...and why you shouldn't be discouraged by it.
In a nation that favours collective conscience over inherent individualism, numerical economical growth over expressive egomaniacs, we are lulled into our routines and conditioned by our parental and governmental conditioning.
This pessimism stems not from rants or uneducated guesses, nor from our tendency to strive for strife but from standing amongst a crowd at a local gig, amongst all too familiar faces in an all too familiar crowd of the same people, going to the same shows, watching the same bands that sound the same as the next one.
Generations of musicians from the past and present have preached of this ‘growth’, this ‘sudden burst’ of local music scene interest. But the numbers reflect the truth, and always have. Dismal sales figures of albums from our so-called upper tier bands that gallantly (and respectedly) parade themselves via our bureaucratic media avenues. Bleak ratings from heroic but ultimately failing attempts on our television screens. Well-meaning independent media endeavours crushed by the sheer might of mainstream media manifestations that masquerade themselves as democratic but in reality are nothing more than hedonistic chin-stroking chimps swinging from the same branches of our country’s totalitarian rulings.
But, if we are being honest, the crux, the core, the epicentre of the problems that plague our local scene comes not only from the general public’s nonchalance, but also the scene’s inner workings and its imaginative limitations.
Band A does this, Band B does the same, Band C sees Bands A and B doing these, and repeats the same notions, just to be on the safe side of success. Bands A, B and C receive modest amounts of support from the same people who attend the same shows who wear the same clothes who watch the same bands who sound the same as the next one. Yet, despite these gripes, these people still belong to a niche. They are a minority, who see themselves as a minority and are fully aware that they are outnumbered. To themselves, they are unique. But in actuality, they too have been infected by our society’s incestuous ability to curb our enthusiasm for expression. And so we get watered-down imitations of imitations that fall into the mentality that it is better to be half-hearted than a has-been, better to not hope for too much for fear of being kicked to the sidewalk by a social order that demands our orderly approach to ‘living a life’, working 9-5s to make ends meet because, otherwise, you are in defiance. And as you know, those who live in defiance to normality will not be equipped to defend themselves.
Still, do not be disheartened.
Why?
Because somewhere out there, a teenager is listening to your tunes, strumming your songs and fitting into his skinny jeans that snugly squeeze his future family jewels. His unborn child of the future will be the future torch bearer of the local scene. Your actions will inspire a future generation. But sadly, if that generation is still contained within the walls of a society that entinguishes the subculture before it embraces it, then we are destined for an endless cycle of delusions of grandeur.
Viva la Singapore. Be hopeful for the best!
In a nation that favours collective conscience over inherent individualism, numerical economical growth over expressive egomaniacs, we are lulled into our routines and conditioned by our parental and governmental conditioning.
This pessimism stems not from rants or uneducated guesses, nor from our tendency to strive for strife but from standing amongst a crowd at a local gig, amongst all too familiar faces in an all too familiar crowd of the same people, going to the same shows, watching the same bands that sound the same as the next one.
Generations of musicians from the past and present have preached of this ‘growth’, this ‘sudden burst’ of local music scene interest. But the numbers reflect the truth, and always have. Dismal sales figures of albums from our so-called upper tier bands that gallantly (and respectedly) parade themselves via our bureaucratic media avenues. Bleak ratings from heroic but ultimately failing attempts on our television screens. Well-meaning independent media endeavours crushed by the sheer might of mainstream media manifestations that masquerade themselves as democratic but in reality are nothing more than hedonistic chin-stroking chimps swinging from the same branches of our country’s totalitarian rulings.
But, if we are being honest, the crux, the core, the epicentre of the problems that plague our local scene comes not only from the general public’s nonchalance, but also the scene’s inner workings and its imaginative limitations.
Band A does this, Band B does the same, Band C sees Bands A and B doing these, and repeats the same notions, just to be on the safe side of success. Bands A, B and C receive modest amounts of support from the same people who attend the same shows who wear the same clothes who watch the same bands who sound the same as the next one. Yet, despite these gripes, these people still belong to a niche. They are a minority, who see themselves as a minority and are fully aware that they are outnumbered. To themselves, they are unique. But in actuality, they too have been infected by our society’s incestuous ability to curb our enthusiasm for expression. And so we get watered-down imitations of imitations that fall into the mentality that it is better to be half-hearted than a has-been, better to not hope for too much for fear of being kicked to the sidewalk by a social order that demands our orderly approach to ‘living a life’, working 9-5s to make ends meet because, otherwise, you are in defiance. And as you know, those who live in defiance to normality will not be equipped to defend themselves.
Still, do not be disheartened.
Why?
Because somewhere out there, a teenager is listening to your tunes, strumming your songs and fitting into his skinny jeans that snugly squeeze his future family jewels. His unborn child of the future will be the future torch bearer of the local scene. Your actions will inspire a future generation. But sadly, if that generation is still contained within the walls of a society that entinguishes the subculture before it embraces it, then we are destined for an endless cycle of delusions of grandeur.
Viva la Singapore. Be hopeful for the best!
Last edited:
