Back in 2010 if I told you that we’ll have Singaporean artists making it big out there alongside glamorous stars like JB and Taytay, you would surely scoff. But the past decade has seen a rise in the number of home-grown singers. Our local singers have indeed outdone themselves and gave us bathroom performers, who long to belt our greatest hits before legions of screaming fans, a spark of hope — the music scene in Singapore is very much alive.
It started with The Sam Willows in 2012, a pair of siblings (Narelle and Benjamin Kheng) and their two friends (Sandra Riley Tang and Jon Chua). Posting a “Hey Soul Sister mashup” on YouTube that went viral made them famous almost overnight and after various gigs and performances, The Sam Willows became the first Southeast Asian act to break into Spotify’s global viral 50 chart.
Making waves in the music scene around the same time was Singapore’s very own Ed Sheeran, Gentle Bones (aka Joel Tan). He is an inspiration to all aspiring artists out there who do not have the means to afford professional music lessons because this chart-topping Spotify artist (for viral tracks in Singapore) had actually learnt how to play the guitar through YouTube lessons. He was even listed in Forbes 30 under 30 list in 2016. He is also the very first Singaporean artist to clinch a contract with Universal Music Group, which carry big names like The Beatles and Rihanna.
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Following closely is Charlie Lim, or “The Master of Melancholy” as dubbed by TODAY, who was also signed by Universal Music Group. Best known for his narrative lyricism and indie-pop tunes, Charlie Lim acknowledges that Singapore’s lack of competition in local media industries, diversity in language, small size and more had left him feeling jaded and discouraged when it came to thinking about how he could possibly make a living by venturing into Singapore’s music scene. Nevertheless, he allowed his tenacity and passion to lead the way, earning him opportunities to pursue what he loves.
The music scene in Singapore is not only limited to this handful of artists that have made it big. There are tons of amazing talent out there, playing for free on the streets of Orchard Road and Paya Lebar, serenading passers-by while indulging in their hobby — busking.
In the past, busking was looked down upon as it was perceived to be similar to begging. However, modern-day buskers, who can be as young as 11 years old, have revolutionised this notion as many perform simply because they want to express their love for music and share its beauty with others.
Busking is also surprisingly fully supported by the government as Singapore’s National Arts Council has made it such that there are almost zero barriers to entry for eager, talented singers to join the busking community. From mandopop to jazz and blues to the latest chart-topping hits, a myriad of genres continue to be belted out by buskers both young and old.
Again and again, I am amazed by the talent that I can stumble upon on the streets of Singapore and of how much more accepting we have become of such performers who aren’t too “pai-seh” to showcase their exceptional talent. This makes me proud to be Singaporean, whether or not I’m in the music scene as a performer or the audience.
Music is a big part of everyone’s lives, whether you’re into folksy tunes that The Sam Willows so adore or the soulful crooning of Charlie Lim. If you think you’ll never be able to pursue your passion for singing, these artists have proven you wrong — and you could prove yourself wrong as well if you are willing to put in the same amount of effort and allow your determination to drive you to success.
The Singapore government alone does not drive its music scene. It’s the passion of the artists that does. And they are indeed doing a pretty fantastic job.
By Rachel Lim
