What Does Our Local Scene Need To Prosper?
- Thread starter ShyamRaj
- Start date
Actually I think the biggest problem with Singapore's music scene is mandarin pop.
People tend to deviate more attention towards that bloody genre and miss out the rest. I mean... How many jazz and metal bands can you find in Singapore that are able to support themselves by just purely doing music? Mandarin pop is killing and robbing all of our chances to venture other forms of music and it's stupid.
Although I badly want pop to be eradicated[no offense to the mainstream], I think for the music scene to prosper, there must be a constant variety of music which people can support themselves with in the scene itself. There can be pop, rock, metal, blues, alternative, classical, jazz and etc. Any form of music. As long as there is a variety of music and each variety is able to assure the people that they can make a living out of it, people will then venture. The music scene will not be so one-rooted and it will be much more vibrant.
If you haven't realized, only pop stars can afford to be celebrities.
Other musicians aren't just getting equal recognition and money for whatever they have contributed. It's stupid
People tend to deviate more attention towards that bloody genre and miss out the rest. I mean... How many jazz and metal bands can you find in Singapore that are able to support themselves by just purely doing music? Mandarin pop is killing and robbing all of our chances to venture other forms of music and it's stupid.
Although I badly want pop to be eradicated[no offense to the mainstream], I think for the music scene to prosper, there must be a constant variety of music which people can support themselves with in the scene itself. There can be pop, rock, metal, blues, alternative, classical, jazz and etc. Any form of music. As long as there is a variety of music and each variety is able to assure the people that they can make a living out of it, people will then venture. The music scene will not be so one-rooted and it will be much more vibrant.
If you haven't realized, only pop stars can afford to be celebrities.
Other musicians aren't just getting equal recognition and money for whatever they have contributed. It's stupid
AgingYouth
New member
How can you say that?
Elva Hsiao and Faye of F.I.R. are like my 2 most fave Taiwanese Ah-lians!!!
recklessnick
New member
musicians, sacrifice your working lives and save money and just tour and promote the music you are playing!
whats the furthest you can go in a small place like singapore? esplanade, youth park, substation, esplanade, youth park, substation, esplande, youth park, substation
whats the furthest you can go in a small place like singapore? esplanade, youth park, substation, esplanade, youth park, substation, esplande, youth park, substation
Gracia
New member
That's if you can resurrect it
tim098
New member
for one, i think genres like metal and maybe even jazz wont truly prosper in singapore, no matter how good the band is. the population here is too damn small, there wont be enough people who really like u enough to buy your cds. Radio stations would most likely not play your songs either so.. yea. the only way, esp for metal in my opinion, is to venture out to the rest of asia. if ur really good u may even get to europe or the states.
another thing is the attitude of singaporeans. i was at the switchfoot gig where the fire fight and west grand were opening for them. Although i have to admit the soundman/stage crew probably had a bad day for those 2 bands, they werent bad AT ALL but yet the bloody crowd hardly showed much support. and people around me were like "boo we came to see switchfoot" or "singaporean band cannot make it lah" that kind of thing. with this mindset, many of the so called "supporters of the scene" are actually freaking posers who jeer good singaporean bands. ah im sounding incoherent.. but yea hope my point gets across
another thing is the attitude of singaporeans. i was at the switchfoot gig where the fire fight and west grand were opening for them. Although i have to admit the soundman/stage crew probably had a bad day for those 2 bands, they werent bad AT ALL but yet the bloody crowd hardly showed much support. and people around me were like "boo we came to see switchfoot" or "singaporean band cannot make it lah" that kind of thing. with this mindset, many of the so called "supporters of the scene" are actually freaking posers who jeer good singaporean bands. ah im sounding incoherent.. but yea hope my point gets across
cliffburton
New member
What i realise is that band from singapore dont have their own unique style, they are either a copy of American bands or other western bands.
We must developed our own sound, look at Jamaica, small country but with thier own music style Reggae. Which is very very popular around the world. Look at the Scandavanian bands all with thier own style of music, folk metal lah, blah blah blah, most singaporean bands are copies of western bands, nothing new to offer in the world stage..
Just my 2 cents
We must developed our own sound, look at Jamaica, small country but with thier own music style Reggae. Which is very very popular around the world. Look at the Scandavanian bands all with thier own style of music, folk metal lah, blah blah blah, most singaporean bands are copies of western bands, nothing new to offer in the world stage..
Just my 2 cents
recklessnick
New member
who cares if you prosper or not as long as you are still doing what you love.
tim098
New member
recklessnick: a teacher who absoulutely LOVES teaching with all her heart, but happens to teach classes that are completely unsupportive, and does not receive any encouragement at all would sooner or later feel discouraged and will end up giving up teaching.
Same thing applies here. Prospering need not be monetary. recognition, appreciation, i would count that in too. money is secondary in my case.
Same thing applies here. Prospering need not be monetary. recognition, appreciation, i would count that in too. money is secondary in my case.
We need to increase people's awareness in local music. Period.
Especially for genres like metal and jazz!
Firstly, boycott ST Life's Music section that appears every friday. The reviews they give and recommendations they do are shit, and as far as we can see, they only introduce non-local music. The media is not doing enough at all to help generate interest in local music! How many times have you actually read a detailed article about a local band[besides the big names like Ronin, Electrico, etc]?
Secondly, music event organizers should come together with established concert organizers to write a new scheme. Organizers should cooperate together and have a localized centre for now. Organizers must be able to pelt out gigs at least twice every week and make an effort to advertise. Advertising is really an effective way to pull the crowd and most of the times, we only see gigs advertisements in guitar shops and on the net. They aren't doing enough. Of course, money is a problem. But if established concert organizers are willing to help, getting sponsors could be easier. The best is to get local enterprises to support our local music. Lesser tussle and hassle.
Thirdly, musicians should come together. Budding musicians who aim to do big should not just SIT behind their computer screens. Everyone should come together to help. All musicians should come together, regardless of the differences in music preferences. Leave out the differences first. By supporting other genres of music, chances are others will support your genre too. So, it is a continuous cycle of support. Singapore musicians must be able to act and actively participate in muscial events staged by organizers. This is the most important thing musicians can do. They have to show true support instead of just lamenting and doing little to help.
Fourthly, there should be a music movement. Just like the Speak Good English week, perhaps someone is willing to create such a movement to generate the people's interest in local music. Of course, there are many music events and festivals like the Mosaic coming up, but we need a movement that totally emphasizes on local music. We need musicians to walk down the street and proclaim: "We support local music!" and show the crowd that Singapore's very own local music does exist! It's time for the revolution!
Fifthly, the media has to do something. Stop producing shows like S-Pop Hurray, Superband, Campus Superstar, etc. Stop the emphasis on pop music. The media is depriving other genres a chance to stand out. Singapore might be small but just like the different races we have in Singapore, there is a variety of music that people listen to besides pop. The media must introduce a larger array of music programmes that focus more on other genres of music. If a country just hinges on entrepot trade, it will die off one day because of the lack of other options should there be a failure. It's the same for a music scene. The media cannot afford to be that narrow-minded.
Lastly, the government should also support local music. That's needless to say. We need more support for local bands. Jazz bands and rock bands should not just be restricted to clubs in the night[due to circumstances]. These bands, after all, play music and music is a form of art. If the government is willing to fork out more money to support the development of the arts in Singapore, this is definitely one thing they have to look into. They cannot possibly miss out the genres like jazz, rock and blues. The government has to find some ways to support... Heh, if not... We SHALL NOT vote for you in the next election. Okay, just joking.
Especially for genres like metal and jazz!
Firstly, boycott ST Life's Music section that appears every friday. The reviews they give and recommendations they do are shit, and as far as we can see, they only introduce non-local music. The media is not doing enough at all to help generate interest in local music! How many times have you actually read a detailed article about a local band[besides the big names like Ronin, Electrico, etc]?
Secondly, music event organizers should come together with established concert organizers to write a new scheme. Organizers should cooperate together and have a localized centre for now. Organizers must be able to pelt out gigs at least twice every week and make an effort to advertise. Advertising is really an effective way to pull the crowd and most of the times, we only see gigs advertisements in guitar shops and on the net. They aren't doing enough. Of course, money is a problem. But if established concert organizers are willing to help, getting sponsors could be easier. The best is to get local enterprises to support our local music. Lesser tussle and hassle.
Thirdly, musicians should come together. Budding musicians who aim to do big should not just SIT behind their computer screens. Everyone should come together to help. All musicians should come together, regardless of the differences in music preferences. Leave out the differences first. By supporting other genres of music, chances are others will support your genre too. So, it is a continuous cycle of support. Singapore musicians must be able to act and actively participate in muscial events staged by organizers. This is the most important thing musicians can do. They have to show true support instead of just lamenting and doing little to help.
Fourthly, there should be a music movement. Just like the Speak Good English week, perhaps someone is willing to create such a movement to generate the people's interest in local music. Of course, there are many music events and festivals like the Mosaic coming up, but we need a movement that totally emphasizes on local music. We need musicians to walk down the street and proclaim: "We support local music!" and show the crowd that Singapore's very own local music does exist! It's time for the revolution!
Fifthly, the media has to do something. Stop producing shows like S-Pop Hurray, Superband, Campus Superstar, etc. Stop the emphasis on pop music. The media is depriving other genres a chance to stand out. Singapore might be small but just like the different races we have in Singapore, there is a variety of music that people listen to besides pop. The media must introduce a larger array of music programmes that focus more on other genres of music. If a country just hinges on entrepot trade, it will die off one day because of the lack of other options should there be a failure. It's the same for a music scene. The media cannot afford to be that narrow-minded.
Lastly, the government should also support local music. That's needless to say. We need more support for local bands. Jazz bands and rock bands should not just be restricted to clubs in the night[due to circumstances]. These bands, after all, play music and music is a form of art. If the government is willing to fork out more money to support the development of the arts in Singapore, this is definitely one thing they have to look into. They cannot possibly miss out the genres like jazz, rock and blues. The government has to find some ways to support... Heh, if not... We SHALL NOT vote for you in the next election. Okay, just joking.
recklessnick
New member
=tim098
well. if thats the case. the answer is more fans.
/case
well. if thats the case. the answer is more fans.
/case
tim098
New member
haha be careful, if govt sees that post tonight ninja will be hired to kill u, and then they will erase every trace of evidence of ur existence. school records, bank accounts.. it would be like u never existed
AgingYouth
New member
Special_K
New member
Play local stuff on the radio...DJs should not tell listeners that it is a local band before the song is played. Let the listeners decide objectively without pre-conceived notions that it's gonna suck since it's local. Local bands will not prosper if they don't get radio airplay. Between listening to Boyzone and a good local band, I'd rather do the local band anyday.
cold_static544
New member
you're very right. the bigger singaporean bands out there arent bad, but they're just generically good, in my opinion.
we need not go to the extent of having a new singaporean genre of music, but its important as bands we have our own sound, own quirks, and own way of writing. look at bands like rush, pink floyd, extreme, etc. anything but generic.
also, the local market is too small, compared to other places. and most listeners arent ready for anything which dont sound like their favourite western bands.
