No, this isn’t a review of Causeway Youth – This Isn’t Where I Want To Be. Think of this as more of a personal reflection.
As faithful readers would be aware, I used to be very much involved in the Singapore music scene but have distanced myself in the last 5 years or so, for various reasons. But I have decided to break my rule of not discussing any Singapore made music just this once.
And why not? Causeway Youth – This Isn’t Where I Want To Be is the debut EP from a band that I have deep ties with. The driving force behind the band viz. Jazreel-Anne Rama, a former student of mine, is now a close friend and someone I am extremely proud of – for pursuing her musical dreams, despite her personal challenges.
I remember my first encounter with Jazreel at poly, teaching music composition, her local music t-shirt catching the eye – something that was very rare back then. Also I was always overhearing her sharing about her favourite local music with her less than enthused classmates. What a rarity!
Jazreel helped me out for a couple of years with gig photography and those were fun times hanging out together at music festivals. I especially remember her photographing Slowdive at Laneway and remarking that they looked “old” (!) – which of course they are!
Interesting enough, listening to Causeway Youth – This Isn’t Where I Want To Be will evoke the sounds of the 90s indie / shoegaze music of bands like Slowdive & Lush so who knows eh? But much of this new EP is definitely of the contemporary indie pop vibe, which is AOK in my book.
So congrats to Jazreel, Esther Lim and the rest of Causeway Youth on the new EP. Fans of indie pop will do well to check out the EP out there on the inter webs.
… still there’s more …