At Study UK, we celebrate the transformative power of education — especially in the creative industries, where UK universities have long been global leaders in nurturing talent across music, design, performing arts, media, and beyond. Creativity is not a single path but a broad and evolving field — one that demands both imagination and boldness.
As we spotlight alumni who embody the spirit of the Culture, Creativity and Sport category of the upcoming Study UK Alumni Awards 2026, we’re proud to feature Su San, a Malaysian artist-songwriter and Chevening Scholar who pursued her MA in Songwriting and Production at the University of South Wales.
Su San’s journey inspires us because she took a leap of faith to leave the corporate world and follow her artistic calling. Her story is a reminder that creativity thrives when courage meets craft — and that UK education doesn't just sharpen technical skills, but also helps individuals find their voice, their community, and their place on the global stage.
In her own words, Su San shares how her UK education helped shape her voice, her artistry, and her purpose.
---
Five years into my corporate job, I found myself in that awkward, soul-searching phase — the kind that creeps up during global pandemics. Like many, I started asking myself some difficult questions: What am I doing? Am I living in alignment with who I really am?
Music had always been part of my life — I'd been writing and performing for years — but I didn’t have a formal background in it. Collaborating with producers often felt like speaking in a dialect I wasn’t fluent in. “I didn’t have the vocabulary or confidence to communicate my creative vision clearly,” I realised. That’s when a friend introduced me to the Chevening Scholarship. And just like that, the idea of studying in the UK — a place that birthed Queen, Bowie, Amy Winehouse, FKA Twigs — made total sense. It wasn’t a grand plan. It was a soul nudge.
Gigs, Floating Tomatoes, and Other Unexpected Lessons
While I learned a lot in the classroom, it was the gigs and intimate shows across the UK that taught me the most. I soaked in everything — how artists carried themselves onstage, the vibe they created, how production and emotion came together.
“One of my favourite memories was seeing Bleachers live on their UK tour. There were literal floating tomatoes. It was absurd and beautiful. That show reminded me that performance can be both profound and playful — a reminder I still carry into my shows today.”
Becoming the Artist I Was Meant to Be
My time in the UK wasn’t just about learning technical skills — though I definitely did that too. It was about unlearning self-doubt and reclaiming my creative instincts. “Studying in the UK gave me the space to fully embrace my identity as an artist, a songwriter, and a producer. I learned to trust my voice and curate my artistic taste in an environment where music is constantly evolving.”
The biggest mindset shift? Learning to advocate for myself. “If you don’t speak up about your work, people might not even know it exists.” That simple but powerful lesson has carried me through the ups and downs of the industry.
From Malaysia to Okinawa — and Beyond
Kicking off 2025 with my first international festival performance at Music Lane Festival in Okinawa is a milestone I’ll never forget. “It felt like a quiet affirmation that I’m on the right path — that the stories I tell through music can travel far beyond the place they were written in.”
Back home in Malaysia, I’ve become more intentional about how I contribute to the creative scene. I advocate for creative wellness and work to make space for female creatives to thrive.
“I try my best to champion community over competition. When we uplift each other, we raise the standard for everyone.”
