For those who are not in the know, Singapore multi-hyphenate Nat Ho (he sings, he acts, he produces, he does a host of things really) went to Los Angeles in 2019 to further his studies in Music Production at Icon Collective after the conclusion of the Channel 5 long-form drama, Tanglin. Nat returns with his latest single “Next Better Playa” in 2021 to remind fans that music runs deep in his blood.
Nat co-wrote “Next Better Playa” with Grammy-nominated Singapore producer-songwriter Tat Tong, and the song also features singer-actress Gayle Nerva.
“Gayle and I were shooting Tanglin at that time, and since she is also a Singapore Idol alumni, it just made sense. She was super cool about it, and we recorded her parts in just one afternoon, vocal acrobatics and all! I have so much respect for her,” enthuses Nat.
Released on all major platforms on 23 April 2021, “Next Better Playa” is a pop single inspired by an 8-bit retro gaming sounds blended with a subtle touch of big band influence. While the track is being described as “unabashedly pop” in the press release, “Next Better Playa” goes beyond the label to impart an inspirational message.
“The fact of the matter is, in this game of life, it is near-impossible to play solo, and whoever we choose to team up with matters. Many people have inadvertently experienced both heartache and headaches of partnering with people who may not have been ideal for them — be it in terms of friendship, love, or business, so this song is a reminder to stay the course, to keep moving forward, and trust that the Next Better Playa will show up,” shares Nat.
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“Next Better Playa” comes three years after Nat’s previous single, “Battleship” in 2018. However, the latest single has been recorded for a while — ““Next Better Playa” was actually written and recorded a few years back, before I moved to LA. However, a lot of times, music releases are also about timing, and this feels like the right time to release it. Coincidentally, there’s a huge nostalgia wave in music right now, and the 8-bit retro gaming inspiration is something that many people will fondly remember. The message of the song is also especially apt right now after the global events of last year. Life is short, we should spend it with the people who keep it 100%.”
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Nat further explains the gap between the releases, “I was dealing with a lot of life/survival matters at the time. Between filming Tanglin and juggling my F&B businesses, I barely had enough time to even rest and my health actually suffered as a result. I decided to use these few years to get things in order and allow myself to get to a better mental space, so that I can give the song the proper attention it deserves, especially since I have two other amazing Singaporean creatives on this track — Gayle and Tat Tong. I wanted their talent and effort to be showcased properly.
Come 30 April 2021, the “Next Better Playa” music video will be released in the form of an 8-bit themed lyric video animated by Sydney Wild. Nat’s decision to release a lyric video in lieu of past music videos that showcased the dancer in his multi-hyphenate repertoire is one of practicality yet being on point.
“At the time where the music video was being conceptualised, I was in LA while Gayle was in Singapore. And given last year’s pandemic situation, it just made better sense to keep it logistically simple. I was introduced to Sydney Wild by one of my friends in LA and I was impressed with her animation work. Given the 8-bit retro gaming inspiration for this song, an animated lyric video felt like the perfect medium to showcase this. Sydney did an amazing job with it, and I think she has a wonderful animation career ahead of her,” explains Nat.
Can we expect more music from Nat anytime soon? “Yes, absolutely! I’m planning to release an EP later this year or maybe early next year, and that’s gonna be exciting cause it’ll reflect my new sound as a person and artiste, so stay tuned.”
After adding “Next Better Playa” into your playlist, click here to catch up with our April 2021 issue.
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