★☆☆☆☆ Book Review: Everyday A-holes by Dean Blake

A book of crude drawings that will put readers on either end of the love-hate spectrum.  Described as a ‘picture book for adults’, Australian author Dean Blake’s Everyday A-holes feels akin to an Instagram feed compiled into a single e-book. Inspired by real life encounters during the author’s travels across the globe, the portraits are (deliberately) crudely hand-drawn, each accompanied by captions describing the ‘everyday a-hole’ pictured.  … Continue reading ★☆☆☆☆ Book Review: Everyday A-holes by Dean Blake

The Banter: HKRep Artistic Director Anthony Chan talks about optimism and carrying on in a post-coronavirus world

  HONG KONG – Within the 40 odd years he’s been in the arts scene, Hong Kong Repertory Theatre (HKRep) artistic director Anthony Chan has yet to experience a disruption as severe as the coronavirus has. But that certainly hasn’t stopped him from remaining immensely optimistic about the situation, with HKRep being one of the first theatre companies in Hong Kong (and perhaps, the region) … Continue reading The Banter: HKRep Artistic Director Anthony Chan talks about optimism and carrying on in a post-coronavirus world

The Banter: Void Deck Games co-founder Raihan Harun discusses RPGs and storytelling through play

For countless millennia, storytellers have captured the attention of audiences, holding them rapt with attention as they pass down tales of old, filled with imagination, drama and wonder. Come 2020, and storytellers still exist, whether weaving their chronicles through the oral tradition, or, in the case of companies such as Void Deck Games, the art of participative play. Set up about 4 years ago, Void … Continue reading The Banter: Void Deck Games co-founder Raihan Harun discusses RPGs and storytelling through play

Music Is: Singer-Songwriter KHAi unveils first single, ‘Wanderlust’

Singapore based alt-folk pop singer-songwriter, KHAi, has announced the release of his debut EP, ‘Strange[r]’. With stripped down lyrics centred around the ups and downs of life, the artist pre-empts the EP release with a new track, ‘Wanderlust’, which was released on 26th June 2020. Slated for release on 17th July 2020, ‘Strange[r]’ is a conceptual 6-Track EP put together by KHAi. With the first … Continue reading Music Is: Singer-Songwriter KHAi unveils first single, ‘Wanderlust’

By The Book: First-ever online Book Illustrators Gallery (BIG) launches in June

Organised by the Singapore Book Council, as part of AFCC (Asian Festival of Children’s Content) Digital, the first-ever online Book Illustrators Gallery (BIG) is giving readers an opportunity to take off and travel around Asia, virtually that is. Featuring close to 200 illustrations from 13 Asian countries, BIG invites visitors to explore new cultures and the best of picture book illustrations from around Asia. Having … Continue reading By The Book: First-ever online Book Illustrators Gallery (BIG) launches in June

Music Is: The TENG Ensemble present the Triptych Series

  Local arts ensemble, The TENG Ensemble, launches its Triptych Series, a three-part video series to spotlight the critical role of migrants in Singapore through their music. At the same time, it aims to encourage audiences to play their part in building a more inclusive society for the community. With the migrant community being one of the hardest-hit groups in the country’s battle against COVID-19, … Continue reading Music Is: The TENG Ensemble present the Triptych Series

SGIFF 2020: Singapore International Film Festival Announces Recipients of Film Grants

Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) has announced the recipients of two major film grants: The Tan Ean Kiam Foundation-SGIFF Southeast Asian Documentary Grant (SEA-DOC) and the SGIFF Southeast Asian Short Film Grant (SEA-SHORTS). Aimed at developing inspiring and thought-provoking films that can contribute to the growth of a distinctive and independent Southeast Asian filmmaking landscape, the grants saw submissions coming from right across the region, … Continue reading SGIFF 2020: Singapore International Film Festival Announces Recipients of Film Grants

Music Is: keshi talks about life during coronavirus, his music, and what’s next

  Named one of 2020’s “essential new artists” by NME, keshi is the latest music sensation to add to your lo-fi hip hop playlist. Even without a full album out, at just 25 years old, the Houston native has made a meteoric rise to fame from his humble Soundcloud beginnings, now with over 150 million global artist streams and managing to sell out his 6-city … Continue reading Music Is: keshi talks about life during coronavirus, his music, and what’s next

★★★☆☆ Book Review: Fall In! The Unofficial Guide to Surviving Basic Military Training by Matthew Chew & Nicholas U Jin

An informative and fun survival guide to prepare the recruits of Gen-Z. No matter how many times you read (and re-read) MINDEF’s official website, how many of Jack Neo’s Ah Boys to Men movies you’ve watched (skip everything after the second one), or how many times your father tells you anecdotes that start with “back in my day”, nothing ever quite prepares you for the … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Book Review: Fall In! The Unofficial Guide to Surviving Basic Military Training by Matthew Chew & Nicholas U Jin

The Studios 2020: An Interview with Playwright Lucas Ho (The Heart Comes To Mind)

Originally meant to have rounded off this year’s edition of Esplanade’s The Studios 2020, Checkpoint Theatre has faced multiple issues with staging and even recording Lucas Ho’s new play due to the circuit breaker measures in place. But now, they’re armed with an audio version of the production, set to be presented as part of The Esplanade’s The Studios Online season in June, and excited … Continue reading The Studios 2020: An Interview with Playwright Lucas Ho (The Heart Comes To Mind)