Transitioning into adulthood is already a hideous process, even under the best of
circumstances. For Malaysian-born bedroom-pop performer Rufus Sivaroshan (they/them),
who performs as a kid named rufus, leaving home was exponentially more challenging. Today,
20-year-old Rufus is thriving at Syracuse University, where they major in music business while
simultaneously fostering a burgeoning music career.
Drawing inspiration from a range of influences — from Weezer to Alex G to Mac Demarco and
Dayglow — Rufus grew up in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, where they taught themself
to write, play, and produce music on YouTube. In the fall of 2021, a kid named rufus released
their debut EP graduation, an assortment of easy listening, loveable indie pop tracks that paint
vivid soundscapes of pure bliss. The EP garnered more than 1.5M Spotify streams and was
featured on playlists such as Lorem, Bedroom Pop, All New Indie, Fresh Finds, and more.