The scene’s weirdest musician strikes again (Credit: Courtesy of deførmed) The woes of campus ruffians. The pains of projects and convoluted group assignments. The steely resolve of not trying to break down once every semester. While there are those who adore school life, you have wild cards like deførmed who feel the need to document his university memories in the atypically bizarre way he knows how – by turning it into a madcap album that showcases why he’s arguably the most ingenious homegrown musician out there with no equal. This is top-form deførmed, spewing a polarising auditor ..read more

  The true stars of Boiler Room Singapore this year in our opinion (Credit: Various sources) The world’s eyes are on Singapore again as our city welcomes the Boiler Room behemoth for a second year in a row. One might be led to believe that such a stage would provide a ripe opportunity to showcase glimmering talents from its host city. It’s never merely about geography or location, but also about local culture that’s helped to enhance the electronic music community from its part of the globe no matter how small. And if last year’s Boiler Room Singapore gig proved anything – with a stuffe ..read more

  Possibly the best event artwork of the year (Credit: SORRY NO CURE) You’d think that if you bounce around parties over an extended stint, you surely would’ve seen everything by now. But then up pops an unexpected encounter that blows expectations out of the water like a spout through a whale’s blowhole. When it comes to the influx of events trying to break through lately, the bittersweet feeling of scene saturation is heavy, casting a net of safe-ness and samey-ness that lingers like a curse. So when you chance upon a pop-up that describes itself as a “mindf*ck ADHD sensory overload a ..read more

  Mari is your conductor for this 15-Min Flash Mix (Credit: Courtesy of Mari) We’ve reached another milestone number with episode 50 of Life In Arpeggio’s 15-Min Flash Mix. Strap yourself in, ’cos we’re now accelerating with the propulsive, compulsive grooves of Mari.   From Manila and based in Singapore, Mari has fast become a recurring booking in the past year, popping up on the decks for gigs by Secret Pals, Algorhythm, HighHouse and Vans. He confesses having an adoration for tribal drums and otherworldly synths, and an irresistible urge to toss in some juicy funk influences in ..read more

  IGNITE! is back after taking a break in 2023 (Credit: IGNITE! Music Festival) What was your school life like? Cramming the textbooks, that’s a given. But being part of a major music festival? Now that’s some next-level campus experience. For Republic Polytechnic, IGNITE! Music Festival has been part of its DNA since 2008. It’s a steadfast history that’s enlivened its student body, stirring the young scene-discovering audiences who make up the mosh pit and the student-run organising committee taking dips into industry wisdom – just read our interview feature with the organisers here. A ..read more

  DARKSIN features upcoming dark-lurking talents like [clockwise] vylt, Katronyk and Poetriot (Credit: Various sources) Calling all goth ghouls, glitch witches, nightwalkers and darkstalkers, there’s a looming coven with your name on it. Blessed is a party scene that’s able to accommodate the nichest of subcultures without judgment, and in light of an ongoing zeitgeist of diversity lies the shadow of the dark alternative movement. Bubbling from the cauldron of this obscure yet zealous community is DARKSIN, an upcoming dark and alternative music festival that hopes to be an annual affair ..read more

  The post-hardcore legends are still standing tall (Credit: Jace How) The homegrown rock community was built on the shoulders of giants, and Caracal has been one of those immortalised titans that continue to garner reverence. These post-hardcore legends were instrumental in building the foundations of the alternative scene, and over a decade after their formation in 2007, their fortress-like reputation remains not only impenetrable, but increasingly augmented with age. Because 10 years after their sophomore full-length, Caracal is now on the cusp of their third album titled Effigies. S ..read more

  New Bahru is home to dozens of restaurants, bars, specialty stores, designers, wellness activities and more (Credit: All images courtesy of New Bahru) Creativity is like a horticultural entity that needs constant nurturing, especially in a profit-driven city that has a callous knack for snuffing it out. But every now and then, the state surprises with the birth of dedicated ecosystems designed to give creative businesses a stepping stone. Enter New Bahru, an up-and-coming lifestyle cluster spearheaded by The Lo & Behold Group, synonymous with some of Singapore’s most respected bra ..read more

  sho&tell shows all sides in this hodgepodge mix (Credit: Courtesy of sho&tell) In episode 49 of Life In Arpeggio’s 15-Min Flash Mix, we explore the concept of duality. Light and dark, yin and yang, or in the case of our guest DJ, it’s sho&tell.   sho&tell represents a fresh generation of selectors triggering a surge of rejuvenating vim and vigour into the scene. As a resident DJ of the Last Saturdays collective, sho&tell has served groovylicious sounds at venues like Freebird, The Coup and Naga House, teasing two-toned hues of daytime and nocturnal proclivitie ..read more

  The scene comes together for a good cause (Credit: Mandala Club) Dance music has the universal power to rally communities and support causes, and it’s not a gift that’s lost on us Singaporeans from our tiny speck on the map. With all the tragedy that’s been plaguing Gaza, our scene is standing up to raise funds for those in need. This could be your chance to make a difference.   Organised by Collective Minds and Mandala Club, Dance for Life is a charity gig with a mission to support the humanitarian efforts of Love Aid SG. The charity was set up to provide aid and food to refugee ..read more