Monday, November 7, 2016

5 Artists/Bands from Singapore & Malaysia to Look Out For in 2017

The Southeast Asia region has a wealth of independent music geniuses at every corner. We've seen the rise of young Indonesia rapper Rich Chigga take the international scene by storm, and Singaporean phenomenon Gentle Bones also make waves across the ocean. Not to be outdone, Malaysians have Paperplane Pursuit reaching the Billboard Charts in the United States which only goes to tell about the abundance in good music that can be found within these region. Today we take a look at some of the exciting new bands and artists to emerge in 2016 with new music and records being lined up for release in 2017. Here is our list the 5 Artists or Bands from Singapore and Malaysia to look out for in 2017 
The Soundtrack 


Electropop outfit The Soundtrack

This band has been around for a couple of years, but only recently ; after years of writing, experimenting with samples and self-producing, are ready to put out an EP many reckon would be game changing for the Malaysian local music indie scene. The Soundtrack's 3-piece lineup is Kenzo on vocals, Pritiv on Ableton Push + Guitars and Koon on Keys. This trio has also formed their own record label called NEOLUCIDSOUND and produce for a collection of young upcoming musicians. 

Being heavily influenced by electronic DJs like Mura Masa and Flume, alongside indie bands like LANY and The 1975, the new record has a 'drive around town feel' with ambient electronic pads, ghosting samples and lovely guitar hooks that would send you to the backseat of your car with your lover all night. They have already released their first single Trust_Touch early September so this band's yet to be titled EP is a definite piece of music to look out for. Take a sneak peak of the EP here :







Bakers in Space (Singapore)

Bakers in Space


Bakers in Space are a 4-piece Singaporean indie rock band started by Eugene Soh back in 2013. Members consist of Amirul Hakim, Eugene Soh, Ernest Foo and Hafi Zainor. Powered by the sounds and reverbs of a thousand guitar lines coupled with the Eugene's almost 70s or 80s style vocals, solid grooves on the drums and psychedelic effects, the band has experimented with many method of expression through their sound over the years. 
Tales of life in the busy city of Singapore, the hidden angst found in the high demands of an urban community, listeners can find solace and also meaning in the band heavy, moderate and even light tunes. You might also get a cake baked for you from space if you turn up to one of their shows(I don't guarantee it so don't come after me if there is none) but definitely look to have a good time. Having met the group a couple of times, I can vouch that they are indeed the coolest bunch of Singaporeans to be around. Here's a live video performance by them at the Analog Factory, Singapore performing their song 'Drifters'.


Their upcoming Explosions EP will be coming out mid 2017 so look out for it you definitely don't wanna miss it!

Follow their social media platforms :

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/BakersInSpace/
Instagram : @bakersinspace
Soundcloud : https://soundcloud.com/bakersinspace



The Last One Awake

Christian Palencia aka The Last One Awake has been in our scene for quite a number of years now, with a few different stage names from ChristianBPalencia to The Barefoot Musician among the few stage personas. I think its now safe to say there will not be anymore stage name changes anymore because Christian has finally evolved into his final form The Last One Awake. (Sorry I just had to, he's a big Pokemon fan!) He plays a very intriguing genre called Storyteller music where he brings his audience on a journey through his stories while connecting to theirs with melody and brilliant deep felt lyrics aimed to make even a grown man cry. 

 He has come a long journey since he started to make music for a living, and on the 17th of Dec 2016, Christian launches his long awaited debut album, recorded in Tasmania, Australia with a cast of amazing musicians he now calls the Quiet Stars. Get your tickets here 

 Here is The Last One Awake performing Belle's Song recorded with an amazing band in Tasmania. Let the feels roll in. 



Found this little piece on his website that sums his persona in a sentence and mirrors the musical genius this guy is. 
"The boy who traveled the edges of the earth in attempts to find himself and the answers to all his questions, only to realize the answers had always been right in front of him; at four in the morning, when the rest of the world was asleep."



 Rozella 

Rozella from her page True Complexion
Rozella, full name Rozella Marie is a electropop singer-songwriter from Sabah. She formally decided to pursue her music career in 2013, and moved to Kuala Lumpur in 2015 to make her mark, and boy did she do well. 2016 was her breakout year with multiple achievements that has made her one of Malaysia's brightest shining upcoming stars. 
Since moving to Kuala Lumpur, and working with electronic producers Nick Davies of Manners Maketh Men and pop-tronic maestro Darren Ashley, she has managed to get her song 'Dark Side' to chart on the Malaysian English Top 10 multiple times in 2016. She joined the Tiger Jams competition which she won and her track 'Home To You' that became her latest single was remixed by Scottish Synth pop band Chvrches which is a dream come true for many electronic artist. Check out her single which will be included in her latest EP scheduled for release in 2017.


Home To You - Rozella x Darren Ashley
 

Follow Rozella on all social media platforms for more updates 



Sam Rui (Singapore)


Samantha  Rui started posting Youtube covers in 2013, with a cover of All I Want by Kodaline with Joel Tan(who then on went to be Singapore sensation Gentle Bones) when she was just 17 years old. Fast forward 3 years later, she is fast becoming Singapore's most talented musicians putting up brilliant music. What started as a indie Youtube cover hobby turned into Samantha's music baby of R&B and soul. She started messing around with samples, recording and production software where she found herself working with big Singaporean electronic music producer FAUXE in 2015.

 They dropped a track called 'Down' on Soundcloud, a sexual collaboration about making love until the break of dawn and that served as a launching pad for Samantha's music career. She has now gone on to release 'Boys', 'You' and 'U the 1' a few music platforms like Soundcloud and Bandcamp to solidify her status as Singapore's Artist to look out for. Her super sultry vocals makes her an angel on the record with an attitude. She will be one of the local Singaporean artists performing at St. Jerome's Laneway Festival Singapore in January of 2017.

 Here is here first single off her upcoming EP 'Better Now' which is out on Spotify

  


Follow her on social media for her latest updates and new music

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/samruimusic/
Soundcloud : https://soundcloud.com/samantharui
Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/user/eatmypantssam

Like our list? Comment below and tell us about your favourite upcoming Southeast Asian Artist or Bands.
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Friday, November 4, 2016

An album review of “I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it” by The 1975

The 1975 has risen to global stardom in the past 5 years with their funky and groovy indie pop tunes coupled with an emotional connection to the darkness and hardships of a human being. Loved by hipsters and Tumblr people, this band from Manchester has captured the imaginations of their fans with aesthetic art and modern pop-culture references which are embedded in each of their songs. They are a self-produced band, and without help from a proper major label, they have managed to achieve a notable amount of success. They recently release their second major album, title "I Like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it." Here is a review on the album.


The album starts of with a self titled instrumental with a choir singing lines of lyrics from different songs from their first self titled deluxe Album, THE 1975. Great reference for fans who have followed their music from their first 4 EPs launched back in 2011. The title is bizarre, but in an interview with NME Magazine, frontman Matt Healy explains that this second record was meant to be as crazy as it can get, a well thought out description of the story of The 1975, a bunch of best friends from Manchester, England making it as one of the biggest independent bands in the world at the moment.

My favourite stand out tracks of the album will be Love Me, A Change of Heart, Loving Someone and Somebody Else. Everyone loves The Sound and Ugh! but i'm going to omit those song from my list because I have read a few reviews on that new hit singles. Here is my thoughts on those songs listed above.

Love Me, drops as a self aware, post-millennial song about being objections but totally honest about it instead of hiding behind political correctness. It has a hooky funky guitar and bass-line with tones from a 70s pop track. This song probably embodies the crazy and bombastic nature of The 1975, that lends its ears to genres of all kinds as you go along the record.

A Change of Heart. This song is why fans love the 1975. The first album felt like a movie set in the 1980s, ambient, groovy, emotional but fun. A Change Of Heart easter-eggs lyrics from 3 different song off the first debut album, namely Robbers, The City and Settle Down. Its a song about doing all you can for someone you love, to find that she/he had a change of heart. I dub this song the part 2 of Robbers which sounds beautiful if you listen to both songs next to each other.

Loving Someone is a song about compassion. Almost coming across as a electronic rap piece, the song's tagline "yeah, you should be... Loving Someone, Oh Oh, Loving Someone." sticks in your mind as a line that would define how you treat other people, equally and with kindness. This song almost becomes a cry to accept people that are different from us, and restore hope to humanity.

Somebody Else is definitely the song of the year for me. I have never experienced jealousy if i saw my ex-girlfriend with somebody else, but this song managed to make me feel that way regardless. That alone is testament to the brilliance and emotion put into making this song.

Overall, the album is an emotional investment. You have to put aside time just to journey along the ride of almost an exploration of different genres, but identically set as a The 1975 record. I would definitely recommend this to someone who is searching for music that is fresh, and honest.


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