Celebrating South Asian Heritage Month
For South Asian Heritage Month, we’re celebrating our very own Vicky Pasion. To support the launch of her MOBO supported EP ‘SOUL STAR’, Pasion was the first to headline UNEARTHED, a live series produced by Asian Tones. We caught up with Pasion to ask her 5 questions…
Congratulations on being recognised as a trailblazing leader by Estée Lauder and Vital Voices Vicky! We wanted to take a moment, especially during South Asian Heritage Month, to celebrate you. We’d love to know more about you and if/how heritage plays into your art.
Thanks so much! I don’t think I can escape my heritage - it’s a part of my grounding and roots. I’m mixed - half Filipina, half Sri Lankan, born in London. When I think of my heritage so many mixed feelings come up… I love the vibrant colours, food, music and the idea of a huge community. I think of the beauty of nature, the value of humility, being of service to others, and the grounding of spirituality. Yet, in reality, my experience with my heritage is also complicated… I’ve spent most of my life ignoring my South Asian side as it’s associated with my absent dad and, well, it’s complicated…
Growing up, my South Asian heritage was rooted in feeling ‘not enough’. I felt pressure that creativity wasn’t a legitimate path to take, and this shame around exploring my passions and expressing myself led to years of unhappy choices… I’m also aware that I’m privileged to make choices for creativity, time and freedom - privileges my parents didn’t have. It’s led me here, connecting through my music and sharing my truth.
I’m also mixed - in 2019, I travelled to both places of my heritage, exploring feelings of disconnection, like I didn’t belong to one place or the other. This experience was life-changing. I learnt to authentically connect and appreciate both cultures, which has filtered into my music as I play with an exploration of home that we can all find within ourselves.
In every project I’ve released so far, I’ve also been intentional about collaborating with creatives and sustainable designers of colour; it’s been an incredible journey of unlearning and learning, uplifting rising female talent and feeling supported by a growing brown community.
Tell us a bit about your breakthrough into the music industry…
My breakthrough moment was at a session at Apple’s flagship store on Regents Street! I finished gigging my Soundcloud mixtape around London, and after headlining the Notting Hill Arts Club, I knew it was time to step away from the stage, so that I could begin creating my next project.
Around this time, I went to a session at the Apple store; the managing director of Notion Magazine asked us to pitch a UK based artist, a creative team, location and the reasons why Notion should feature them for a chance to bring this vision to life. I took a leap and bet on myself; in the moment, I quickly prepared a deck and pitched myself as the artist, a team of women of colour, and why I should be recognised as one of the UK’s rising artists!
I’m a big believer that success is preparation meets opportunity and I felt prepared to pitch myself in front of everyone. This was my breakthrough moment. My first single that was released on all major streaming platforms was featured on Notion, which motivated me to finish my EP, which led to a sold out show at the 02 Academy, Islington and being MOBO supported! Looking back, it will always remind me to trust in my instincts and, as an artist, to believe in your vision. What have you got to lose?
What is your proudest achievement?
To date, my proudest achievement is my latest EP ‘SOUL STAR’. During the pandemic, it was a tough season for most artists, especially for creatives in the live industry. Thankfully, I kept my creative juices flowing in LA, and kept writing and exploring a more intimate, R&B vibe. Once I got back to London, I jumped straight back into the studio and started my next project.
This project ended up being MOBO supported, and my leading single ‘Switch It Up’ premiered on Wonderland Magazine! This was a huge moment for me. I had the music visuals projected onto the walls of my performance at 26 Leake Street, and it was surreal. I’ve been on a journey of letting go, and I’m so grateful to my GIFTED team for helping me to celebrate my wins along the way.
How important is staying connected with your fans to you?
My connection with my fans definitely stems from my connection with myself. During the pandemic, social media became a way for me to stay in touch during an uncertain time; I held safe spaces for myself by holding virtual mindfulness sessions for young women in creative, wellness and activism spaces, inspired by my friend and mentor Yelda Ali. Being so present online was an affirming experience. Now that things have opened up, I still believe that there is a place for online communities, especially as we shift into autumn and winter. I’m an introvert at heart, so connecting with people in the comfort of my own home is perfect to me! What’s special is when those connections translate to a love for my music, and their presence at live shows... That’s where the magic happens!
Do you have any recommendations of platforms, books, music or resources that others might find useful?
For anyone that needs some motivation, I find artist autobiographies or documentaries inspirational - some favourites are Alicia Keys’ ‘Untold Stories’, Mary J Blige’s ‘My Life’, Ed Sheeran’s ‘Songwriter’, Billie Ellish’s ‘The World’s a Little Blurry’, M.I.A’s ‘Matangi/ Maya/ M.I.A’... and ‘Rocketman’, based on Elton John’s life, is fun and fascinating. ‘La Vie En Rose’, based on Edith Paif’s life, is heartbreaking yet beautiful.
For anyone that needs permission to open up to opportunities, read Shonda Rhimes’ ‘Year of Yes’ or anything by Brene Brown. There are Ted Talks online if you’re not much of a reader, and there are endless podcasts available to tap into.
I’d say create banks of mood boards that stimulate you and that you can draw on whenever you need inspiration. For me, a sense of safety has been key to my growth, so I’d also encourage you to join a community that feels warm and supportive, like Gifted, by Nature, Women Connect, Camel Assembly, the Stack World… Give yourself the best conditions for you to grow your gifts. Take a risk. Be gentle with yourself along the way and trust the process. Life is but a vapour.
Follow Vicky Pasion
Photographer: Nadia Meli | Designer: Azura Lovisa | Videographer: Anna Smith
