A cultural phenomenon I feel we don’t talk about enough is the YouTube bedroom pop aspirers who become chart-topping singers. Let me take you back to 2015, the golden age of bedroom pop. All anyone needed was a microphone, a camera and YouTube – and they had the world in the palm of their hands. Take, for example, William Singe – the Australian YouTuber who went from uploading covers in his room to being an ultra-famous recording artist! If the name William Singe was enough to pique your interest, you’re in for a real treat this May courtesy of Music Matters Live 2024 – a part of CreatorWeek 2024!
As part of Music Matters Live, more than 50 artists from 16 different countries are taking the stage in Singapore! Across seven stages and four fun-filled nights, you’ll get to meet the likes of William Singe, Firdhaus, and PSYCHIC FEVER from EXILE TRIBE (to name a few). All seven stages are located at CQ @ Clarke Quay, against the backdrop of the Singapore River – talk about vibes, right? If you’re itching to see the full list of performers, run to the official Music Matters Live website – I’ll be praying to the concert Gods that you see your faves!
I know you might be thinking, “What’s the occasion? Why are all these artists coming down to Singapore?” Although it does sound like it’s all too good to be true, I promise I’m not yanking your chain—I swear on all my future concert tickets! Music Matters Live is a celebration of global talent and aims to support emerging talents from Asia by providing them with the opportunities they need to break through the international stage!
I’ve always believed that talent knows no bounds. There are wildly talented people lurking among us who have yet to grace us with their skills, purely because they lack the platform to do so. By giving them this platform, Music Matters Live is a small step for artists and a giant leap for talents everywhere.
Showcases
Apart from spoiling us with live performances, Music Matters Live 2024 features a ton of unique showcases! Across the four nights, the stage will ignite with incredible themed acts that will introduce you to new genres of music and a world of musicians. Are you excited to know more? Let me share some of the coolest showcases you can expect to pass the night with!
NME Girls To The Front
For the first time in Singapore, NME Girls To The Front is gracing us with an all-female and non-binary-led showcase. It’s no secret that female and non-binary talents are not given half as much credit and spotlight as their male counterparts in the entertainment industry. To shine a spotlight on these talents, NME Girls To The Front is finally giving these amazing artists a stage of their own! Artists you can expect to see on stage include:
- Rhyu is a Singaporean-based singer-songwriter responsible for songs like It’s Fine and Melt. In addition to being a spectacularly talented singer, she has honed her amazing storytelling skills through her heart-wrenching songs. Get ready to melt in her presence as she takes the stage!
- Shazza, who at the age of 22, has joined the list of Singaporean female artists to be featured on a billboard at none other than the iconic Times Square in New York City! Being on a billboard in Times Square is an excellent achievement for an artist this young – which just goes to show how insanely talented she is! You wouldn’t want to miss out on this one!
- Shye is a name I’m sure you’re all familiar with! The artist has been making waves in the local and international music scene. She was launched to fame after winning the Vans Music Wanted Contest; the rest is history! She has continued to outdo herself time and time again – and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for this amazing talent!
- noui, an Indonesian singer-songwriter based in Singapore, has turned her trauma into nocturnal pop music. With songs like everytime we fall and girl of the earth under her belt, she has charmed audiences with her soulful sounds!
🗓️Date: 8 May 2024
📍Location: Swee Lee Clarke Quay, Blk 3B River Valley Rd, #01-06 Clarke Quay, Singapore 179021
💲Price: Free admissions
⏰Time: Doors open at 7pm
For more information on this spectacular showcase, head over to the official Eventbrite website!
Full Volume (18+)
Buy as many lozenges as you need because it’s going to get loud at Full Volume! At this showcase, expect to shout at the top of your lungs as you dance the night away surrounded by like-minded music enthusiasts! You’ll leave the venue with ringing in your ears – but hey, go big or go home!
You can expect to see artists like EMMA DILEMMA, an artist hailing from New Zealand who’s going to rock your socks off alongside French singer Issermann – who makes anything from angsty ballads to bangers with the hardest electric guitar backings, proving to be an incredibly versatile artist. But that’s not all! Joining them on stage are Thailand’s very own: LEMONY – a band who are anything but sour – as well as Singaporean artist Count Vernon (and many more)!
Keep in mind that Full Volume is an 18-and-above event, so unfortunately, for all my dear readers who have yet to hit the big one-eight, you’ll have to wait for another time to try your luck with this one.
🗓️Date: 9 May 2024
📍Location: Phil’s Studios, 1 North Bridge Rd, #03-16 High Street Centre, Singapore 179094
💲Price: Free admissions
⏰Time: Door opens at 8pm
For a full list of performers, check out Music Matters Live’s official Instagram page!
Swee Lee Sessions, presented by Music Matters Live
Now, if loud music isn’t really your vibe, don’t worry! Introducing Swee Lee Sessions – featuring a selection of Music Matters Live artists who will be performing incredibly intimate, unplugged and acoustic sets. It’ll almost be like the artists are serenading you and your friends!
Some artists you can expect to be serenaded by include Dhruv Visvanath, the world-renowned artist from India, Indie Filipino sweetheart Peej, the ever-stunning Celine Wayni from Hong Kong, and many more! Make sure to keep your eyes peeled for more information – keep hovering over the official Music Matters Live Instagram page for more details!
🗓️Date: 10 May 2024
📍Location: Swee Lee Clarke Quay, Blk 3B River Valley Rd, #01-06 Clarke Quay, Singapore 179021
💲Price: Free admissions
⏰Time: Door opens at 6pm
MIC CHECK (18+)
To draw the curtains on Music Matters Live 2024, the festival is headed to the club for MIC CHECK – a hip-hop, R&B and Afrobeats showcase – for a night you won’t remember and memories you won’t forget! What a way to close out the festival! If you’re looking for good vibes and good music, you know where to go!
Some of the artists taking the stage are French beatboxing royalty: Berywam, Australia’s number one Afrobeats artist Adrian Dzuke and a lineup of promising new artists! We’ll then have DJ Hanif providing us with sick beats throughout the rest of the night as the party continues.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but MIC CHECK is yet another event for those aged 18 and over. Do not worry; there are still tons of other showcases for you to check out! Just head over to the official Music Live Matters for more information.
🗓️Date: 11 May 2024
📍Location: IKI, Riverwalk, 20 Upper Circular Road, #B1, #01/06 The Riverwalk, 058416
💲Price: Free admissions
⏰Time: Door opens at 10pm
For the full list of performers for MIC CHECK, check out Music Matters Live’s official Instagram page!
From intimate serenades to electrifying performances, Music Matters Live 2024 will illuminate the power of music to unite and uplift. Here’s to making new memories, forging new connections, and believing that talent knows no bounds!
Visuals courtesy of Branded.
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