Tomorrow Is Our Permanent Address may be a line from e e cummings, but B-Quartet' s debut album is one of Kevin's and Chris' favourite albums of all time. At least Top 3. Definitely in their Top 10. The guys hit rewind on an album that is a no-holds-barred exploration of sonic landscapes – sometimes sharp as a razor, sometimes soft as a pillow, or sometimes, mellow like a, er, mellow thing. But how did the band come to B? And why does this quartet have six members? All these questions and more a...
Feb 10, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 3Ep. 59
Kevin and Chris finish their excursion into 1995 as they look at the year's most important music-related moments, including... ...the rise and rise of Kit Chan and The Lizards' Convention ...how Zouk got its groove back despite being closed after a drugs bust ...why a 38-year-old businessman wanted Anita Sarawak's bustier ...and why Kevin can't remember ever going to dance club Moondance or Pepper's, the Beatles-themed restaurant that maybe-but-not-quite-probably-didn't happen in Singapore *****...
Feb 03, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Season 3Ep. 58
Chris thinks 1995 was, musically, a special year for the Lion City. With more media coverage, more gigs, and more music, 1995 looked poised to be even better than the years prior. But was it really? In Part 1, Kevin and Chris look at what made 1995 special: Was it that local bands started opening for acts like Sheryl Crow and Bon Jovi? Was it that R.E.M. used the Singapore show for their Star 69 music video? Or was it that Mark and Don Richmond did a rap for the Perfect 10 Local Music Awards? **...
Jan 27, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 3Ep. 57
Welcome to the final episode of 2022! Our guest stepped in at the beginning of the year to fill in the bass slot for The Fast Colors, so we thought it fitting that he'd step in to help us close the year as well: it's the marvellous multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter, Nelson Tan ! Fun fact: he used to be a Singapore Idol contestant! Another fun fact: he's the bassist for the instrumental rock band In Each Hand A Cutlass. Plus, he's recorded in Mandarin, Malay and English and is a fixture...
Dec 30, 2022•1 hr 33 min•Season 3Ep. 56
Rock never die! Just ask alt-rockers Lilac Saints , who've released a "best of" compilation called Halo Again, and are set to take the stage in Jan 2023 – more than 30 years after they banded together. The five guys have been friends since Sec 1 and although they've been through ups and downs, it's clear their friendship goes a long way. Kevin and Chris catch up with drummer Desmond, guitarist Bhaskar and singer Ric in this no-holds-barred episode, where they discuss... ... whether doing origina...
Dec 20, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Season 3Ep. 55
START YOUR ENGINES, it's TRUCK ! Kevin and Chris react to this rarity in the Lion City's discography: Truck's one and only album, Surprise! Surprise! Truck who, you say? Truck was a spin-off – and one-off – band, made up of October Cherries' members Jay Shotam, Benny Siew and Richard Khan. Surprise! Surprise! was, in essence, a reworking of the October Cherries' album, Dreamseller . But with added keyboards and synths. Does this album of psychedelic-esque songs work? Why are the vocals like that...
Dec 13, 2022•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 54
Join Kevin and Chris for a chat with the world's pioneering Vedic metal band – Rudra ! Formed in 1992, the guys from Rudra – Kathir, Shiva, Vinod and Devan – have been rocking the world with their music, from Singapore to India to the US and beyond. The band share their musical journey and why... ... they decided early on to play "Vedic metal" ... hecklers don't bother them anymore ... and why Vinod will never delete that NSFW fan pic Rudra's new album of originals, Eight Mahavidyas , will be ou...
Dec 06, 2022•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 16
Although they had personnel changes through the years, Naomi And The Boys would be best remembered for its classic line-up of Naomi Suriya, her brother Robert, Moses Tay, Alphonso Soosay and Peter Thomas. Naomi And The Boys had hits with Happy Happy Birthday Baby , It's All Over , I Know and many more, and Robert proved himself to be a prolific composer, writing most of the band's songs. Kevin and Chris look back at the band that, together with The Crescendos and The Quests, made up the "Big Thr...
Nov 28, 2022•50 min•Season 3Ep. 15
It's 1964, and The Beatles are here in Singapore! They were on the way back to the UK after their Australia and New Zealand tour. Although their stopover was only 55 minutes long, they planned a meet-and-greet with fans. But 3,000 of them stormed the VIP area, so that event was cancelled. Once the plane refuelled, the Beatles went on their way. But there's more to the Beatles' Singapore story than that. And Kevin and Chris explore how Fab Four touched the Lion City's music scene. For example, di...
Nov 18, 2022•58 min•Season 3Ep. 14
Hey hey hey! It's another playback session as Kevin and Chris look back at Banned In Da Singapura by rock trio Boredphucks . Comprising Sanny Singer (vocals, guitar), JBoss (bass) and Wayne Thunder (drums) the album was a response to having the unique distinction of being the only Singapore band to be banned from performing in the Lion City (we think). Banned In Da Singapura is a landmark album that's filled with some great rock 'n' roll music as well as some funny skits interspersed among the s...
Nov 11, 2022•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 13
Our guest this week is Andy Chen (no, not that one!), the co-editor of No Finer Time To Be Alive , the only book that documents the indie years of Singapore music. What did it take to put that book together? Will there be a sequel? Why isn't there more being done to archive Singapore's pop culture? And guess what Chris and Kevin will be ranting about this time? The answers to all these and more in this episode of Lion City Rock! ****** Like, follow and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle , ...
Nov 04, 2022•54 min•Season 3Ep. 12
1, 2, 3, 4! Kevin and Chris hit the rewind button on another iconic album from the 1990s – Concave Scream's Erratic! Released in 1997, Erratic spawned one of the biggest hits of the decade, Driven , and gave the band mainstream success. Formed by Sean (vocals, guitar), Pann (guitar), Victor (bass) and Dean (drums), Concave Scream were one of the bright sparks of the Singapore music scene in the late-1990s, showcasing a wide range of musical tastes and styles, while still keeping a very distincti...
Oct 28, 2022•54 min•Season 3Ep. 11
Kevin and Chris take a look at the Home Grooves exhibit about live music venues in Singapore – now going on at Esplanade-Theatres On The Bay – and give their unexpurgated review. What did they like? What didn't they like? Could it have been better? Or is this better than nothing? What is Kevin's idea of a good local music exhibition? And why is Chris living in fantasy land? All this and more in this episode of Lion City Rock! ****** Do Like, Follow and Subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle , ...
Oct 21, 2022•48 min•Season 3Ep. 10
With Singapore opening up it's doors to concerts once again, it's the right time for Kevin and Chris take a look at their favourite, worst and weirdest gigs they've ever been to. Who had the best production value? Which band bored Kevin to tears? Which gig did Chris walk out of halfway through? Where was the weirdest place they've ever gigged in? All this and more in this week's episode! ****** Do Like, Follow and Subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle , Spotify , Apple Podcasts , Audible or w...
Oct 14, 2022•54 min•Season 3Ep. 9
GUESS WHAT? It's our continuing chat with Chang Kang, the lead singer of Typewriter AND an award-winning filmmaker in his own right! This time, we discuss... ... whether having a music background helps when making movies ... how to convince a band that a video with them slow jogging is the right choice... ... and if Singaporean musos should sing in a Western accent All this and more on #LionCityRock! Links Watch the M1 ad Watch It's Not Easy Typewriter tunes: Bandcamp & Spotify ****** Do Lik...
Oct 07, 2022•46 min•Season 3Ep. 8
Can you believe it's been 1 year since we embarked on this journey with Lion City Rock? We're still pinching ourselves (not too hard though). To mark this anniversary, we have a special guest: Chang Kang , who sings and plays the guitar for the band, Typewriter ; and is also a respected award-winning filmmaker and photographer. His music journey began in school with his band, The Ordinary People and he has since gone on to bigger and better things, including directing (arguably) the most famous ...
Oct 01, 2022•55 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Remember movie soundtrack albums? We do! Kevin and Chris look back at the Mee Pok Man and 12 Storeys original motion picture soundtracks –– the two albums that kickstarted a wave of local music soundtracks in the 1990s. Along the way, they also uncover mysteries like... ...how many times has Kevin's song, My One And Only been used in a soundtrack? ...why can't Singapore music be heard in more movies or TV series? ...what happens when you allow Kevin and Chris to go off-book and on a tangent? Lin...
Sep 23, 2022•49 min•Season 3Ep. 6
LOOK OUT! It's Lion City Rock! Join Kevin and Chris as they look back on one iconic album of the 1990s: Humpback Oak's Pain-Stained Morning . The album was a breakthrough for Humpback Oak, boosted by songs like Finer Life , Deep Door Down and Circling Square , and helped establish lead singer Leslie Low as one of the finest songsmiths from the Lion City. Kevin and Chris reveal their favourite tracks from Pain-Stained Morning ; discuss the supposed controversy surrounding the album; theorise abou...
Sep 14, 2022•58 min•Season 3Ep. 5
In a space of four months, power trio Coming Up Roses released their latest EP, Everything Is , went to Canada and Indonesia, played their last show in Singapore for the foreseeable future, and are "opening a new office" in the UK. Comprising Emily Sera, Darius Oon and Lorenzo Mailum, Coming Up Roses has made a splash with songs like Waters , Glass Stained Eyes , Slingshots and Lies , wowing their audiences with their energetic live shows everywhere they go. But now they're at a crossroads: Emil...
Sep 06, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Music compilations or playlists, as they're called these days, aren't just a great way to have your favourite tracks altogether. Singapore's music compilations offer a unique look at the musical heritage and history of the Lion City. From the 1980s Class Acts albums to the 1990s New School Rock series, from 2009's 100 Singapore '60s to 2015's State Of Rock , you can learn much about what Singapore liked just from the music featured in these collections. Because these compilations were put togeth...
Aug 29, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Season 3Ep. 2
In Part 2, Kevin and Chris continue their trek through 1965 to see what were the major happenings in that pivotal year: What was up with the idea to have pop bands perform before a movie started? Who were The Teenage Comets and why hasn't anyone done a biopic about them? And why was Gina Lollobrigida making a live appearance at the Lido Cinema? ****** Like, follow and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle , Spotify , Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Leave a comment or review,...
Aug 15, 2022•46 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Since it's National Day , we thought we'd look back to the year when all began: 1965. Singapore has split from the Malaysian Federation amid uncertainty about what lies ahead. But what is certain is that the local music scene never looked brighter. The success of groups like The Crescendos and The Quests has inspired many singers and musicians to come forth. Shirley Nair, Veronica Young, Naomi & The Boys, The Cyclones, The Checkmates, The Silver Strings, The Trailers, The Thunderbirds, The A...
Aug 08, 2022•57 min•Season 3Ep. 1
MARK THE DATE! (That's 9 Aug 2022, in case you missed it) The Lion City Rock podcast returns for another season of peeling back the layers on our local music scene. It's new content with a new format, but still giving the same Lion City Rockin' goodness! We check out key dates, events and releases in Singapore's musical history and do a deep dive into the wonderful world of Lion City Rock. In the meantime, bone up on Seasons 1 and 2 available now on Spotify , Apple Podcasts , RedCircle and where...
Aug 02, 2022•4 min
In this explosive SEASON FINALE , Kevin and Chris sift through the season, handpicking their favourite bits and rambling on about where the Lion City's music scene is these days. They also discuss what could be in store for the next season: Should Kevin do a special dance for Lion City Rock TikTok? Should Chris do a series of dad jokes? Or should they have a rant 'n' rave series just because they can? ****** Like, follow and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle , Spotify , Apple Podcasts or ...
Jun 18, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Season 2Ep. 17
It's Part Two of our chat with Joan Chew, bassist of Lez Zeppelin, the all-female rock band that plays Led Zeppelin music 24/7. Can you really trust Craigslist to get a gig? How many Spinal Tap moments can you get in Lez Zeppelin? And why is Nite Bob such an institution? Joan shares what it took to move from the Lion City to the Big Apple, and more. ****** Check out Lez Zeppelin's videos here and see what they're up to on Instagram and Facebook . Check out what Joan Chew gets up to here . 📷: Te...
Jun 04, 2022•51 min•Season 2Ep. 16
Nowadays Joan Chew is rockin' crowds in the US as the bassist of Lez Zeppelin, the all-female rock band that performs the music of Messrs Plant, Page, Jones and Bonham. But did you know that she started out playing violin in a string quartet at the Intercontinental Hotel right here in the Lion City? In this first of a two-parter, we trace her musical beginnings and how that helped get her ready to face the wide world of music. ****** Check out Lez Zeppelin's videos here and see what they're up t...
May 27, 2022•42 min•Season 2Ep. 15
Meet Amanda Ong , a singer whose preference for a cappella music – performance of a polyphonic (multipart) musical work by unaccompanied voices – means she has all but stripped away any musical accompaniment in her recent recordings. But what does it take to be an a cappella singer in Singapore? Where can one readily find venues that will showcase such music? And will Benjamin Kheng really collab with Amanda? The answers to these questions and more in this week's episode! ****** Check out Amanda...
May 21, 2022•54 min•Season 2Ep. 14
How did Houg go from carting passengers in private hire cars to carting keyboards for gigs? Why is he his harshest critic? Why shouldn't you be afraid to ask for help? And how did a taxi driver help kickstart Houg's personal musical voyage overseas? We were excited to chat with Houg because he is one of Singapore's most exciting chillwave musicians today. He has gone from strength to strength, culminating in his latest album, The Biting Tempo , which was released earlier this year. ****** Check ...
May 13, 2022•1 hr 17 min•Season 2Ep. 13
When Jazreel met Esther in school, it was a sure sign that they would start a band called Causeway Youth . At least, that's how we see it. But their journey has faced obstacles and challenges, such as naysayers who think their band has no direction. But time and time again, the girls have faced down their adversaries and cleared the challenges in their path. They share... ...what it's like to perform at the Geylang Serai pasar malam ...how to deal with mentors who don't quite come up to snuff .....
May 06, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 12
Filmmaker Eric Khoo needs no introduction right? He's best known for films like Mee Pok Man , 12 Storeys , Be With Me , My Magic, Ramen Teh and more, but did you know he cut his teeth making music videos? Find out how his love for music affects the way he creates his acclaimed films. ****** Check out Eric's Zhao Wei Films here . Watch Eric's music videos for The Oddfellows' Lost My Head , She's So Innocent and Your Smiling Face , as well as The Padres' Radio Station , Angel and Freakout Frequenc...
Apr 29, 2022•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 11
