We’ve been saying this for a long time but it’s just so true (and it’s too good of an opener to ignore): We are in the midst of a new heyday for local music!
With radio stations playing originals from homegrown artists, local acts headlining their own mini-concerts all around town, and big-name labels signing the frontrunners, it seems all those #supportlocal tweets have finally struck gold.
The mid-year season appears to be primetime for local releases (#SG50 feels, hmm?), with many new tracks and videos popping up faster than llao llao franchises. Ready your eardrums: here are the creamiest of the crop.
Sixty Five – Gentle BonesÂ
Starting off with the wunderkind of local music, “Sixty Five” is from the soundtrack of “1965“, a the #SG50 film starring veteran actor Lim Kay Tong as the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew.
This marks Joel’s sixth original song and his first standalone single – his first five being tracks from his debut EP. It is at once mournful and aspirational, revealing the masterful lyrical depth that we’ve come to expect from the 21-year-old. All this without using the word “home” even once.
If we had a choice, this would be our #SG50 National Day song.
Some Girls – Trick
Okay so the hard synths in the opening might sound similar to “Pretty Girls” (that’s Britney and Iggy’s summer jam that flopped), but that’s quickly forgotten once Marc Lian‘s pop-friendly voice enters. Richard Jansen completes the two-part Trick package with his sneering, confident verses – lines that you’ll be singing to yourself in a snapback while alone at home.
Take Heart – The Sam Willows
Forget international pop – THIS is your Song Of The Summer 2015! Two months after the Willows released the track to much fanfare (and interviews), the video for “Take Heart” matches the high-energy explosiveness of The Sam Willows’ foray into EDM.
Plus points for choreography and that cameo from YouTube comedy duo Munah and Hirzi!
Lines – TheodoraÂ
We spoke to rising artist Theodora right before she went on the Baybeats stage this year! Her haunting voice squares off perfectly with the nature-inspired scenes in the stunning video for “Lines“, which is also Theodora’s debut single!
SPOILERS: There’s a literal horse who makes a magnificent cameo in the video. Also a table full of cats. SPCA should be playing this on a large screen TV at their reception desk.
Waves Of Tomorrow – Jude Young
“There’s no snow in the air around here/So it’s never to cold outside/It’s never cold inside“: For complaining about the weather like a true Singaporean, Jude Young’s tribute song gets our stamp of approval.
Major plus points to the beautifully-shot visuals by Jeremy Kieran Ng, who also designed Gentle Bones’ official website and is the co-founder of the Singapore Social Media Awards!
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