Mosaic Music Festival: a world of music on your doorstep
PUBLISHED February 13th, 2013 01:58 am | UPDATED January 21st, 2016 07:50 am
A vast gulf of musical differences, inspirations, and spanning generations should not, an adhesive musical-experience make…but open your mind and your ears and let the Mosaic Music Festival take you on a journey – you won’t regret it. Bringing you 10Â days of non-stop concerts from music-makers around the globe, the Mosaic Music Festival brings the world to you with a dizzying line-up showcasing a variety of music genres and cultures, presenting both Singapore debuts and returning favourites.
Conceived in 2005, the aim of the music festival is to cater to all age groups with a range of music, from experimental (Grimes- totally blowing my mind right now) to soul, jazz and classical, funky African beats to Indie, and pretty much everything in-between. And it’s not just about showcasing the music, although be prepared for the awesomeness of that; the event also hopes to provide opportunities for audiences to get to know the artists and their personalities.
With all round immersion into musical culture as their goal, this is a music festival to see the acts you love and perhaps get a little experimental and have a musical education as well. Here is an preview of just some of the confirmed acts so far:
Az Samad (Malaysia)
As part of the Mosaic Music Makers workshops, Az Samad will be holding an introduction to acoustic guitar for beginners, teaching some basic strumming techniques and chords. Get to know easy rhythmic patterns and have fun practising light percussive playing with this Fingerstyle guitarist. Next up, spotlight on you and international world tours…well, it’s good to dream!
Acid House Kings
With a successful career spanning two decades, this brother duo produce sweet, indie tunes bound to make you smile. Swedish catchy guitar-oriented indie-pop for feel good vibes.
Esperanza Spalding
A soaring voice with a contemporary sound – though her roots are based in jazz, soul, funk and big band. Esperanza defeated Justin Beiber to become the first jazz musician to win the Grammy award for “Best New Artist” upsetting a league of die-hard Bieber-ettes no doubt! But we’re happy to say, she’s a far more worthy winner of the accolade (sorry Biebs!).
Gilbert O’Sullivan
Ireland’s first pop star, a household name and possibly your Granny’s heart-throb, Gilbert O’Sullivan has had a long international career. Take a trip down memory lane with some golden oldies.
Gretchen Parlato
Gretchen Parlato’s silky-smooth, sultry voice is warm, soothing and lures you in. No doubt one of the contemporary music scene’s most exciting young jazz artists, the emotion in her voice and her musicality make for an intoxicating combination.
Grimes
Fierce, punk, fearless Grimes is a force to be reckoned with in the underground electronic and industrial music scene with her souring vocals over dirty beats. Watch the video for Genesis, and if you’re not in love with her or at least intrigued…you crazy!
Grizzly Bear
Grizzly Bear started as a home recording project by Edward Droste in his apartment in Brooklyn as a reaction to a bad breakup. The result is heart-felt, guitar based melodies featuring gritty rock riffs and catchy pop licks.
Joss Stone
The teeny tiny white girl with a voice to rival Aretha Franklin’s, Joss Stone is barely 26 but has the kind of career most artists can only dream of. Having started her career at 15, she has topped global music charts with her worldly, wise- beyond-years trademark vocals, has performed with the likes of legend James Brown, Gladys Knight, Blondie, Lauryn Hill, Mick Jagger to name but a few.
Kaki King
She’s a gem in a (largely) man’s world – the only woman and the youngest artist to be included in Rolling Stone magazine’s 2006 list of ‘New Guitar Gods’. Whether in offbeat, torchy ballads or complex, propulsive instrumentals, gifted fingerstylist Kaki King delivers, slapping, tapping, tickling and teasing muscular polyrhythms and poetic, emotive melodies from her steel-stringed guitar.
DJ Koflow
Wanna be a DJ superstar? Hit the decks with local DJ Koflow (Wayne Liu) as he shares a brief history of DJ-ing and turntablism in hip hop music. As part of the Mosaic Music Makers workshops, he will demonstrate some basic techniques such as forward, transform baby scratch, as well as introduce you to some basics in live music-mixing.
Miles Smiles
Decades after jazz superstar Miles Davis’ departure, his influence and legacy continue to shine through the musicians he played with and mentored. Now, a stellar line-up of some of his alumni pay sizzling tribute to their former bandleader in what will be the closest you will get to hearing the legend himself live.
My Brightest Diamond
From the ‘Kate Bush’ school of theatrical, dramatic, vocal agility, experimental chamber pop singer-songwriter Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond marries musical theatre with multi-instrumentation and myriad influences to paint soundscapes of dark, impeccable beauty.
Pablo Ziegler Meets Tokyo Jazz Tango Ensemble
When Latin Grammy-winning nuevo tango pianist and composer Pablo Ziegler, formerly from the famed Astor Piazzolla Quintet, and Japan’s superb Tokyo Jazz Tango Ensemble meet, beautiful unique music is bound to follow.
Riduan Zalani
Who needs instruments at all? As part of the Mosaic Music Makers workshops, learn Body-Tap, a body percussion workshop. Learn basic rhythm structures and create interlocking rhythm patterns together. Professional percussionist Riduan Zalani will show you fun ways to get creative and become a ‘rhythm machine’. Sounds pretty awesome!
Salif Keita
Let the ‘golden voice of Africa’ lift your soul, whether it be with his infectious dance numbers bound to have you bopping in your seat or his heart-felt ballads, his passion and musicality is deeply affecting.
Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra
Rooted in exuberant instrumental ska, the music of Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra channels jazz, rock, pop, surf and movies with flamboyant horns, relentless drums, dizzying surf guitar and a mega dose of love and humour. A fantastic act to see live,
expect nothing less than high-energy, high-octane ska madness.
Waaaah! Would you believe me if I said that that was just about half of what’s happening at the Mosaic Music Festival? And that whilst I’ve been writing this, more acts are being confirmed and I literally can’t keep up! I have to tell you, I have loved writing this feature, because as I’m going through listening to artists I have never heard before, in genres I might not usually appreciate, I have discovered a few new favourites and….hang on a minute….sneaky Mosiac Music Festival opening my eyes and ears to a world of new music…wow, these guys are good.
To learn more and to see a full listing of confirmed artists, see their website here
Tickets are available at Esplanade Box Office and SISTIC here.
Written by Heh Zee
