Money Is Not Our God

"Yes. There was definitely apprehension about following Home with Sell Out. Especially among some of my closest friends. Some thought it was really cool that I was doing it; others thought I should have released Home under a different name or that I should release Sell Out under a different name.”

Yeo Choong has had a lot of difficulty pinning down his sound. A singer, songwriter and producer, Choong's early work was a blend of hip hop, funk, soul and pop that saw him mentioned as a potential breakout star of Brisbane's rarely-discussed R&B underground – 2006's DIY debut album Trouble Being Yourself praised far and wide. Then, 2011's Bag-O-Items threw a spanner in the works.

“I think it was necessary for me to put that album out but, out of everything I've put out I think I'm least connected to that one,” Choong reflects. “I reckon there are some good songs on that record. Maybe two or three. As a collection of songs, though? I feel like that album has the least depth of anything that I've put out as a musician. That's just a personal reflection, though.”

Contrary to Choong's evaluation, Bag-O-Items wasn't a bad record. However, arriving nearly five years after his debut album and tackling an almost entirely different genre with each song on display, it wasn't exactly what people were expecting. After that, Choong stopped trying to fit in boxes. In 2012, he randomly self-released Home – a beautifully sincere collection of country/folk songs.

“Bag-O-Items... That point in my life was really fun but the most stressful I have ever experienced. Because I had so much expectation; both personally and because I didn't want to let anyone down. I still managed to do that so, when I got out of the whole process with a bruised ego, I went off to the country and made an album called Home.

“When I got back from Home, things really changed because of my attitude. It spun me around big time. 'Hey, you just had a great time in the country making an album – notice how you didn't think about making money the whole time you were there?' And I [thought], 'Maybe I should just apply that approach to all my music-making?'” he says. “And I've just had the best time ever since.”

Enter: Sell Out. If ever inarguable proof was needed that Choong was no longer invested in music's careerist structures, Sell Out would do the job nicely. The polar opposite to Home, Choong's latest album is defined by heavyweight electronic ar -pop. There's no acoustic instrumentation. There's no rustic melodies. It's squelching basslines, electro rhythms, unforgettable choruses and layer upon layer of synth.

“When it comes to being in the studio, I don't really get nervous. It's just me, my computer and my toys and stuff. I just focus on having a good time. I'll be honest with you, I didn't really know what it was going to turn out to be when I started it, I just knew there was going to be a more electronic side to it,” Choong says. “But, you can hear hints of my first album in there. It's been five or six years since Trouble Being Yourself – but if you listen to the two albums back-to-back, it actually makes sense, in a weird way.”