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Note: If you’ve stumbled onto this post without any context, do read Pt. 1 here first! It is said that the average person’s music taste starts to solidify early on in their adult lives, and by their early 30s they will begin to say things like “Music was better in my day”, “>insert your favourite artist or genre< is not real music”, something to that effect. Of course, I am speaking generally. With four more years to go till I hit 30, I’d like to think I try to expand my tastes on the regular. Thus, I’ve decided to look at some of the music I’ve been listening to in my 20s, both artists and genres. PORTER ROBINSON I first came across this American electronic musician through YouTube’s recommendation of the music video for Lionhearted off his 2014 album Worlds around the time it was released. I remember not liking it much on first listen, because I was an edgy teen who thought that listening to big room meant I was cooler than kids listening to anything pop-adjacent (I wonder how different my impression would have been had I been exposed to his earliest works first). The YouTube algorithm (bless whatever sorcery it runs on) continued to supply me with songs like Sad Machine and Divinity, and soon I came to like Worlds. In 2015, I decided to buy my first (and only) vinyl after finishing my GCE O Levels, and my choices were between Worlds, Zedd’s True Colors and my eventual choice, Stories by Avicii. For the rest of the 2010s, Robinson released sporadically as he grappled with expectations of a follow-up to Worlds, which left quite an impression on the genre. 2016’s Shelter, a collaboration with French electronic musician and good friend Madeon, became one of his most beloved songs, and his side project Virtual Self picked up a Grammy nomination for the song Ghost Voices off the self-titled 2017 EP (which inspired a then-pop-leaning Calvin Harris to go back to electronic music). Then in 2020, the first song off Robinson’s long-awaited second album Nurture dropped. I couldn’t articulate it at the time, but I could feel that Get Your Wish was the start of something different. It felt hopeful, a much-needed sentiment right as COVID-19 started to wreak havoc on the world. The singles that followed for the rest of the pandemic, the shows that were live streamed, and of course the album itself further solidified Robinson’s influence on electronic music. I am glad to say that this was when he turned from merely a musician whose work I liked to a musical hero, and that he’s the first musician I’ve watched live more than once. Try these: Language, Everything Goes On, Mona Lisa (feat. Frost Children) VOCALOID I can’t remember exactly how I was introduced to this iconic Hatsune Miku song in 2012. I just know that while it wasn’t life-changing like that Justin Bieber song, it unwittingly stayed in my life. I went in and out of the Vocaloid subculture over the years, and only a couple of years ago did I finally dive deep into the rabbit hole without resurfacing. Someone who has never heard of Vocaloids may be introduced to them as “AI singers”, but that’s quite reductionist. Sure, newer versions feature the use of AI to further enhance the expressiveness of a vocal performance, but Vocaloid is the most well-known vocal synthesis software that draws upon voice banks, collections of audio samples recorded by actual people, to create melodic sounds that give off the impression of singing or even rapping. Any music that makes use of such software in the production process falls under Vocaloid music, even if the software isn’t Vocaloid itself. One might ask if there is any point using Vocaloids when you could just have an actual human sing. Beyond the consideration that is cost for beginners (paying a human singer per session vs a one-time payment for a version of Vocaloid that can theoretically be used forever), some Vocaloid producers (some of whom have gone on to work with or become major Japanese acts) and fans feel that it is this inherent difference that makes the music unique. With the voice synthesisers being the common thread, anyone can make any genre of music using these voices, from J-rock and metal to electro swing and whatever this is. But what about the artistry? Finding a good vocal melody and tuning the voices to either sound realistic or otherwise are things that require human effort. The only difference is that the voice simply becomes an instrument (not unlike in the way that Kanye West has done in much of his work, but digitally) that still requires skill to play. Having dabbled a little with rival software SynthV myself, I would even argue that it can be a pain to get the synth to “sing” when I could just sing myself. And we haven’t even talked about the rest of the composition, let alone mixing and mastering. Current listens: Sheeno Mirin, Nightcord at 25:00, higma BRAKENCE When I first listened to Intellectual Greed through my Spotify Discover Weekly playlist, I had no inkling that another album could join Porter Robinson’s Nurture as my favourite. I’ve talked about how hypochondriac, brakence’s sophomore full-length effort, could’ve been my MCF username, but what exactly about it makes it so special in my heart? It’s probably a mix of two things. One, the high level of skill in the production. Often lumped together with hyperpop artists (who I expand on below), brakence makes use of sound design like a surrealist painter, taking everything from his baritone voice to stock samples and injecting them into a “hyper-real” blend of pop, rock and electronic music. The other aspect would be the lyrics. While some have deemed brakence’s writing juvenile and self-indulgent at best, others like myself see a beautifully-crafted introspection of a young person struggling with the cognizance of being famous and the issues that come with it, like ego and addiction, and expressing it in such a manner that you can’t help but applaud brakence’s earnesty, if nothing else. These elements have been consistent since his debut EP hypnagogia, and the development he’s had up till now makes me excited for what’s to come. Try these: 5G, A La Carte (together with Quadeca), sauceintherough HYPERPOP “Isn’t pop already hyper as it is, singing about being young, wild and free as teens do?” one might say. Perhaps, but hyperpop takes this to the extreme. The core tenets of pop music like catchy choruses and drawing from other genres are present, but hyperpop is not afraid to offend through its extensive use of digital audio manipulation, disregarding the need to create “safe” listens catered to the masses. From A. G. Cook (whose record label PC Music arguably gave birth to the microgenre) to Charli XCX (who worked with Cook to produce her Grammy-winning 2024 album Brat), hyperpop could be considered less of a genre and more of a movement that captures the zeitgeist of a generation more aware of the diversity of the world around them and embracing it through music. Current listens: ericdoa, Jaron, underscores FRED AGAIN… The British producer might have aristocratic blood flowing in his veins and had opportunities many can only dream of, but his musical prowess speaks for itself. I started getting into his discography early in 2023 after seeing his name around electronic music circles. Listening to his Actual Life album trilogy and watching his Boiler Room and Tiny Desk sets made me understand his meteoric rise that culminated in closing Coachella 2023 with industry legends Skrillex and Four Tet (courtesy of Frank Ocean). Try these: Billie (Loving Arms), stayinit (with Lil Yatchy), Me (Heavy) FUTURE GARAGE While UK garage infiltrated pop music (in all languages no less) and took over the world hit by hit, I was spellbound by something slightly different. Specifically, Kelly (end of a nightmare) by Fred again… off Actual Life 3. Compared to the popular songs off the same record, it was more melancholic, even contemplative despite maintaining the level of energy dance music is supposed to have. Soon after, I started listening to the seminal future garage album, Untrue by UK producer Burial. While it has also been classified as a dubstep album, it’s obvious regardless that Burial came up with a unique sound that has received accolades and inspired future (heh) producers and even musicians outside of electronic music. Current listens: Burial, Bucky, Vacant CVLTE This is going to be a trend with my discoveries - while scrolling down some YouTube video’s comment section one day, the Sapporo band’s music video for Falling Apart appeared on the related videos sidebar. I liked it and the rest of the 616 EP, but I never imagined that their debut album praystation 2 would hit all the musical spots I didn’t even know I had at the time. Mixing rock with electronic elements is hardly a novel concept, but CVLTE has a unique blend that could, in some ways, be considered trailblazing. It’s no wonder they’ve found themselves signed to a Sony Music label, played at NEX_FEST 2023 organised by British band Bring Me The Horizon (who have long drawn upon electronic influences) and released a song to close off the second season of Shangri-La Frontier. Try these: happy. (feat. shaka bose 釈迦坊主), me, myself & I., kuromi. (feat. 4s4ki, sacha online) J-POP While I stated in Pt. 1 that I’ve had exposure to Japanese music from a young age, those were almost entirely theme songs for various media. Even when I became a weeb and got exposed to such music, I hadn’t really taken the time to explore more Japanese pop until the past couple of years. Those years however coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when Japanese media like anime and VTubers were exploding in global popularity, further complicating the J-pop landscape. Today, a diverse range of artists have found Japanese and foreign audiences, from idol groups and rock bands to self-produced artists and even virtual personalities. Just the kind of diversity I seek in my music library. Current listens: Suisei Hoshimachi, Fujii Kaze, tuki. MIYACHI I can’t quite remember how I was introduced to this Japanese-American rapper, but his unique flow (a product of growing up in New York and visiting Japan yearly) and his comedic chops through his unhinged street interview YouTube channel have made him one of my favourite hip-hop artists. Try these: Mainichi, Messin’ (feat. Jay Park & Bryce Hase), Crazy Outside (with Thelma Aoyama) ATMOSPHERIC DRUM AND BASS This electronic sub-genre has many names, but is best known as 2020s breakcore due to the use of the term to describe the revival of a late-90s sound. While both sounds may share the defining trait of breakbeats, the other aspects could not be more different. Take a classic breakcore song like Szerencsétlen by Canadian musician Venetian Snares. Now compare it to something like Kawaii Razor Blades by controversial producer Sewerslvt (if the name didn’t already give that away), now known as Cynthoni. The sonic difference, among other things, has led to a debate on whether this sub-genre should be considered as “real” breakcore, or if it should be categorised as something else, like “atmospheric drum and bass”, which I will use to refer to this particular sound. I personally was exposed to atmospheric drum and bass first, and found myself appreciating the juxtaposition of the frantic drumwork with the droning synth basslines and fluttery synth pads washed in reverb, almost as if there was some force fighting to surface from the waves threatening to drown it - a sonic representation of life methinks. Current listens: Cynthoni, Blksmiith, Dusqk VALLEY This Canadian band first appeared on my YouTube feed with a live studio performance of Good, but not together. Despite generally finding indie pop homogenous and thus boring, I liked it enough to check out their discography, and soon found myself putting various songs of theirs on loop, particularly their latest album Water the Flowers, Pray for a Garden. As it happens, the now-three-piece act will be playing at Capitol Theatre on 13 June 2025. Time for me to get the concert prep going. Try these: Paper Cup (Sorry For Myself), Bass Player’s Brother, Park Bench SHOEGAZE While I wouldn’t say I’ve never heard shoegaze music, it is a sub-genre I’ve only gotten into very recently. Perhaps it’s the mixing that bothers me on quite a number of records, with how lacking drums can sound, but the guitars being drenched in reverb remind me of atmospheric drum and bass in how they transport me to a different, ethereal headspace. Current listens: Parannoul, Kinoko Teikoku, motifs FIN. And that’s the list! Thank you for reading through all this yapping. Reflecting on my musical journey was an interesting process, seeing how some early inspirations fell to the wayside while artists I did not take to at first became my favourites. I was also surprised by the realisation that I discovered music I would otherwise have never heard through social media platforms, despite not being a fan of people doing so via TikTok. Finally, I also wonder how if I had not heard that song that day, I might have become a completely different person. Perhaps I might still have continued writing and making videos as means of self-expression, but I am certain my life would be much less vibrant without music. P.S. I love getting recommendations as well, so do comment down below what I should listen to next! ~ Wei Feng Cover image: Photo by Hanny Naibaho on Unsplash

there would probably be inspectors at discos with a rhythm timer. 😁 Chechnya bans dance music that is either too fast or too slow The Russian republic of Chechnya has banned dance music it deems either too fast or too slow, in an attempt to quash a “polluting” western influence on the conservative majority-Muslim region. Musa Dadayev, the culture minister, said “all musical, vocal and choreographic works should correspond to a tempo of 80-116 beats per minute” to make music “conform to the Chechen mentality and sense of rhythm”, according to the Russian news agency Tass. “Borrowing musical culture from other peoples is inadmissible,” Dadayev said. “We must bring to the people and to the future of our children the cultural heritage of the Chechen people. This includes the entire spectrum of moral and ethical standards of life for Chechens.” According to reports in Russian media, Dadayev set artists in the region a deadline of 1 June to rewrite any music that does not conform to the rule. The law in effect criminalises most modern dance music genres that are typically played in clubs around the world, such as house, techno, dubstep or drum’n’bass. Some hip-hop and rap, which is typically played at speeds between 60 and 140 beats per minute, would in theory still qualify for the traditional Chechen “sense of rhythm” that the regime of the authoritarian leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, wants to preserve. Traditional Chechen music includes khalkaran yish – instrumental songs used to accompany dances, processions and horse races – and heroic epic ballads known as illi yish. They can be accompanied by the dechig-pondar, a three-stringed instrument similar to the Russian balalaika. Chechnya, in the North Caucasus region of eastern Europe, has in recent years been repeatedly criticised by human rights organisations for its violent persecution of sexual minorities. The Chechen government has denied such allegations, claiming there were no homosexual people in Chechnya, and those who did exist would be rooted out by their own families.

I'd argue the best TikTok accounts are the ones that deliver enough predictability (and quality) so that you know exactly what you’re getting into when you click on the account handle. At the same time, they hold enough suspense - such that followers are kept on their toes about what might come next. That's the basic formula, really. (Before we proceed, let's first acknowledge the reality: Data privacy, and the long-term psychological effects of prolonged social media use are arenas that a single thesis (much less blog post) will not sufficiently cover. Alright - onwards we go, keeping that caveat at the back of our minds and focusing on the more idyllic and innocuous parts of TikTok.) It doesn’t matter what you're selling too. It's safe to say that virality and attention, centred on good humour, are strong enough pieces of evidence that a specific creator has been doing something right. Case in point: Subway Indonesia. Don't expect such shots on Subway Indonesia's TikTok page. Challenge yourself to consider what might fill the rows of its TikTok profile. You're probably thinking of the most gorgeous supercuts of the sandwich-maker's menu - the greenest, leafiest bits of wet lettuce falling in slow motion; a shiny knife and succulent slices of chicken breast; and of course, a blend of vibrant colours - red, orange, yellow - for the sauces (note of apology: I've not had a Subway sandwich in a while, not in Singapore at least. Please excuse me if I’ve gotten the sauce flavours wrong.) And let's not forget the final shot: A young, attractive couple savouring each bite of their BLT, seated in a living room straight out of an IKEA showroom. Add on lots of satisfied sounds - "mmm", "yum" and the like - big bites, and some overused one-liner about freshness. Wrong. Subway Indonesia is a dance cover account. It's not just any dance cover account, by the way, but one that has close to 182,000 followers (and counting), and more than 7.8 million likes across its videos. A good number of them even have more than two million views. In terms of the viewing experience, the dance covers here rarely differ. At least officially, there are only two stars to expect: One female mascot, and one male mascot, almost always one or the other. (The pair does appear together, but far less frequently.) But what exactly makes them so fun and unique to watch? In my extremely professional view as a dance cover connoisseur (I count at least 10,000 hours of viewership of Kyle Hanagami's, 1MILLION Dance Studio's, and Tim Milgram's channels each among my credentials), there are a few possible reasons why. Firstly: The dancers are legitimately good. I’ve always been slightly peeved when I hear people brush off TikTok as a wasteland full of people who can only lay claim to being conventionally attractive, because I do think a lot of talent makes its way onto the platform. I consider the stars of Subway Indonesia's account among that crew. The people donning these getups are genuine professionals, who have definitely honed dancing as a craft (or are just insanely talented by nature - it's usually a mix of both). Number two: The sheer sense of absurdity of seeing some not-too-easy choreography executed by the mascots. Two metrics often used by dancers (or so I’ve observed at least, again, very professionally) are energy and smoothness. Smoothness refers to the fluidity of movement, while energy refers, well, the explosiveness and amount of travel given to each step. The mascots here perform with 150% energy. And ostensibly, they very intentionally do so for yet another two reasons: Comedic effect, perhaps, but also because it's likely the only possible manner given the weight of all the gear. This goes to the extent that bits of the costume often fall off before the choreography is completed. A good example is the dance breakdown towards the end chorus of Standing Next To You by Jungkook. By the 27-second mark, both the mascot's cap and right shoe have flown off. Number three: Camerawork. This one's straightforward. The frame is often still in many dance covers; the videos on Subway Indonesia's account are more dynamic, following the beat of the track and movements from the choreography. Cue "Praise the cameraman!!!" And finally, the sort of.. expectation-related whiplash that arises when you realise that a multi-million dollar fast food franchise has effectively assimilated itself into TikTok dance culture (I’m not sure if I’m explaining this well enough). Yes, and...? I expect some will read this with furrowed eyebrows and looks of disapproval, sigh, then dismiss it all as having no value - on the basis of it bearing zero link to Subway's business of sandwich-selling. The latter might be true - and I don't have any stats to talk about how this has helped Subway Indonesia's sales. But I do know that most businesses thrive on brand awareness. Marketing can take on very different forms, with the best sorts neither forced down people’s throats, nor catered to feed everyone’s interests. Interestingly, scroll further down Subway Indonesia's profile and what appear to be pristinely-shot ads with models (or are they celebrities?) haven't enjoyed the same level of love. As a final rejoinder to the naysayers, appealing to a younger audience, while unintuitive, can be smart; don't forget these are the ones who will soon have their own money to spend. Cultivating love for a business, when done pseudo-organically, can certainly go a long way. Anyhow, before I get lost in a topic I have insufficient knowledge about, let's get back on the track - this is TikTok, and the shoe Subway Indonesia has chosen clearly fits. I may not be craving a sandwich the next time I visit Indonesia, but regardless, I have a weird inkling I’ll be on the lookout for green and yellow signs - and larger-than-life mascots giving it their all. - Matt Photos by Unsplash.com

I am always very fascinated by lion dance since I was a kid. This year, our neighboring country, MY won the grand championship. Must see how this lion come down from the poles at the end. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kajPgtIthWw But I still prefer this lion. very lively esp how it kill the snake. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J4GdqNdIuM

Not sure why anyone would risk their life doing something like this but hey it's quite funny in our opinion. We are guessing this young man which can be seen wearing shades (at night) and smoking, needs more followers for his Instagram or Tiktok. So he has to unfortunately, rely on his goofy dance moves and some courage to dance on our expressway ( looks like ECP to us). Did he garner more followers? Only he knows. Hopefully, with Fabrications About Singapore's sharing of his video and us also helping him out, he can achieve his goal.

These guys are really solid man!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tTRQ6jbyEU

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/robert-miles-dead-composer-children_uk_5912dcc0e4b050bdca60de9b Sad news. I loved that album even though I am pretty much a metalhead. I have Dreamland on CD in my collection. The strange thing is that I was reminiscing about his music a day or two ago, searching and listening to my favourites from the album. Rather coincidental. So, here they are: Even though "Children" (I've got two versions above) was his major breakthrough hit, my personal favourites are probably "One and One" (a poppy duet, for its soppy warmth) and "Landscape" (a pure instrumental that stands almost diametrically opposed, very cold and majestic - probably the coldest piece of music he's done). Anyway, RIP Robert.

Watch http://youtu.be/1jcwNyMpT2A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qvdVwWXUwSU @.@ wah sibeh fweeeling

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=899880863395767 apparently a dance craze in Thailand... or just some new spider monkey thing

will this funny dance able to garner a lot of "parody" like gangnam style? probably not ... may be can match wonder girls nobody? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyDG3BQRdDY

Dance promoted in primary schools. The name is very telling - read it in cantonese! It makes me wonder what the choreographer was thinking of .

Super creative!! Credits to youtube poster..

There is football and futsal in MCF. Let me start the topic of Rugby WC and the dance. Actually I don't know much about Rugby, just only enjoy those country doing the war dance before the game. Aggressive!!!! Funny and if I were to be the opponent, I will just can't control and laugh it out loud. They are so GARANG!!!Rugby Haka dance

Just want to find out from parents out there who send their kids to learn chinese dance. They use those soft dance shoes that are like for ballet, except red in colour. Where to buy these shoes?? The instructor at the CC where my child is having classes didn't provide any info. Neighbourhood shops also got no clue.

Nice video of Cebu Pacific (?) flight attendants "performing" the safety demonstration... Free ad for the airline The girl in the foreground looks like more than a match for the "Singapore Girl"

Another beng/seng related topic, Over the past few days of CNY, lion dance troupe are engaged to perform at various places to bring good luck and fortune. I love the lion dance and the loud noise of the drums and cymbal so will always like to see them perform but I realise all the performers are usually ah sengs and bengs and their average age is late teens to early 20s. swears at every sentence as they speak,walk with "360" flair and had Final fantasy hairstyle. Many times I thot an angmoh is performing the lion dance. Hmm..strange that I dun get to see quai quai or mandarian/angmoh speaking lion dance performers thou this is part of the chinese culture and not some sleazy dance or something..

Apologies. double posting.

A nonstop music, you can download and burn to CD listen when driving Dance nonstop

Nobody Can Dance Like This Wonder "Girl"

April 2, 2008 Man collapses and dies after dancing HE LOVED swinging to the beat of arcade dance machines, and went dancing there thrice a week. But on Tuesday, Zhang Wei Ming, 23, danced for the last time when he collapsed and died after dancing for about half an hour. Mr Zhang, who helped in his father's contractor business, was at an arcade at Dhoby Ghaut MRT station at around 8pm when he suddenly passed out. Nobody knew how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR. He was found dead after he was taken to the Singapore General Hospital. His family told the Chinese evening dailies that he smoked heavily, kept late nights and had Thalassemia, a type of blood disorder. http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2BNews/...13.html?vgnmr=1 RIP

Hi, How much do ppl normally pay in ang pao for the door to door lion dance??? My wife told me her fren would give each member of the lion dance troupe a small ang pao 1st b4 performance and then a big one to the lion dance guy after. Thatz a lot of money!!! Nowadays, I see malays n indians also part of the lion dance troupe. Short of manpower???

Hello to everyone, I need some information on where to find 80's extended retro dance music cd or mp3 because I search music junction, sembawang music and can't find any. Can any kind soul enlighten me on this.

just curious .....after the final of 'The Dance Floor', it's seems the winner 'Vas & Pris' has been missing from media ? wonder where are they now ??