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)

Chairlift, Something 

Its been a while since we listen to their Bruises hits song, but wait no more cause this New York Band will released their 2nd album this january 23(UK) and 24(US) by Columbia/Young Turks. The track also includes Sidewalk Safari, Met Before, Guilty as Charge, Cool as Fire and many cool tunes that we also cant hardly wait.

Of Montreal, Paralytic Stalks 

Maybe beside their Cirque du Soleil, what’s best Canada can offer is this rock band Of Montreal. Still with their psychedelic marauders theme and numerous amount of members, Paralytic Stalks will be released on Feb 7th. Recorded at Kevin Barnes’s home studio and collaborating with woodwind/brass player Zac Cowell.

The album will includes a seven minute orchestral pop epic song “Wintered Debts” which you can see below, “Gelid Ascent,” “Spiteful Intervention,” “Dour Percentages,” “We Will Commit Wolf Murder,” “Malefic Dowery,” “Ye, Renew the Plaintiff,” “Exorcismic Breeding Knife,” and “Authentic Pyrrhic Remission.”

Sleigh Bells, Reign of Terror

Reign of Terror is expected to drop in February, so does all hipsters over the world are going to give craps over this new release – no offence. Listen to the their first single, “Born to Lose”

Blondes, Blondes

After last year’s EP album ‘Touched’, this duo Sam Haar and Zach Steinman will release their two disc debut album RVNG Intl, on Feb 7th. The album will including their previous vinyl songs such as Lover, Pleasure and Wine, Water, and remixes by JD Twitch, Laurel Halo, and also Teengirl Fantasy.

Heartless Bastards, Arrow

This will be the band’s first album to be released under their new Brooklyn ‘indie’ label, Partisan Records on Valentine’s day. The band will be appear at SXSW to support their new album.

School Of Seven Bells, Ghoststory

The amped-up vibe of Ghoststory, due February 28th, is partly due to when it was recorded — between gigs on the band’s tour with Interpol earlier this year. “We brought the energy from our shows straight back home,” says Curtis, who sketched out tunes in the Brooklyn apartment he shares with singer Alejandra Deheza. “The idea was to write really quickly and not second guess anything.” -spin

The Magnetic Fields, Love at the Bottom of the Sea

Still with some of their previous albums theme, the 90s synth and adding some pop melodic like their 69 Love Songs, this new album Love at the Bottom of the Sea will be released on March 6. Same as Heartless Bastards the band will also be appear at SXSW to support the album.

Santigold, Master of My Make Believe

Santi White aka Santigold aka Santogold had released her first debut album three years ago and collaborate with many musician since such as Kanye West, Christina Aguilera, M.I.A, Lykke Li, Beastie Boys till Karen O of Yeah Yeah Yeahs. With her performance at Clockenflap which we had review on our tweets was a big hell a show, we definitely can expect something big for her second album on this Spring.

The Shins, Port of Morrow

We love them since their first album in 2007 Wincing the Night, this American indie rock band will be release on James Mercer’s own label, Aural Apothecary on March 2012.

Andrew Bird, Break It Yourself

Since his last album Noble Beast in 2009, we haven’t heard something new from this Chicago-based multi-instrumentalist, lyricist and whistler, but on March 6 Bird will released his sixth studio album Break It Yourself. The album itself is produced by Bird and recorded in Western Illinois and will be released by Mom + Pop Music. You can check his tour dates and news of the album from his website (www.andrewbird.net/)

Sigur Rós, TBA

This Icelandic post-rock band has been on hiatus since 2008, and replaced by news and songs from Jónsi Birgisson. But this year around spring, the group will be back with their new album. Lets hope their new album will sound as airy as we used to loving it.

The XX, TBA

With Mercury Prize for their first release, we surely does have high expectation of their second album. Even though they had confirmed to released it in 2012 but the date hasn’t been set out yet. but we believed you all have already listen to the demo right? what do you think about it?

Gaslight Anthem, TBA

The badass New Jersey punk rock poets are expected to come together once again to release their next album – their first after signing with their new label Mercury Records – around July of 2012. Earlier this year, Gaslight members Brian Fallon and Ian Perkins dropped Elsie, the debut album from side project, The Horrible Crowes.

Arcade Fire, TBA

2011 maybe the best year for this Montreal-based band who had won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year for The Suburbs. Their fourth album is expected to release sometime in 2012. The date is not yet set, but you will be the first to know from us once the news coming out.

Dirty Projectors, TBA

Another NY experimental band that has been quite taking our attention since their first album Orca in 2009. David Longstreth and the gang will release their 11th studio album around Spring. Lets hope the album will take our attention also this year.

Grizzly Bear, TBA

No release date has been announced for their next album, though the band stated on their Facebook page that “with all my heart and soul, I promise a new album in 2012! Unless something crazy happens. But let’s not get crazy, let’s just get creative!”.

They might be the most phenomenal indie rock band today. Their previous album Veckatimest, was too much to be appeared as the “Best of” lists for 2009 such as on Pitchfork, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, etc. So lets hope their new album will be as creative as we hope to.

Animal Collective, TBA

Baltimore may have their famous broadway dancing choir or something like that, but we may know the town from this experimental psychedelic band, which sadly now they based in New York City. With members from -i don’t have any words to describe an indie band that consist many indie bands-  Avey Tare (David Portner), Panda Bear (Noah Lennox), Deakin (Josh Dibb), and Geologist (Brian Weitz).

Portner, in an interview for Madison, revealed that they have just finished writing sessions and that they intend to start full recording sessions in January 2012 for the next album.

“We just finished another two weeks of writing sessions and put together five new songs..We’re really excited about this record … and it’s been really fun jamming with those guys again.”

Best Coast, TBA

This California garage rock / surf pop / lo-fi / indie rock band which consist of Bethany Cosentino and Bobb Bruno, will released their 2nd album sometime in summer 2012, with Jon Brion as the producer. They already announce that their first appearance will be for Big Day Out.

The Walkmen, TBA

2012 might be the year for this band to shine. After their Lisbon album on 2010, the new album will also mark the band’s 10-year anniversary, with lots of shows and a first-ever vinyl release of their 2002 debut album, Everyone Who Pretended To Like Me Is Gone (1/10). Their new album itself will be produce by Phil Ek, the same guy who produce Fleet Foxes ‘s Helplessness Blues. You can see their tour and vinyl album on their web (thewalkmen.com)

Yeasayer, TBA

Yes they are going to release not one but two full-length albums in late spring or summer 2012. Maybe because its already been a while since their Odd Blood, so they trying to make it up? jk. The band have revealed that they have more than 22 songs ready.

To SPIN, Singer Chris Keating says that “one [is] the real album with three-and-a-half to four minute pop songs, and another that’s more like a soundtrack and released on the internet.” The “real” album is purportedly made up of 3 and 4 minute pop songs. Of the sound of these songs Keating admits “if it sounds too much like something we’ve done in the past, we don’t do it.” So how does it sound, well see what you make of this; Keating says “It’s like an Aaliyah album if you played it backwards and slowed it down. Or David Bowie’s Lodger. Those two are major influences.”