Sonic Sessions returns for another exciting edition of SAW at SAM! Join us at The Spine—the vibrant heart of Tanjong Pagar Distripark, located between Blocks 37 and 39—for an eclectic lineup of performances by both local and international artists. Enjoy a range of genres with acts like Subsonic Eye, Bakers In Space, Pleasantry, and many more! Catch us on both weekends of SAW, from 17–18 January and 24–25 January.
For more information, visit: https://www.singaporeartmuseum.sg/
When: 17–18 January, 24–25 January 2025
Venue: The Spine (Between Blocks 37 and 39), Level 1, SAM at Tanjong Pagar Distripark
Opening hours: 6pm - 10pm
Admission: Free admission
Alicia Diva Chandra is an aspiring singer-songwriter, composer and producer based in Singapore. She is known for her versatility, and writes in a variety of music genres.
Alicia’s music can be recognised from their unconventional organisations of time, and often incorporates her reflections on pivotal moments in her life.
Pleasantry was conceptualised and formed in late 2010. Recycling musicians from active as well as inactive bands, the quintet crafts and carves music out of each member’s disparate listening backgrounds. Drawing inspiration from dreamed-up scenarios based on real-life scripts, their compositions showcase simple lyrical tones offset by the accompaniment of rich instrumentation and varied song structures.
Since their inception in 2017, Singapore's DIY-scene pioneer Subsonic Eye has carved out a distinctive space for themselves with their guitar-driven indie rock, which captures the frenzied pace and character of urban life with snappy, invigorating hooks.
Anchored by singer Nur Wahidah's restless, velvety vocals, the quintet masterfully channels an organic energy, weaving together radiant tonality and zippy jangle pop. Their sound seamlessly shifts—rooted at times in post-punk dynamism, and blossoming into primal, folk-inspired melodies at others.
Above all, their music, shimmering indie rock imbued with raw, poignant sincerity, radiates an enduring spark.
Tanatchai Bandasak:
Tanatchai Bandasak is an artist based in Bangkok. He explores transitional states, the blurred perimeter of events, and the shifting boundaries between things. His practice involves processes of wandering, seeking and gathering, and is often inspired by researching archaeological works and wide-ranging objects. He is interested in temporal experiences and scales, ranging from coincidences in everyday life to ecological and geological temporality and the archaic. Starting with his initial process of gathering objects, Tanatchai often creates oblique artistic methods, structures and narratives, hinting at tensions and transformative possibilities. This results in multimedia artistic forms, which include photography, moving image and installation, that gesture towards the desire to expand sensory perception and embrace fluidity of meaning.
Voranat Voraphitak:
Voranat Voraphitak is a digital artist specialising in digital design tools and video game mechanics. He is the founder of ShapeShifter (instagram.com/shapeshifteronline), a platform for innovative music and audiovisual art that focuses on showcasing emerging talents and connecting them with local artists and audiences. His practice involves investigating mixed reality, merging physical and digital worlds, and deciphering natural and intuitive 3D human codes, computations and environmental interactions.
Bennett Bay is a Singaporean musician known for his evocative sound. Blending acoustic guitar with string quartets and brass trios, his music draws inspiration from everyday life and pastoral imagery. Influenced by Sigur Rós and Nick Drake, he debuted at the Esplanade Concourse in 2015, and performed at Neon Lights Festival alongside Damien Rice and Mogwai that same year. Bay was the first Singaporean to play at Ireland's Electric Picnic Festival, sharing the stage with acts like The xx. His discography includes Compass (2017), In Memory Of (2018) and For Better Tomorrows (2023). He also composes for local theatre, collaborating on productions like The Paiseh Pieces (2023).
Bakers In Space is a Singaporean indie rock band formed in 2013. Drawing inspiration from a diverse range of genres—including indie rock, punk and post-rock—their music features a dynamic blend of thick, distorted guitars layered over hard-hitting drums, all complemented by the euphonious vocals of frontman Eugene Soh.
Alternative R&B duo nkei, comprising Woes member Raizel Gonzales and producer Ian Lee, came together in late 2020. Drawing inspiration from a spectrum of genres, including jazz, indie and neo-soul, nkei crafts a sound they describe as a blend of “lush harmonies intertwined with subtly tender melodies and heartfelt lyricism.” Their music pays homage to a “classic style of songwriting,” celebrating the delicate interplay between a single instrument and a captivating melody.
sub:shaman are sound-makers who continue to reinvent and redefine the structure of their music, carving themselves a space that is dark, groovy and occasionally chaotic. Formed in 2012, the quintet has been characterised as having a bold sound, rife with musical twists and turns. The group comprises IsaO, Weish, Syadie, Hanis and IsaF.
HAEPAARY
해파리 HAEPAARY (pronounced “hepari”) is an alt-electronic duo formed by Hyewon (instrumentalist) and Minhee (vocalist) from Seoul, South Korea. They reinterpret the melodies and lyrics of Jongmyojeryeak, the royal shrine music of the Joseon dynasty, and Namchang Gagok, a Korean traditional vocal genre that has been performed exclusively by men. 해파리 HAEPAARY's tracks demonstrate how Hyewon and Minhee's brilliantly disentangle the formality and the disciplines of Confucian music with their re-articulations of rave and trance. 해파리 HAEPAARY’s soundscape of refinement will invite intimate strangers to its secluded party.
The infamous beat-bandit duo O$P$ (Owe Money Pay Money) has been making waves both underground and on the World Wide Web with their signature sound. Aptly called “Geylang Crunk,” it fuses a uniquely Southeast Asian concoction of crunk, trap and bass. In a time and age where “Internet Life” is becoming more than just a catchphrase, O$P$ has achieved success with their tightly conceptualised audiovisual direction that weaves a cinematic tale through the seedy underbelly of Asia.
Acts performing under O$P$: Zushan, Benedict & Palmer, Wendy Woon, SENGET, Koyak, HZQ, Scondah
Tasha and Chris are an acoustic duo delivering a unique blend of soulful harmonies and heartfelt performances. With Tasha’s powerful vocals and Chris’ masterful guitar and vocal work, the band captivates audiences with a warm, intimate sound that appeals to music lovers across generations. Whether performing timeless classics or the latest hits, The Last Stop is all about creating an unforgettable musical experience.
ArunDitha is a goddess-worshipping performance artist and writer who puts maca in her morning cacao. She has performed her poetry at local events including TEDx Singapore and The Performance Theatre, as well as at festivals worldwide, winning slams in New Zealand, Germany and Australia. She was a resident writer/artist at Literarisches Colloquium Berlin, The Watermill Center, New York and the Marpha Foundation, Nepal. Her musical performances and co-creations have been commissioned by entities like the Esplanade in Singapore, the Goethe-Institut, Lisa Von Tang and the Barcelona International Poetry Festival. She currently sings/loops with Mantravine, and co-organises with Opens, a para-academic forum. In recent years, ArunDitha’s practice has been most influenced by spiritual research, political and feminist discourse, as well as contemporary & indigenous poetry.
Salt Envy is a dynamic two-piece rock band formed by Nathan and Basil, who first met at university. Nathan serves as the powerhouse lead vocalist and guitarist, infusing their music with raw energy and emotion, while Basil’s inventive basslines add depth and groove. Inspired by the alt-rock sounds of the 2000s, they fuse gritty guitar riffs with infectious rhythms, creating a sound that’s both nostalgic and fresh. With undeniable chemistry and a bold stage presence, Salt Envy is poised to make their mark in the modern rock scene.
Composed of Isuru Wijesoma, Farhan Remy, Rupak George and ArunDitha, Mantravine is a neo-ethnic fusion band from Singapore that practises a type of alternative world-making. Through their organic sound innovated from contemporary electronic and global rhythms, live instruments, spoken word and vocals, their music gives birth to a new story, rewriting the code which pervades our present existence. They have played festivals and events around the world, including Germany (Wurzel, Evolution, Kepotopia, Gaggalacka), Sri Lanka (Atman), Japan (One Music Camp, World Beer Summit) and Australia (Dragon Dreaming).
As a Singapore resident by way of Jersey City, the Puerto Rican producer-DJ Scatta has been delivering all the styles synonymous with underground American dance music culture for over a decade. From house to breakbeat, Jersey club to juke, his digs through dusty record stores while traipsing NYC’s party scene throughout the 2010s have influenced his productions, earning him a team spot on LA’s jukebouncewerk crew. With recent DJ features on Rinse FM, Dublab Radio and Hong Kong Community Radio, you can expect Scatta to set the tone.
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