Music Is: ABANGSAPAU releases debut single with Def Jam SEA ‘hahaha’

Singaporean artist ABANGSAPAU makes his Def Jam South East Asia debut with an assertive and dominant new rap single titled “hahaha”. The song, produced by Prodbydan, marks an exciting new phase for the bilingual rapper that begins with a trap-inflicted statement of intent, written in Malay and English. While everyone else is chasing clout, he’s carrying his message out loud. The song’s title indicates not … Continue reading Music Is: ABANGSAPAU releases debut single with Def Jam SEA ‘hahaha’

★★★★☆ Review: Parque Mayer dir. António-Pedro Vasconcelos

Art and politics collide in this moving tribute to the titular Portuguese amusement park. For most Singaporeans, Portuguese history and culture are likely to be little known subjects at the back of our minds. But with António-Pedro Vasconcelos’ Parque Mayer, one is left intrigued and compelled to find out more, thanks to the stirring performances and tale of revolution via art, as told through one … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Parque Mayer dir. António-Pedro Vasconcelos

★★★★☆ Review: Demon States by The Observatory (SIFA 2021)

Futurist cyberpunk hellscapes to accompany new songs from The Observatory. Presented as part of the 2021 Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA), Demon States is one of this edition’s most unique offerings yet. Produced by The Observatory, the immersive mixed reality experience acts as a preview for the local band’s upcoming album with Koichi Shimizu, and combines their music with set design by Irfan Kasban, … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Demon States by The Observatory (SIFA 2021)

★★★★☆ Review: A Thousand Ways by 600 Highwaymen (SIFA 2021)

Learning to connect again in three parts. After a year of the pandemic, watching dramatic readings on Zoom and pre-recorded archival footage, audience members are hungry for one thing – engagement. And one of the most effective ways of doing that is turning the tables and transforming the audience into the artist. In a way, that’s what 600 Highwaymen have done in A Thousand Ways, … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: A Thousand Ways by 600 Highwaymen (SIFA 2021)

Preview: Chinese Dance Fiesta《一起舞 FUN 天》

Organised by Singapore Chinese Dance Theatre (SCDT), as part of its annual outreach initiatives, Chinese Dance Fiesta is back this year, bringing the vibrancy of Chinese dance to the community through a mix of online and onsite programmes on 23rd May and 30th May 2021. Programmed by Artistic Director Neo Jenny, this 2021 edition line-up includes an online dance performance, an online Talk and Demonstration … Continue reading Preview: Chinese Dance Fiesta《一起舞 FUN 天》

SIFA On Demand streaming extends till 20th June 2021

With the pandemic still happening, the Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) has always had a backup plan in case things went awry for live performances. That comes in the form of SIFA On Demand – a video streaming service that allows everyone to experience SIFA from the comfort and safety of their homes after the festival ends. With the number of audience members reduced … Continue reading SIFA On Demand streaming extends till 20th June 2021

Preview: Dancers’ Locker 2021 – Elemental Beings by Frontier Danceland

Dancers’ Locker, the flagship annual programme by Frontier Danceland showcasing works by company artists, returns this year with an intimate live performance that will take place from 3rd to 5th June 2021, at Aliwal Arts Centre, Multi-Purpose Hall. Co-choreographed by company artists Sammantha Yue, Mark Robles, Ma YueRu and Tan Xin Yen, Elemental Beings distils basal elements of human existence to find an embodiment of … Continue reading Preview: Dancers’ Locker 2021 – Elemental Beings by Frontier Danceland

★★★☆☆ Book Review: The Years of Forgetting by Sofia Abdullah

It takes many moons before one can finally move on. There’s an article I was reading the other day about how a woman who was sexually abused as a child continued to carry this intense trauma inside her into her adulthood. Triggered by seeing her abuser lead a relatively happy life, with no visible guilt, that trauma manifested as an intense desire to kill not … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Book Review: The Years of Forgetting by Sofia Abdullah

★★★★☆ Review: The Journey by Scott Silven (SIFA 2021)

Magical storytelling that bringing us closer online. I’m a cynic at heart, and have always known that stage magic is a matter of sleight of hand, misdirection and trickery to pull off an act. And when magic is performed via a digital medium, one cannot help but suspect its ‘authenticity’ even more, given how easy it is to manipulate videos and video feeds. But there’s … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: The Journey by Scott Silven (SIFA 2021)

★★★☆☆ Review: As Far As Isolation Goes by Tania El Khoury and Basel Zaara (SIFA 2021)

An encounter with a refugee opens our eyes to the human pain behind the conflict. Moving to a new home can be hard. But it’s especially hard for refugees from war-torn nations finding themselves in a strange new land, reeling from the trauma of the past, adapting to their new life, and resisting strangers’ dirty looks and the creeping fear of feeling completely, absolutely alone. … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: As Far As Isolation Goes by Tania El Khoury and Basel Zaara (SIFA 2021)