A moment with MYRNE. Photo: Simon Sim
First Ultra Miami. Then Tomorrowland Belgium. Singapore music producer Manfred Lim, better known as MYRNE, is making waves on the international music scene. sharing the stage with big names like Armin van Buuren and Hardwell. And he’s only all of 23. But can you really expect anything less from someone who is signed to Diplo’s Mad Decent label?
Having travelled far and wide with a social media following of 15.2k (and counting) on Instagram also means that MYRNE must know a thing or two in the fashion game, whether it’s for the stage or just a day at the studio making music. So we wanted to see how he might rock Emporio Armani’s autumn/winter 2018 menswear collection. After all, the brand’s seemingly basic pieces often surprise their wearers with design details like texture and genius tailoring details. We caught up with the 3rd year SMU student and rising star with an armful of Emporio Armani threads to see if our theory was true. As we suspected, the collection and MYRNE made a perfect match, much like B4NGER PROJECT, his collaborative album with fellow homegrown music whiz Gentle Bones.
Emporio Armani’s woven jacket makes for a great dressy piece for performing. Photo: Simon Sim
How was it performing at Tomorrowland?
It was fun. I played on the Monstercat stage there on weekend one, and I was there with my girlfriend and my manager.
How did the gig come about?
I’ve been making music with Monstercat since my first release (on that label) in 2017. And they invited me on stage at Tomorrowland. They’ve been around for a while now, and it’s great that they’ve made waves in the electronic music industry.
Besides Monstercat and Gentle Bones, who else do you collaborate with locally?
A lot of people actually, like Jasmine Sokko who just released a single recently. I mean, it’s a small industry, so we try to help one another out if possible. I get to learn a thing or two about producing behind the scenes, so it’s a win-win situation.
The grey and turquoise on this sweater makes for a great casual weekend getup. Photo: Simon Sim
So back to Tomorrowland – what was the climate like there?
It was summer and summer in mid-European countries like Belgium can get a little confusing. It could be 7pm and you’re just done with dinner and you look up and it’s bright as day – the sun only sets at 9.30pm… Yet people were still raving.
What pieces did you mostly wear to the event?
Though I mentioned it was hot, it was actually cold enough for me to put on a raincoat and/or a coat there.
Having travelled quite a bit, what are your luggage essentials?
When I perform, I like outfits that are ethnic-inspired. But generally I like technical and useful pieces… Stuff with a bunch of pockets or made from weatherproof material are great.
What is one of your more memorable travel experiences?
The first time I went to LA, it was on a whim. I went there in April 2017 with no plan. I’ve made a lot of friends online (through SoundCloud and social media) and I thought I could hang out with them and add a face to their names. But on the first day I landed, RL Grime hit me up on Twitter saying he liked my music and asked if I wanted to make some music with him. And we went to Diplo’s studio and long story short, the collaboration was RL Grime’s lead single called “I Wanna Know” and it was released earlier this year.
It’s all about the details when it comes to dressier outfits fit for more formal functions. Photo: Simon Sim
Describe your personal sense of style.
Discreet and functional. I really like techwear and stuff that brands like NikeLab and ACRONYM put out.
Who are your style icons?
I like John Mayer. I like how he pulls off techwear-inspired looks and he pays attention to the fabric (of the clothes that he wears).
Having shot for Emporio Armani earlier, how do you relate to the brand?
I think for the Emporio side, it’s more accessible than the main line. It’s functional and fits very easily into anyone’s life, especially if you’ve got a flair for personal style.
What did you enjoy about the pieces that you were shot in earlier?
I liked the thing that I wore first… the suit. Actually it was more the button-up shirt that caught my eye. I wear a lot of button-ups so I found the collar for this one really interesting.
If you could bring home one piece from the rack (Emporio Armani AW18 Menswear), what would it be?
Definitely the fuzzy sweater.
Three words to describe Emporio Armani?
Foundational, timeless… and very comfy.
Do you see the brand fitting into your wardrobe?
The collection looked pretty diverse… So yes.
Credits
Styling: Chia Wei Choong (@chiaweichoong)
Photographer: Simon Sim (@00simons00)
Grooming: Wee Ming (@weeeeming)
Assisted by: Donovan Quek (@donogaga)
All clothes by: Emporio Armani
Accessories: MYRNE’s own