There’s a common unspoken rule of a person’s life: you start to toil in your 20s, reach some plateau in your 40s, and then retire in your 60s. But there are some who already knew what they wanted and had achieved some relative success in their youth and are already on their way to further heights.
Cast your mind back to the 1990s, when the boy band phenomenon burst onto the scene. In Japan, all-male groups like SMAP, Tokio, and KinKi Kids held court with their musicality, appeal and appearances on TV “tarento” shows. By the 2010s, the trend shifted to more “performance-focused” groups, which led to a diverse showcase.
Then, in 2018, groups that wanted to appeal to the Japanese and international markets debuted. One such group is INTERSECTION, which was a quartet of mixed-race musicians managed by Avex.
They had a few hits, but INTERSECTION disbanded in 2023, with each member taking off on their own personal trajectories. One such member is Caelan Moriarty, aka CAELAN, who was born in Cuba and is now a solo artist based in Beijing.
Only 24, CAELAN has been putting his nose to the grindstone with a 2021 single “Forever With You”, being signed to RYCE Entertainment, which is co-founded by Jackson Wang, and the release of his debut album, The Half-Blood Prince, in 2024.
Recently, CAELAN was in Singapore, and we set up an appointment for an interview at Guoco Midtown. We were told that he would be running slightly late as he is having lunch with a friend. Imagine our delight when CAELAN arrived, and we saw local rapper and producer ShiGGa Shay in tow. What better way to kick off the conversation than to ask:
ESQUIRE SINGAPORE: How did you and ShiGGa Shay meet?
CAELAN: We met at Marina Bay Sands about three years ago. It was an event, a party at Club Marquee. ShiGGa and I share many similarities and mutuals as well. He would also come to the Mainland, so there were times when I ran into him in Chengdu.
But he’s just a good vibes kinda guy. And whenever we can, we’d meet up, like today.
ESQ: Your album and EP titles sound like fantasy novel titles. “The Half-Blood Prince”... “Call to Adventure”. There’s “The Hero’s Trial”, which reminds me of Joseph Campbell’s story structure, the hero’s journey, where a hero goes on a quest to achieve a goal, overcomes obstacles and fears, before returning home transformed.
CL: I view my life as chapters, right? And in my hero’s journey, I’m still at the start of it.
ESQ: You’re waiting for that call to adventure.
CL: Yeah, I’m waiting for that moment. I mean, I’ve experienced a lot, but I have this feeling that there’s something big on the way. I don’t know what it is, but when it comes, I hope that I’m ready for it.
ESQ: You moved around a lot when you were a kid. Do you think things might have worked out differently if you had stayed in one place?
CL: Growing up, I had the privilege to move everywhere. I was born in Cuba, and now I am based in China. It’s allowed me to be very open and adapt to where I live. That made me curious about other cultures, and because of that, I was given a lot of grace, positive energy and love.
ESQ: Was it easy to decide to go solo after INTERSECTION?
CL: Honestly, it kinda just happened. [When I was in the group], it felt like it was already heading in that direction. Everyone wanted to do their own thing. But I wasn’t ready for that.
ESQ: How so?
CL: I wasn’t ready to go solo because I didn’t have the confidence. I was scared, super scared. For a while, I couldn’t get over it, but over time, I realised that when I was in the group, I had learnt all my fundamentals of what a solo artist could be, and when that chance came, I took it. I’m so happy that I did that.
ESQ: Do you miss being in a group?
CL: Obviously. Many times, going solo isn’t easy. In a group, you can rely on your bandmates for emotional support. When you’re flying solo, you have to shoulder the responsibility all on your own.
ESQ: But the rewards are greater.
CL: It’s hard, but it’s worth it. I always view my INTERSECTION brothers as family. If there’s a day when we can reunite, do a little project together, I’m always open to that.
ESQ: What did you have to relearn when you’re a solo artiste?
CL: First off, dance and singing. I had the basics of rap, but when it comes to dancing and singing, there are more approaches to it than when I was in a group. Also, I can be on top of the creative side of things. Not just the work, but maybe be involved with the cover look, or the styling. It’s exciting.
ESQ: Is there anything you found hard to do, though?
CL: The only thing I would say is that I had to force myself to put out more stuff. I’m always the guy who gatekeeps everything until it’s ready. In the age of social media, as artists, we have to learn from influencers because that’s where a lot of business comes from. So, I have to push myself to put myself out there, even if it means showing my flaws. It’s been tough, you know, but we’re learning.
ESQ: Does living in different countries affect how you portray yourself?
CL: I always want to stay true to myself, be authentic. I don’t feel the need to change for anybody, but sometimes, being in a different country, it’s always nice to be mindful of the culture. But I don’t view that as a limitation, you know? It just allows me to think harder, more creatively, and see what other ways I can express myself.
ESQ: You’re white-passing, and you sing in English and Mandarin. Do the locals see you as an anomaly? If so, does that distract from seeing you as an artist?
CL: I mean, some of them don’t even know that I’m a musician. Some might think of me as someone who goes on a lot of TV shows or does a lot of modelling, but that’s okay. I believe that everyone has the right to their own perception on things; I can’t control that. If they think I’m a white kid who sings in Mandarin, well, they’re not wrong.
I view it as an advantage to go to where my friends and my fandom are, who like seeing someone like me who’s not from their country but can appreciate their culture.
ESQ: You’re into fashion as well. Are you confident in fashion or in music?
CL: Hard to say. Both are easy and hard, you know. But the thing I love about fashion and music is that they allow me to connect with people. For example, I met ShiGGa [Shay] through music and just last week, I was in Paris and met Feng Chen Wang. Art is the thing that brings people together. Once everyone knows another’s cultures, they’d have a better understanding of one another. That’s something I’ve been very lucky enough to observe.
ESQ: What kind of brands or designers are you into?
CL: Definitely Ralph Lauren. I love what it symbolises.
ESQ: The Americana aesthetics?
CL: More about being true to yourself. About how Ralph Lauren easily taps into simplifying their looks. Till today—even though I’m dressed dramatically—I think simplicity in dressing is the way to go. Because if I dress simply with style, it allows more of my personality to come through.
That’s something that I want to carry myself, like the brand. Honestly, I feel that I am best suited to Ralph [Lauren] style-wise... but I’m always open to exploring different labels, even underground ones.
ESQ: Do you have any fears?
CL: Being single forever. [laughs] I think I have a lot, but the one thing I do fear is if my friends and family aren’t happy. I care about them more than my own being. Sometimes, I wish their health and happiness were at their best, especially like my parents.
But for myself, I just don’t want to have any regrets. I really don’t. Overthinking has been a big anxiety of mine, and I’m always scared because I’m a very, very lucky guy who was put in a very lucky position, and I don’t want to ruin it. Have you seen Fight Club?
ESQ: Yeah.
CL: You know that scene with Brad Pitt and Edward Norton in a car? Brad was yelling at Edward, if you were to die next week, would you be happy with yourself? Would you be satisfied? That stuck with me, and I realised that we all have one life and whatever we are gonna do, it will be forgotten in a couple of hundred years. So, just go for it. Be responsible about it, but just go for it.
ESQ: Are your parents okay with what you do?
CL: Oh, for sure. Of course, they’re always going to have their worries, but the good thing is that I’ve never let that ruin our relationship. They’re supportive and are always checking in on me. They know that if I have any struggles or worries or doubts, they’re one of the first people I’d go to. I’ve been very lucky that they’re so supportive.
