Celebrate new works and welcome new faces in Singapore music with Esplanade! Join these artists as they embark on brand new chapters of their musical journeys.
Kalysa
1 Jan, Sun | 6.45 pm & 7.30 pm | Esplanade Concourse
Kalysa, despite her young age has amassed a wealth of experience under her belt. Having been in the Malay music scene as a singer and songwriter for 8 years now. Her career has taken her to the capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur where she was a recording solo artiste with Luncai emas Sdn Bhd for 2 years. Now back in Singapore, Kalysa has been working with the Basement Studio, predominantly writing and recording her original compositions. Kalysa pens her songs based on her personal tribulations, pouring her emotions and feelings into every word in her songs. Her music brings out her character, a fun, lovable character with a great backstory to her journey thus far.
Karmahead
1 Jan, Sun | 7.15 pm & 8.30 pm | Esplanade Outdoor Theatre
A blend of blues and folk music with a dash of Indian bhajan, qawwali, and a hint of new age, the sounds of Karmahead—comprising Art Fazil and Bobby Singh—are created using the acoustic guitar, tabla, and a collection of ethnic instruments, exotic toys and synthesizers. Art Fazil, the founding member of alternative ethno-folk-pop-rock trio Rausyanfikir signed as a songwriter with Warner Music Publishing (Singapore) in 1990, actively writing for regional acts in both English and Malay. In 1993, Art was signed to Pony Canyon Records (Singapore) as a solo artist. In between those two Malay albums, Art recorded the eponymous album of self-penned English songs, which produced two top 10 hits, Sometimes When I Feel Blue and Everybody Else. That year, he also won the COMPASS Best English Song 1995 award and another Best Malay Song Award in 1997 for Dikir Fikir Fikir, a track from the second Rausyanfikir album. He also won the Tympnali Songwriter’s Competition (held as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival) in 1997. Art moved to the United Kingdom in 1995 where he focused on writing and performing, travelling extensively around England, Scotland and Wales, with a brief stint in Istanbul. He has played at the world famous The Kashmir Klub, The Regal Room, The Twelve Bar Club, Bungies, Moles (Bath), Penny Theatre (Cantebury), Edinburgh Fringe Festival etc.
Bobby Singh was in his family band before he became a student of Pracheen Kala Kendra Music School in New Delhi, where he graduated in Indian classical music. He specialises in tabla, and plays Indian classical, western, and music of Eastern Europe origins. Bobby plays a wide range of styles and genres such as pop, jazz, Brazilian, Latin, and so on, and continues to explore the rhythms of world music. He is a session musician who also specialises in African and Latin American rhythms. Bobby is particularly skilled in western drums and the Peruvian cajon (drum box). Other percussive instruments that he plays include Indian skin drums, congas, bongos, timbales, djembe, udu, darabouka, surdo drums, tamborim and timbal. He has performed for recordings by Blair’s Bunch, Asha Bhosle, Art Fazil, Marina Xavier, Late Amran, Jessica Soo, Jack Lee and Lewis Pragasam (Seoul), Othrie Barrett Jr, and many others. He is also a music educator.
Shak and the Baits
2 Jan, Mon | 5.15 pm & 6 pm | Esplanade Concourse
A growing household name in Singapore, Shak and The Baits debuted as a band in June 2016. A groove-based band that characterizes Shak’s melancholic lyrics into danceable grooves. Shak and The Baits comprise of five members: Shak’thiya Subramaniamm (Singer Songwriter), Khalis Jalil (Guitarist), Tiffany Tan (Keyboardist), Eugene Chew (Bassist) and Rafaee Mahmood (Drummer). With a range of various musicial influences, the group brings a palette of sounds that colour the world. We welcome you to immerse yourself in our world.
The group has performed at various venues in Singapore such as the Hard Rock Cafe, a featured artist for Bandwagon Nights, Power Records at Kult Kafé, BeerFest 2016, Singapore Night Fest 2016 and beCAUSE at Singjazz Club on 2 December 2016.
Chasing Daylight
15 Jan, Sun | 6.30 pm | Esplanade Outdoor Theatre
Chasing Daylight is a budding pop / soft-rock band from Singapore whose songs explore themes of life, love and longing. The boys are inspired by the likes of Switchfoot, Coldplay and The 1975. Their live shows aim to bring audiences on a journey packed with energy and emotion. First formed in 2009, the band today consists of Yap Wei Chiang, Yap Wei Jin, Hosea Choo, Ian Leong and Aaron Pereira. Chasing Daylight is currently part of the Noise Music Mentorship 2016 Programme.
Baracuda Batucada
2 Jan, Mon | 7.15 pm | Esplanade Outdoor Theatre
Started off as a 3-man band, Baracuda Batucada is the name of the group and make you groove, they will. With a strong member base of more than 150 members since 2004, the percussion ensemble has been rocking crowds out and entertained many people for many events. Starting out on campus, Baracuda Batucada has performed in many different places since then. From Orchard Road, Zouk to Brisbane Australia, the group has grown much over the years, rocking out their addictive samba percussion tunes. Their hard rocking beats have certainly made their name sound far and wide.
Different personalities and backgrounds, passionate musicians wanting to make a difference, a calling to make music and a desire to rock is what that has brought this group of people together today. Whenever the hard thumping rhythms are heard around the city, music enthusiasts know its Baracuda Batucada rocking their beats. With their authentic slogan of “Heavier than Samba, Lighter than Rock”, the group will definitely surprise and entice you with their rhythms!
Din Ilango
3 & 4 Jan, Tue & Wed | 7 pm | Esplanade Concourse
Din has undoubtedly shown his unwavering spirit in pursuing his path as a musician, and now he is ever more determined to make his music heard through Asia. Currently Din is in the process of recording his 2nd single, Mr Malu. With his band, he will be reworking some of his original music, as well as popular cult classics from Bob Marley, The Beatles, to Coldplay, Radiohead and Nirvana. With great passion and an unusual fair for music, Din Illango has been writing his own songs since nine when he first picked up the guitar on his own. Today, he is a professional guitar teacher with a Performance Diploma in guitar, and has even published several original songs on the web prior to his maiden radio release of his malay song, Seperti Maya Karin, which is currently on Ria’s LPMI Top 20 charts for over 15 weeks and topped the charts for 2 weeks.
Nicholas Zavior
5 Jan, Thu, 7 pm | 6 Jan, Fri, 6.45 pm & 7.30 pm | Esplanade Concourse
Having also acquired a strong skillset in songwriting, Nick is also currently recording his own original music and will be focused on releasing albums to promote positivity and touch lives locally and abroad. Nick will be exploring two originals. He will also be re-interpreting and giving a fresh twist to old classics by r&b and soul artists such as Al Green and Luther
Vandross. Nick Zavior is a professional singer, songwriter and arranger. He is the 2016 McNally Award winner for excellence in the arts. Having been influenced heavily by Rhythm & Blues music, Nick began to explore its traditions in 2010, which led him to acquire the stylistic traits of funk, soul and gospel music. He has performed cover music regularly at highly acclaimed clubs, restaurants for over four years. Nick is also the lead vocalist of the renown 12 member funk & soul tribute band ‘What Is Hip,’ who have performed at various venues across Singapore, most notably Esplanade’s NYE’s countdown party.
The Anson Fung Quartet
6 Jan, Fri | 7.45 pm & 9 pm | Esplanade Outdoor Theatre
The Anson Fung Quartet presents a night of jazz, bebop and hardbop. From the iconic Charlie Parker to Bobby Timmons, the group will play music that swings hard, for you. Featuring an all new (things) lineup of John Koh on bass, Mohd Rafaee on drums and veteran pianist and sax player Shawn Letts.
Linus Hablot
7 Jan, Sat | 6.45 pm & 7.30 pm | Esplanade Concourse
Linus Hablot is a Singapore-based singer-songwriter that combines his adoration for genres such as neo-soul, blues and indie folk. An interesting blend of such vastly contrasting genres, Linus borrows from his musical influences such as Nick Hakim, Lianne La Havas and Bon Iver and creates his own unique sound that is difficult not to fall in love with. His debut release, Coming Down, released on local record label Middle Class Cigars, was highly praised in the scene for its fresh sound. Local music editorial, Bandwagon, describes his debut EP as Linus’ “logical first foot forward that marries the sparse instrumentation he’s been practicing, along with a focus on synthesized beats made human.
Abby Simone
7 Jan, Sat | 7.15 pm & 8.30 pm | Esplanade Outdoor Theatre
An acoustic live performance, Abby Simone would play sets comprising of some originals and new and innovative approaches to covers. She will take on r&b/hiphop and progressive edm music and infuse them with her own unique sounds. She is highly influenced by Ryan leslie, Drake and Kygo. Sherry Abigail who is known by her stage name, Abby simone started singing since she figured out the acoustics of her bathroom. From what started out as nothing but a bathroom singer her journey in music has been nothing short of amazing. Abby Simone started her professional Music career in early 2014. Using music as a confidante, she has been writing and singing to express herself emotionally. Abby has performed for Beerfest 2014, UN Women Gala event 2014,Weddings,Corporate events & still does her regulars at various places.
Lost box (A Beautiful Sunday Special)
8 Jan, Sun | 2.30 pm, 5.15 pm & 6 pm | Esplanade Concourse
Brought together by their passion for music, what began as a group of friends jamming at HDB void decks soon became a trio of performers doing what they love most for a living. The Lost Box have been pursuing music full-time for the past three years as a cover band and are working hard on the Debut release.
General Lee
8 Jan, Sun | 6.30 pm | Esplanade Outdoor Theatre
General Lee is a Singapore-based rock and roll band playing self-penned tunes inspired by their thoughts about growing up, living, working and playing music in S.E. Asia, a throwback to the sounds of the rip-roaring counterculture era. Inspired by Americana, their songwriting draws on historical events and local folklore to shine a light on their home country, which has so often been ignored. Their eponymous debut album was tracked live at Beep Studios, Singapore and mastered at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London.”
Astronauts
9 & 10 Jan, Mon & Tue | 7 pm | Esplanade Concourse
Voyeurs of a new musical frontier, the Astronauts galvanise old-school RnB with slick new age funk. Formed in June 2016, the band is a quintet of like-minded musicians brought together by the love of all things funky and soulful. In 2016, the Astronauts have performed at Esplanade’s “Baybeats”, “100 Bands Festival” and “Singapore Night Festival”. The band was most recently crowned the champion of the inaugural “Stärker Music Carnival” and has since shared the stage with notable artists like Charlie Lim, Disco Hue, DingDang and more. Fresh off “Stärker Music Carnival”, the Astronauts are currently working to release their first single and music video.
The Notes
11 Jan, Wed | 7 pm | Esplanade Concourse
The Notes brings to you a jazzy a cappella twist to well-known pop and evergreen tracks, including local and international favorites. Hum to your favorite familiar tunes and enjoy a nice cosy afternoon/night with us! An a cappella quartet with a percussive twist, The Notes imbue class and chill in any space and time. Wistfully tugging at your heartstrings, their voices bring a new twist to evergreens, contemporary pop, and even musical numbers. So take five, kick back, relax, and let us say a jazzy little something about the language of the soul.
ffion
12 Jan, Thu, 7 pm | 13 Jan, Fri, 6.45 pm & 7.30 pm | Esplanade Concourse
Known for her chill vibes & melancholic vocals , Ffion documents her life in forms of songs, in hopes people may find a way to relate to them. The fresh faced songstress dropped her debut single, entitled ‘with u’, the romantic, full-bodied R&B cut is a superb introductory showcase for her evocative vocals. Ffion is currently under the NOISE Mentorship program & has hopes of playing her music overseas. The British vocalist may be a newcomer to the scene in Singapore, but with plans to release an EP April 2017, it’s clear there is more to be expected from her.
ColdCut Quartet
13 Jan, Fri | 7.45 pm & 9 pm | Esplanade Outdoor Theatre
Emerged during the decade of local indie and post-rock acts, Coldcut Quartet began as a college band, comprising Luciano Lemus on guitar, Jelene Luar on keyboards, Nicholas Lee on bass and Anson Koh on drums. Founded by Luar in 2012, the members convened to vent their musical experimentation. What started as a college past time gradually evolved into a goal-driven career. Incorporating elements of jazz, classical, rock and metal, Coldcut Quartet presents its unique brand of fusion that is progressive, yet musical. With the upcoming release of “Space Ham” EP, Coldcut Quartet is set for stardom across international waters.
Music of LAND with NO SUN III by TO Ensemble
14 Jan, Sat | 6.45 pm & 7.30 pm | Esplanade Concourse
Contemporary fusion music group TO ensemble presents a preview of the music from their upcoming concert LAND with NO SUN III: Song of the Skies (4th march, 7.30pm, Esplanade Recital Studio). A reflection of the impact of Man’s actions on nature, and the world, the LAND with NO SUN concert series tells the story of a post-apocalypse world where conflicts and deterioration of the environment has forced Man to abandon the surface to live in Skycities and rely on technology for survival. A young girl finds hope in what remains of nature. Featuring groundbreaking original music that combines jazz improvisations, Indian music, classical/film music and vocal music, audiences will experience a unique symphony of earth/nature, and also get an opportunity to contribute to this third concert episode of the series.
wyd:syd
14 Jan, Sat | 7.15 pm | Esplanade Outdoor Theatre
wyd:syd is a rock band from Singapore. With each member’s distinctive musical influences and contributions, the band explores and blends musical elements from ambient, indie and conventional rock music in hopes of creating an enjoyable and unique soundscape.
The Falling Feather
14 Jan, Sat | 8.30 pm | Esplanade Outdoor Theatre
Falling Feathers (JJ) – His tale started with a wager. A gamble to put one’s life on the line, diving headfirst into a career that’s frowned upon by many in Singapore. Falling Feathers is everything great about pop rock bands like 5 Seconds of Summer and The Vamps condensed into one individual. Falling Feathers owns a unique vocal quality, a bright and cut-through vocal tone that can be immediately recognized as his own. Not only does his music consist of compulsive hooks and relatable narratives, his songs also envelope the conventional emotions of day-to-day experiences in a copacetic kind of way. Coupled with his jovial personality, Falling Feathers definitely puts a smile on the faces of anyone who listens. Fighting tooth and nail to be heard, Falling Feathers started sharing his music at open mics, various online platforms and local performances. Falling Feathers has also been hand picked to be part of the 2016 NOISE SINGAPORE MUSIC MENTORSHIP program where industry professionals share their knowledge with artists in Singapore Falling Feathers’ debut single, Perfect, will be released across all major digital platforms come 10 November.
Lincoln Lim
15 Jan, Sun | 5.15 pm | Esplanade Concourse
Lincoln Lim is a singer-songwriter that has performed in and around Singapore for the past 9 years. His folk storytelling is reminiscent of Damien Rice, Ben Howard and Jewel and at An Ode to Anxiety he debuts a treasure trove of original music made for people to listen and to feel. This will be his first solo performance at the Esplanade. Don’t miss out!
Marcus Makes Music
16 & 17 Jan, Mon & Tue | 7 pm | Esplanade Concourse
With his smooth tunes, slick presence and gritty vocals, Marcus can be seen hitting the local pub circuit playing pop-rock ballads and ’90s classics. Using the moniker Marcus Makes Music, the singer-songwriter has performed at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games, 2016’s Shine Festival, and the annual ChildAid concert hosted by The Straits Times.
Glen Wee
18 & 19 Jan, Wed & Thu | 7 pm | Esplanade Concourse
After making it to the top four of the nation-wide singing competition The Final 1, Glen embarked on his music career and wrote his first song, which was showcased on the soundtrack of Three Peas In A Pod, directed by Michelle Chong. Since then, his passion for songwriting grew as he wrote songs for his band, stillsunrise, who launched their first EP Colours In Black in 2015. He has performed at music and social events, product launches, company dinners, weddings and fashion shows.
Groove Factory
20 Jan, Fri | 6.45 pm & 7.30 pm | Esplanade Concourse
Groove factory was formed in a rather interesting way. It started with just two very close friends, Kumar (keyboardist) and Joash (drummer),music as a topic of conversation,and one idea. The idea was there but it was not that easy at the start when it came to getting the right musicians on board. The band started in 2016, after attaining third place in a local band competition called “Dhoom Super band”. Along with keyboardist Kumar and drummer Joash, are two other musicians ; Nilesh, (bassist) and isuru (guitarist).
It was not easy to form this band, but after groove factory gained experience, they knew that they would make an awesome team because they understand each other and that’s one of the most important factor when it comes to musicianship. Things then got more serious and they decided to kickstart their journey and started working together. More than musicians they are really good friends, and they enjoy their jamming sessions, gigs and performances together. With a DIY mentality and a burning passion to make a career out of what they love doing, they hope to accomplish some truly amazing things in time to come. Fueled by a mutual interest, Groove factory juggles elements of funk, jazz fusion and a
taste of Indian classical music.
Octaves
20 Jan, Fri | 7.45 pm & 9 pm | Esplanade Outdoor Theatre
Influenced by legendary jazz greats and eclectic modern soundscapes, Octaves takes on tunes ranging from Tin Pan Alley favourites to funky workouts. Alumni of the Mosaic Jazz Fellows programme under the mentorship of Singapore musicians Chok Kerong, Joshua Wan and Tony Makarome, the band presents fresh takes on both jazz standards and works by contemporary artists such as Erykah Badu and Robert Glasper.
Ekatva
21 Jan, Sat | 6.45 pm & 7.30 pm | Esplanade Concourse
Drawing from the Sanskrit script, “Ekatva” describes the concepts of oneness and unity, which is fundamental to the drive behind the music that emanates from this 4-piece band. A reflection of these concepts,Ekatva is conceived by the coming together of Indian instruments such as the Sitar, Tabla and the Mridangam, which work in harmony with the versatile western guitar to bring to life a unique genre of music that is both fresh and vibrant. Akin to the diverse background and origin of the four musicians, Ekatva’s music is an amalgamation of different styles of music, embracing the rich cultures of the East and the West in the same space. With Somasundaram Shivanesh on Mridangam and Ghanjira, Anand Krishna on Guitar, Swetha Baskaran on Sitar , Lalit Kumar Ganesh on Tabla & Cajon, Ekatva strives to promote the concepts of Oneness & Unity in today’s world, through the form of its musical narrative.
Bakers in Space
21 Jan, Sat | 7.15 pm | Esplanade Outdoor Theatre
An indie post-psych rock band formed in late 2013. Extracting prime elements from indierock, psych rock, punk and reggae elements in their songs, aiming to catch the attention of crowds with the different culmination of styles to be both chill yet full of energy. Drawing strong influences from Tame Impala, Arctic Monkeys, Foals, Queens of the Stoneage, Jack White, Temples, The Strokes while still retaining the sound of historical legends such as The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, etc. In 2016, the band was selected to be a part of Noise Music Mentorship programme, under the guidance of Daniel Sassoon (In Each Hand A Cutlass) & Clement Yang (Ugly In The Morning). They plan to record and release their debut EP titled ‘Implosions’ in early 2017.
Arajua
21 Jan, Sat | 8.30 pm | Esplanade Outdoor Theatre
Consisting of Fazly Kamis, Abdul Hakim, Ashek Ali and Syahadi Samad, Arajua brings about cinematic sounds, that makes conscious decision to transform the emotional feelings
profoundly. Over the years, the band have managed to transcend themselves in their unique way, and forming up their directions. They are usually in favor of intense setting, with reverbish sounds, that enables to connect with people with a form of consciousness, by telling a story with their ambient vibes, and melodic vocals. The quartet create dynamic artworks, to display a sense of expression,as to relate that emotions, does not have to be expressed through words. This year, the Instrumental/Post-Rock group will be releasing their Second EP Titled, ’The World as It Appears On A Journey You Are Certain With (Part I)’
Maricelle
22 Jan, Sun | 5.15 pm & 6 pm | Esplanade Concourse
Maricelle is an Indie Pop R&B artist, featuring heavy beats, unrestrictedly experimental electronic elements of UK Pop-Rock Electronica and atmospheric vocals. Peppered with social commentary from Maricelle’s perspective on city living, her lyrics explore her search for freedom and defining her voice in a futuristic mural of pop culture and fluid identity. Self-written in Singapore and Shanghai, produced and mixed by James Lye and mastered in Sweden by Björn Engelmann (Tove Lo, Alesso, Zara Larsson), Pursuit EP is singer-songwriter Maricelle’s daring artistic statement and debut EP, launched 7 January 2017.
Joe Soul Express
22 Jan, Sun | 6.30 pm | Esplanade Outdoor Theatre
A freshly formed band delivering the best of Pop, Soul, Funk, Motown, old school R&B and today’s neo soul favourites. Expect to hear hits by The Temptations, Bill Withers, Otis Redding and many more! Headed by Bani Rahman on bass / vocals, Joe Zane on vocals / percussions, Walit on funky guitars, Ayee on smooth keys and Zack on drum duty.
ZeeAura
23 & 25 Jan, Mon & Wed | 7 pm | Esplanade Concourse
Zhi Hui, or Zeeaura, is a singer-songwriter and music educator. The LASALLE College of the Arts graduate was part of Noise Singapore’s The Music Mentorship 2015 (TMM) programme, and is greatly inspired by fellow art educators and practitioners to be reflective and critical of her own work. She dreams of challenging the competitive academic and working environments in Singapore, which measure success by financial stability and excellence. She believes that art is a way of bringing people a stronger sense of community and an alternative way of learning. Her song You Make Me A Warrior came in first at the Pink Ribbon Songwriting Competition 2013, organised by the Breast Cancer Foundation. Zhi Hui has also performed at Noise Pop-Up Festival 2016, at Esplanade, Earth Hour 2014 and Pink Dot 2014.
Nelson
24 & 26 Jan, Tue & Thu | 7 pm | Esplanade Concourse
29 Jan, Sun | 6 pm | Esplanade Outdoor Theatre
NELSON, or more affectionately known as ‘Bird’, is no stranger to the music scene. Despite being multi-talented and able to play a variety of instruments including guitar, piano, harmonica and drums, the singer-songwriter takes on the unsung role of playing the bass guitar, his first love. Apart from playing a variety of instruments and singing at mando/cantopop clubs such as Dragonfly, Beyond 97 and other outlets such as Beer Market, Hood Bar and Acid Bar. Nelson was also a semi-finalist in the first season of Singapore Idol along the likes of Sylvester Sim, Nat Ho etc.
Nelson released his debut Chinese album entitled 鋼鐵男子 under his Chinese name 陳志明 on 30 Dec 2008, penning the songs, playing all the instruments and producing the entire album all by himself. His second solo album 求憐經 was released on 1 Jun 2013, with the mixing and mastering done by renowned producer Roland Lim. His self-titled English EP was launched on National Day, 9 Aug 2014. Nelson’s latest album ‘Believe’ will be released on 19 Nov 2016. As a sessionist, Nelson has played bass for artistes like Nicodemus Lee from Mi Lu Bing (迷路兵) as well as singers Dawn Wong and Bevlyn Khoo. He has also recorded and sessioned for local rock band A Vacant Affair at BayBeats 2013 and Republic Polytechnic’s Ignite Music Festival 2013. He is the bass player for The Groovy People; Kevin Mathews’ band featuring local legends like drummer Ray Aziz (Opposition Party) and guitarist/producer Patrick Chng (Oddfellows, Typewriter).
In the local indie scene, Nelson is the bass player for indie band In Each Hand A Cutlass (IEHAC), an instrumental act comprising of some well-known musicians in the Singapore music scene. The band blends progressive rock, ambient, post rock and metal elements, casting all music boundaries aside, to create epic sprawling yearning songs. The band launched its debut album entitled ‘A Universe Made Of Strings’ while playing to a packed audience at the Esplanade Recital Studio on 24 Jun 2011. The band has also performed at many places including Juice magazine’s anniversary at Zouk, ‘The People’s Party’ held at Scape as well as one of the featured bands for BayBeats 2012 at the Esplanade. The band has also performed in Hong Kong as well as for UrbanScapes 2013, KL on 23 Nov 2013. They have recently launched their sophomore album entitled ‘The Kraken’ on 24 Apr 2014. IEHAC recently returned from the ‘Kraken Tour’ after playing 3 shows in Brisbane and 2 shows in Shenzhen and Shanghai respectively.
Gabriel Lynch
27 Jan, Fri | 6.45 pm & 7.30 pm | Esplanade Concourse
29 Jan, Sun | 7.15 pm & 8.30 pm | Esplanade Outdoor Theatre
Australian singer songwriter Gabriel Lynch is no stranger to the road. He has spent much of his adult life travelling and wowing audiences across Asia, Europe and his own home turf with his breathtaking live performances. With his powerful command of the stage, he can incite a pindrop silence as quickly and effortlessly as he can instigate a soaring, cathartic singalong. Commenting on his humble, but extremely loyal following, Australia’s BMA Mag noted that Lynch “…is the best male Aussie vocalist you’ve never heard”. Upon hearing one of his earliest releases, Clem Bastow of Inpress Magazine anticipated that “a million sales await”.
He has shared festival lineups with the likes of Elbow, John Butler Trio, The Whitlams and Architecture in Helsinki and is as familiar playing to small coffee house audiences as he is crowded outdoor amphitheaters. LynchLynch now resides in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In between tours and expanding upon his already extensive catalog of studio releases, he composes music professionally for radio, film and television on behalf of Maveriq Studios. Lynch wrote lyrics and performed two songs from the soundtrack of the forthcoming Thai blockbuster, From Bangkok to Mandalay. A snippet of the song, ‘Turned Around’ can be heard in the official Thai movie trailer here. His song, ‘Manila’ was a finalist in the Adult Alternative category of the 2016 American Songwriting Awards.
Raghajazz
27 Jan, Fri | 7.45 pm & 9 pm | Esplanade Outdoor Theatre
In Singapore, a city at its mark of multi-cultural renaissance; secretly witnessed the birth of this aced quintet. Featuring Southeast Asia’s finest self-expanding musical cats, Ragha (Bansuri), Joel Chua (Piano), Jase (Bass), Jit (DrumKit), Kumaran (Tabla), in one complete harmony. Their dynamic yet humble relationship began during undergraduate jazz music studies at LaSalle College of the Arts, Singapore and some previously long termed music friends. At the request of an invite, Ragha, the lead artist, instinctively called upon his “ATeam” to fire up a Jazz Fusion Band. RaghaJazz made their debut in the year 2009, for the Asian Vibes Festival, held at Esplanade, Singapore. Ever Since then, they have been featured at various Jazz festivals held in Singapore held by the esplanade, such as the Mosaic Festival, Bright Young Things and Jazz in July. RaghaJazz has been a regular feature at some of Singapore’s Biggest Jazz initiatives organised by the Esplanade Singapore. They include “Mosaic festival of Jazz”, “Bright Young Things” and the “Jazz in July”. The quintet is currently working on their first album, “Idioms of Freedom”, which is due to release in 2017.
Ocarina House
28 Jan, Sat | 6.45 pm & 7.30 pm | Esplanade Concourse
Wanlin and Indra grew up playing music and performing together since they met in school. Wanlin is now the founder of Ocarina House. She has conducted extensive workshops since the group founded in 2014. It is her vision to see communities, families and friends bond through the simple and delicate art of Ocarina playing. The Ocarina and Guzheng duo will share their rendition of Chinese New Year classics as well as their own arrangement of other popular tunes.
Intune music
28 Jan, Sat | 6 pm, 7.15 pm & 8.30 pm | Esplanade Outdoor Theatre
29 Jan, Sun | 6.45 pm & 7.30 pm | Esplanade Concourse
Since 2013, Intune Music has been performing regularly at the Esplanade to celebrate Chinese New Year with everyone else. This year’s theme is “All things New” and Esplanade has managed to invite upcoming local singer Tay Sia Yeun 郑夏韵 to be their guest singer. She has successfully stood on the “Sound of my Dream 梦想的声音” stage to compete with international singers like JJ Lin 林俊杰. Directors of Intune Music Peng Chi Sheng and Aaron Matthew Lim will be performing too.
Tammy Ying
30 Jan, Mon, 5.15 pm & 6 pm | 31 Jan, Tue, 7 pm | Esplanade Concourse
Tammy Ying is a Singaporean singer-songwriter and music educator based in New York City. If you can’t find her teaching her students, she’s probably up to some harmless mischief in the music realm. She strives to do her best on an every day basis, just like any other person you know. She loves nothing more than to capture the stories and emotions of those around her, and channel it into relatable music through her own voice. Tammy hopes to inspire others to pursue their dreams and passion, just as she was inspired to do the same.
Hai & Friends
30 Jan, Mon | 6.30 pm | Esplanade Outdoor Theatre
Ismahairie’s music journey has been about discovering, experimenting, and exploring music, with an emphasis placed on Malay traditional music, which is deeply rooted in his heart, as it is part of his heritage. The LASALLE College of the Arts graduate is currently a member of the Singapore Malay Orchestra (Orkestra Melayu Singapura, OMS) – he was the youngest musician in the orchestra at that time. Having picked up traditional Malay drums and Gambus (Oud) in OMS, Besides performing, Ismahairie is an active songwriter and arranger where he composed Traditional Malay Music for Schools participating Singapore Youth Festival Central Judging Competition for Dance. Besides from composing music, he educates young musician playing violin as well as Oud, as he is constantly eager to share his musical knowledge with people. Ismahairie is currently in the midst of collecting his own material to producing his first instrumental album, which will probably launch at the end of the year.
