Pop culture musings by Kevin Mathews
It does not matter how many social media ‘likes’ Singapore rock bands are able to muster. It does not matter how many Spotify playlists Singapore rock bands are excluded from. It does not matter if Singapore rock bands are not considered hip and cool amongst the local scenesters and hipsters.
All that matters is a love and passion for rock ‘n’ roll! And in that respect, the recent Mannequins Four EP Launch had that in spades – many not in quantity but definitely demonstrated with intensity!
By Yong Shu Hoong
When Leslie Low – of revered Singapore band, The Observatory, and previously from the 1990s’ Humpback Oak – was introduced by an ArtScience Museum staff as “the most important singer-songwriter that Singapore has given the world,” he seemed almost embarrassed. But, for the many fans gathered at the museum’s Expression Gallery, such high praise was no fluff.
Continue reading “ARTSCIENCE LATE : LESLIE LOW [LIVE REVIEW]”
SUPERSECT is a marvellous intersection of two quite diverse cultural influences.
Continue reading “SINGAPORE MUSIC SPOTLIGHT | LIVE : SUPERSECT SLAYS WITH GREATEST HITS LAUNCH!”
First, a rant.
Continue reading “LIVE REVIEW : HARD ROCK RISING SINGAPORE 2017”
The key word here is “rocks”. Like in the rest of the music world, rock music seems to have lost its “hipness” in Singapore, with electro-jazz-soul being the preferred choice of the younger set nowadays.
Continue reading “LIVE REVIEW : PANDAROCKETSHIP ROCKS ALIWAL!”
As we begin a new year of music, Don Shiau shares his biggest concert experience of 2016. And possibly his entire life. Because really, how do you top rock’s biggest royalty?
It seems awfully facetious for us to state that with British band Yuck, it’s not so much about the songs themselves but the style of music that appeals. But hey, it’s true!
Rock gigs were a scarce commodity in Singapore during the 70s, 80s and 90s. So we have been pretty much been playing catch up for the bands from that era that are either still around or have reunited. Case in point – the recent Swervedriver concert at Hood Bar organised by Songs For Children.
As much as we would confess to an aversion to what passes for pop music in 2016, the UK singer-songwriter Jessie J has always intrigued with her songwriting and unconventional style. There is a genuine earthy quality about Jessie J amidst the obligatory glitz and glamour of modern pop that endears, somewhat.
Continue reading “LIVE REVIEW: SINGTEL AND SAMSUNG PRESENTS UP CLOSE WITH JESSIE J”
Icelandic hipster band returned to Singapore for a full concert, having previously appeared at Laneway 2013. Considering the type of young fans OMAM attracts, the audience were mostly surprisingly laid back, dress-wise, with many fans donning OMAM t-shirts.
Continue reading “LIVE REVIEW: OF MONSTERS & MEN – LIVE IN SINGAPORE”
In their fourth live appearance in Singapore, Copeland tugged on the heartstrings once more. It’s been six years and for this comeback, the band gave its loyal and adoring fans a special night – a set list of songs handpicked by fans themselves.
Continue reading “LIVE REVIEW: COPELAND – LIVE IN SINGAPORE”
There’s something about Death Cab For Cutie’s bookish, melancholic, minor-chord balladry that is inherently divisive. On one hand, it’s cloyingly earnest, unexciting and devoid of swagger. On the other, it’s spoken the truth for two decades to countless people emerging into adulthood, as they lay awake at night overthinking their relationships.
Though regrettably it would be the last chance that Singapore would get to experience Funeral for a Friend, their farewell gig at the Scape Ground Theatre was a fitting closure to their 15 year long journey in our history.
Continue reading “LIVE REVIEW: FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND – LAST CHANCE TO DANCE”
The new kid on the block, Neon Lights sought to cover as much ground as possible in terms of appealing to the broadest demographics. Presumably, this was deemed necessary by Neon Lights to distinguish itself from the other big-scale music festivals in Singapore viz. Laneway and The Gathering (formerly Hostess Club Weekender).
To that end, Neon Lights featured comedy, arts and children entertainment, possibly in an attempt to encourage families to make it a day (or two) out for the weekend.
Continue reading “LIVE REVIEW: NEON LIGHTS FESTIVAL — MIND THE (GENERATION) GAP”
Back in 2011, in a public Facebook note, singer-songwriter iNCH (a.k.a Inch Chua) criticised Singaporean attitudes toward local music. iNCH even moved out of Singapore (to the US) in order to pursue her musical career. Four years later, back in Singapore, as a packed audience demonstrates their hearty approval, iNCH is moved to tears by a post-gig video filled with expressions of congratulations, love, admiration and celebration for the launch of iNCH’s new EP, Letters to Ubin.
Continue reading “LIVE REVIEW: iNCH – LETTERS TO UBIN EP LAUNCH”
Cadence formed a year ago & in that one year, they have already played at Baybeats Festival as a Budding Band! Well, that is quite often the ‘be all and end all’ for a local indie-alternative rock band. But at the launch of its debut EP – Heights – at Hood Bar last night, there was evidence that the band might just have the potential to truly make a name for itself, not just in our indie music scene but even beyond our shores.
Polymath – “a person whose expertise spans a significant number of different subject areas”.
I am certainly not suggesting that JAWN (aka Jon Chan) is Leonardo Da Vinci but at a superficial level, I found the above definition to be representative of my experience of JAWN.
An opportunity to watch singer-songwriter Charlie Lim in performance is always one to grasp with both hands. So thanks to Sarah Sim (Riot!) for putting me on the guest list for this wonderful event.
Continue reading “LIVE REVIEW: CHARLIE LIM – I ONLY TELL THE TRUTH (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO PREMIERE)”
An ambitious concert mashing up the creative talents of local music and literature resulted in an entertaining and inspiring experience for all who attended Dimensions & Demons at the Esplanade Recital Studio last night.
Continue reading “LIVE REVIEW: SINGAPORE WRITERS FESTIVAL 2015 – DIMENSIONS & DEMONS”
Contrary to her name, local singer-songwriter Fym Summer sounded nothing that could remind you of the sun, sand or the salty breeze of summer season. Her performance at the Esplanade Concourse on Sunday, as part of the Noise Singapore 2015 Music Mentorship Concerts, was more like a nice winter’s day.
Decked in black from head to toe, Fym, who has been singing since 2003, enchanted the 40-member audience in the arts venue’s cozy area with her vocals, which swung from sounding sweet and dreamy (“Dream” and “July”) to haunting and dreary (“Wolf”).
She stood on stage with her acoustic guitar, accompanied by two musician friends – one played a melodica while the other another guitar. There was an air of melancholia around her as she moodily serenaded mainly about love, herself, and her sister (“Love”), during her 30-minute set.
The grandparents, young families and youngsters in the audience seemed captivated by her singing, keeping quiet and attentive throughout. However, things took an awkward turn during intervals when she switched to chirpy chattiness, leaving the audience somewhat in shock, speechless and unresponsive, each time.
Fym Summer was one of the 18 acts to perform as part of the mentorships concerts, and she was one of eight who were lucky to get two mentors. Her’s were guitarist Randolf Arriola and singer Vanessa Fernandez.
It would be nice to hear her project her voice better or perhaps, show off hints of soulful vocal dynamics she might have learned from Fernandez.
(Nurul Azliah)
Azliah recently completed my WRITING ABOUT ROCK MUSIC course. Find out more from KAMCO Music.