In line with Chivas Regal’s global “I Rise We Rise” tagline, we chat with Jovynn and Mr. Yang on perseverance and success. 

The Malaysian music industry has introduced us to a tremendous amount of game-changers and trailblazers; be it in pop, EDM, rock or hip-hop. Individually, these artists bear the torch of shining success with their respective talents — but together, they form the rhythmic gust that carries the entire industry forward. Such is the philosophy behind “I Rise We Rise”… as Chivas Regal so poignantly puts it.

Like the Chivas Regal XV, a blended scotch whisky, teamwork truly matters. The coming together of various components with their very own roles and responsibilities can result in terrific outcomes. You will also find that very notion in the realm of all things DJ. More than just someone behind a booth, a DJ’s set feeds off everything from the crowd’s energy and the dancers to the lighting and sound systems.

From the get-go upon meeting Jovynn and Mr. Yang, you notice a convergence of trailblazing DJ-ing qualities — comprising styles, zeitgeists and more. Both staples at events, festivals and clubs, the Malaysian DJs have garnered quite sublime reputations for themselves for their abilities to get the party going. The DJ community is a tight-knit one and both Jovynn and Mr. Yang are great examples of that. After all, it’s all about thriving as one winning collective.

Mr. Yang is in the house

Mr. Yang (or Yeoh Wai Hong) is someone who really needs no introduction. One half of the group BATE (with Ethan Curzon), he has been a mainstay in the Malaysian DJ scene — pioneering the way one infectious beat at a time. In 2018, they unveiled ‘One I Love’, a debut number featuring Radio3000 and Blake Rose. Now, the song has almost 17 million streams on Spotify. Later in 2020, BATE teamed up with Simon Webbe on the song ‘Casino Royale’.

It’s been a decade or so since Mr. Yang began his journey as a DJ in Malaysia and since then, he has truly flourished. Synonymous with dance and great times, the maverick is still at the top of his game. It sure seems like there’s really no stopping him in his tracks. The embodiment of a cool and calm demeanour, his onstage persona is definitely more on the spirited spectrum.

“I’ve always liked dance music and I picked up DJ-ing when I was 21. Ever since then, I just got stuck with it,” he expresses, adding that his career in the profession started via playing at house parties. In spite of being a role model in the industry, Mr. Yang (a software engineer during the day) acknowledges that there’s always room for improvement.

While every set can be different depending on location, occasion and the audience, the main objective is to entertain the crowd — and that’s what keeps Mr. Yang going. “It’s about feeling the crowd’s energy and making people happy, and making new friends in music,” the veteran adds.

Music has always been a massive part of his life. Growing up with dreams of becoming a singer, he listened to a lot of post-rock artists before moving into dance music. He names icons such as Zedd, Skrillex and Swedish House Mafia as the reason he got into the genre.

“Now, I’m slowly moving into techno and I draw most of my inspirations from Alignment and Klangkuenstler to name a few,” quips Mr. Yang. It’s exactly his ability to find new ways to not only keep the excitement going for the audience but also improve his skills that has gotten him to where he is today. And that’s a true personification of “I Rise We Rise”.

“I Rise We Rise” is an allusion to shared success and teamwork; and Mr. Yang encapsulates that ethos best. “In this industry, we are all in the same group and we are pushing this community in Malaysia together”, he mentions. Coming up, fans can expect a lot more original releases from Mr. Yang — including a collaboration with Ashley Lau.

Jovynn finds her own style

One look at Jovynn and so many vivid ideas come to mind. Her eclectic style, her vivacious sets and her affable personality, to be specific. The thriving young DJ might only be 22 this year but she has added a wide array of milestones to her highlights box. Her journey is a musical wonderland and she invites anyone who dares to join her.

From performing at Good Vibes Festival and Out Of The World to SUPERVERSE in Dubai, Jovynn has gone international. Known for her cyberpunk-esque outfits and catchy tunes, the star has found herself a space where she can both express herself and also entertain the crowd. She’s also beloved for her brilliant mixes of acapellas and memes with trending songs.

For some, it might be bizarre to think someone who picked up DJ-ing during the pandemic would be at the level of success Jovynn is at right now. However, her meteoric rise to win-dom boils down to tenacity, determination and the will to step out of her comfort zone.

“I took my first lesson at a local academy and from that first class, my interest just grew. It was during the pandemic and I was really excited to pick up a new hobby. I remember forgetting about everything else in the moment when I’m with my deck,” Jovynn says.

Since then, her skills as a DJ have slowly fostered with every performance she does. In fact, the ‘No Drugs’ and ‘Your Attention’ creator is now a highly anticipated act at festivals and clubs. In a DJ scene that consists of so many different types of personalities and genres, it’s definitely exciting to see the talent shine.

When it comes to what she loves about being in the industry, Jovynn credits that to the opportunity to meet fellow creatives. “It’s really nice to hear their input as well as what they like and dislike. Being with other musicians and DJs really inspires me,” she adds. She feels like that is what it means to embody Chivas Regal’s “I Rise We Rise” tagline. It’s about being there for each other and having each other’s backs. “You are not alone in this industry and we are all going to go up together,” she asserts.

Jovynn first played to the screen at the beginning of her DJ-ing chapter but now spins to massive live crowds. Here, she gets to interact with people — be it with the audience or with Cherry Bomb, a collective that includes herself, Ashley Lau, Aidaho and more. The all-female DJ group also turns one this year.

Later in August 2024, fans can groove to Jovynn’s sets during her Indonesia Tour consisting of seven dates, including Jakarta, Surabaya and Bali. She will also be heading to Kuching in September for Borderland Music Festival.

Meet Jovynn and Mr. Yang at Chivas Regal’s upcoming events at Desire Speakeasy (23 August) and Sinderella (24 August). Learn more HERE.

editor-in-chief MARTIN TEO | words RONN TAN | photography AIMAN YAZID | videography JACKIE MAH & SIMON TAN | makeup JOEY YAP | hair ALVIN WONG (WENAWAVE) | wardrobe COACH