Imagine Concert At Mosaic Music Festival

These are the songs that inspire us, make us think, and evoke our most heartfelt emotions. A special first-ever Mosaic concert that takes you on an evocative musical journey in celebration of peace. imagine:a soundtrack to peace brings an assembly of Singapore musicians and international guests together for an evening of musical collaborations that inspire us to reflect and renew our hopes for a better future.

This concert features performances of iconic classic songs that have grown to represent universal truths to many, put together in a poignant narrative that underscores a prevailing message of peace. Set against a backdrop of emotive images, with collaborations between Ramli Sarip, Yuna, Ling Kai, Jon Chan, Zul Tania, Cat Ong and Art Fazil, and guest appearances by international artists Stacey Kent, Jim Tomlinson, The Bossarenova Trio and Russian Red.

Title: Imagine: A Soundtrack to Peace
Date: 10 March 2012
Time: 7pm
Venue: Esplanade Concert Hall
Tickets: S$60, S$40 from SISTIC

Foster The People Gig Review

All photos c/o Chugg Entertainment: Photographer: Aloysius Lim

It was a balmy Saturday evening for an eagerly-awaited outdoor gig by current sensations Foster The People.

Foster The People - comprising Mark Foster (Vocals, Keyboards, Piano, Synth, Guitar), Cubbie Fink (Bass & Backing Vocals) and Mark Pontius (Drums & Percussion) - create songs that are termed "dance-pop". In other words - uptempo, hook-filled and dancey. The pulsating beats and stage movements will energise even your grandparents and maybe the house cat.

Backed by sessionists Sean Cimino (Guitars & Keyboard, Synth) and Isom Innis (Keyboards, Synth & Percussion), Foster The People opened their set with "Houdini".

"Waste" and "Call It What You Want" appeared mid-set. These maintained the energy level of the crowd which screamed and cheered with wild abandon after each song.

Near the end of the main set, Mark Foster related a story about Weezer covering a song he wrote and went on to do a cover of "Say It Ain't So" by Weezer from 1994.

The main set ended with "Helena Beat", which was another irresistable sing-along. Almost everyone in the audience had their camera phones up in the air and clapping their hands in rhythm to this instant sing-along.

The night climaxed with the one song the audience was there for - an extended version of their hit "Pumped Up Kicks", which lasted for about six blissful minutes. The melodic bassline and hook-laden chorus seemed never-ending and stuck in my mind until the following day.

SETLIST
Houdini
Miss You
Life On The Nickel
I Would Do Anything
Broken Jaw
Waste
Call It What You Want
Don't Stop (Color On The Walls)
Say It Ain't So
Helena Beat

Encore:
Ruby
Warrant
Pumped Up Kicks

Etc moves into 2012

Etc plays a solo set, 'semi-acoustic', on Boat Quay at the Prince of Wales (51 Boat Quay, Singapore) tonight, Thursay 12 January 2012. Facebook event page: here.

They have also put a new "vérité" recording online at Etc's Soundcloud page.

Or you can hear it here:

Etc :: Bungalow by Etc.

Happy New Year from Etc!

Obedient Wives Club's Self-Titled EP Out Now...

New indie-fuzz band Obedient Wives Club has just released their debut, self-titled EP digitally at their Bandcamp site. Priced at an affordable $6, this is for those of you who missed out on buying the physical, ultra limited edition 3" CD put out by local indie distributor, Happy Teardrop Music.

If you like your indie pop sunnyside up with some Phil Spector echo fuzz, do check out this band. For a taster, here's a YouTube clip of Obedient Wives Club playing live at Home Club...

Lunarin: "Right Of Sleep" Music Video

Right of Sleep from lunarin on Vimeo.

Check out Lunarin's music video for "Right Of Sleep" off their upcoming new album, "The Midas Sessions". The album will be launched at The Pigeonhole on 15 January, 8pm and released digitally with only limited edition hard copies for sale.

Bevlyn Khoo & Andayoma At the Arts House

The France Association of Singapore are bringing France closer to Singapore as they present Singapore singer Bevlyn Khoo’s collaborated performance with renowned Jazz singer Andayoma at The Arts House (The Living Room) on a 2-day performance on 12 January 2012 and 13 January 2012.

Bevlyn Khoo (pic above), a singer since 1999, is a talented multi-lingual songwriter and has come up with three albums that were well received in the jazz community, most notably her sophomore effort "Bistro Affair", which is a French easy listening album that charted in the top 3 in Malaysia, Hong Kong and Taiwan’s jazz charts.

Andayoma is a talented singer who started performing professionally as a solo artist in 2006 in Singapore. She credits her influence inspiration from her Singapore counterparts who have given her the opportunities and placed her on the map of Singapore Jazz. Since then, Andayoma has inspired and touched many with her music and her voice.

Andayoma will translate and deliver a selection of jazz classics spanning the continents in her unique French style. Immerse yourself with the French rendition of these original jazz classics as Bevlyn showcases her sweet vocals.

Get your tickets now on http://www.bytes.sg/EventDetails.aspx?EventID=267

Date: 12 & 13 January 2012
Time: 8pm
Venue: Living Room @ The Arts House (1 Old Parliament Lane)
Language of Performance: French, Creole and English
Tickets: $38 (regular), $30 (students) from www.bytes.sg
Dress Code: Smart Casual

New Album By The Analog Girl Out Now

The Analog Girl has released her new album, "Tonight Your Love", on 18 December. This marks her third official release, with every album released on 18 December every three years to coincide with a special day - her father's birthday.

Songs on the album are a cosmic synthesis of the futuristic with the hauntingly vintage. Sentiments of love and transgressions are explored in these 10 tracks. They are also reflections of her vision of Los Angeles at night - a neon beat, while time and space jumping to retro filmscapes set in New York City. Filter Magazine's Culture Collide Festival held in Echopark, Los Angeles naturally became the perfect stage for The Analog Girl to preview tracks off the new album, performing alongside international bands like Gang Gang Dance, CSS and Asteroids Galaxy Tour. She then proceeded to master the album with Paul Gold of Salt Mastering in Brooklyn, New York - giving it its warm analogue stamp. Gold has worked on an impressive slate of records by acts such as LCD Soundsystem, Animal Collective and Washed Out.

Tonight Your Love Tracklist:
1. Anthem
2. All Night
3. Someone Like You
4. Tonight Your Love
5. I Woke Up To
6. Hey Mr G
7. Take It All
8. Hyp
9. More Than Once
10. Morning Comes

The album is available for download @ theanaloggirl.bandcamp.com. Handmade CDs only for sale at festivals and live shows. Vinyl record format will be out first quarter of 2012.

"Tonight Your Love" Album Teaser