I’ve always found something invigorating about June. It’s a month that simply buzzes with bright, energetic summer days, bringing with them a sense of promise and possibilities. Here at ELLE, that has translated into a celebration of individualistic voices and fearless creativity—values that are perfectly embodied by cover stars Shye and 9m88, two independent artistes who are shaping the future of music, style, and culture in their ways.

The journeys of Shye and 9m88 could not be more different. Yet they’re bound together by a shared truth of intentionality and originality, having meticulously built their signature sounds to stand out and be heard within an industry filled with hopefuls. Shye, the DIY phenom from Singapore, built her early career with a laptop and a bedroom as her studio (she started out using her earpiece as a mic), and is armed with a fierce creativity that refuses to be boxed in. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s jazz-trained, genre-bending 9m88 continues to defy genre conventions, blending soul, R&B and pop with a bold visual sensibility that’s unmistakably hers.

Hosting the Taiwanese star in Singapore ahead of her concert here in Singapore on 10th June, we discover how these women, dressed in Chanel’s Métiers d’Art collection, have carved their own paths by embracing the things that make them unique. In our cover story, “Pitch Perfect”, they remind us how staying open and honest to one’s self is not just brave, but necessary—especially in these uncertain times where the pressure to conform can be overwhelming.

So take your cue from these artistes and lean into your individualism: Be it visually or mentally. This issue is all about celebrating the individuals who turn up exactly as they are. We hope the voices found within these pages encourage you to embrace your own.