After a hiatus following their last event in 2017, the 100 Bands Festival promoters are now making a comeback to the tune of SG60.

In the second instalment of this mini-series, we speak to 23-year-old Mun AM, the creator and wordsmith behind Alter Start, a DIY zine celebrating our music scene today.

For a violent crash course, look no further than their latest debut album titled CORPSE PARTY that’s a bonanza of their mish-mashing ideas.

Welcome to Behind the Scene, a mini–series spotlighting the unsung heroes who help preserve our local music history. We begin with 760coremedia’s photography journey.

Instrumentally, Slow Burn takes you on a musical trip akin to lighting one of those Gourmand scented candles from HOOGA.

Craft aside, the earnest expression of elo elo’s lived experiences is what makes this record truly shine. It’s a shame that the EP only spans a short seven tracks at 23 minutes long.

The entire project feels like a piece of Kin Leonn’s intricate live performances condensed into a brisk 21 minutes.

The band succinctly describe it as a message of “alienation and existential dissonance”; and we get it, sometimes you just wanna make some noise.

Pegged as the EP’s first single, the track takes inspiration from ’80s synthwave and the domain of dark electronic pop.

If you’re not sipping the hype from the Sangriento ether yet, perhaps it’s time you became engrossed in a new story.

From late-night set-ups to early-morning tear-downs, this is how OurStrayLiberties and ROOM 526 are keeping the scene alive. 

Just like how fabled angels can be both saints and sinners, Falling Islands’ CYBXRANGEL wields a spectrum of interpretations.

The song is dedicated to everyone who isn’t defined by their past flames as they find solace in the lessons born from reminiscing, grieving and accepting.

It’s a barrage of nostalgia that would make grown fans weep, and a mighty crash course for younger audiences who wish to discover the origins of our scene.

ATC describes this record as “a raw and unflinching reflection on chaos, grief, and resilience”, evident in the band’s larger, louder and more aggressive sound.

Sun Cell’s debut album, like the twin-toned relationship of life and death, comprises two parts of solo and collaborative offerings.

Gifted Fire’s seven-track album is not unlike a transportive and vivid saga that chronicles an atlas of sounds.

While still leaning into his native pop influences, Noah Corolla is a project that sees the musician swerving towards electronic music and hyperpop.

This is a FXTRT that’s found their footing again post-stumble, and they’re definitely here for a good time.

“Overdue” marks a long but gradual path towards RENE’s long-awaited debut full-length which she plans to unveil in 2026.

GOTHMYSTERYMAFIA has unleashed a Hydra-esque 11-track record that splits its heads in the disparate directions of hip-hop, jungle and bass music.

“Transportation Blues” isn’t a ride that reinvents the wheel, but it’s one that’ll whisk you away into a place that feels familiar.

“eko” is engrossing and a pleasant pill to swallow, and it might just turn into your next ear-worming obsession.

Sambal Snake returns to the fray with “Higher Quality”, a bite-sized morsel still packed with his irreverent take on hip-hop.

With burly showcases like Dogfest, Dogswain has proven that it’s full of bark and definitely plenty of bite.

DARE is a movement of empowerment that shows instances of bravery and resilience, and it’s a potent reminder that music doesn’t discriminate.

Before the trio head off on their first international stop in Japan, they’ll be showing gratitude to their Singaporeans fans with a local all-star concert.

Intimate gigs, massive venue. There’s something surreally captivating about wandering through music in a behemothic industrial playground like this.

The eight-track compilation is an ode to love and astronomy, all while capturing the electronica essence of The Analog Girl.

Infusing a playful twist into the live gig experience, singer-songwriter Marian Carmel is throwing an EP launch party.

goneMUNE’s intimate pieces on her TULPA EP feel like gazing into a snow globe that’s guarded yet fragile; a dome of reflections and refractions.

The Alex Blake Charlie Sessions reawakens within the massive halls of Pasir Panjang Power Station, retaining its original concept of a female-focused lineup.

Wrap up your 2022 with new releases from Sobs, Halal Sol, Shazza, ARNT, Chok Kerong, Vanessa Fernandez, Mervin Wong and more.

Naomi G cuts deep with an honest anecdote from her upcoming album, slicing into the oft-stigmatised department of mental health.

While the heyday of indie rock has ridden off into the sunset, Hijack Hayley is taking the reins in instigating the genre’s unsuspected but much-welcomed comeback.

The 2022 edition of Fred Perry’s signature series features Subsonic Eye, Forests, lewloh and EMONIGHTSG for a full-fledged live show.

YAØ might not be dominating the world or swimming in a Scrooge McDuck money vault, but you can bet that he’s doing our little country proud.

Pile your local music playlist with fresh releases from Anise, MZA, Jaime Wong, Mary Sue, Foxela, Ysa Yaneza and more.

CURB’s debut eight-track album is a menagerie of individual anecdotes and collective experiences in the universal journey of growing up.

Introducing ArPlayggio, our new monthly round-up of fresh releases from the local music scene. Get up to speed with singles from Muto, Shye, O$P$, aeriqah and more.

With plenty of heart, the EMONIGHTSG crew spill their emotions about the meteoric rise of their unstoppable phenomenon – bruises and all.

ASEAN Music Showcase Festival goes live for the first time in Singapore with over 30 acts, happening on 10 and 11 September at Haw Par Villa.

The 20 members of Braggadocious flaunt their unity with a debut called “Brown Boys Brag”, sharing their collective story of Brown-ness in Singapore.

As a robust six-piece, these prowling wildcats spew out a classic alt-rock aesthetic that strikes with the nostalgia of a weathered but untoppable era

Through his imaginative realm of ‘Dream R&B’, Leeray is lending his voice and personal experiences to build strength for an ostracised community.

With concerns over the pandemic now on the decline, Singapore is back to becoming the global gig hub it once was. Finally.

It’s hardy, razor-sharp and piercing with the offence of 1,000 Needles. The sound of Cactus Cactus has been let out of the bullpen. You’ve been warned.

A miasma of obstacles hindered the psych-rockers for seven years, but it eventually paid off with the release of their third album, Lucy.

Featuring three tracks from their comeback album, Hiss, the crime-themed trilogy is a furious barrage that shows the grindcore champions back on form.

You can soon get your hands on a 20-track double vinyl compilation of Kribo Records’ vintage ‘lecak’ sounds, courtesy of this multi-label collaboration.

Firing the first shots from Aggressive Raisin Cat’s debut EP is “Ramen”, and there’s a lot to digest in this soup of anarchy.

The musician-producer takes the reins of the concept of time on The Biting Tempo, a debut full-length that spans funk, chillwave and psychedelia.

After playing for over 20 years, the deft guitarist (and Mantravine member) has a debut album that solidifies his uncontainable aptitude.

The Web3 initiative positions itself as a platform to fund artistes’ projects, incentivise collaboration, and build a more flexible and transparent model for the industry.

shazza’s latest endeavour is an open rebellion to hustle culture, that it is perfectly acceptable to fail and feel the bumps of your tumble.

spikyfruits invites you to an April Fool’s evening of live music from some of the scene’s brightest. We’re pretty sure this isn’t a joke.

The prominent music studio of industry hero, Leonard Soosay, premieres a five-part video series featuring a range of pop and underground acts.

On the cusp of the label’s 15th year anniversary, co-founder Ricks Ang shares more about its origin and milestones, including the new album from its core duo ASPIDISTRAFLY.

Majulah Live x It’s A Rap features a stacked roster of homegrown musicians and guest comedians for a live show happening for one night only.

In this short film, Xingfoo&Roy trudge through cyclic ennui with three bite-sized anthems taken off their upcoming full-length album.

Ticking the boxes of the post-rock format, “Rimshot” by Nagetto unleashes a tsunami of dense noise that lunges forward like a cavalcade of war horses.

What happens when you apply strings to the songcraft of respected singer-songwriters like weish, lewloh, Amanda Tee and more? That’s the twist of this live gig.

Amidst the waking dawn of a formidable 2022, Sun Cell is just starting to rise above the horizon with his debut single, “New Year”.

The seven-piece collective delivers a hefty sound on their new debut album, exploring dream-pop effervescence and shoegaze intensities.

Their debut single, “Best Friend”, shines with snug summertime riffs, coats of dreamy fuzz, and feathery vocals that slice through the corpus of noise.

On surf-tinted single “Don’t Bother Me”, The Pinholes sound like they haven’t aged in their nearly 20-year career, and that is precisely the magic of their music.

The Observer is a full-length that is as spunky as their capricious performances; a deluge of wild-card deliveries that flip the script with neo-soul and nu-jazz formats.

The New Modern Lights are a bunch of young guns who sound like they belong a decade earlier, yet they’ve managed to build a standing that’s irrefutably current.

Altoduo flaunt a remarkable level of technical prowess that bounces between the two core members, functioning optimally like a well-oiled machine in motion.

Opening up its venues to live audiences, the Mosaic Music Series returns with shows from Bitty, The Steve McQueens, Dru Chen, Rangga Jones, and Saints Amongst Sinners.

Capturing the hurricane moments of their youth is Carpet Golf, a new indie quartet with members from Subsonic Eye, Charm and The Neptune Waves. Enter their “brotherhood soup”.

Revered rock legends, The Oddfellows, continue to be rebellious misfits with new single, “Silent Worlds”, taken off their upcoming third album that’s 29 years in the making.

Launched in 2008 by Republic Polytechnic students, the annual music festival is respected as one of the longest-running events in the scene. This is how it all comes together.

How do you build a world no one’s ever seen? And how do you entertain a restless community while supporting an industry in its most trying time? The team of Take Back The Nights plugs into this interview.

Marian possesses a voice that you can leave on loop; always euphonious, always captivating, with themes that might make you ponder over your own skeletons in the closet.

Collaboration is the core of DSML’s output, and that’s what makes him whimsically unpredictable as an electronic producer, with works spanning funk-pop, hip-hop and soultronica.

If you had any cynicism about the state of local pop music, brb. could very well flip your perspective with their new sophomore EP, fleur.

Their debut release, “Take It”, is a piece of musical déjà vu, while comically documenting the scenario of how to deal with an awkward robbery.

The historic songwriter behind Humpback Oak and The Observatory adds another triumph to his legacy with this new seven-track EP.

The soulful pop artiste formerly known as bittymacbeth re-emerges as Bitty, now flaunting a self-titled EP that touches on tough topics like loss and financial woes.

The indie-pop singer-producer continues her independent growth with a peppy new single, half a year after her debut full-length.

Dreaming Life vividly introduces the serene reverie of Kekko, flowing like a kaleidoscopic, psychedelic dream from start to finish.

“TETRIS” is a piece where she openly embraces her bizarre quirks that grind against the norm, fleeing from generic behaviour and cookie-cutter expectations.

This is an Electrico riding on a new wave of untapped energy. The industry patriots share more about their return and their new EP, Left of the Century, that also marks their 25th anniversary.

The mirage of desire often plays tricks on the mind, especially in the capricious territory of love. Dnl. and Axel Brizzy wax lyrical about it on their new single, “Fantasy”.

Ratmir Johnson is an identity that wraps the hip-hop artiste’s expressions in steel, giving him the muscle and gusto to make art as he sees fit.

This Isn’t Where I Want To Be is an intoxicating dream-pop sojourn that soothes, providing an escape that’s hard to snap back from.

Whether it’s through her personal anecdotes or bold musical leaps, Brielle Kaga is an indie-pop singer-songwriter who will capture your attention.

Despite coming from reputable past projects that include Giants Must Fall, wyd:syd and enec.e, the members of FERS unleash a dreamy outfit that sounds brand new.

The rapping human vegetable has peeled off another layer from his sprouting repertoire, teaming up with Beansprouts and Fauxe on production duties for his latest release.

Toying with loose wordplay and capricious phonetical rhythms, yams governs his own flow much like the freedom of a spoken word poet, full of conviction and magnetism.

Smooth like clockwork, the undeniable rapport between the beatmaker and rapper has unleashed tracks that brandish old-school hues and stirring lyrical poetry.

The weekly live series coincides with the digital release of the band’s catalogue, culminating in a brand new EP of remade, reinvigorated classics.

Though experimental techniques, SAtheCollective enhances traditional instruments like the dizi and guzheng to blend with the boundless playspace of electronic composition.

If you’ve always wanted to know who Fauxe truly is, his ALTRUISM trilogy might just be the introduction you need. The freeform producer opens up about this new, liberating chapter of his career.

With loosened measures, the scene is starting to buzz with live gigs once again. Here’s an update on where you can catch some, and where you can’t.

sl_owtalk puts out a jagged, harmonious yin-yang of art-rock material that most won’t dare to attempt; an audacious culmination of the duo’s chemistry and nonconformist proclivities.

Some bands never tread beyond their old tricks, but Subsonic Eye is shattering that inertia thrillingly. They reveal more in light of their new third album, Nature of Things.

These optimistic developments have assembled a silver lining for the scene that’s far from thin, but formidable in the face of a new, unpredictable year.

The Observatory and Ujikaji have unleashed BlackKaji Radio, a fortnightly broadcast of four episodes that reel you into their collective energy of discovery and experimentation.

RENE likes it loud, embarking on a pursuit that won’t be muted. In this interview, she elaborates on her upcoming EP, her origins, and her constant craving for big sounds.

Back To Live by AEG Presents, Collective Minds and Marina Bay Sands will help the music industry move one step closer to the normalcy we all miss dearly.

With her debut album about to drop, the surging bedroom-pop youngblood shares more about its formation and grown-up themes. Just like her music, Shye keeps it cool in this interview.

Wherever NyaLi’s voice lands, it makes songs glisten with its Midas touch. The soulful vocalist extraordinaire shares how she carved a career for herself with sass and class.

It is in prog-rock where the keyboardist-saxophonist truly feels challenged yet free; a medium where she can forge her own reality with the music she bends to her will.

Following her trilogy of alt-rock singles titled the Prequel Era, kotoji is now on the cusp of unleashing her next chapter, one that is hers and hers alone.

Discovery of the unknown is just one of the many beauties of a music festival, and RIF 2020 is a hopeful example of one with a fresh lineup of emerging acts.

With their finger always on the pulse of alternative sounds, the tastemakers behind Fred Perry are outdoing themselves with a rendition of Subculture Live unlike any other.

While the scene crawls towards normalcy, Zendyll and Collective Minds are going all out to craft a full-on live-stream experience with performing musicians and comedians.

In line with the upcoming regulations for live gigs, Baybeats 2020 is opening the festival up to select audiences in attendance, complementing a meatier schedule of live-streamed performances.

With his dulcet vocal quality and self-penned melodies that hit sweet spots with bulls-eye precision, lewloh crafts material that courageously takes on harsh truths.

*SCAPE Music Day Out! will feature a dozen local acts performing over this weekend, and a mentorship programme that helps budding musicians take the next step.

Beneath the abstruse mastery of The Observatory is a playful desire to attempt the unattempted. We check in with the art-rock pioneers in light of their new release, Authority Is Alive.

Still experimenting, still keeping the scene on its toes; this marks a new ascent of The Analog Girl, and she’s ready to unleash her fantasies one more time.

The touches of the ambient-inclined Kin Leonn create a sublime, meditative state that’s inherent in his works, evoking daydreams you don’t want to wake up from.

Breaking out of the mental abyss and finding the resolve to turn his life around, Joshua Aaron Goh adopted a per[sona that turned out to be his most personal yet.

As a custodian of local hip-hop culture for nearly 20 years, KoFlow is a master at what he does, and he’s not ready to be toppled off his throne just yet.

What does the imagination of Inch look like? The inimitable Inch Chua reveals why she’s always stepping out of her comfort zone as a performer, and how she fuels her explorative spirit while bettering herself.

We grabbed a chat with the Baybeats team about making the festival a reality in these hindering circumstances, and discover that the spirit of Baybeats is still as unyielding as ever.

We slip our shoes off and step into the psyche of one of the scene’s most promising discoveries, as 10vacations shares the origination of her journey and how she manoeuvres through it with charm.

Through fortnightly episodes, Majulah Weekender by Zendyll will feature fresh pairings between producers and vocalists as they come together to create new originals exclusive to the series.

Get intimate with one of the scene’s most treasured figures, as Tim De Cotta bares his soul in this interview about scene longevity and his new perspective on love.

The serendipitous team-up was made possible after DEON shared a stage with Shohey’s band in Tokyo last year, resulting in this spine-tingling acoustic single.

These active, local and independent record labels provide exposure and an organised system that benefit artistes and audiences, giving the scene more long-term credibility.

A lot sure has happened. Thank you for believing in Life In Arpeggio and for taking the time to support storytelling in local music journalism. We reflect on our first year.

Hear ye, the Far East Empress speaks. Masia One reveals the story behind her latest hit single, lessons learnt in Jamaica, and going head-to-head with the patriarchy embedded in the music industry.

Disarray doesn’t always equate to disunity, and the scene has shown that it is capable of staying strong when the context appears bleak. This is a clarion call for it to stick together now more than ever.

For the next six weeks, Music Matters Live is adapting to the constrained gig climate with an initiative that pushes the boundaries of digital collaboration.

How does a band like M1LDL1FE move forward when they’re already ahead of the curve? In this interview, get to know their headspace in light of their new single, “Small Lanes”.

Homegrown DIY label, Tired Records, handpicked several local bands across genres and had them record rare covers of each other. We speak to the label’s co-founders on how and why they did it.

Releases In Arpeggio is a series that unearths newfound, original sounds from the local music scene, while highlighting their authors and the stories they wish to convey.

Stay in, plug in, and embark on a journey of discovery with this list of 20 fresh musicians, bands and producers giving the local scene a good reputation.

We chat with emerging rapper, BGourd, about his peculiar persona and hip-hop roots, and find out if there really is any meat within the gourd.

Get to know Big Duck (FKA Naybeats), a pack of scene-stirrers who turned their rejection from Baybeats into a gig promotion endeavour that supports local alternative acts.

We had a chat with accomplished stalwart, Vandetta, regarding her tireless passion for the scene she helped forge, and how she gets into the headspace of her several projects.

Pushing the boundaries at the dawn of 2020, electronic duo .gif have created an original play as part of the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival.

When two industry powerhouses come together, you can expect a novel festival that knows the ropes and bolsters the scene. The new collaboration features bands like Sobs, Bedchamber, HE1ST and more.

“You can take the boy out of Jurong, but you can't take the Jurong out of the boy.” Shak’thiya, soulful frontman of The Baits, remains humble despite his burgeoning fame in the scene.

The objective of ÆTHER? To craft an atmospheric series where rock bands whip up ambient experiences for punters in a cosy, tranquil environment. We chat with co-founder, Jayni Wong.

Making a splash from 14 to 16 November at the Fountain Square, Sound Port Clarke Quay showcases a new wave of electronic talents that include Shye, brb., YAØ and more.

The Analog Girl has discreetly released Soundtrack For ALICE, a series of nine ambient tracks that can only be heard, in full, in a new business park in one-north called ALICE@Mediapolis.

Speckled with the dust from a VHS tape and awash with Shinjuku-neon filters, the electronic sound of don.a.a.ron is a campy fantasy that harks back to the synth-hugged ‘80s.

What is rock & roll without a shock factor? Slinging a raucous sound that harks back to the fuzz-crusted, DIY days of garage rock, Knightingale knows how to make an impact.

Weaving through the spiritual soundscapes of Mantravine is a melange of elements that combine live world music with electronic textures, with an ardent penchant for improv and crowd interaction.

A fledgling quartet of NKOTB who traverse the imaginative realm of instrumental rock (primarily in the math- and post- departments), they make statements without speaking a word.

Free-form producer, Fauxe, is The Analog Vault’s first signing on their new label, TAV Records. This is culminating in an improvisational live show at White Label Records.

The more audacious your vision, the larger the payoff in your output. Unapologetically, Axel Serik is doing just that under his Frinla moniker.

The wave of musicians to crash upon the shores of SoundCloud and Bandcamp gets more effervescent. Here are 11 standout discoveries.

With an energising alt-rock sound with heart-on-sleeve lyrics, mosh-inciting outbursts and shoegazey textures, Coming Up Roses is coming up strong.

Enter the imagination of ARNT and how he makes worlds with his synth-pop symphonies.