Chae. The Auckland City of Music, Boosted, and the POC community provided support for the production, both in front of and behind the camera.
Reshma thinks of 'Where My Asians At?!' as "a fun, upbeat, feminine rage song, perfect for a gym session or walking into a job interview thinking yeah, I got this!" She emphasises vou don't have to be Asian to appreciate the track, and hopes that it inspires questions about representation and inclusion for all communities.
RESHMA is an alt-pop performer, singer and songwriter residing in Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa (Auckland, New Zealand).
Born in Klang, Malaysia and raised in Taranaki, New Zealand. Malaysian pop sensation RESHMA rose to fame when she appeared on Akademi Fantasia, a popular Malaysian music reality show, in 2016. Her powerful vocals, bubbly personality, and undeniable stage presence quickly established her as a rising star in Malavsia.
As her popularity soared, the popstar moved back to Aotearoa to work on her next project and introduce herself to an English-speaking audience. With a sound that fuses her diverse musical influences, RESHMA challenges the norms and expectations of pop music, drawing inspiration from artists like Kimbra, Thabani Gapara, No Frills Twins, and Marina and The Diamonds.
Now known for her code-switching, the artist has worked alongside artists such as Sasi the Don, Lauren Gin, An Honest Mistake, Mazbou Q and more. She toured Japan, kick started her music career on Malavsian television show Akademi Fantasia and competed on New Zealand' Popstars series.
Follow her at @reshmamartin