Pop culture in a time of COVID-19 is something difficult to contemplate. At the beginning of 2020, I was planning for a new album and getting back to performing live again after a 5-year hiatus. Well, the best laid plans, as they say. The irony is not lost on me.
KEVIN MATHEWS COMPOSER : SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION – SONGS ABOUT SINGAPORE
While I have no problem with shamelessly self-promoting my own music, I would not discredit any of my PoP10 ‘Best of’ lists by inserting myself into the picture. Who am I? Kanye??
PoP10 : THE BEST SINGAPORE ROCK SONGS OF ALL TIME
Yes, I know it’s a corny cliché but with this National Day weekend comes an opportunity to share my own thoughts about the best Singapore rock songs of all time! Hopefully, these selections will inspire you, kind reader, to discover more Singapore rock music. If so, then the effort would Continue Reading
KEVIN MATHEWS COMPOSER : SONG STORIES – MEE POK MAN (1995) & MY MAGIC (2008)
Today, 8th August 2020, Netflix begins streaming two more Eric Khoo movies that I contributed music to. Over at the Kevin Mathews Composer Facebook page, I shared these song stories to mark this occasion. Hope you find the reading as much fun as I did the writing.
PoP THEORY : CONSTANTINE – STORY ANALYSIS (CONTAINS SPOILERS)
In the beginning … The character of John Constantine began life as a supporting cast member of DC Comics’ Saga of the Swamp Thing series, in the mid-80s. Created by Alan Moore at the behest of Swamp Thing artists Stephen Bissette, John Totleben and Rick Veitch, the trench-coated, chain-smoking, cynical Continue Reading
PoP THEORY : SONG ANALYSIS
As mentioned in my PoP Theory article on Story Analysis, besides being a singer-songwriter/composer and a pop culture writer, I am also a teacher of arts and music subjects. So the same approach I applied to Story, I can also apply to Music but of course, with different elements. Now, Continue Reading
TV EYE : TRUE DETECTIVE SEASON 1 – STORY ANALYSIS (CONTAINS SPOILERS)
After having laid down the foundations for how we might break down the elements of a story via my inaugural PoP Theory piece, I thought that analysing the excellent first season of the HBO series True Detective would provide us with a solid discussion of said elements.
PoP THEORY : STORY ANALYSIS
Besides being a singer-songwriter/composer and a pop culture writer, I am also a teacher of arts and music subjects. Which comes in handy as I find myself thinking in terms of breaking down story and music concepts in order to write about an appreciation of music, film, TV and comic Continue Reading
PoP10 : THE Best Solo Artists of All Time
After sharing about the best bands of all time, it’s only natural to talk about the best solo artists of all time. As you will no doubt realise, many of the selected artists have also worked within the group dynamic, although with the branding of a front person. All choices Continue Reading
PoPINIONS : IS SPOTIFY THE SALVATION OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY OR ITS ULTIMATE DEMISE?
Social media has been abuzz of late over Spotify CEO Daniel Ek’s comments in a recent interview published in Music:)Ally dated 30 July 2020. These remarks followed the release of Spotify’s latest quarterly financial results.
TV EYE : UMBRELLA ACADEMY SEASON 2 (NO SPOILERS)
Previously…In season 1, we were introduced to our protagonists – seven superhuman misfits (Luther, Diego, Allison, Klaus, Five, Ben and Vanya) mentored by an idiosyncratic and eccentric gent in the style of the X-Men and the Doom Patrol. Copping story elements from the Dark Phoenix saga, the Umbrella Academy succeeded Continue Reading
KEVIN MATHEWS COMPOSER : SONG STORIES – 12 STOREYS, BE WITH ME AND WANTON MEE.
Today, 1st August 2020, Netflix begins streaming three Eric Khoo movies that I contributed music to. Over at the Kevin Mathews Composer Facebook page, I shared these song stories to mark this occasion. Hope you find the reading as much fun as I did the writing.
TV EYE : THE SINGAPORE GRIP – COLONIAL FOLLIES
It is extremely rare even in these globally cultural streaming obsessed times to come across historical dramas set in Singapore. But that’s exactly what The Singapore Grip is.
PoP10 : THE BEST BANDS OF ALL TIME
I like making lists. Apparently, folks on the internet like reading lists as well.There you go. First off, I am going to share with you a list of the best ten bands of all time, in my humble opinion. (In alphabetical order, mind you)
CRAWLING FROM THE WRECKAGE
Thank you, kind visitor for reading this. If you’re observant enough, you would notice that the last time I posted here was in April – around the time Singapore went into a partial lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I had even posted a CLOSED advisory, which reflected my depressed Continue Reading
False Alarm EP, by Brad Marino
3 track album Source: False Alarm EP, by Brad Marino
Warm Digits – Shake The Wheels Off (ft. The Orielles) (Official Video) – YouTube
TOPS – Direct Sunlight – YouTube
CHRIS CHURCH – BACKWARDS COMPATIBLE
So, Chris Church is a Facebook ‘friend’ and I am only now finding out that he is a Power Pop Rock N Roll singer-songwriter of the highest order? Dayum. Church’s new album, Backwards Compatible, is exactly what we need to cope with the clusterfuck that Covid—19 has turned the world Continue Reading
Shannon Luke – Such a Wonder – YouTube
Shannon Luke is back with a new song. Love the bright guitar sounds and pleasing melodic vibe. Check it out! Available on all digital platforms next week. Preview on Youtube.
The Spitfires – (Just Won’t) Keep Me Down (Official Lyric Video) – YouTube
The Overtures – Onceinaworld – YouTube
Power Pop Rock N Roll is alive and kicking in bands like The Overtures! Kudos!!
Cold Habit by Mystery Tapes
Cool psych-rock vibes!