Enigmatic Popstar Jasmine Sokko Embraces Her Weird With Fresh Single “TETRIS”

On “TETRIS”, Jasmine Sokko presents herself as a puzzle that doesn’t want to be solved (Credit: Joel Low)

Like the calculated downpour of Tetrominos, the career of Jasmine Sokko as a pop artiste has been falling into place. The masked singer-producer has managed to land razor-sharp singles that cut deep into the local music scene, including the hits “HURT” and “TIRED”. Now, the fashionable enigma continues her ceaseless momentum with “TETRIS”, another offering that echoes her odd philosophy and curveball approach to her art.

Inspired by the retro gameplay of the tile-matching cult classic – where blocks ‘disappear’ when they conform by fitting in – Sokko has created a song that describes the antithesis of that formula. This is a piece where she openly embraces her bizarre quirks that grind against the norm, fleeing from generic behaviour and cookie-cutter expectations. “Ooh do you like my weird / Do you want to be my friend?” she coos in the chorus; a rallying cry for others to break out of their chains. She depicts scenarios like carefree dance sessions in her night robe and hung-over 6am jaunts in the grocery store, expressing a relatable rebellious streak that just yearns to be wild and free.

“’TETRIS’ taught me that when you try to fit in, you will disappear,” Sokko describes the track in a press release. “The song is a celebration of the eccentrics, the outliers and the mavericks who are unapologetically themselves in a society that often craves for assurance, acceptance and attention.” 

While Sokko has proven herself as capable producer, with wondrous synth-pop formats that’ve given her an electronic edge, she’s relied on the services of Oscar Scheller (Charli XCX, Ashnikko) to breathe life into “TETRIS”. In line with the aesthetic of her past works, the composition flaunts a clean, future-pop arrangement that shines in its lustrous synthplay and four-on-the-floor beatwork, all without overshadowing the snug, mellifluous nuances of Sokko’s vocals. The track even glitches out abruptly at the end, tying into the song’s peculiar plot.

Jasmine Sokko’s career took off since releasing her debut single “1057” in 2016 (Credit: Joel Low)

“TETRIS” is the second single off Sokko’s sophomore EP that’s yet to be announced, following the equally impactful “MEDUSA” released earlier in March. The untitled EP comes after her debut Mandarin EP, MADE IN FUTURE, catering to her widespread audience across Asia. Sokko also made history as the first Singaporean to win an award at the MTV EMA, bagging the accolade for Best Southeast Asian Act. Sokko might be doing her own thing and carving out her own rules, but her string of successes is proof that she shouldn’t ever stop.  

Listen to “TETRIS” by Jasmine Sokko now on Spotify. Follow her Facebook and Instagram pages to stay updated.