Mixing with Aishah
> The mother of two is the female voice in The Mix Breakfast radio show, who also finds time to dabble as an emcee and actress
AISHAH SINCLAIR has been a familiar face in front of the camera for many years as both a television host and an actress.
Now, she can be heard on mixfm’s The Mix Breakfast show together with co-presenters Rodney ‘Rod’ Monterio and Prem Shanker.
The three of them have also landed another ‘job’ as secretary for a day in conjunction with Secretaries Week 2016 this week.
Aishah’s ‘job’ is with AirAsia’s boss Tony Fernandez, while her two male co-hosts are paired with female bosses.
Since she has yet to take on her ‘new posting’ at the time of this interview at Astro Radio’s office in Bukit Jalil, we decide to talk about her foray into the world of radio.
“Mix was my first foray into radio,” says Aishah. “I knew I would try out radio sooner or later. The show that I [had] on TV at that time ( The Breakfast
Show on ntv7) had run its course, so I decided to take a break.
“Then, I got a call [from mixfm] and I thought I might as well give it a try.”
Prior to this, the only ‘experience’ she had on radio was appearing as a guest on a radio show. Aishah joined The Mix
Breakfast show on Dec 22, 2014, teaming up with Rod. Together, they ruled the airwaves with their unique dynamic.
Prem joined the team a few months later.
“Prem and I had the opportunity to work together, and we knew each other back in the days when we both worked on 8TV’s Quickie,” Aishah says.
“Rod and I were slowly getting into the swing of things when Prem joined, and he added to the show’s colour and chemistry.”
Since then, the trio have been entertaining listeners with their arguments, banter and quick wit, which fans have come to appreciate every morning.
Both Aishah and Rod have differing opinions but the one thing they seem to agree on is ganging up on the only unmarried person in their midst, Prem.
Aishah reveals that sometimes the two guys gang up on her, too. “We always have our alliances and all that,” she adds.
As the only female on the show, getting her voice heard is not easy. “The two of them have big personalities and are very testosterone driven,” she says.
“They are both alpha males in their own world. It was quite an effort to maintain a feminine balance.
“The thing is that with female energy, you don’t have to be screaming and shouting to be heard. I like to think that I bring a balance to the show.”
Asked about the difficulties, if any, that she had to face when making the transition from TV to radio, Aishah says: “It took some time actually. You would be surprised that [the two media are] similar but also very different.
“[Radio] is very much like reality TV. Essentially, it is three friends having a really heated conversation over teh tarik on air, and people are eavesdropping or listening in.”
The trio are also hooked on hooking people up. The Friday segment, Flirty at 9.30, has people calling in, trying to ask someone they fancy out for a date, but are too afraid to make the approach themselves.
“Isn’t love all there is?” Aishah asks. “Day in day out, you are thinking about love, you are thinking about loved ones.
“Plus people who are listening to our show are either single, or looking for love, or are newlyweds. Relationships are very much on their minds.”
She admits that there have been awkward moments on the show but, in most cases, both parties agree to meet up.
“One thing I have actually learned is to be more observant during conversations,” she adds.
“When I share a friend’s story, I never share details like who is who, and things like that.”
This mother of two has often brought that ‘mum’ aspect to the show and now even has a segment called Aishah’s Kids, in which she interviews preschoolers.
“It started out with my kids but [now I] go to kindergartens around Kuala Lumpur and ask them what they think of certain topics.
“The kids are usually very excited because ‘someone wants to talk to them’.
“I think they are more excited about the prospect of
hearing their voice on the radio!” As a working mother, Aishah admits that it isn’t always easy juggling between being a radio presenter, and her side projects that include being an emcee. “I guess it is finding the balance,” she says. “Whenever you have time, make it good quality time. “I may not have that much time to spend with my kids but I make sure it is bonding [time] with them rather than me going through my emails.”