Rocklah!

Music Discovery – Since Sleep (LA)

David Chua — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 04:31:41 +0000

Since Sleep is an, I don’t know, shoegazer rock?, band based in LA that has caught my ears recently. The band appears to be currently unsigned and has been on MySpace since 2005.

I couldn’t find any more information about the band anywhere online, which makes me believe that they are currently dormant.

But still, I have to write this blog post just to share their beautiful melodic tracks like Honah Lee and Amillionbeatsperminute which got me sitting up straight, after listening to it on an 8tracks mix (which by the way, is great too if you’re looking for songs to relax to).

Now I’d like to embed the two tracks I mentioned above but unfortunately MySpace is still stuck in the early ’00s and doesn’t have embed functionality. So instead, I’m going to ask you to just click on the link to the MySpace page above and give it a whirl.

But if you’re lazy, here’s the 8tracks track that I’ve got me searching for more information about their band in the first place:

Republic Poly’s Replug IG’s inspiring covers of local indie tracks

David Chua — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:06:05 +0000

You guys have to check out these acoustic re-arranged covers of local songs originally sang by bands like The Great Spy Experiment, Postbox, Electrico and A Vacant Affair.

The folks from Replug IG, a music interest group from Republic Polytechnic got together to perform these amazing renditions.

Song: Class A Love Affair
Original Artist: The Great Spy Experiment
Rearranged by: The New Science Project from Replug IG
Vocals: Gerard
Guitars: Joel and Ezra
Bass: Rufus
Percussion: Shafeeq

Song: What do you see
Original Artist: Electrico
Rearranged by: Half a dozen from Replug IG
Vocals: Insyirah and Rachael
Guitars: Donavon and Kevin
Piano: Binh
Percussion: Shawal

Song: We are not the same
Original Artist: A Vacant Affair
Rearranged by: Flushed from Replug IG

Vocals: Zai and Liyana
Guitars: Irwan and Joel
Piano: Sarah
Percussion: Syazwan

Song: Amber
Original Artist: Postbox
Rearranged by: Calico from Replug IG

Vocals: Zeenol
Guitar: Sougat
Bass: Johnson
Saxophone: Solha
Percussion: Ahmad

Amazing amazing work. I especially love the saxophone intelude in Amber and the extremely chill version of “We are not the same” by A Vacant Affair.

I’m not going to bore you guys with my words, because that would mean I’ll be taking up the time that should be used listening to the songs.

Beautiful.

If anybody know these guys, please tell them that if they are interested in releasing an EP of these tracks and more, I’m more than willing to put my money in it. I love it.

MGMT – Kids

David Chua — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 12:59:06 +0000

On The Rocks – Never Gonna Give You Up

David Chua — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 00:39:57 +0000

You’re welcome. Rickroll’d.

Sara Wee (53A) + Bani (B-Quartet) – We Should Be Together [MV]

David Chua — Fri, 21 May 2010 11:34:29 +0000

Sara Wee and Bani’s performance of Sara’s original track ‘We Should Be Together’ at the Esplanade Recital Theatre sometime ago.

Sara Wee and Alvin Khoo (53A) performs a couple of days a week at Wala Wala (Holland V).

Bani’s the lead singer from the awesome B-Quartet on the Aging Youth label.

SHIGGA SHAY – Nothin’ On You (Ft. Inch Chua)

David Chua — Fri, 21 May 2010 07:08:31 +0000

The folks over at RCGNTN have drawn our attention to local emcee, Shigga Shay’s cover of B.o.B’s Nothin’ On You featuring Inch of Allura fame. I’m not a big fan of the night time void deck shot or the rapping, but Inch’s parts come out strong, and add a pleasant vocal melody over the somewhat strained rap bits. But all in all, a commendable effort by Shigga Shay with regards to the the cover and collaboration, but there’s always room for improvement

(via Singularity)

Joshua ‘JBarks’ Tan (Firefight) is going to Cannes!

David Chua — Mon, 10 May 2010 14:19:46 +0000

The Fire Fight bassist, heart-breaker and personal friend of mine, Joshua ‘JBarks’ Tan is going to Cannes for the prestigious annual film festival. No, he’s not going there with his band to perform, but instead, he’s going there as the lead actor of a locally produced and International Critics’ Week selected film, “Sand Castle”. What makes it even sweeter is that this is Joshua’s first acting debut too!

The film, directed by the talented, Boo Junfeng (Keluar Baris, Tanjong Rhu) is a story about 18-year old En (Joshua Tan)’s struggles as he discovers himself through the difficult periods of his growing up years.

I’m not going to write a lot here, instead I’m just gonna direct you guys to the trailer below as well as the various news articles about the film at the end of this page.

Now doesn’t that make you proud that our own local rockstar is making waves.

Sand Castles Official Webpage
Sand Castles Film Blog
Today Online “We Cannes Do It!”

Wilco’s “I Am Trying To Break Your Heart” Soul/60s cover

David Chua — Mon, 10 May 2010 13:58:55 +0000

For all you Wilco fans out there, you HAVE to listen to this awesome cover of “I am trying to break your heart” from their 2001 album Yankee Foxtrot Hotel.

I thought the cinematography of the video was excellent and the re-arrangement of the track to fit into the soul/60s feel was really well done. I love discovering amazing and creative genre-jumping covers like this.

“I Am Trying To Break Your Heart” [Wilco] by JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound

For comparison – Here’s the original:

What’s your favorite rock cover?

Singapore Char Siew Baos – Loving You

David Chua — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:14:03 +0000

When I heard this track on youtube, I was hooked. I thought Ruby sang really well and that the saxophone arrangement was spot on! Good stuff!

Deborah Lee – Two Birds (S-Indie TV)

David Chua — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 05:00:06 +0000

Deborah Lee performs her original “Two Birds” somewhere in Sunset Way.