The Big Pink are Robertson “Robbie” Furze and Vicky Jean Smith (and formerly of Milo Cordell), two electronic rock duo from London and signed to no other than the independent record label 4AD. With five singles and two full length album A Brief History of Love (2009) and Future This (2012), this British band is ready to rock Asia on March 15th 2014 in Singapore. So we asked Robbie a little about their future records and catch a bit of whats left from their last updates before seeing them live next month.

London is a big place for all music genres to live. Why do you choose electronic rock as your main sounds?
We didn’t really choose any sort of sound it just can you sounding like that.

If you could collaborate with one of the artist in Mosaic, who would you choose to work with? And if you are to pick one song that is totally opposite from the music of The Big Pink to perform at the festival, what would it be?
I don’t really know any of the other bands playing at mosaic but I’m excited to listen to some new music. Light Asylum Shallow Tear - I love this song and would love to cover it and will one day.

Tell us about the upcoming album that you are working on. How does it sound? And is the process working on the new album similar to the last two?
It is the most honest music I have ever made. I have fallen into a creative love affair with a producer called dave mc craken he produced ian brown solo records. I hated the recording process of the second record and I love this process.

So, you’re in New York and working with some cool indie acts such as The Drums, Andrew Wyatt and Supreme Cuts, so tell us more about this. Will producing be your main project or it’s just a side project to distract yourself?
I actually haven’t worked with the drums they are called the drum totally different. some of the sessions will be used on the record and ill use for other stuff. andrew wyatt is one of the most amazing artist i have ever worked with.

Do you enjoy making music in a studio or doing live performance?
You got to have a mix of both, x

Check out The Big Pink’s ENCORE! SESSIONS at Le Baron Chinatown in New York last year, and make sure to see them live at Mosaic this year!

About Mosaic Music Festival

Mosaic presents an eclectic range of music genres including jazz, soul, pop, electronic, and rock over ten days of ticketed and free music presentations featuring internationally acclaimed musicians and budding artists, from 7-16 March 2014 at Esplanade, Theaters By The Bay. Join us and savour the acoustic beauty of these artists at Esplanade. For more information, visit www.mosaicmusicfestival.com

Mosaic Music Festival 2014 line-up:

Esplanade Concert Hall
11 March, 2014: John McLaughlin and the 4th Dimension (UK)
13 March, 2014: The Cat Empire (AU)
14 March, 2014: The Big Pink (UK)
15 March, 2014: John Pizzarelli Quartet (USA)
16 March, 2014: Neko Case (US)

Mosaic Club (Esplanade Theatre Studio)
7 March, 2014: Hellogoodbye (US)
8 March, 2014: Caspian (US)
14 March, 2014: Young Dreams (Norway)
15 March, 2014: ALPINE (AU)
16 March, 2014: Charlie Lim & The Mothership (SG)
Mosaic Studio (Esplanade Recital Studio)
7 March, 2014: Kurt Rosenwinkel (US)
9 March, 2014: Ólafur Arnalds (Iceland)
11 & 12 March, 2014: Buika (Spain)
13 March, 2014: Omar Sosa & Paolo Fresu Duo

Early this month, we experienced world of music at Esplanade’s annual Mosaic Music Festival, and for their 9th year they brought more variety of line ups from multiple genres and cultures. From international acts like Grammy Award winning jazz bassist Esperanza Spalding and soul crooner Joss Stone, to ska veterans Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra and world music performer Salif Keita, from progressive indie band Grizzly Bear to the latest elctro princess Grimes, everything we can enjoy in 10 days of travel around the ‘big durian’.

The first act we saw was the progressive rock band, comprising Ed Droste and Daniel Rossen for vocal, drummer Christopher Bear and bass guitarist Christ Taylor. For alternative music listeners, this is one of the band you can’t be missed and since they are not playing in Indonesia we thought we have to come to see them. Playing most of their tunes from their fourth album Shields including “Yet Again” and “Sun in Your Eyes”, the band entertain us with super lightning effect and soothing vocals that you can hardly hear the difference from the record. After Grizzly Bear and on the same day but different stage, we also catch the quircky cute Grimes. Even though the crowd were more into the fashion kind of sense then the artis herself, but with her fun acts and hits, the two sold out live acts brought everyone to dance with her ‘Visions’ as the second day of the festival ended.

The thing we like from music festival like this is how we can see some supports for the local acts, and appreciation by combining it as one of the ‘most things to do’ when you’re visiting Singapore. They scattered the acts around Esplanade, and not only giving great performances from Singapore own musicians but also International known acts so everyone can feel the enthusiasm of the festivals for locals and tourist around the area. Not to mention some cool local acts such as The Mighty Mighty, Hariz & Lincoln, Bright Young Things, Tabitha Nauser and other young jazz musicians.

For the second weekend, we catch this Denver married couple Patrick Riley and Aliana Moore’s at Mosaic Club stage, playing indie pop tunes from their debut album Cape Dory and second release Young and Old, they also introduces us with their new songs “Teena Marie” and “Dimming Light” which are more of an up beat and spring feel kind of songs. Even though over all wasn’t quite a punched act as we expected, but it was a nice way to spend the weekend with your friends before going else where, and we thank the festival for that. Anyway, it was our first experience traveling around here, and surely as we are now expanding ourself here to Singapore music scene, we hope to see more of what Esplanade can offer next on their calender event.

Photo Courtesy of Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay & svanapaper