Singapore’s got talent in droves and this brilliant new wave of creatives prove it. Meet the artists, actresses, designers, bakers, and social media stars that are fearlessly carving out a path of their own—even with everyone else watching. Trust us when we say they’re the ones to have on your radar right now. Also known as @CaitOfAllTraits, the actress, voice-over artist and presenter has built a massive following online explaining the intricacies of the spoken word and its cultural and sociological implications.
How would you describe yourself in three words?
Caitanya Tan (CT): Introspective, curious, relentless
How did you find your niche?
CT: We don’t really need to look that far to find our niche. A person’s niche is the combination of everything they’re great at. Because no two people are the same, we all have a niche based on the experiences we have accumulated in our lives. Self-awareness is key.
Do you respond to trends or do your own thing?
CT: I am probably the worst person when it comes to trends. If I adhere to a trend, it must be because I identify with it in some way—the designer, the message, the colour scheme, vibe, lifestyle—but I find myself interested in things only if I can identify their purpose. So for the most part, I keep it simple. Less is more.
What is your idea of cool?
CT: Cool is marching to the beat of your own drum: nonchalance, and knowing yourself so deeply that one becomes unfazed. Cool is being able to create and recreate yourself. To me, malleability is cool. Bruce Lee said: “Be like water.” Bruce Lee was cool.
How do you stay creative and keep evolving?
CT: People: the way they think is fascinating. It’s almost intoxicating to learn about someone through the experiences they’ve had. Lyrics, for example, transport you into the heart and head of the musician. Sometimes your emotions choose the vibe, and sometimes the music sets the mood. It’s about being surprised, and letting it impact you in a way that helps you discover new aspects of yourself. Knowing the basics allows you to break the rules; to evolve, we must first understand who we are.
How do you deal with competition?
CT: I’m inspired. I want to know how they got there, not to copy them, but to appreciate the artist for finding what worked for them. Cliche as this sounds, but the only person you should be competing with is the person you were yesterday. I truly believe that.
Does being publicly visible motivate you or scare you? How do you handle criticism?
CT: I used to be afraid, but I knew that I had to understand social media in order to build my brand (which is me, the actress), because they can’t hire you if they don’t know you exist. But as I practised making videos, I learnt so much more than what I set out to do. I developed more confidence in my ideas and my message. I have to say, it’s not easy at first when it comes to criticism, but at this point in my life, I’ll say the one thing: it can only hurt you if you don’t know yourself. It’s not like I have it all figured out or anything, but I’ll cross that bridge when I arrive at it. I like being spontaneous. Surprise me, life!
What are some new things that you’ve been trying out?
CT: I don’t know if this is the time and place to announce this, but I am starting a product business, and putting my new-found tenacity to the test. It’s not something I’ve tried before and I’d like to try everything I set out to do at least once before I die, and this is one of those things. It’s been fun solidifying the ikigai in my brand’s DNA. Let’s see if introspection, curiosity and relentlessness will pay off!
What excites you?
CT: Challenges. I’m solutions-driven to a fault. It’s not like I go looking for them; they’re just a facet of life that I don’t shy away from. I like to discover them, and solve them creatively or with logic. I don’t see problems as big or small ones, but rather in terms of the number of steps I have to climb to get to the top. The higher the number, the bigger the satisfaction! On the flip side, if something is out of my control and I can’t do anything to rectify it, sometimes I get a bit antsy. But funnily enough, in that situation, calming the antsiness becomes the problem that won’t go away until it has taught me what I needed to learn, and so I focus my energy on that instead. Is that weird? Hahaha!
What is a motto that you live by?
CT: You either win or you learn. You never lose. It’s basically so on-brand for me. Failing gives you the opportunity to learn, and when you learn, you’ll know one more thing than you did before. It’s almost like I’m collecting seashells from every beach I’ve visited, but in lessons. Very fulfilling, 10/10 would recommend.
This story first appeared in the August 2024 issue of GRAZIA Singapore.
Photography JAYA KHIDIR
Creative Direction MARISA XIN
Styling KELLY HSU
Hair & Makeup KAT ZHANG, SVETA KLYN AND NICOLE ANG / THE SUBURBS STUDIO
Photography Assistants NOWO KASTURI AND NG KAI MING
Styling Assistant GLADYS NG