Boey: Keeping It Secret

Malaysian-born, UK-based singer-songwriter Boey is stepping into a new chapter with “Sweet Secret”, a sleek and intimate R&B track that finds him exploring the thrill of keeping a relationship away from the outside world. Written with producer and songwriter Hamish Tate in a single day after the pair met at a London music networking event, the track builds on the airy R&B sound of Boey’s previous release, “Sinners”, while showcasing the falsetto that has become a defining part of his sound.

But there’s more to Boey than romance. His songwriting moves effortlessly from heartbreak and falling in love to weightier subjects, with tracks such as “When Will It End?” and “Civilisation” tackling global inequality and giving space to voices that can too easily go unheard. Following his recent album The False Prince, “Sweet Secret” is the second single from a forthcoming new album, with a run of waterfall releases planned ahead of its arrival later this year.

With support already coming from Spotify editorial playlists and BBC Introducing, Boey is building momentum across two cultures and two music scenes — and, judging by what he has planned next, he’s only getting started.

1. “Sweet Secret” has a sleek, intimate R&B sound. What was happening in your life or creatively that inspired you to write a song about keeping a relationship away from the outside world?

I’ve always been a shy and quiet person in general, so I guess that carried over into my intimate relationships as well. I’ve really only been in one relationship my whole life, and I never made that one public either, even though it went on for quite a few years! So writing about a secret romance came quite naturally to me.

2. You wrote “Sweet Secret” with Hamish Tate in just one day after meeting at a music networking event. What was that session like, and how did the song come together so quickly?

Hamish and I clicked instantly! We explored some ideas for song themes and genres, and rather quickly settled on an R&B sound with a secret lover concept. He’s an amazing songwriter and producer, and took the song to another level. Prior to this writing session, I had only been writing songs on my own, so collaborating with someone else definitely brought some new melodic and lyrical ideas to the table.

3. Your music ranges from songs about heartbreak and falling in love to bigger issues explored in tracks like “When Will It End?” and “Civilisation”. How important is it for you to use your music to give a voice to people and issues that might otherwise go unheard?

I think it is absolutely important for artists to shed light on these issues through their art, because when heavy topics are explored in various media such as mainstream music, these messages reach audiences in a way that is not only easy to digest, but also difficult to ignore. I generally don’t limit myself to a certain topic when it comes to songwriting, so a new listener can expect to go through a rollercoaster of emotions when they go through my discography!

4. You’ve recently released your album The False Prince and now have more music on the way, including “Sweet Secret” and a series of upcoming releases. What can fans expect from this next chapter of your music?

“The False Prince” was written without any limitations of genre or themes, but I had essentially wanted my falsetto to be the mainstay throughout the album. With my upcoming releases, I’m doubling down on that concept, with more songs that showcase the light and breathy part of my voice which I have now embraced as my signature sound. I think I’m sharing this news here first, but these releases will eventually lead up to a new album at the end of the year!

5. You moved from Malaysia to the UK and have built your career across both scenes, with support from Spotify editorial playlists and BBC Introducing. How has living between two cultures shaped the artist and songwriter you’ve become?

I think that as songwriters, every experience that you have will inevitably contribute, in some way or another, to the songs that you write. I’ve had the privilege of growing up in Malaysia and now working in the UK, so I feel that every step of my journey has helped shape my creative output as an artist. Both cultures are so rich, and I’m still learning something new about British culture every week!