NUS students making local their focal
An interview with the band members of Basement In My Loft during the event.
BREAKING STORY by Derrick Foo
Taking a stand for local music, a group of NUS students are going the extra mile to provide a platform for local bands to perform and promote their music to university students.
After a successful launch, their second concert, held last Thursday, featured local bands, The Pleasantry and Basement In My Loft. The fortnightly event attracted approximately 60 people that night at Yusof Ishak House.
“I really like the bands, they are one of the best bands I’ve heard in Singapore”, said Anush Sarkisian, an exchange student from Ukraine.
Supported by the Office of Student affairs (OSA), the group of student organizers from Radio Pulze were given $25,000 to start a series of mini-concerts called the Live Lounge.
Initiated and led by Syafiq Rahman, the third year Arts and Social Science student first conceptualised the idea in 2010 and had to overcome several setbacks before it was actualised. At one point, the programme was nearly cancelled as logistic and administrative delays prevented him from showing results to the OSA.
“Our initial proposed date was last semester. But it’s just a setback that we have to deal with and press on even if these (problems) are out of our control”, he said.
A similarly titled programme from Radio Pulze was in existence for a period of time, back in 2007. However, the lack of school support forced the programme to a halt.
More than three years later, the OSA re-established the Live Lounge with hopes of attracting students to their newly refurbished plaza at Yusof Ishak House. But for Syafiq, his purpose for re-establishing the Live Lounge is clear.
“We basically aim to expose our home grown talents to the university demographic”, said the 23 year-old.
With this platform, local bands will now have a new avenue to gain invaluable experience and build their fan base amongst university students.
“I think it’s good that they promote the local artists here in Singapore because we don’t really get much exposure and Singaporeans are also opening up to local talents ”, said 21 year-old Samantha Teng, lead vocalist of The Pleasantry.
The next Live Lounge will be held on 29th September and will feature up-and-coming local bands, Amnesia Haze, The Pinholes and Plainsunset.
Taking a stand for local music, a group of NUS students are going the extra mile to provide a platform for local bands to perform and promote their music to university students.
After a successful launch, their second concert, held last Thursday, featured local bands, The Pleasantry and Basement In My Loft. The fortnightly event attracted approximately 60 people that night at Yusof Ishak House.
“I really like the bands, they are one of the best bands I’ve heard in Singapore”, said Anush Sarkisian, an exchange student from Ukraine.
Supported by the Office of Student affairs (OSA), the group of student organizers from Radio Pulze were given $25,000 to start a series of mini-concerts called the Live Lounge.
Initiated and led by Syafiq Rahman, the third year Arts and Social Science student first conceptualised the idea in 2010 and had to overcome several setbacks before it was actualised. At one point, the programme was nearly cancelled as logistic and administrative delays prevented him from showing results to the OSA.
“Our initial proposed date was last semester. But it’s just a setback that we have to deal with and press on even if these (problems) are out of our control”, he said.
A similarly titled programme from Radio Pulze was in existence for a period of time, back in 2007. However, the lack of school support forced the programme to a halt.
More than three years later, the OSA re-established the Live Lounge with hopes of attracting students to their newly refurbished plaza at Yusof Ishak House. But for Syafiq, his purpose for re-establishing the Live Lounge is clear.
“We basically aim to expose our home grown talents to the university demographic”, said the 23 year-old.
With this platform, local bands will now have a new avenue to gain invaluable experience and build their fan base amongst university students.
“I think it’s good that they promote the local artists here in Singapore because we don’t really get much exposure and Singaporeans are also opening up to local talents ”, said 21 year-old Samantha Teng, lead vocalist of The Pleasantry.
The next Live Lounge will be held on 29th September and will feature up-and-coming local bands, Amnesia Haze, The Pinholes and Plainsunset.