Lion City Rock

Who's the most important person when it comes to a live performance? No, not the singer. Not the band manager. Not even the guy who removes all the blue M&Ms.If you're in a band about to do a show, the sound engineer or sound tech is the person you want on your side. They can make you sound great on the night. (And vice versa if you're being a turd to them.)Like our guest, Mark Jason. Mark has helmed the soundboard at pubs of past and present, including Balaclava, Wala Wala, and Blackbird. You've also probably heard his handiwork at many events, including this year's BigO 40 festival and the SG50 show at the National Stadium. But why did he become a sound engineer? What were his most memorable gigs he's worked on? And what does a sound tech do, anyway?In this episode, he answers all those questions, and as a bonus, reveals how you can get on the good graces of your sound tech (note: adult beverages may be involved).*this episode was recorded in August 2025--"Screen Scars" performed by K. Mat. All other live audio was recorded at Blackbird. ******LINKSFollow Mark Jason here: InstagramFollow Writers' Hall and BlackbirdFollow Lion City Rock: Facebook / Instagram What would you like us to talk about? Email us: [email protected]: The Lion City Rock Playlist (new tracks from Shye, Dru Chen, Namie and more!)Read Kevin's Power of Pop Substack / Bizarro WorldRead Chris' Full Sput Ahead! (Substack review)******Like, share and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others discover some good ol' Lion City Rock!

What is it like being an experimental jazz singer-songwriter in the Lion City? How does one navigate a musical niche in a space like Singapore? How easy is it to explore out-of-the-box musical inspirations in a place where traditional forms seem to be favoured more?Namie Rasman, lead singer of Namie & The Waves and a jazz singer in her own right, takes the hot seat to answer these questions and share her jazz odyssey. (PS: Namie & The Waves' new EP, Tides, is expected to drop later this year.)*this episode was recorded in May 2025--"Screen Scars" performed by K. Mat. "Postcards" performed by AWOL. "The Lion City Rock Theme" performed by Kevin Mathews and Chris Toh. "Gone", "Wander", "Queenfisher", "What's The Beauty" performed by Namie & The Waves.******LINKSFollow Namie here: InstagramFollow Namie & The Waves here: InstagramListen to Namie & The Waves here: Spotify / Apple MusicFollow Lion City Rock: Facebook / Instagram What would you like us to talk about? Email us: [email protected]: The Lion City Rock Playlist (new tracks from Shye, Dru Chen, Namie and more!)Read Kevin's Power of Pop Substack / Bizarro WorldRead Chris' Full Sput Ahead! (Substack review)******Like, share and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others discover some good ol' Lion City Rock!

With nightlife and entertainment spots closing over the past few weeks – Projector, Vertigo26, and for one hot minute, even Wala Wala – Kevin and Chris ask the hard question: How can dis be allow?In this special extended episode, the TCSS returns – iykyk – as they also unpick the "now you can drink alcohol in pubs until 4am" scheme (but only in selected areas, T&Cs apply) and pick their choice gigs that you can spend your Culture Pass on.--"Screen Scars" performed by K. Mat. "Postcards" performed by AWOL. "The Lion City Rock Theme" performed by Kevin Mathews and Chris Toh. "You're The Boy" performed by Shirley Nair & The Silver Strings. "Let 'Em Come" performed by Mike and Herb & The Silver Strings. "Angel In The Night" performed by Lovehunters. ******LINKSGet tickets for Silver Strings: WhatsApp Audie Ng at 9818 4198Get tickets for Concert Lovehunters Renaissance Get tickets for Sing60Get tickets for Welcome To The Machine's The WallFollow Lion City Rock: Facebook / Instagram What would you like us to talk about? Email us: [email protected]: The Lion City Rock PlaylistRead Kevin's Power of Pop Substack / Bizarro WorldRead Chris' Full Sput Ahead! (Substack review)******Like, share and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others discover some good ol' Lion City Rock!

What do echoes, money, dogs and time have in common? What's the dark side of tribute bands? And how much stroking is necessary before a podcast episode can actually begin?Laurence and Noel of Welcome To The Machine, a Pink Floyd tribute band from Singapore, answer those questions and more. Their new show, a complete performance of Pink Floyd's landmark album, The Wall, is a cross between a musical and a rock gig. But more importantly, it answers the age-old question: which one's Pink?--"The Wall", "Time", "Comfortably Numb" & "Coming Back To Life" performed by Welcome To The Machine. ******LINKSWelcome To The Machine:  Website / Instagram / Facebook / YouTubeGet tickets for The WallFollow Lion City Rock: Facebook / Instagram What would you like us to talk about? Email us: [email protected], and Kevin wrote a song for National Day too! Listen hereListen: The Lion City Rock PlaylistRead Kevin's Power of Pop Substack / Bizarro WorldRead Chris' Full Sput Ahead! (Substack review)******Like, share and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others discover some good ol' Lion City Rock!

Dominic Chin has been singing ever since he was in his teens. His first original song, "You First Believed" – a tribute to Singapore's founding father and first Prime Minister, went viral. Now, 11 years later, he's back with a new single, "Needy" and plans for a new album drop at the end of the year. In between, he's performed thousands of shows – on his own and with the MDC – as well as collabed with some of the coolest name in the scene, including Jean Seizure, lamin and Marian Carmel. Oh, and he's co-written a song for National Day, called For Singapore, along with RINES and Gail Belmonte.So what was that music journey like? How is songwriting helping cope with mental health? And what did LKY have to say about that song dedicated to him?--Recorded in May 2025. "Screen Scars" by K.Mat. "You First Believed", "Needy" & "Cry" by Dominic Chin. "You Do You" by Dominic Chin & lamin. "CLSE2U (Re-License To Cry version)" by Dominic Chin and Jean Seizure. "Here (Re-License To Cry version)" by Dominic Chin and Gail Belmonte.******LINKSDominic Chin: YouTube / Instagram / SpotifyFollow Lion City Rock: Facebook / Instagram What would you like us to talk about? Email us: [email protected], and Kevin wrote a song for National Day too! Listen hereListen: The Lion City Rock PlaylistRead Kevin's Power of Pop Substack / Bizarro WorldRead Chris' Full Sput Ahead! (Substack review)******Like, share and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others discover some good ol' Lion City Rock!

Can you believe that it was 60 years ago when Naomi and The Boys released their megahit, "Happy Happy Birthday Baby"? That same year, the Lion City decided to make its way in the world by itself! Coincidence? Maybe.But to mark SG60, we decided to do what all Singaporeans do best: go makan chicken rice – what else?Oh, and Kevin wrote a song for National Day too! Listen here--"I Love Singapore" performed by The Fast Colors.******LINKSFollow Lion City Rock: Facebook / Instagram What would you like us to talk about? Email us: [email protected]: The Lion City Rock PlaylistRead Kevin's Power of Pop Substack / Bizarro WorldRead Chris' Full Sput Ahead! (Substack review)******Like, share and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others discover some good ol' Lion City Rock!

It's been a long time coming, but we finally did it! We have Leslie Low on the show! Sure, it took us the better part of three years – specifically three years, seven months and 3 days – but hey, who's counting?Leslie one of Singapore's finest songwriters, and if there ever is a Rock 'n' Roll Hall Of Fame for Singapore musicians, he should be in it! So we got him to answer all our crucial questions: How did he get started all those years ago? What did author Don Bosco and Lion City icon Chris Ho do to shape his music journey? And who's going for his gig on 10 Aug, 5pm at the Esplanade Recital Studio? (tickets going fast, don't say we never say - link below) --"Screen Scars" by K,Mat, remixed by Chris. "Jump Back", "Daddy In The Lift" by Leslie Low. "Circling Square" by Humpback Oak. "How's Life" by The Observatory. Special thanks to The Substation for arranging this and to Bad Habits for hosting us. ******LINKSGet tickets for Passing: Leslie Low in ConcertRead Kevin's Power of Pop Substack / Bizarro WorldFollow Lion City Rock: Facebook / Instagram What would you like us to talk about? Email us: [email protected]: The Lion City Rock PlaylistRead Chris' Full Sput Ahead! (Substack review)******Like, share and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others discover some good ol' Lion City Rock!Let us know what you like (or don't like!) so we can improve it. Also, we can do much more if you drop a donation in the link provided. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We appreciate you!

WE'RE BACK! Welcome to the new phase Lion City Rock, which is... pretty much like the old phase Lion City Rock, if we're being honest – but with more sprinkles! We've quite a few things in the pipeline, though, and we're going to do our best to make sure they all come to pass. Just what are they all about? Listen to find out, lah..."Nothing Is Real" and "Screen Scars" by K,Mat; "Finer Life (Cover)" by The Fast Colors. Episode image done by Olly Maguire. ******LINKSGet tickets for Passing: Leslie Low in ConcertFind out about RockoustikaRead Kevin's Power of Pop Substack / Bizarro WorldFollow Lion City Rock: Facebook / Instagram What would you like us to talk about? Email us: [email protected]: The Lion City Rock PlaylistRead Chris' Full Sput Ahead! (Substack review)******Like, share and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others discover some good ol' Lion City Rock!Let us know what you like (or don't like!) so we can improve it. Also, we can do much more if you drop a donation in the link provided. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We appreciate you!

DID YOU KNOW that Leslie Low's music journey kinda sorta began at the same time as one of Singapore's influential arts companies, The Substation? Well, we didn't – until we were asked to support this cool event on 10 Aug, 5pm at the Esplanade Recital Studio.Passing is a lyrical and sonic journey through Leslie's indie-pop and soft rock reflections as an artist growing up, living in, and experiencing Singapore. He has handpicked personal favourites from his solo repertoire, and will be backed by Sean Lam (Concave Scream, Hanging Up the Moon) and Alexius Cai (Piblokto). This is part of The Substation's programme, Gathering Ground 2025, and follows recent collaborations to celebrate the music of Singaporean artists, many of whom began their formative years at the old Substation Garden or Guinness Theatre – including Leslie! Get your tickets from Eventbrite here"Finer Life" performed by The Fast Colors

Was there a better way to spend a Sunday than having your eardrums blasted and your face melted by some of the biggest bands of the 1990s? Well, if you're not into that sorta thing, then yes, probably. But for us at the Lion City Rock pod, Day 2 of the BigO 4-0 show brought the house down as six bands took the stage at The Blackbird! Disko Biscuit, The Oddfellows, Rudra, Astreal, The Pinholes and Opposition Party brought the two-day celebration of BigO magazine's 40th anniversary to a close the only way they knew how - with amps turned up to 11! -*audio quality inherent at sourcePhoto by Opposition Party-"Lion City Rock Theme" performed by Kevin Mathews and Chris Toh. Audio snippets recorded at The Blackbird on 12 & 13 April. Additional recording from Room 526.******LINKSOur Lion City Rock videos with the BigO 4-0 bandsRead Kevin's Digging Up Singapore's Indie Roots on Power of Pop Substack / Bizarro WorldFollow Lion City Rock: Facebook / Instagram What would like us to talk about? Email us: [email protected]: The Lion City Rock PlaylistRead Chris' Full Sput Ahead! (Substack review)******Like, share and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others discover some good ol' Lion City Rock!Let us know what you like (or don't like!) so we can improve it. Also, we can do much more if you drop a donation in the link provided. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We appreciate you!

As crowds throng the spaces to listen to political candidates wax lyrical about how they plan to improve Singapore, the LCR team look back on two days in April when crowds thronged The Blackbird Singapore to listen to veteran indie rockers who came together to wax lyrical about the 40th anniversary of BigO magazine, the pre-eminent champion of local indie music back in the late '80s and throughout the 1990s.What made the grade? What were the big surprises? And who were the candidates - er, sorry, Lion City Rockers - who rocked our boat? There's no commentary about GST, but plenty of talk about GSE!-*audio quality inherent at sourcePhoto by Little Ong-"Lion City Rock Theme" performed by Kevin Mathews and Chris Toh. Audio snippets recorded at The Blackbird on 12 & 13 April.******LINKSRead Kevin's Digging Up Singapore's Indie Roots on Power of Pop Substack / Bizarro WorldFollow Lion City Rock: Facebook / Instagram Email us: [email protected]: The Lion City Rock PlaylistRead Chris' Full Sput Ahead! (Substack review)******Like, share and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others discover some good ol' Lion City Rock!Let us know what you like (or don't like!) so we can improve it. Also, we can do much more if you drop a donation in the link provided. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We appreciate you!-

Where can you go to hear a live band play Steely Dan's "Reelin' In The Years" or the 11-minute opus that is the live version of "Sultans Of Swing", complete with sax solo? Well, The Blackbird at Gillman Barracks, that's where. The Blackbird's resident band, Reverie, plays songs that aren't always on your Spotify Top 10; instead, revelling in dishing out rarer tracks that you don't always hear on Singapore's live music circuit. But Reverie has a bigger stake in The Blackbird than you think: Singer & guitarist Surath helms the venue, while multi-instrumentalist Joanna helps coordinate events held there, including the recent She Shines music event, and BigO's 40th anniversary show. With Blackbird's 2nd birthday coming up, the two of them share the highs and lows of being in a cover band and running a live music venue. -*audio quality inherent at source-"Lion City Rock Theme" performed by Kevin Mathews and Chris Toh. ******LINKSFollow The Blackbird: Instagram Read Kevin's Digging Up Singapore's Indie Roots on Power of Pop Substack / Bizarro WorldFollow Lion City Rock: Facebook / Instagram Email us: [email protected]: The Lion City Rock PlaylistRead Chris' Full Sput Ahead! (Substack review)******Like, share and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others discover some good ol' Lion City Rock!Let us know what you like (or don't like!) so we can improve it. Also, we can do much more if you drop a donation in the link provided. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We appreciate you!-

What a show we have for you! Yes, you and only you! Our featured guests on the podcast are none other than The Oddfellows!They helped spearhead the Singapore indie scene in the late 1980s and have garnered much acclaim and accolades through the years. But what exactly are they doing now?Well, they're part of BigO 4-O: 40 Years Of Counter-Culture, the music fest on 12-13 April at The Blackbird to celebrate BigO Magazine's 40th anniversary.For those who don't know, BigO was the music magazine of the 1990s and the music fest line-up features bands from that era. For this special Lion City Rock episode, The Oddfellows look back at their beginnings and what BigO meant to them.-*audio quality inherent at source-"Lion City Rock Theme" performed by Kevin Mathews and Chris Toh. Excerpts from "Your Smiling Face (1988 version)", "So Happy (live)" and "Silent Worlds" performed by The Oddfellows. "So Happy (DJ C_h_a_o_s Mix)" by DJ DJ C_h_a_o_s******LINKSGet your tickets for BigO 4-O: 40 Years of Counter CultureWatch the other BigO Special interviewsFollow The Oddfellows: Instagram / Facebook / Bandcamp / SpotifyRelated episodes with Patrick Chng: Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4Read Kevin's Digging Up Singapore's Indie Roots on Power of Pop Substack / Bizarro WorldFollow Lion City Rock: Facebook / Instagram Email us: [email protected]: The Lion City Rock PlaylistRead Chris' Full Sput Ahead! (Substack review)******Like, share and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others search for some good ol' Lion City Rock!Let us know what you like (or don't like!) so we can improve it. Also, we can do much more if you drop a donation in the link provided. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We appreciate you!

We're continuing our Lion City Rock x BigO 4-O series for the 40 Years Of Counter-Culture music festival, which will be held on 12-13 April at The Blackbird to celebrate the 40th anniversary of BigO Magazine, one of the cornerstones of Singapore's indie music scene of the 1990s.The line-up features The Mother, Typewriter, Obstacle Upsurge, Force Vomit, Plainsunset, Opposition Party, Disko Biscuit, The Oddfellows, Rudra, The Pinholes, Astreal and our guests for this episode: The Great Spy Experiment!They're probably one of Singapore's best live bands of all time, and in this episode, the band talks about the challenges and opportunities that have shaped them to be who they are.-*audio quality inherent at source--"Lion City Rock Theme" performed by Kevin Mathews and Chris Toh; excerpt from "Unity Song" performed by The Fast Colors. Excerpts from "Siti in the City", "Class 'A' Love Affair", Wasted" and "In The Sun" performed by Great Spy Experiment******LINKSGet your tickets for BigO 4-O: 40 Years of Counter CultureFollow The Great Spy Experiment: Instagram / Facebook / Bandcamp / SpotifyRelated episode: It's Saiful IdrisRead Kevin's Digging Up Singapore's Indie Roots on Power of Pop Substack / Bizarro WorldFollow Lion City Rock: Facebook / Instagram Email us: [email protected]: The Lion City Rock PlaylistRead Chris' Full Sput Ahead! (Substack review)******Like, share and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others search for some good ol' Lion City Rock!Let us know what you like (or don't like!) so we can improve it. Also, we can do much more if you drop a donation in the link provided. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We appreciate you!Read less

It's the first of our Lion City Rock x BigO 4-O episodes for the 40 Years Of Counter-Culture music festival. Happening on 12-13 April at The Blackbird, it's two days of music remembering and celebrating one of the cornerstones of Singapore's indie music scene of the 1990s: BigO Magazine.Bands performing include The Mother, Typewriter, Obstacle Upsurge, Force Vomit, Great Spy Experiment, Plainsunset, Opposition Party, The Oddfellows, Rudra, The Pinholes, Astreal and our guests for this episode: Disko Biscuit!One of Singapore's earliest shoegaze bands, Disko Biscuit, has been returning to the scene in recent years, and in this episode, they talk about their origins, their future and what BigO Magazine means to them.-*audio quality inherent at source--"Lion City Rock Theme" performed by Kevin Mathews and Chris Toh; excerpt from "Unity Song" performed by The Fast Colors. Excerpts from "Guardian Angels", "Circle Jerks", "Ethereal Walk" and "Gelombang Hati Dunia" performed by Disko Biscuit******LINKSGet your tickets for BigO 4-O: 40 Years of Counter CultureFollow Disko Biscuit: Instagram Read Kevin's Digging Up Singapore's Indie Roots on Power of Pop Substack / Bizarro WorldFollow Lion City Rock: Facebook / Instagram Email us: [email protected]: The Lion City Rock PlaylistRead Chris' Full Sput Ahead! (Substack review)******Like, share and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others search for some good ol' Lion City Rock!Let us know what you like (or don't like!) so we can improve it. Also, we can do much more if you drop a donation in the link provided. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We appreciate you!

IT'S FINALLY HERE: Our monumental mega-episode with ASTREAL!As one of the key shoegaze bands here in the Lion City over the past three decades, Astreal has been going through thick and thin, releasing three albums and performing at every major gig you can think of. Ginette Chittick (bass/vocals) and Muhammad Alkhatib (guitars) share the ups and downs of Astreal's musical journey: What was it like for Ginette to join just before the launch of their debut album, which the band had already recorded with another singer? How do they feel about the music scene today? And will it really take 10 years to produce another album? Also: Remember to get your tickets for the BIGO 4-O: 40 Years of Counter Culture festival on 12-13 April, from noon onwards at The Blackbird. Tickets are selling fast so don't say we bojio!--"Lion City Rock Theme" performed by Kevin Mathews and Chris Toh; excerpts from "Snowflake", "Blush Response", "Our Time Is Now", "Colossal" and "June 12" performed by Astreal******LINKSGet your tickets for BigO 4-O: 40 Years of Counter CultureFollow Astreal: Instagram Related episodes: Ginette Was A Punk RockerFollow Lion City Rock: Facebook / Instagram Email us: [email protected]: The Lion City Rock PlaylistRead: Full Sput Ahead! (Substack review)Read Kevin's Power of Pop Substack / Bizarro World******Like, share and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others search for some good ol' Lion City Rock!Let us know what you like (or don't like!) so we can improve it. Also, we can do much more if you drop a donation in the link provided. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We appreciate you!

Happy International Women's Day! To mark the occasion, we're looking back at an album that made a splash back in the day: No Excuse For Sexism. Released in 1998, it was the first album to feature an all-female line-up, with all-female or female-fronted bands: Clothes Peg, Flying Pills, Sideshow Judy, Psycho Sonique and Astreal. How does the album hold up after all these years? Was it an accurate example of what our female indie musicians had to offer? And where are Flying Pills and Clothes Peg today? (No, really - give us a shout if you know)--"Lion City Rock Theme" performed by Kevin Mathews and Chris Toh; excerpts from "No Excuse For Sexism" performed by Clothes Peg, Flying Pills, Sideshow Judy, Psycho Sonique and Astreal******LINKSGet your tickets for No Finer Time To Be AliveGet your tickets for BigO 4-O: 40 Years of Counter CultureRelated episodes: Sideshow Judy's Pauline Chong / Psycho Sonique's Ginette ChittickFollow Lion City Rock: Facebook / Instagram Email us: [email protected]: The Lion City Rock PlaylistRead: Full Sput Ahead! (Substack review)Read Kevin's Power of Pop Substack / Bizarro World******Like, share and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others search for some good ol' Lion City Rock!Let us know what you like (or don't like!) so we can improve it. Also, we can do much more if you drop a donation in the link provided. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We appreciate you!Read less

We're honoured to be part of No Finer Time To Be Alive, a music event on 15 March 2025, 6pm at Vertigo26 where The Substation will kickstart celebrations for its 35th anniversary.To share more about this lively do is the lively duo behind it all, DJ KiDG, aka Robin Chua and award-winning composer Joe Ng. The gig will feature iconic Singaporean music curated and mixed live by KiDG, and you get to journey through Singapore’s music history, with tracks from legends of yesteryear like Zircon Lounge and The Quests to today's musicmakers like Subsonic Eye and more.PLUS: You'll enjoy special cocktails inspired by local indie classics, happy hour drinks all night, and a refreshed menu.Get your tickets on Eventbrite - ticket proceeds support The Substation’s mission to champion independent artists.--Excerpts from "Radio Station" and "So Happy" performed by The Fast Colors; excerpts from "The Return of Mona Koh" performed by Force Vomit; excerpt from "The Girl From Katong" performed by Seranaide******LINKSGet your tickets for No Finer Time To Be AliveFollow The Substation: Instagram Follow Lion City Rock: Facebook / Instagram Email us: [email protected]: The Lion City Rock PlaylistRead: Full Sput Ahead! (Substack review)Read Kevin's Power of Pop Substack / Bizarro World******Like, share and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others search for some good ol' Lion City Rock!Let us know what you like (or don't like!) so we can improve it. Also, we can do much more if you drop a donation in the link provided. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We appreciate you!Read less

We're honoured to be part of No Finer Time To Be Alive, a music event on 15 March 2025, 6pm at Vertigo26 where The Substation will kickstart celebrations for its 35th anniversary.Featuring iconic Singaporean music curated and mixed live by DJ KiDG (Robin Chua), the five-hour non-stop set will take you through Singapore’s music history, with tracks from legends like Zircon Lounge and The Quests to Astreal, Humpback Oak, Plainsunset, Sobs, Subsonic Eye and more.PLUS: You'll enjoy special cocktails inspired by local indie classics, happy hour drinks all night, and a refreshed menu.Get your tickets on Eventbrite - ticket proceeds support The Substation’s mission to champion independent artists.In the meantime, here's our rewind episode from Nov '24, featuring The Substation's Kim and Yuni, as they shared about the Sub's programmes. (PS: audio quality inherent at source)--"Lion City Rock theme" performed by Kevin Mathews & Chris Toh; excerpt from "Finer Life" performed by The Fast Colours******LINKSGet your tickets for No Finer Time To Be AliveFollow The Substation: Instagram Follow Lion City Rock: Facebook / Instagram Email us: [email protected]: The Lion City Rock PlaylistRead: Full Sput Ahead! (Substack review)Read Kevin's Power of Pop Substack / Bizarro World******Like, share and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others search for some good ol' Lion City Rock!Let us know what you like (or don't like!) so we can improve it. Also, we can do much more if you drop a donation in the link provided. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We appreciate you!

It's a tale of Taledrops this week! One of Singapore's freshest bands has been rocking the Lion City with their very own "Drama Rock".In this episode, the female fivesome—Shan, Jingmin, Kiara, Zee, and Pearly—spill the beans on their journey. They reveal what made them form a band, how the name Taledrops came about, who the worst timekeeper in the band is, and when their new EP will be released (like, for real).--"Lion City Rock theme" performed by Kevin Mathews & Chris Toh; excerpts from "Kafka" and "Surrender" performed by Taledrops******LINKSFollow Taledrops: Instagram / YouTube / Bandcamp / Spotify Follow Lion City Rock: Facebook / Instagram Email us: [email protected]: The Lion City Rock PlaylistRead: Full Sput Ahead! (Substack review)Read Kevin's Power of Pop Substack / Bizarro World******Like, share and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others search for some good ol' Lion City Rock!Let us know what you like (or don't like!) so we can improve it. Also, we can do much more if you drop a donation in the link provided. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We appreciate you!

We travel back to 1998 to see, or rather, hear, what happened on 15 December of that year at the Green Room, a studio run by veteran Lion City Rocker Tony Goh. The result was an album recorded live and distributed by BigO magazine, featuring music by four young bands: Electric Co. (later to evolve into Electrico), Shereene's Closet, Steel Blue Skies (started by Lilac Saint's guitarist Bhaskar), and Satellite Blue (a trio with a lead violin!). Along the way, Kevin and Chris also ponder crowdkiller behaviour at gigs, who Parousia and Elmo are, and what it will take to get the Lion City Rocker Substack off the ground?--"Lion City Rock theme" performed by Kevin Mathews & Chris Toh; excerpts from "Live At The Green Room" performed by Electric Co., Shereene's Closet, Steel Blue Skies & Satellite Blue; "Never Liked The Beatles" performed by Popland******LINKSListen: Live At The Green Room on YouTube Follow Lion City Rock: Facebook / Instagram Email us: [email protected]: The Lion City Rock PlaylistRead: Full Sput Ahead! (Substack review)Read Kevin's Power of Pop Substack / Bizarro World******Like, share and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others search for some good ol' Lion City Rock!Let us know what you like (or don't like!) so we can improve it. Also, we can do much more if you drop a donation in the link provided. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We appreciate you!Read less

Friend Of The Pod Sanny Velloo is back to share more of his continuing journey as a solo musician. Fresh from launching his latest single, "A Brighter Tomorrow", Sanny shares what it has been like going solo, what his new album is about, and the chances of becoming the world's only Rock 'n' Roll Guru!*This episode was recorded in Dec 2024Feel free to contact Lion City Rock, give us a shout on our social media, or even email us using the links below.--"Lion City Rock theme" performed by Kevin Mathews & Chris Toh; excerpts from "Warning Signs (live version)", "A Brighter Tomorrow" and "I Don't Believe The Truth (acoustic version)" performed by Sanny Veloo; excerpt from "The Return of Spring" performed by The Quests******LINKSFollow Sanny Veloo: Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / WebsiteFollow Lion City Rock: Facebook / Instagram Email us: [email protected]: The Lion City Rock PlaylistRead: Full Sput Ahead! (Bellied Star review)Read: Power of Pop Substack******Like, share and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others search for some good ol' Lion City Rock!Let us know what you like (or don't like!) so we can improve it. Also, we can do much more if you drop a donation in the link provided. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We appreciate you!

It's our AAR episode! And then some! In 2024, we had over 2,000 downloads from more than 40 countries! That's not something we thought we'd ever achieve and we don't take it lightly! Thank you listeners for making it all worthwhile!But we aren't just patting ourselves on the back for a job well done in 2024. We're also on the lookout for new ideas, topics, and music to feature in 2025 on the only podcast about Singapore's pop music scene you'll ever need. Feel free to contact us, give us a shout on our social media, or even email us using the links below.--"Lion City Rock theme" performed by Kevin Mathews & Chris Toh; excerpts from "Tear Down These Walls" and "Nova" performed by AWOL.******LINKSFollow Lion City Rock: Facebook / Instagram Email us: [email protected]: The Lion City Rock PlaylistRead: Full Sput Ahead! (Bellied Star review)Read: Power of Pop Substack******Like, share and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others search for some good ol' Lion City Rock!Let us know what you like (or don't like!) so we can improve it. Also, we can do much more if you drop a donation in the link provided. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We appreciate you!

Oh, what a year it has been! As we say goodbye to 2024, we thought we'd reflect on the year with our top five fave moments on the pod. Unsurprisingly - or perhaps, surprisingly - Chris and Kevin had four same items out of the five on their list. But what was the different one?PLUS! A special appearance by Shye!PLUS PLUS! Our wishes for 2025!--"Lion City Rock theme" performed by Kevin Mathews & Chris Toh; excerpts of "The Sun Will Cry" performed by Shye; excerpts from "If You Mind" performed by Bellied Star; excerpt from "Shanty" performed by The Quests; excerpt from "Auld Lang Syne" performed by Chris Toh.******LINKSFollow Shye:  Instagram / YouTubeFollow Lion City Rock: Facebook / Instagram Email us: [email protected]: The Lion City Rock PlaylistRead: Full Sput Ahead! (Bellied Star review)Read: Power of Pop SubstackRelated episodes:Rising Star: Shye******Like, share and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others search for some good ol' Lion City Rock!Let us know what you like (or don't like!) so we can improve it. Also, we can do much more if you drop a donation in the link provided. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We appreciate you!

You know it's a fun day when Friend of the Pod Isaac Chiew returns to share more thoughts about the Lion City's music scene.How have his experiences working with record labels and youth organisations shaped his mindset? Which Lion City Rockers rock his boat? And when will his band, Cactus Cactus, drop their new album?The answers to all this and more are right here! In this episode! Really!--"Lion City Rock theme" performed by Kevin Mathews & Chris Toh; excerpts of "Cloud City", "Hammer" & "Life Is Short, Be Kind To Yourself", performed by Cactus Cactus.******LINKSFollow Isaac: Instagram / FacebookFollow Cactus Cactus:  Instagram / YouTubeGet tickets for Big Duck's Grrrls! To The FrontFollow Lion City Rock: Facebook / Instagram Drop us a line: [email protected]: The Lion City Rock PlaylistRead: Full Sput Ahead! (Bellied Star review)Read: Power of Pop SubstackRelated episodes:Powering Passion with Isaac Chiew******Like, share and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others search for some good ol' Lion City Rock!Let us know what you like (or don't like!) so we can improve it. Also, we can do much more if you drop a donation in the link provided. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We appreciate you!

We’re so happy to have friend of the pod Patrick Chng, back for another episode!This time, the Oddfather of Singapore Indie Music spills the beans about his new journey into the world busking in the Lion City. What does it take to be a busker in Singapore? Where are all the hot busking spots? And is it really true that all buskers MUST learn to play John Denver’s ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’?--"Lion City Rock theme" performed by Kevin Mathews & Chris Toh; excerpts of "Unity Song" & "Two Trains", performed by The Oddfellows. "Senseless"  performed by AWOL******LINKSFollow The Oddfellows: Instagram / YouTubeGet tickets for Sanny Veloo's show featuring The Oddfellows, and other guestsFollow Lion City Rock: Facebook / Instagram Drop us a line: [email protected]: The Lion City Rock PlaylistRead: Full Sput Ahead! (Bellied Star review)Read: Power of Pop SubstackRelated episodes:30 Years Of Teenage Head Part 1 | Part 2The Long and Winding Chat with Pat Chng******Like, share and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others search for some good ol' Lion City Rock!Let us know what you like (or don't like!) so we can improve it. Also, we can do much more if you drop a donation in the link provided. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We appreciate you!

It's punk rock like you've never heard it before! With fans from all over the region, power trio Iman's League have been rocking the stage with their high-energy performances and ballsy bangers. Iman, Bat and Lal got on the pod to share their thoughts about the best and worst gigs, what peeves them most, and where Iman's League will be in 2025! (Europe, anyone?)--"Lion City Rock theme" performed by Kevin Mathews & Chris Toh; excerpts of "Hati", "Lisa", "Forever In 7th" and "Hey Hey Hey" performed by Iman's League******LINKSFollow Iman's League: Instagram / FacebookListen to Iman's League: Bandcamp / Spotify Follow Lion City Rock: Facebook / Instagram Drop us a line: [email protected]: The Lion City Rock PlaylistRead: Full Sput Ahead! (Bellied Star review)Read: Power of Pop SubstackListen: Kevin Mathews' musicCheck out our related episodes:1960s Icon: Henry Chua of The QuestsOG Teen Idols of SG: The CrescendosRemembering Naomi & The Boys******Like, share and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others search for some good ol' Lion City Rock!Let us know what you like (or don't like!) so we can improve it. Also, we can do much more if you drop a donation in the link provided. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We appreciate you!

IT'S ANOTHER BUMPER EPISODE!Lion City Rock legends Henry Chua and Wee Guan tell us the story of "Shanty", the song that changed the Singapore music landscape. Written by Henry and recorded by The Quests, it was released in Oct 1964 and became the first original composition by a Singapore band to reach No.1 – for 12 weeks! – knocking off The Beatles along the way. Sixty years later, you can still find people covering the song. So what do they really think of the song now? How did fame change the band? Why couldn't they go bowling anymore? What made Hong Kong audiences boo them at first? And why were the military police chasing them all over Malaysia? All the answers to these questions and more in this episode!--"Lion City Rock theme" performed by Kevin Mathews & Chris Toh; excerpts of "Shanty", "Gallopin'" and "Memories" performed by The Quests; excerpt from "Shake, Shake, Shake" performed by Rita Chao and The Quests******LINKSFollow Lion City Rock: Facebook / Instagram Drop us a line: [email protected]: The Lion City Rock PlaylistRead: Full Sput Ahead! (Chris' Bellied Star review)Read: Power of Pop SubstackListen: Kevin Mathews' musicCheck out our related episodes:1960s Icon: Henry Chua of The QuestsOG Teen Idols of SG: The CrescendosRemembering Naomi & The Boys******Like, share and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others search for some good ol' Lion City Rock!Let us know what you like (or don't like!) so we can improve it. Also, we can do much more if you drop a donation in the link provided. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We appreciate you!

It's Part 2 of 60 years of maximum rock and roll!In July, The Beatles caused a minor riot as 3,000 teens flock to the airport to see the Fab Four's... plane. In Oct 1964, The Quests reached #1 with "Shanty", knocking The Beatles off the top spot! That same month, local and international bands took part in a charity concert, called the 8.30 Special, for the benefit of the victims and their families of the race riots that occurred in July and Sept that year. As the year comes to a close, the future looks bright for the local music scene, with bands and singers like The Checkmates, Shirley Nair, The Silver Strings, The Cyclones, Andy Young, The Trailers, The Thunderbirds, Veronica Young, Naomi and The Boys, Vernon Cornelius making headway. --"Lion City Rock theme" performed by Kevin Mathews & Chris Toh; excerpts of "The Boy Next Door" performed by The Crescendos; "Shanty" , "Gallopin'" and "A World Of Tomorrows" excerpts performed by The Quests******LINKSFollow Lion City Rock: Facebook / Instagram Drop us a line: [email protected] out our related episodes:1965 - The Year That Rocked: Part 1 / Part 2OG Teen Idols of SG: The Crescendos1960s Icon: Henry Chua of The QuestsRemembering Naomi & The BoysSelling The Dream: Richard Khan of October CherriesLast Dog Standing: Lim Kiang of StraydogsListen: The Lion City Rock PlaylistRead: Full Sput Ahead! (Chris' Substack review)Read: Power of Pop SubstackListen: Kevin Mathews' music******Like, share and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others search for some good ol' Lion City Rock!Let us know what you like (or don't like!) so we can improve it. Also, we can do much more if you drop a donation in the link provided. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We appreciate you!

Can you imagine when Singapore wasn't Singapore, but Malaysia? We can't – but luckily, we read history books. In 1964, the Lion City hadn't achieved independence. The geo-political and socio-economic landscapes were still on shaky ground. But the pop scene was already making inroads. The Crescendos were consolidating their position as the top vocal group in the region, while The Quests were only months away from unleashing their magnum opus, "Shanty". Meanwhile, the clubs and tea dances were filled with teens wanting to hear musicians like Wilson David, The Checkmates, Julie Sudiro, The Cyclones, The Silver Strings, Shirley Nair, Veronica Young, The Trailers, The Boys and more belt out the latest hits. Find out more as we revisit 1964 to celebrate 60 years of maximum rock and roll!--"Lion City Rock theme" performed by Kevin Mathews & Chris Toh; excerpts of "Waktu Fajar", "Bengawan Solo" and "In The Good Old Summertime" performed by The Crescendos; "Shanty (1966 version)" excerpt performed by The Quests; "The Dew" performed by The Fast Colors******LINKSFollow Lion City Rock: Facebook / Instagram Drop us a line: [email protected] out our episode on 1965: Part 1 / Part 2Listen: The Lion City Rock PlaylistRead: Full Sput Ahead! (Chris' Substack review)Read: Power of Pop SubstackListen: Kevin Mathews' music******Like, share and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others search for some good ol' Lion City Rock!Let us know what you like (or don't like!) so we can improve it. Also, we can do much more if you drop a donation in the link provided. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We appreciate you!

"It's a new dawn comin' round..." And she's right here on our podcast!Our guests are Dawn Parry, host and presenter on newdawn.fm, and Joe Eades, the A&R Coordinator of Jukebox Judgement, a show where some of the top producers in the world give their reviews about new music from around the world.Back in February, Singapore was the first Southeast Asian country they featured on Jukebox Judgement and they're all set for the next batch of Lion City rockers (episode drops 1 Nov, 3pm SG time).They both share what they like about the sweet sounds of Singapore, among other things, like...... how Dawn's mum was a bonafide pop star here in SG back in the 1960s... who The Killers' producer Craig Leon's fave Lion City rockers are... and what makes a pop song pop? (clue: it's all in the first 30 seconds)*recorded 09 Oct '24The second Jukebox Judgement featuring Singapore on 1 Nov, 3pm (SGT)--"Lion City Rock theme" performed by Kevin Mathews & Chris Toh; "Someday" and "Silent Voices" performed by AWOL; "The First" performed by Ultra Mega Cat Attack; "Blood On The Disco Floor" performed by Intermission; "If You Mind" performed by Bellied Star; "Camera" performed by ChippunksRecording from Molly Malone's courtesy of Tommy Dean******LINKSFollow newdawn.fm: Facebook, websiteJukebox Judgement SG episode 2 on newdawn.fmFollow Lion City Rock Facebook / Instagram Listen: The Lion City Rock PlaylistRead: Full Sput Ahead! (Chris' Substack review)Read: Power of Pop SubstackListen: Kevin Mathews' music******Like, share and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others search for some good ol' Lion City Rock!Let us know what you like (or don't like!) so we can improve it. Also, we can do much more if you drop a donation in the link provided. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We appreciate you!

Back in the 1990s, The Substation was The Place To Be for many musicians, artists, actors, filmmakers, performers and well, just about anyone who was into the arts. But while the building may be gone, it's thanks to people like Yuni Hadi and Kim Dy-Liacco who ensure that The Substation is still A Home For The Arts.They share what The Substation is up to and how they continue championing artists in the Lion City and offer tips on what artists can do (psst: just drop them a DM, apparently)Psst! Look out for our Lion City Rock x Substation giveaway next month!"Merry-Go-Round" by Ilona Harpaz; "Lion City Rock theme" performed by Kevin Mathews & Chris Toh; "Someday", "Still Building" and "Silent Voices" performed by AWOL******LINKSFollow The Substation: Facebook, website & InstagramFind out more about Gathering Ground Listen: The Lion City Rock PlaylistRead: Full Sput Ahead! (Chris' Substack review)Read: Power of Pop SubstackFollow Lion City Rock Facebook / Instagram Listen: Kevin Mathews' music******Like, share and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others search for some good ol' Lion City Rock!Let us know what you like (or don't like!) so we can improve it. Also, we can do much more if you drop a donation in the link provided. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We appreciate you!

How can young musicians develop their brand? Should we follow what's trending in the music scene? What does it mean to "make it" as a musician? Find out the answers to these questions and more with our guest, Club Mild guitarist Tan Peng Sing.Peng Sing has worn many musical hats – not only is he a musician and a champion of local music, he was the music director on radio, the founder of the record label Where Are The Fruits, and now, if we read his LinkedIn profile right, he's the Senior Manager, Performing Arts (Music) at the National Arts Council. So he knows a thing or two about the music biz.It's an episode you don't want to miss! (and you'll want to share this with your friends too!)******LINKSFollow Club Mild: linktree, website & InstagramFollow Peng SengListen: The Lion City Rock PlaylistFull Sput Ahead! (Substack review by Chris)Power of Pop SubstackFollow Lion City Rock Facebook / Instagram Listen: Kevin Mathews' music******Like, share and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others search for some good ol' Lion City Rock!Let us know what you like (or don't like!) so we can improve it. Also, we can do much more if you drop a donation in the link provided. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We appreciate you!

We're sorry this is so late. The past few weeks have been strange at the Lion City Rock pod. But we're back with this new episode featuring a chat with young singer-songwriter, Benny's.A true music fan, Benny's wears her musical heart on her sleeve and her songs reflect her thoughts about life, the universe, and well, just about everything.Benny's attracted attention sometime back when concertgoers took to social media after her performance at the Esplanade was interrupted by an unexpected guest. Since that incident though, she has been quietly putting together a new swathe of songs which hopefully will be out soon! (Well, she said September, but she also admitted that her timelines were quite fluid. We wait with bated breath.)*recorded end-May 2024 ******LINKSBenny's IGThe Lion City Rock PlaylistFull Sput Ahead! (review by Chris)Power of Pop SubstackFollow Lion City Rock Facebook / Instagram Listen to Kevin Mathews' music******Like, follow and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others search for some good ol' Lion City Rock!Let us know what you like (or don't like!) so we can improve it. Also, we can do much more if you drop a donation in the link provided. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We appreciate you!

It's the return of Leo! Yup, Leonard Soosay is back! This time, he's joined by Josh Wei to talk more about their plans for 'Weed - Tumbleweed Studios, that is.The pair started Tumbleweed (conveniently located at The Esplanade) because they felt younger musicians needed a conveniently located jamming studio that's also affordable. And did we say it's conveniently located?*recorded at Tumbleweed Studios in June**also, check out our Lion City Rock playlist, which we want to be an introduction to the wide world of pop music from and made in Singapore –and tell us what other tracks we should add to the list***also also, check out Chris' review of Bellied Star's debut album, Sput (warning: much gushing to be expected)******LINKSLeonard Soosay episodeThe Lion City Rock PlaylistFull Sput Ahead! (review by Chris)Power of Pop SubstackFollow Lion City Rock Facebook / Instagram Listen to Kevin Mathews' music******Like, follow and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others search for some good ol' Lion City Rock!Let us know what you like (or don't like!) so we can improve it. Also, we can do much more if you drop a donation in the link provided. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We appreciate you!

Chris and Kevin took time to catch up in this episode where they talk about the LCR schedule, money money money, our guitar-toting PM, Chris' new anime fetish – Bocchi The Rock!, and Kevin stacking up his Substack. They prattled on for so long we just had to cut it sho-******LINKSThe Lion City Rock PlaylistPower of Pop Substack Bocchi The Rock! trailer 1/ trailer 2Bellied Star SpotifyFollow Lion City Rock Facebook / Instagram Listen to Kevin Mathews' music******Like, follow and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others search for some good ol' Lion City Rock!Let us know what you like (or don't like!) so we can improve it. Also, we can do much more if you drop a donation in the link provided. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We appreciate you!

It's all about Star power! Bellied Star, that is. Young rockers Audrey, Ethan, Marco and Mitch have been making a splash on the scene in the last 18 months with their exuberant rock and energetic live performances. With their debut album, SPUT, just out, Bellied Star is keeping the Lion City rockin' with songs like 'Skinning', 'If You Mind' and 'Perpetual Notion'.Hot take: If Bellied Star is the future of Singapore rock, we're in good hands.*recorded May 2024******LINKSGet tickets for Bellied Star's album launch BandcampInstagramTikTokSpotifyFollow Lion City Rock Facebook / Instagram Listen to Kevin Mathews' music******Like, follow and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others search for some good ol' Lion City Rock!Let us know what you like (or don't like!) so we can improve it. Also, we can do much more if you drop a donation in the link provided. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We appreciate you!

We're a few weeks late with this one, but hey, that's Life. Our guest is returning friend of the pod, Art Fazil, who's back to share more about what's been happening in his life, the Ramadan Moon album he recorded earlier this year, and what it takes for the Singapore scene to get off the ground. Again.*this episode was recorded mid-May******LINKSArt FazilFollow Lion City Rock Facebook / Instagram Listen to Kevin Mathews' music******Like, follow and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others search for some good ol' Lion City Rock!Let us know what you like (or don't like!) so we can improve it. Also, we can do much more if you drop a donation in the link provided. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We appreciate you!

Orchard Road – Singapore's most famous road! – is more than just a shopping belt. Back in the 1960s, it was the home of tea dance venues like the famous Golden Venus. In the 1980s, shopping malls like Far East Plaza and Centrepoint were hubs for scores of teens. And for four years running, Orchard Road was the site of Singapore's biggest street party, Swing Singapore!Those are the stories we know. But there's more to this stretch of Singapore than meets the eye.In this special episode – in conjunction with Singapore HeritageFest 2024 – we join guests Shaiful Risan, Li Lin Wee and KK Liew to learn more stories and recollections of Orchard Road, from breakdance battles in car parks to David Bowie's escalator escapade!Special thanks to the Singapore HeritageFest 2024 and KK Liew for arranging this! We appreciate you!******LINKSShaiful RisanLi Lin WeeKK LiewSingapore HeritageFest 2024Follow Lion City Rock Facebook / Instagram Listen to Kevin Mathews' music******Like, follow and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others search for some good ol' Lion City Rock!Let us know what you like (or don't like!) so we can improve it. Also, we can do much more if you drop a donation in the link provided. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We appreciate you!

When The Observatory's debut album, Time Of Rebirth, was released in 2004, it was an eye-opening (ear-opening?) experience for listeners. Filled with rhythms and grooves, along with a smattering of the experimentation that the band would go on to do, it was lauded by critics. It was even picked as an album of the year by the media - well, one media outlet. But now, 20 years later, does the album stand up to the test of time? Kevin and Chris share their observations about this classic Observatory offering.*Recorded in March 2024.******LINKSShazza's musicShazza's vidsFollow Shazza and check out her gigsFollow Lion City Rock Facebook / Instagram Listen to Kevin Mathews' music******Like, follow and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others search for some good ol' Lion City Rock!We're looking for ways to improve our podcast. Let us know what you like (or don't like!) so we can make it better. Also, if you drop a donation in the link provided we can do much more. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We really appreciate you!

Who's that girl who blew up the Internet singing with Crash Adams? Why, that's Shazza, our Lion City Rock guest today!The singer has been making waves in recent times, and she shares all about her music journey so far: dropping her debut album last year, appearing on the Times Square billboard, and getting more than 20mil views online for her collab with Crash Adams.And to think the only questions we prepared were "what's your preferred breakfast?" and "what's your favourite colour?"******LINKSShazza's musicShazza's vidsFollow Shazza and check out her gigsFollow Lion City Rock Facebook / Instagram Listen to Kevin Mathews' music******Like, follow and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others search for some good ol' Lion City Rock!We're looking for ways to improve our podcast. Let us know what you like (or don't like!) so we can make it better. Also, if you drop a donation in the link provided we can do much more. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We really appreciate you!

Anthropologist and author of Sonic City Steve Ferzacca joins us this week to talk about his book and why a Canadian academic (that's Steve, btw) ended up writing about the Singapore music scene. Along the way, he shares his memories of the late Jimmy Appudurai-Chua; gigging with a Straydog in Vietnam; and what money has to do with making music and getting it heard (apparently, a lot!)******LINKSGet Sonic City: Making Rock Music And Urban Life In SingaporeBorrow the bookChatting with Straydogs' Lim KiangOur tribute to Jimmy Appudurai-Chua episodeFollow Lion City Rock Facebook / Instagram Listen to Kevin Mathews' music******Like, follow and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others search for some good ol' Lion City Rock!We're looking for ways to improve our podcast. Let us know what you like (or don't like!) so we can make it better. Also, if you drop a donation in the link provided we can do much more. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We really appreciate you!

Everything is Coming Up Roses this week! The band have been busy over the past 12 months: they released a single, 'Utopia Reimagined: These Corners', saw personnel changes, did several gigs to hone their chops, and put together a new eponymous EP, which will drop on 5 April (or has dropped already, depending on when you hear this!). Singer and bassist Emily and guitarist Darius break down the new songs and share what else is coming up on their horizon.******LINKSListen to Coming Up RosesFollow Coming Up Roses: IG / TikTokConversations with Coming Up Roses (2022)Coming Up Roses at Alex Blake Charlie (2023)Follow Lion City Rock Facebook / Instagram Listen to Kevin Mathews' music******Like, follow and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others search for some good ol' Lion City Rock!We're looking for ways to improve our podcast. Let us know what you like (or don't like!) so we can make it better. Also, if you drop a donation in the link provided we can do much more. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We really appreciate you!

Back in 1994, Padres, a Singapore indie band - or you could call them a supergroup - released their debut EP, What's Your Story? It was a collection of thoughts about life and love and everything else the youth of Singapore were going through - but with electric guitars, bass and drums. But who were Padres? And what's their story? Only one way to find out...******LINKSListen to Padres' What's Your Story & moreConversations with Joe Ng (Pt 1)Conversations with Joe Ng (Pt 2)Follow Lion City Rock Facebook / Instagram Listen to Kevin Mathews' musicListen to KayMac MusicListen to Rondo Vitale******Like, follow and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others search for some good ol' Lion City Rock!We're looking for ways to improve our podcast. Let us know what you like (or don't like!) to that we can make it a better one. Also, if you drop a donation in the link provided we can do so much more. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We really appreciate you!

Best known as an actor and theatre practitioner, Lim Yu Beng embarking on a new journey as a singer He chats about his debut album, Notes To Self and why he's made the leap into the world of music. Along the way, he also talks about...Why having good friends who support you is importantAppearing in Zack Synder's Rebel MoonHow not to get caught while singing in the stairwellsPLUS! Lim Yu Beng's Music Recommendations: Art FazilAlemay FernandezHaneri******LINKSListen to Lim Yu Beng’s Notes To SelfFollow Lim Yu Beng: Instagram / Website Follow Lion City Rock Facebook / Instagram Listen to Kevin Mathews' musicListen to KayMac MusicListen to Rondo Vitale******Like, follow and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others search for some good ol' Lion City Rock!We're looking for ways to improve our podcast. Let us know what you like (or don't like!) to that we can make it a better one. Also, if you drop a donation in the link provided we can do so much more. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We really appreciate you!

It's a new year and a new series! Kevin and Chris are back with more about what makes the Lion City rock. Recently, there were several entries in the All Things New concert series that emphasised musicians playing original music. But why does it matter? What kind of music do audiences expect? And why is it only seen for music gigs and not others, such as stand-up comedy?PLUS! Lion City Rock Recommendation: Lim Yu Beng’s Notes To Self ******LINKSFollow Lion City Rock's Facebook and Instagram Listen to Kevin Mathews' musicListen to KayMac MusicListen to Rondo Vitale******Like, follow and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others search for some good ol' Lion City Rock!We're looking for ways to improve our podcast. Let us know what you like (or don't like!) to that we can make it a better one. Also, if you drop a donation in the link provided we can do so much more. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We really appreciate you!

Goodbye '23, Hello '24! It's the end of the year as we know it, and we feel... well, this is the episode where we tell you what we thought of 2023. Thanks for making this year such a memorable one!******LINKSFollow Lion City Rock Facebook and Instagram Listen to 4Christmas and Kevin Mathews' musicListen to KayMac MusicListen to Rondo Vitale******Like, follow and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others search for some good ol' Lion City Rock!We're looking for ways to improve our podcast. Let us know what you like (or don't like!) to that we can make it a better one. Also, if you drop a donation in the link provided we can do so much more. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We really appreciate you!

It's Christmas, baby! And guess who we have as our Lion City Rock holiday guest? It's RINES, baby! This singer started spreading her wings in recent times with releases like 'Little Bird', 'When You Fall' and 'Clown', but the relative newcomer is an ol' sweet soul when it comes to music. She was bitten by the music bug years and years ago, running around her father's CD shop when she was young. By the time she started singing in pubs, RINES had already imbued a variety of musical styles - and her music reflects her many facets. She's definitely one to put on your playlist before the year is out!******LINKSFollow RINESListen to RINES' musicListen to 4Christmas and Kevin Mathews' musicListen to KayMac MusicListen to Rondo Vitale******Like, follow and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others search for some good ol' Lion City Rock!We're looking for ways to improve our podcast. Let us know what you like or don't like by leaving a comment on the Lion City Rock Facebook and Instagram pages.Also, if you drop a donation in the link provided we can get better equipment and do so much more! It doesn't have to be much. Thank you very much for all your support! We really appreciate you!

From her early days as the lead singer of Allura to a fruitful solo career, Inch Chua hasn't been afraid to shake things up - whether as a musician, an actor, or even a chef (who else would name a dish Sting Tang Tong?). She shares her thoughts about her journey as a creative, what it means to be part of a scene going through its peaks and troughs, and why she has so many things on her metaphorical plate at the moment.(Please excuse the audio quality. This chat was recorded backstage at the Axean Music Festival, and we had lo-fi recorders. Of course, you can always donate to our pod so that we can get better equipment to do these chats! See the link below)******LINKSFollow InchListen to Inch's musicListen to 4Christmas and Kevin Mathews' musicListen to KayMac MusicListen to Rondo Vitale******Like, follow and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others search for some good ol' Lion City Rock!We're looking for ways to improve our podcast. Let us know what you like or don't like by leaving a comment on the Lion City Rock Facebook and Instagram pages.Also, if you drop a donation in the link provided we can get better equipment and do so much more! It doesn't have to be much. Thank you very much for all your support! We really appreciate you!

Jean Seizure has been in the public eye as a child actor, but since has since become one of Singapore's notable singer-songwriters! 2023 has been quite the year for Jean - she recently capped of the year with an award for being one in the Top 5 "Rising 65" chart on Spotify (for the track 'Tell Me'), and she has been creating content for platforms like TikTok et al. Is this a new wave for Jean Seizure? Listen to the episode to find out!******LINKSFollow Jean SeizureListen to Jean Seizure's musicListen to 4Christmas and Kevin Mathews' musicListen to KayMac MusicListen to Rondo Vitale******Like, follow and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others search for some good ol' Lion City Rock!We're looking for ways to improve our podcast. Let us know what you like or don't like by leaving a comment on the Lion City Rock Facebook and Instagram pages.Also, if you drop a donation in the link provided we can get better equipment and do so much more! It doesn't have to be much. Thank you very much for all your support! We really appreciate you!