Another great opportunity for artists to get their originals heard is the SGMUSO Songwriters Night. Now a monthly event, the re-launch kicks off on Saturday, 28th February at The Barbershop by Timbre. Featured artist will be Tim De Cotta X The Warriors with the open mic segment to showcase Fym Summer, JAWN, Hell Low and Ciao Turtle.
See you there!
SGMUSO is proud to present SONGWRITERS WEEK
Our friend Adam Lyons (Lyon Apprentice/FAIRCHILD, Alumni of Music Matters Live) has informed us that he will be coming to town for a week in October for a songwriting collaboration project with a few Singaporean acts at the amazing Beep Studios! At his request, SGMUSO will be helping to facilitate a couple of side events to open up the opportunity to even more Singaporean musicians to get together, know their community, perform and also encourage cross-collaboration amongst each other locally and internationally.
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SONGWRITERS OPEN CIRCLE
7th October 2014, TUESDAY
7PM – 9.30PM
LITHE PARALOGUE STUDIO
We will be kicking off the week with an intimate SONGWRITERS OPEN CIRCLE, a sharing session in which we would like to invite all songwriters, producers and music-makers to join us for a chat and jam. We hope to provide a small creative space for everyone to get together to know their community, discuss and exchange ideas, stories and processes, tips on getting ideas on paper and then in the studio, to collaborate musically – all in an relaxed and improvised setting. The intimate vibe of the songwriter’s circle will allow for a unique discussion and improvised performance. Musicians can choose to bring along their own instruments to share a couple of songs at the open circle. Musicians that attend will be encouraged to sign up for our open jam at the Songwriters Night at Timbre Barbershop at the end of the week. Special guest, Adam Lyons will be present to drive this Open Circle session!
Big shout-out and love to Lithe Paralogue Studio for letting us use their lovely space!
*Limited seats only. Send your RSVPs to [email protected] by 6th Oct to reserve a seat!
Bring your own food and booze!!
… still there’s more …
The next stage of the evolution of the Singapore music scene took place on Sunday when two SG bands (Take Two, Gentle Bones) and three Western Australian counterparts (The Brow, The Amani Consort & The Disappointed) played at Beerfest 2014. Before that, there was a casual exchange of ideas between both sets of musicians with the promise of more exchanges and even collaborations in the months and years ahead!
I met and interviewed the three WA bands and found them all to be talented, committed, friendly and easy-going. I intend to do a spotlight on each band in the days ahead together with the audio interview. Stay tuned…
I love Timbre. It’s been amazing what Danny Loong and Edward Chia have been able to achieve in the last seven years or so. Beginning from the first outlet at Substation, the Timbre Group has expanded to more outlets across the island, organizing popular festivals like Rock & Roots and even providing the backline for the recent completed Music Matters Live.
I know personally that Danny has the best interest of Singapore music in his heart and has always wanted to link the music scenes of Singapore and Western Australia (where he also spent a significant part of his life) together and this weekend’s Beerfest 2014 sees the culmination of that dream with SWAM (Singapore-Western Australian Music Exchange) where three Aussie bands and two Singapore bands (see above) play at Beerfest 2014.
On Sunday 15th, I will be moderating a panel discussion amongst these bands where hopefully there will be a healthy exchange of ideas of how we can – in each respective music scene – help out the other, all for mutual benefit. Believe me, there’s nothing more magical than when musical people come together! So if you’re a local musician and SGMUSO member (natch!) make a date with Beerfest 2014 for Sunday, where the fun begins at 4pm. Please register your interest with SGMUSO at [email protected] and look forward to seeing you there!
Apart from the flood of local indie music that the 100 Festival promises to deliver, SGMUSO will also be involved in organizing three panel discussions relevant to the music scene. I will be part of a panel talking about legal aspects on 7th June from 4pm or so. Look out for details to be released soon. Heads up!
(Press release)
SGMUSO is very excited and proud to announce HOUSE PARTY: An SGMUSO Open House.
As a follow up to the inaugural Music Matters Academy which ran as a 3-day project for Singaporean artists at Music Matters 2013, HOUSE PARTY is set to take place on 5th October 2013, at the Aliwal Arts Centre (home of SGMUSO).
Featuring a stellar line-up of over 20 homegrown acts who have benefitted from the SGMUSO – Music Matters Academy initiative, dynamic panel discussions as well as the exclusive screening of two local documentaries, HOUSE PARTY is jammed packed with activities in the span of a day!
Visit www.facebook.com/sgmuso for more details to be announced soon!
My regular readers will be aware of my love of hyperbole. After all, art and music should always be bigger than life and so I am always happy to oblige in that regard. So forgive me, if this post outstrips all previous in the hyperbole department.
Awesome!
No other way to describe the week that will forever be known as The Steve Lillywhite Production Week! As a huge Lillywhite fan (and SGMUSO EXCO member), it was going to be an amazing experience no matter what. However, even that did not prepare me for the surreal, seemingly out-of-body experience that it ultimately turned out to be! See what I mean about hyperbole?!?
I was fortunate enough to sit in the production sessions on the 1st and last day and was thrilled not only to see the legendary Steve Lillywhite in action but to witness the four bands (Atlas, MONSTER CAT, sub:shaman and The Sam Willows) have their collective confidence boosted sky high by a man who so obviously loves good music and music people.
Everyone in the studio was buzzing thanks to Lillywhite’s infectious enthusiasm. It was impossible not to be infected with the buzz! From the bands to the producers to the crew to bystanders (like yours truly), it truly felt like S-ROCK history was unfolding before our very eyes (and ears).
As much as we ourselves believe in S-ROCK, it is re-assuring and comforting to find someone of Lillywhite’s stature to be equally (it not more) excited about the potential and possibilities of the S-ROCK scene. It is validation of our efforts in the scene and our belief in the great S-ROCK bands that toil tirelessly in our sometimes thankless nation.
Best part of all was actually getting to know Lillywhite a bit better and chatting over his experiences producing some of the more important releases of the 80s and 90s. This was aided by Lillywhite’s own humble, down to earth manner – it was impossible not to think of him as a like-minded ally and these are some of the memories I will always treasure.
… still there’s more…
And the results are in! The four Singapore bands selected to be produced by legendary producer STEVE LILLYWHITE are Atlas, MONSTER CAT, sub:shaman and The Sam Willows. Congrats to all the bands!
The bands will get the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with Lillywhite during four intense days in early April. But that’s not all, Lillywhite will also be the special guest at SGMUSO’s inaugural SOUNDCHECK event on Friday, 5th April, something no self-respecting music lover can afford to miss…
More information at SGMUSO web site.
SGMUSO are pleased to announce:
1st April to 5th April 2013 | Yellowbox Studios, 1 Ubi View, Focus One, #01-19, Singapore.
SGMUSO are presenting four Singapore bands, the fantastic opportunity to record with the legendary producer Steve Lillywhite. Lillywhite will select from submissions, three bands with SGMUSO selecting one other band, to join him on Monday 1st April to record LIVE. From this recording session, Lillywhite will critique and select one band from these four, to spend the rest of the week to further record material whilst the other three bands will be able to observe some of the following 4 days of recording. There will be other potential opportunities announced for these bands at a public event called SOUNDcheck (details to follow).
Joining Lillywhite for this Production Week will be three Singapore producers who will be mentored by Lillywhite, with these producers being matched with the remaining three bands to come back to Yellowbox Studios at a later date to mentor and record one track each. These recordings will be further critiqued after completed via a video call with Lillywhite, the Singapore producer and band members present.
Bands submit by sending one song, one picture, one-page bio and a paragraph on why they should be recorded by Lillywhite Friday 15th March and closure will be end of Friday 22nd March
The Production Fee for the selected bands, is subsidised from S$6,000 by e2i, SGMUSO, WDA and Yellowbox Studios and will be $500 per band who are members of SGMUSO (the subsidy is for Singaporeans/Permanent Residents only).
This production week will give the selected Singapore bands, a chance to be around one of the top international producers in the world and help them develop their music craft. The producers present will also gain greater skills in production through the mentorship of Lillywhite. SGMUSO will be documenting throughout and posting via social media throughout the week and follow ups thereafter.
The week-long activities will culminate with a new initiative from SGMUSO called SOUNDcheck. SOUNDcheck is to develop a deeper advocacy of Singapore music by providing an update for key advocates such as media, promoters, venues, labels and other music companies. Details on SOUNDcheck to follow.
The Music Society of Singapore (or sgmuso) had its second Music Dialogue on Sat, 8th Sep and by all accounts it was an interesting afternoon for all who attended. Now, although I am an EXCO member of sgmuso, I am writing this article NOT as an EXCO member or on behalf of sgmuso but as an fairly objective observer (but take whatever I say with a pinch of salt, if you must).
My perspective on Music Matters 2012 was straightforward enough. Even though I am involved in the local music industry as a journalist and a manager – not to mention as an EXCO member of the newly formed Singapore Music Society (SGMUSO) launched at Music Matters 2012! – first and foremost I went as a FAN. And as a FAN, I thoroughly enjoyed myself for the two-day duration! After all, I got to meet two legendary rock n’ roll figures – producer Bob Ezrin (left) and manager Peter Jenner (right) – who have been involved and associated (and WORKED) with many of my favourite bands/artists from Pink Floyd to KISS to The Clash to Peter Gabriel to Robyn Hitchcock and so on.