Ones To Watch 2018: Jia Lih

An essential new name to know in Australian hip hop and R&B.

ARIA-nominated producer, Jia Lih, is fast becoming a hot tip as one of the most influential new artists in Australian hip hop.

Not an entirely new name to the scene, Jia’s previous production experience includes working on Troye Sivan’s hit releases Youth and Wild.

Having said previously that his interest in music spiked during school and then even more so in college, it still feels Jia Lih is only just getting started.

Originally from Malaysia, Jia’s family migrated to Perth when he was just 11, and he himself moved to Melbourne in more recent years.

He cites K-pop as an underlying influence to his core hip hop and R&B sound, describing the way the beat really stood out to him when he first heard the genre.

Jia also praises Timbaland’s earlier work with Justin Timberlake, describing their FutureSex/LoveSounds efforts as something that made him look at hip hop and electronic fusions in a new light.

His debut track, Keep Talking ft Hopium, had everyone talking at the end of last year, and for all the right reasons.

Keep an eye on Jia Lih’s tour dates via Facebook and hear more of his work on Soundcloud.