Support Local: The Soaring Music Scene in Singapore
PUBLISHED December 2nd, 2014 04:00 pm | UPDATED March 27th, 2016 03:04 pm
The local music scene has been growing so rapidly that people have forgotten how underrated it used to be. I remember spending a good amount of my teenage years listening to the likes of West Grand Boulevard, Electrico, Humpback Oak, and of course, Ronin. The first official music gig I went to as a kid was the Rock for Wayne concert in 2007, a beautiful tribute to Wayne “Thunder” Seah of the much-loved local band The Suns.
It doesn’t take very long for one to realize how different you feel when you hear something made so close to home – there’s a sense of pride and pure joy listening to homegrown musicians flourish amidst the overwhelming flow of mainstream radio music and the scrutiny by the public. But this disconnect between the local public and the local music scene has been diminishing steadily, thanks to passionate local musicians and local music supporters, like the folks at Bandwagon and Baybeats, who fervently spread the word of supporting local talent.
In a way, it’s a case of the more you give, the more you get. With more encouragement, local talents have been stepping up to bigger plates and stages, giving majestic performances that resonate through the airwaves of our little island (and some even beyond). I’m just highlighting 5 homeboys (and girls) that’ve made a big enough impression:
The Progressive Instrumental Rock Band – Sphaeras
Image courtesy of Sphaeras.
This rising star brings you electric strums on the guitar that take flight with the support of a strong percussion backbone. Together, all the elements of the band create an explosive harmony that exposes the dark corners of the mind and liberates the soul. Seeing them onstage is a true musical experience as you witness them claim the airwaves as their sound echoes for miles and resonates in your mind for the next few weeks. All in all, they are a band who would engulf the stage with the unity of their sound that fearlessly tears through the air. Hear what I mean on their Bandcamp page.
The Alternative Folk Soprano – Bravepaper
Image courtesy of Guanwen Lim.
As for the voices of the local music scene, soulful, strange but extremely addictive is what is ringing through the Singaporean airwaves. One of the most peculiar of voices we’ve heard on the local stage is that of Chris Tang, better known as Bravepaper. I remember getting confused as to whether I was listening to a male or female singer back in the day when Bravepaper wasn’t a one-man show. Echoing emotions with his tender and unusual but captivating soprano, it’s hard not to listen in more when it’s aptly paired together with the folky strums on his guitar. Check out on his Facebook page and look out for the track called 1984; equally noteworthy are the more instrumental tracks (especially Too Late) that he put up with electronic beat magicians FAUXE and Sam Baker under their collaborative title, H Y B R D T H R Y on Soundcloud.
The Lush, Soulful Crooner – Charlie Lim
Image in courtesy of Harriet Koh.
And then there’s Charlie Lim. He performs with a strong, soulful voice with an emotional hint of vulnerability when he flexes those vocal cords through notes so swiftly it goes right down your spine. From the original songs that feature his steadily swerving voice and the gentle strums on guitar strings – as heard on Bitter to his recent wave of head-bopping beats and electronic sounds (like Conspiracy), Charlie Lim is definitely one local musician to keep your eye out for as he proves his versatility and musical talent with the growth in his music over the years. Check out what I mean on Soundcloud.
The Haunting Electronic Duo – .gif
Image courtesy of Md Hanis b Isahak
You’ll recognise mind-blowing talent when you hear the sounds of .gif. Rising steadily on the local and regional stage, their tunes feature cool beats and an exquisitely haunting voice that could very well take you over the edge with the strange strains and heavy sprinkles of raw emotion. Singing words that paint pretty pictures in your head, I don’t believe we’ve ever seen anything like .gif on the local stage, and that is definitely something refreshing. Listen to their most recent EP on Soundcloud and keep a look out for Diatribe, along with some of their older tracks, like Juvenile.
Monster Cat
Image courtesy of Monster Cat
I can’t not mention Monster Cat, a name that’s been making waves in the local and international scene recently. They’ve certainly established their own sound that’s reflective of the passionately loud quality of rock music, which is accompanied by an almost-ghostly effect with their vocals. This contrast between intimate and, by comparison, delicate voices and the louder, more intense explosion of sounds on the guitars and drums, is obviously working. Having just launched their latest album The Violet Hour – which can be heard on Spotify and bought on iTunes – there are certainly memorable tracks like Take Me to Love, which comes with a very psychedelic and trippy music video that’s worth a watch.
Top Image: Bravepaper by Guanwen Lim
