Meet Belle Sisoski, the Malaysian musician breathing new life into traditional instruments. Sisoski is known for rearranging popular songs with ethnic instruments that highlight the traditional sound of Sarawak, Malaysia. SEA Wave interviewed Belle about how she brings her home with her every time she performs.
Sisoski holding a “Rebab” from Kelantan, Malaysia | Photo from Belle Sisoski
Belle was born in Sarawak, to parents who worked in music education and performance coaching. While she learned sports from her dad, who also worked as a tennis coach, it was music that took over most of her life. “My mother is both a classical music teacher and an ethnomusicologist. I grew up surrounded by traditional instruments and cultural diversity,” she shared. “Music at home is not only just entertainment, it also carries stories, rituals, and identity.”
Sarawak itself is a melting pot of culture—it is the largest region in Malaysia and is home to 34 different ethnicities. Various indigenous people like the Dayaks, Iban, Melanau, Bidayuh, and the Orang Ulu are from Sarawak, each of which has a different way of life. “She [mother] taught me to respect the origins, history, and traditions behind each instrument. Reading her research thesis that documented and preserved Sarawakian music inspired me to continue that legacy by weaving those instruments into contemporary contexts,” Belle said. “That inspired me to fuse traditional sounds with the cinematic and electronic styles that I love.”
Belle is known for using ethnic instruments from around Southeast Asia in her musical arrangements. She shared with us how she got into her line of work: “I started young with piano, violin, guitar, singing, and my classical training techniques made it easier to pick up ethnic instruments. I learned how each instrument could bring out different emotions. Sharing my experiments online built a global audience, and that’s when I knew this was my path.”
In the later months of 2020, Sisoski started creating song covers using traditional instruments. What really catapulted her to fame was her win at the 2022 Gen.T Leader of Tomorrow composition contest. Sisoski’s submission, “Stop Your Games,” won second place out of 20,000 global submissions to the competition. She also created a track for the popular mobile game Honor of Kings, which was featured in the Ascension: Pendekar Lam skin showcase.
Since then, she’s been promoting ethnic instruments nonstop through her various projects. “It’s about keeping cultures alive. My sound bridges Southeast Asian ethnic instruments with modern electronic and cinematic elements, creating a link between the past and the present that’s vital for both identity and legacy building.”
Aside from her recent performances at the Borderland Music Festival and at Miss World Malaysia, Belle recently did a cover of Saja Boy’s “Your Idol” from K-pop Demon Hunters. Her latest song, “The Resistance,” is an original composition where she used ethnic instruments like the angklung—a bamboo tube percussion from West Java, Indonesia; the engkerumong—small bronze gongs—and ketebung—a single-sided drum—from the Iban tribe from Borneo; and rebab—a stringed instrument from Kelantan, Malaysia.
When asked how she decides which popular songs to rearrange or reimagine with traditional instrumentation, Belle shared that it’s based on intuition. “If I hear a traditional instrument fitting into the arrangement, then I know it’ll work. Strong melodies, chords, and rhythms are the best foundation to carry those textures.”
Sisoski performing during Malaysia Day | Photo from Belle Sisoski
Despite her skyrocketing popularity, Belle continues to forefront traditional local music. “Support it [traditional local music] like any art form. Show up, listen, share it. Traditional music holds our roots, every listener helps keep it alive. Bridging it with modern sounds ensures it continues to thrive long into the future,” she said.
For any aspiring musician who wants to delve into ethnomusicology or music in general, Belle shared that it’s about being open to new experiences. “Stay curious, be patient, and listen to the sound and stories behind it. Do not fear making mistakes, because experimentation is how you find your true voice.”
As of present, Belle is working on her Ethnosphere project. “I’m working on the final song of my ETHNOSPHERE series, ‘The Revolution’ (fire element), which completes my album of elemental-inspired pieces: wind, earth, water, and fire, telling a story of awakening, roots, resilience, and transformation. I’ll also be debuting new live sets that bring these elements together visually, fused with reimagined cultural soundscapes in cinematic rhythm. This project is very close to my heart, and I can’t wait to share it with global audiences soon.”
Follow Belle Sisoski on her Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok to stay updated on her projects and to witness the final entry of her Ethnosphere series.
What do you think of Belle Sisoski’s unique approach to EDM? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!