Aisha Retno's latest English track, 'ILSM' picks up from the events of her previous single, 'WHUT'. Photo: Handout
Malaysian artiste Aisha Retno is not one to shy away from experimenting with music.
During her four years as a singer, the 22-year-old has dabbled in genres such as R&B, pop, ballad and EDM.
In her latest single, I Love Sadness More (ILSM), released on Nov 18, Aisha shows her versatility in music by experimenting with orchestral tunes.
Speaking with StarLifestyle, the singer revealed that her penchant for orchestral music and love for classic Disney tunes inspired this track.
“The coolest thing about working on this song is getting to try out orchestral tones. Having a song with a fairy tale-ish vibe is something I’ve always wanted to try ever since I entered the music industry,” she said.
Aisha added that the arrangement of her song was heavily inspired by American singers Madison Beer and Ariana Grande whose tracks “pay homage to classic Disney tunes from the 1940s and 50s”.
Despite the fairy tale sound, the story behind ILSM is less than magical.
In the track, Aisha laments a heartbreak she previously experienced and how she is struggling to move on despite finding someone new.
According to the singer, the inspiration behind the lyrics stems from a personal experience.
“I got together with someone and sang about my infatuation on him in my previous song (WHUT).
Aisha Retno placed third in the fourth season of Malaysian singing competition show, 'Big Stage'. Photo: Aisha Retno/Instagram“But he didn’t turn out to be the right person for me, and we broke off. I’ve found someone new now, but it is still hard for me to forget (about the ex) and move on,” Aisha explained.
The artiste revealed that the songwriting process was quick as it was “a soul-baring track that came straight from the heart”.
“I spent two to three days completing ILSM. Everything came so naturally because it’s a song that’s very frank and raw.
“I poured my true feelings into it, especially the chorus ... it really tells what I’m going through now,” Aisha explained.
She added that she also drew inspiration from Joji’s Billboard Hot 100 hit, Glimpse Of Us, while working on the lyrics: “His song tells the point of view of the guy. Mine is like a rendition of his but from the perspective of a girl.”
Easier said than done
Through ILSM, Aisha wants to let people know that moving on from a past love is easier said than done.
Although the message was well-received by fans, the singer admitted that the track was criticised by a some netizens for its “harsh lyrics”.
“There were a few naysayers who gave me negative feedback. They told me I should feel blessed to be in a new relationship instead of whining about the past,” she said.
When asked if the negative comments affected her, Aisha told StarLifestyle that they used to affect her when she first started out. However, she’s taking it more positively now.
“Along the way, I learned that you can’t please everyone. There’s going to be haters no matter what you do.
“But that’s the thing about haters. They say they don’t care but they still comment and keep up to date with what I do.
“It kind of shows they care, you know? So nowadays, I just ignore it and carry on with my day,” she said with a smile.
At the moment, Aisha is focusing on promoting ILSM as much as she can.
She is also one of the 50 judges selected for the second season of Astro’s singing competition show, All Together Now Malaysia. As for future projects, Aisha hopes to release an EP next year as a gift to her fans.
She plans on writing new Malay tracks for the mini-album to appeal to the mass market.
“Releasing an EP may be the biggest responsibility I have to shoulder yet since it’s also my debut album.
“But the support and positive comments I have received so far keep me driven, to work hard and take up the challenge,” Aisha explained.
ILSM is now out on Spotify and YouTube.
