It’s funny how we are all constantly searching for new records, somehow forgetting the good ones that have already been released. ‘young adult fiction’ belongs to that exact category, a vibrant, nostalgic and meaningful album dating back to 2023. Penned by UK-based, Malaysian-Bornean creative a-shes, the record takes us back to the early 2010s, sparking a heartfelt number of memories; the early days of social media, the ever-famous Tumblr subculture, and playful hints at the recession pop and early indie-pop era – a quality that seems to be slowly coming back into mainstream limelight.
In fact, ‘young adult fiction’ is drenched in DIY flair, seeking the thrill of glorious bedroom pop movement. Does anyone remember George Pringle making music with GarageBand? That’s what a_shes has done too, finding the path of least possible resistance for his unfiltered, evocative artistic expression. Eventually, under the smoke of music nostalgia, the talented creative showcases his most precious quality: heartfelt, relatable songwriting, an element that’s rather timeless and intimate.
Intrigued by the project, we caught up with a_shes to find out more about the album and his artistry, not to forget future goals… Interview below!
Hey a_shes, thanks for chatting with us! It’s been almost two years since ‘young adult fiction’ was originally released, yet the album still feels truly contemporary and relevant. Part of it must be credited to your songwriting style, very evocative and relatable. On your end, do you still connect to the record? Is it still a fair representation of what a_shes stands for?
Oh yeah, for sure – it is a record that I still revisit to this day. For me personally, it’s a perfect time capsule for what I was feeling at the time, connecting me to a younger, more naïve, a little more anxious version of myself. I’ve always described this as an 18-25 coming-of-age record, which is an age range where so much is happening to you, yet we don’t necessarily think of it as “growing pains”. I wanted to make a record that encapsulated those feelings and put them into sound.
As for whether it is still representative for me… I think it was representative of a version of me that is emotionally true, but I see myself going down a different path right now in my life; only time will tell how this will affect the direction my music will take.
You mention the early 2010s as a pivotal time in your music upbringing. What first drew you to making music? Is there a particular artist who inspired you along the way?
The early 2010s were my teen years, and I think that’s where your musical taste starts to take shape. It was a very nostalgic time in my life; I was a Tumblr kid and spent way too much time online… but I learnt so much about myself in that process. I actually never had any aspirations to make music as a kid – I wanted to be a writer, and still do. But songwriting is just another kind of writing, just set to music. The person who helped me realise this was Lorde; she has this very poetic approach to her music, which she attributes to her poet mother. I realised then that I could tell stories of my life through music and have it resonate just as hard, which is what her music has done for me – she’s the reason I do everything that I do artistically.
Music must truly be a personal affair for you; I’d be interested to know whether you are more motivated by songwriting or production, as in, does your artistic vision start from a particular sound first, or do you work through themes and storytelling?
It’s an interesting question! I don’t know, I think it depends. When I first started out, I definitely began with lyrics first, then melody, then production, but as I started to become a better producer, I would then try to come up with a beat first, then figure out the rest from there. However, I always start with a global concept that defines the overall song; it’s how I ensure cohesion in my record. From there on, I figure out the sound the production will take.
Following up on the previous question, I do feel like there’s a great deal of cohesive sound design and production in ‘young adult fiction’. In fact, it’s one of the album’s interesting features. You are not only sharing great songs, you are evoking a vibe, and that truly matters to me, as I believe music flourishes on sensations and feelings that are not easily expressed by words. What’s your view on that?
Wow, thank you! I truly believe that production has to be onomatopoeic to an extent for it to be immersive. I wanted YAF to sound like the soundtrack of a coming-of-age movie, so I leaned into the dramatic, cinematic, and nostalgic elements in my production to really draw out the sensation that whatever it is you’re going through feels like this grandiose feeling, when it is instead just a mundane thing that everyone else is going through.
But that’s kinda where the magic lies – in the universality of the specific, which I tried to capture with my sound. Also, I was missing 2010s pop music, so I wanted to write something that celebrated that; they don’t make music like that anymore.
Is there a particular track in the album that you are especially proud of?
‘jet streams’, for sure. It was always meant to be a deepcut, but those arpeggiated guitar plucks transitioning into keys halfway through, and the beat drop that makes u feel like you’re taking off for a flight… I lowkey gagged myself making that.
You mention the COVID-19 pandemic as part of your overall inspiration; how much has such a painful event influenced your songwriting? Looking back today (2025), what are your takeaways?
God, what a crazy time, so many things happened to me all at once in the span of 2 years…but I think it also forced me to sit down and reflect on where my life was heading and whether or not this was something I wanted. It forced me to get up off my ass and actually start doing the things I put off because I convinced myself they weren’t realistic. It felt like the world was ending, and I was running out of time – it was a make your art now or never kinda moment!
What are the next steps for your project? Anything exciting on the horizon?
Hmmm, as I mentioned before, only time will tell. It all depends on so many factors. But I do have something cooking – it’s not in the oven yet, but the ingredients are there…
