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A collective of East and Southeast Asian heritage artists seeking to create playful, queer, and genre-breaking music narratives. Lead by Jade Leamcharaskul and Sarita Lewis. Asian Pirate Musical (APM) is an original new musical, which intertwines the real histories of 14th century Muslim admiral Zheng He and 19th century pirate queen Sek Yeong with the fictitious stories of a 21st century climate survivor and two 23rd century queer space revolutionaries in a soaring time-travel pirate adventure. Set on Southeast Asian seas in a world threatened by climate collapse, APM explores freedom, found families, and finding fun in the face of our future. |
Photographer: -
Heritage: Malaysian - Chinese - British - Japanese - Thai - Filipino - New Zealander
Location: London (UK)
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Introduce the band:
Zhui Ning Chang - Malaysian Chinese
Nemo Martin - British Japanese
Frey Kwa Hawking - British Malaysian Chinese
Jade Leamcharaskul - Thai Malaysian Chinese
Sarita Lewis - Filipino New Zealander
3 words to describe you:
Jade: Vibes, coffee, wannabe-ethnomusicologist
Sarita: Enthusiastic purple Auntie-friend
Describe your sound:
Jade: Asian ethnic / cinematic / electronic / pop-rock hybrid with a hint of anime.
Sarita: Lyric-forward indie singer-songwriter vibes.
Describe the moment you knew that you wanted to pursue music:
Jade: My path into music writing started off with growing up in a typical Asian household where piano and violin lessons were heavily encouraged. After playing the video game ‘Final Fantasy IX’, I knew that I wanted to be a composer and went on to study music technology in university. Primarily composing for video games, I now write for film and theatre. Recent credits include Tales of Kenzera: Zau, Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, and Asian Pirate Musical.
Sarita: I inherited my love of music from both sides of my family - my grandmother was a classical pianist and my grandfather loved to croon Sinatra songs. Perhaps I first consciously noticed how important music was to me when I lived away from home and lost my privilege of keyboard/piano access. Though it was only for a 6-month university exchange, I caved within a couple months and bought the closest instrument that was still practical for travelling: a melodica!
How does your heritage impact your art?
Jade: I attended school in the UK and had a heritage identity crisis during a music class about ‘world music’. After learning about Gamelan (traditional Indonesian music ensemble, which also has variants in Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines) and not knowing about it despite having Thai and Malaysian heritage, this sparked a profound interest in music and instruments outside the Western music hemisphere. I then dipped into various performance ensembles in African drumming, Samba bands, Gamelan, Japanese Taiko drumming and actively used what I had learnt in rehearsals in my music writing by switching between Western music theory and East and Southeast Asian music theory. Hopefully this means that I write something that is representative and authentic!
Sarita: As a mixed-race third culture kid, I grew up seeing so many different cultures with their own ways of navigating life. I quickly developed a strong conviction that there couldn’t possibly be one set way to do anything. Creatively, this means I’m open to exploring different musical styles and structures, and I avoid environments that presume a “correct” way to do something.
What moment are you most proud of in your music journey so far?
Jade: Having the opportunity for listeners to feel something; whether it’s moments of joy, sadness, tension or relief, it will always be a proud moment for myself as a composer! In APM specifically, it was the positive feedback and emotional impact the audience felt during ‘Nirvana’.
Sarita: I’m fairly early in my professional music journey, so the APM album launch party was a big moment for me - especially having people cheer when “Pass the Bok Choy” was about to start. It was unexpected for this song in particular because it wasn’t one that came together as easily as others.
Your next music goal:
Jade: My next music goal would be to incorporate more live ethnic instruments onto the stage and show audiences just how awesome they are.
Sarita: I dream of a version of APM with a live band and an ensemble to sing all the harmonies!
If you could collaborate with anyone, who and why?
Jade: I would love to collaborate with taiko drumming groups like Yamato Drummers or Kodo. There is something truly special to see the physicality of the performances as well as riding the wave of energy alongside the performers. It takes you on a journey and that experience stays with you for a long time which is something that I would love to amplify in my own work.
Sarita: I’d love to collaborate with acapella singers experienced in Asian music scales, because I adore harmonies and the range of what human voices can do. And/or specifically Rebecca Sugar (creator of Steven Universe), for the vulnerability and joy in her music.
Your favourite song/lyrics:
Jade: (I’m going to be cheeky and submit two lyric chunks I adore)
“Honestly, I can't believe it's burning again
Like the first fires
Run from fences, you don't have to pretend
In the first fires”
First Fires - Bonobo: I absolutely fell in love with the lyrics and imagery upon first hearing it, it speaks of rekindled love.
“Speak for yourself
You paper tigers
You'll crash where you stand, you've got a riot on your hands
(Speak) Speak for yourself
You paper tigers
Too late to meet demands when you've got a riot on your hands”
The Resistance - Anberlin: I love the imagery of paper tigers but overall I resonate with the lyrics as well as the energy of the song to inspire resistance.
Sarita:
“I must go on standing,
You can't break that which isn't yours”
Après Moi by Regina Spektor - I love this because it’s a different way of expressing a familiar activist sentiment (plus her delivery!)
3 songs you're listening to right now:
Jade:
POUND CAKE by THOT SQUAD
Of the undiscovered country - From the Original Motion Picture “Hamnet” by Max Richter
Lumiére (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Original Soundtrack) by Lorien Testard, Alice Duport-Percier
Sarita:
ラヴコリーダ (Love Corrida) by Shishido Kavka
Ora by Ludovico Einaudi
Hai Onward / Hai Onward Reprise by Asian Pirate Musical Collective (as part of preparing for our next performance iteration)
Your community shout out:
Jade: Shoutout to fellow composer Jolene Khor (@jolenekhor_music) who is a constant inspiration, and an orchestrator-arranger & score prep magician!
Sarita: Shoutout to musical director Amy Hsu (@amyamyhsuhsu). In London, I haven’t met many ESEA people who also grew up in NZ - so it was inspiring and heartwarming to meet someone with that shared background who is part of big shows like My Neighbour Totoro and ABBA Voyage!
Anything else you'd like to share:
Jade: composing for the following projects:
Theatre (14-15th April 2026): tickets now up!
Game (coming soon!) , do wishlist if you like queer, mature, dark fantasy visual novel romance sims
