The last weekend of November 2016 (26-27) was a special couple of days in Singapore as people coming into Fort Canning Park because the day of Neon Lights Festival has finally arrived. People from inside and outside Singapore filled in areas of the park to celebrate arts in all form all weekend

 Day 1 of Neon Lights started out wet, really wet. It was already drizzling by the time the gate’s open. Sea of people in bright colored ponchos entering the fully transformed Fort Canning Park. Neon Lights Fest team has perfectly transformed the park into an art lover paradise. With two main stages, Fort Green Stage and Fort Gate Stage, they’re ready for the music to kick in!

While day 2 started out relatively dry, it ended up a lot muddier than day 1, heaven knows why. The excitement however was still as high as day 1, or maybe even higher. We never ran out of excitement on both days. But we do have some favorite moments that we still daydream about until now.

Lucy Rose

This soft spoken lady from England managed to keep everyone engaged with her sweet and easy listen numbers such as “Middle of the Bed”, “Shiver”, “Nebraska” and “Bikes” as her closing remarks. She made standing in the rain all worthwhile.

Shura

Being her first time in Asia, we say she did a fantastic job. Top notch numbers combined with her fantastic stagemenship made it one of the must seen set of the day. She played some of her hit numbers like “What’s It Gonna Be?”, “Indecision”, and “Touch”, pleasing the crowds.

Foals

Oh yes, Foals! The five piece band from Oxford finally came back to Singapore to headline Neon Lights Festival. The build up excitement minutes before the lads went up on stage was unbelievable. People coming in from all over Southeast Asian just to catch them perform live again after all these years. We can tell you that it was all worth the wait. When the first beat of “Snake Oil” erupted, so did literally everyone at the park.

 Their set, despite being moved three hours early from the headliner slot, could still get the best of the crowds energy. Song after song after song never left un-chanted. Their setlist was the perfect combination of all of their album. From their first record such as “Red Socks Pugie”, “Olympic Airways”, the classic “Two Step Twice” and they even treated us to an old classic “Cassius” since it’s their second last show for the “What Went Down” album tour. Speaking of that brilliant record, bless them for playing some of their most powerful song yet, “Mountain at My Gates” and “What Went Down”. “When I see a man I see a lion” never sounded so good.

Day 2:

Blood Orange

 The London born and raised R&B singer-song writer amazed everyone with his pitch perfect voice and groovy moves across the stage. A soulful voice backed by guitar playing skill that was out of this world, Dev Hynes really took that stage to a whole other level.

José Gonzáles 

 For everyone’s in love and in need of a good holiday, José Gonzales set at Neon Lights would make you weep. His soft voice, acoustic sound, impeccable band, and pretty backdrops made it impossible for us not to quietly sob while singing “Heartbeats” under our breath.

Yuna

The Malaysian singer-song writer was a late addition to the line up, but the reaction was overwhelming! She took the main Fort Green Stage like a pro that she is. Looking and sounding flawless, she get the crowds to replace her duet partner Usher in “Crush”. We’re having a big crush on her till now.

Sigur Rós

What can we say about this Icelandic trio that hasn’t been said before? If we could choose one word to describe Sigur Ros set, it would be hypnotizing. Indeed everything about their set baffled us in the greatest way possible. From their music, Jónsi’s perfectly high pitched voice, to the mesmerizing backdrops, they left us in awe and in a shocked state even long after their set was over.

Although if we have to choose just one favorite Sigur Rós moment, it would have to be their live version of “Sæglópur”. The way they carry out the whole song starting from the most whimsical sound to a hard rocking beat, you just simply have to be there to feel its power.

Neon Lights Festival 2016 has put Southeast Asian in the map of international music and art festivals. With top notch line up and art, Neon Lights has shown the world how we like to party.  They indeed have rise above all expectation, and we had a very high expectation. We can’t wait to see what Neon Lights 2017 will bring for us! (Photo: Safitra A. Pranoto)

Endorphins (A Mixtape by Lucy Rose) by Svanamix on Mixcloud

Endorphins have been known as human’s body’s reward system. These hormones will make you feel so good. And some people say once your body produces endorphins, you will feel much better and the happiness will be yours. As we spoke to Lucy Rose in Kuala Lumpur last month, we asked her some songs that will cheer her up even though she is in her lowest mood. We know that there are so many way to release and stimulate your endorphins (like coitus) and we know by listening to music has nothing to do with your endorphins, but we hope Lucy Rose’s picks will cheer you up!

Often referred to as the girl in Bombay Bicycle Club, Lucy Rose is breaking out of BBC’s shadow and making a name for herself in the music industry. With piercing blue eyes and a voice that could melt the stoniest of hearts, it’s hard to keep your eyes off this beautiful English songstress. We took some time out before her first gig of the year to ask her some questions over a cup of tea.

As an indie artist who started out recording in your parents home, what are some struggles you faced when trying to break out?

Trying to get noticed sometimes. There are so many artists out there that it’s hard to stand out and to be doing something different. It’s funny, when I was struggling — I thought to myself “I just need to write better songs” to get noticed… Obviously. I thought that if i wrote better songs, it wouldn’t be as difficult. And things would get easier. But even though I’m more recognised today, I’m still in that situation now with the second album coming. So I guess it’s an ongoing struggle. I just need to continue to write the best material i can write, so that (hopefully) more people enjoy it!

At that point of time, did you ever dream of being here one day? Selling out shows in South East Asia?

No. Even when I got an email from my booking agent saying you’ve got gigs in Kuala Lumpur & SG, I thought “This is crazy, i cannot believe it”. Being here is absolutely mad yet it’s very exciting at the same time. It’s one of the amazing things you get when you’re doing music. To be able to travel and see these amazing countries and places. I just feel so lucky. The heat is killing me though. Being ginger, I’m definitely not built for this weather!

As a child, who were your biggest musical influences?

I have to go with my classic favourites. First is Neil Young. He’s pretty cool. I’m actually playing on the same stage as him for a gig in Hyde Park, London this coming summer. Like supporting him. So i’m going to have to try and play it cool. Which I’m sure I won’t be able to do. Another is Joni Mitchell. I love the way that she puts all her emotions in her songs. That was sort of the person that taught me that you shouldn’t be embarrassed about singing about your emotions. Because sometimes it is embarrassing… You think “I shouldn’t be singing about these things”. Especially when I’m live and have to sing them in front of people. But her albums had a real impact on me. And she inspires me to be brave enough to write songs about how i genuinely feel.

Being your first show of the year, if you had to choose — what would be your favourite moment on tour last year?

This is such a hard one! There were so many great moments last year. But if I HAD to choose, it has to be when I played at The Ryman Theatre in Nashville. Everyone who’s big at anytime has played in this theatre. I mean, Dolly Parton’s played there! And that’s one of the most famous venues in America. Plus, we were in Nashville, which in a way was the home of music. Playing there was such a crazy honour. We were there on tour with the band City & Colour. And they were unbelievably nice to us and so incredibly supportive. They were so lovely and would watch our shows every night.

I remember, on our last night with them, they invited me up to do a song with them— and it was so emotional as we knew we were going to say goodbye shortly after. That has got to be the saddest yet best moment on tour last year.

So how’s the recording of the new album coming along?

80% of it is done. It’s pretty much finished, I’ve just got to record maybe one or two more songs. We’re just taking this time out now to do some gigs, try the new songs out and then head home and finish them out. Hopefully it’ll be done by the end of the year!

(Adeline H/Othniel T)

After taking a hiatus from tour to record her upcoming new album, Malaysians lucked out, being the very first set of audiences to enjoy unheard new materials from her yet to be titled sophomore effort; with Malaysia being the stage for her very first gig of 2014.

Modest, unassuming and small in stature, the petite redhead’s entrance was greeted by the manic cheers of Malaysian fans as she wasted little time to dive right into “Lines”, making the crowd cheer even more; as her smooth and raspy voice soon filled up the packed venue. New song “Sheffield” soon followed up, shifting the mellow mood previously created into an upbeat party. Though remaining lyrically genuine, the influence from touring with groovy accomplices, Bombay Bicycle Club, seemed apparent here with a song so catchy that it could make even the grumpiest scrooge break into a dance. The crowd clearly liked what they heard as multiple “I love you Lucy”s were shouted from all corners of the hall.

Lucy and co. then followed up with familiar tunes from her 2012 debut album: “Nightbus”, “Middle of the Bed”, and “Shiver” with the crowd singing along to every word. As Lucy took a breather to thank the crowd, shouts were heard asking her to introduce her band; and so she did, starting with the newest addition to the band: birthday boy and bassist: Johnny. The crowd then spontaneously burst out into a birthday song— and out of nowhere, a pint of beer was brought to him by a fan as an impromptu birthday gift. As the crowd sang, everyone on stage couldn’t help their laughter at the over-enthusiastically co-ordinated reaction of the crowd. After regaining herself, Lucy then proceeded with introducing her drummer; Sam, multi-instrumentalist; Alex, and guitar player; Björn (or Béyonce as he is known among them); she also admitted to the enthusiastic crowd that it was her first time ever introducing them on stage as no one has ever asked before.

She then moved over to the piano as she starts playing more new songs; “Cover Up”, “Nebraska” and “Köln”. As her new album was written mostly on the piano, Lucy could be seen rotating between playing both the electric guitar and the piano as she sang, displaying her musical capabilities (at one point, even playing both simultaneously).

Lucy ended the night with her hit song “Bikes” which drove the crowd wild as they held on to her every word, dancing and singing along to the song. Every time she would sing the words “Listen up, listen hear everybody scream out loud” the crowd would scream with such tenacity that even Lucy was taken aback from the crowd’s enthusiasm, shaking her head in disbelief that her music gained such a strong and loyal fan following all the way across the seas from the UK to Malaysia.

Before Lucy could even strum the last chord of the song on her guitar, the crowd already began chanting for more, and within a few seconds of getting off the stage; Lucy returned for an encore, picking it up with a rousing performance of “Be Alright”. However, that still failed to feed the hungry and insatiable crowd as they kept shouting for more until Lucy gave in, ending the night with fan favourite “Don’t You Worry”.

Despite Lucy Rose’s genuinely penned and angelically sung songs, she has often been unfortunately grouped by the media under the “guitar playing female singer songwriter” stereotype. Tonight, while displaying her virtuosity in the instrument as well as complex structures and time signatures in her songs, Lucy successfully proved her efforts to distance herself away from that stereotype with her sophomore album being something to definitely look forward to this year.

Warwickshire songstress Lucy Rose is making her own destiny and shaping her future like no other new artist. Her heart-stoppingly poignant songs and cracked porcelain voice saw her enter her career with YouTube hits, radio plays and crowds like nobody else out there. Her critically acclaimed debut album ‘Like I Used To’ was recorded in her family home with producer Charlie Hugall and truly embodied the very essence of her personality and honest approach to music and song writing. With album number two on its way in 2014 there is very little holding her back. And to cheer her fans in Kuala Lumpur, Lucy Rose is set to make her debut on March 13th 2014 at The Bee!

Ticket Price:
Pre-Sale RM 68
At The Door RM 88

Tickets Sold At:
The Bee Jaya One & Publika outlets, Rock Corner Bangsar Village 1