Why you should hold your Wedding @ the SEA Aquarium in Singapore.

So, I recently performed at the most beautiful wedding yet, 

within the comforts of one of the top tourist destination in Singapore - SEA Aquarium. 

Now, i know that the aquarium has been a popular choice for many corporate functions & company DnDs, 

but THIS Wedding, was a whole new underwater wonderland. 

Believe me, 

i perform for an average of at least one wedding per week, 

and this one exceeded all expectations. 

Anyone who has been to the SEA Aquarium will know that the last observatory, 

where the humongous aquarium for the Open Ocean Habitat stand, 

is the perfect ending to the aquarium tour, 

and probably worth the entrance fee by itself as an attraction. 

Imagine that space being transformed into a dining hall with

raining glitter, 

tiffany chairs, 

underwater-themed decorations, 

starfish and shellfish trinkets, 

all to set up for a backdrop of soaring manta-rays and squadrons of marine life frolicking in their natural habitat. 

No wonder my Facebook post of this photo garnered so many likes.

So here are some reasons why you should totally hold your wedding at the RWS SEA Aquarium, if you happen to be pretty rich. 

Screw flowers and half-hearted tea lights!
With a backdrop like this,
cake cutting and champagne pouring has never looked more magnificent. 

You are allowed to have ridiculously pretty table decor, 

like starfish centrepieces, and reflective lazy susans, 

and yet they will not look over the top. 

Tiffany Chairs look better in an aquarium than on a lawn.

And you get a sky full of stars, indoors.  

Imagine dining in front of fishes,
while having a nice piece of cod fish. 

Instagrammers be snapping' with glee.

Shots like these will probably garner a tonne of likes.

Photo Credit: ht_americanbeauty

 Meanwhile, on my own Instagram...

I just had to!

Photowhoring is allowed because every corner is a photo point! 

You can place a band at the top of the space to perform for your guests. 

You can even get to sing a song for them.

At least that was what the bride did, she did a special surprise performance for her hubby :)

And with the tiered ballroom, everyone was able to have a grand view of the bride singing.

You are free to roam around the other areas of the aquarium,

champagne glass in hand. 

You get to champagne-tease fishes. 

The stroll towards the ballroom will be lined with mini aquariums and different 

underwater habitat displays,

so much so that you would already have taken 13942309854 pictures 

before you even reach the final destination.

The build up to the climax is important, they say :)

 

The Wedding Band of the night -
Sparkle Live Music [L to R]
Melvin Wong on bass,
Matthew Siew on keys,
Kexin & Leon on Vocals,
Clarence Yeo on Guitar
& Nazreen on Percussions. 

A groupshot with the Bride and Groom and their families :) 

Vendor List 

Live Band Sparkle Live Music 

Wedding Planner The Wedding Atelier 

Floral Decor Fiore Dorato

Venue RWS SEA Aquarium

DT in Dalian, 15Nov!

If Dalian is a china lady, 

she would be the demure and romantic one. 

Beautiful both on the outside and on the inside. 

She's prim and proper, wholesome and clean, 

compared to her other sisters, Beijing and Shanghai. 

Long and short of it, 

I love Dalian! 

It's really nothing quite like the other polluted China cities. 

Even the people there seemed more cultured, unlike the more rural parts of China. 

It could also be because it was fall and autumn leaves were everywhere!! 

As usual i didn't have much time to explore, 

so i decided to take a stroll at the park opposite my hotel one fine morning, 

to take in the Autumn fresh air and experience fall!! 

Setting out! 

Funkifize with the Fungkimunkees!

It has been 2 years since i last played with the Fungkimunkees.
The last we did a show today at Concourse and it was with the striped down setup.

Super stoked when i got their call again to Guest sing, 

this time with a full 8 piece band with horns section!!! 

I've played with the Chinese Orchestra, 

the Big Band, 

and this was definitely next on my list..

a funk band!!! 

Whoopie!!!

How d'yall like my outfit?

#likeaboss

With the amazing band of the night!! 

[L to R]

Benson Kong on Alto Sax, 

Pablo Calzado on Drums, 

Fraser on Guitar, 

Sultan on Bass, 

Ashley Howard on Trombone, 

Pablo Tani on Baritone Sax 

& Dan Wong on Trumpet!

Truth be told, 

i was only roped less than a week before the show. 

I had to learn 9 new songs, 

many rhythmically challenging (duh it's funk)

and i almost thought i wouldn't be able to handle it.

During which, i also managed to be down with contact dermatitis

and had rashes all over my face & body :(

But all turned out to be good!!

I hid my rashes well under those clothes..

And i'm darn thankful i still have my voice to deliver!

Oh yea, 

and i didn't manage to rehearse with the full band 

so i did what i could do and it was magical!

I loved the stage, 

the band setup, 

the music, 

the audience. 

It was perfect!

 Thank you Sultan for having me in mind!

It was such a blessing to have met you many years ago at Java Jazz :D 

FKMK rocks!

Show's over, 

Peace out! 

DT in Beijing, 13Sep

It has been a while! 

The last tour was in Jan and i almost forgot what it was like to be on the road again. 

We were back in Beijing a year after we were there, 

and it definitely felt different! 

We arrived a few years before showday for a refresher rehearsal!

Hello familiar work space.

Post-rehearsal Hai Di Lao!!! 

It was my first time trying it out. 

I've heard so much about the amazing standard, but the HDL at this branch wasn't that impressive.

The food was good though! 

We proceeded to have hdl over the next 3 nights -_-"

#overdose

Moonlight Harmony with the Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra @ Esplanade Waterfront!

It was my first time performing alongside a 40-musician strong Chinese Orchestra
on the eve of Mid-Autumn Festival at the Esplanade Waterfront stage beneath the full moon,
and it was a really refreshing experience!!

Much love and thanks goes out to my secondary school days Conductor Quek Ling Kiong!
I used to play the er hu way back and he had always been my favourite conductor!
Little did i know that i would meet him 10 years later,
not playing, but singing for his orchestras!

Pre-show rehearsal at the Singapore Concert Hall

Having a slice of mooncake before performance! 

Army Half Marathon 2014!

And the earliest gig award goes to.... ARMY HALF MARATHON 2014!!

Soundcheck was at 7am, 

performance at 8am. 

For those who don't know me, 

i am a night animal. 

I usually sleep at earliest 2am. 

I'm usually grumpy in the morning, 

and i just CANNOT look good every single day when i used to work in the corporate world. 

I'm glad i still look like a decent human at 7am in the morning. 

I was aware that the massive amount of people behind me woke up at 3am, 

and ran a good half marathon from 4am to 7am in the morning. 

Yes i was slightly, ashamed, of myself. 

Gosh just look at the amount of people. 

That was possibly the biggest crowd i've played to, 

apart from on tour with David Tao. 

Try X All Of Me - A Mashup Cover by Kexin, Clarence & Serena

Sometimes i get weary,

from the battles i'm fighting outside and within.

Sometimes i feel lost,

while searching for my true self amidst what everyone wants me to me.

Sometimes i get weighed down,

by expectations of how i should act, look, walk, talk, sing etc.

But you know you've found that someone, 

when you don't have to try,

cos all of him loves all of you, 

all your curves and all your edges, 

all your perfect imperfections :) 

Credits: 

Guitarist and Arranger: Clarence Yeo 

Percussionist: Serena Chen 

Videographer, Editor and Venue Provider: Jaex from Ideally Yours 

Sound Post-Production: Christopher Ang from B Cube Entertainment 

I feel so much for this video because of the amazing arrangement, 

& the instant chemistry on set with these 2 wonderful musicians friends!

Believe it or not, this video cover was our first time working together. 

Serena and Clarence have never met before, 

we jammed an hour before shoot and that's when the magic happened. 

Special mention also goes out to Jaex from Ideally Yours.

He's a really passionate videographer (and a great one too!!) and has always been 

greatly supportive of local music.

He actually bought equipment just so that we can record youtube videos in his studio.

Ideally Yours specializes in Wedding Photography, Videography and Bridal gown rental

so if you like what you saw in my youtube video,

hop on over to his website and check it out!! 

You'll be amazed by his works! 

Lastly, huge love to Christopher from B Cube Entertainment. 

B Cube Entertainment is one of the best sound provider in Singapore in my opinion

and has been my favourite provider for all my live gigs!! 

And of course the man behind all the goodness is Chris <3 

My youtube videos have never sounded so good before, 

and i gotta give it to him for the live sound enhancements!!

MUACKSSS

I really cannot thank them enough for their support, time and effort in making 

such a simple Youtube Video work. 

THANK YOU THANK YOU.

And if the video has resonated with you as an audience,

do share the love and joy :) 

MUACKS TO YOU! 

Hairvolution with J7Image

When it comes to hair colour, i've tried it all.

And i realize that the changing of my hair colour is part of my self-discovery journey, 

i was really finding who i really am and what i really want to be. 

When i was younger in my early 20s, 

i started singing at weddings and i always wanted to look older

because i felt young and i wanted to be taken seriously. 

So i kept my hair long and i had a natural wave.

When i first launched my EP, i decided to go for a fresh look

and snipped off my locks to a shorter length. 

The real transformation and experimentation with hair colour started when 

i started touring with David Tao!

Jeft from J7 Image is the master at hair colouring craft. 

It was fate that brought us together because i met him randomly over supper through a mutual friend!

We bonded over music because he used to sing as well..

One thing led to another, 

he became my hairstylist years later and i've never looked elsewhere! 

Montigo Nongsa Resort, where heaven could be so near :)

Montigo is the perfect place for a short getaway from Singapore. 

A mere 30mins ferry ride away, 

this is paradise. 

Map of Montigo Nongsa Resort 

It's a pretty small area with nothing much to explore. 

The watersports feature is not open for business yet, and Tigo bar is closed during the weekdays. 

Some villas are still under construction as they are build for ownership. 

Nivea Body Intensive Moisture Serum

I sometimes wish that i have more sedentary hobbies, 

so that my skin wouldn't be exposed to the harmful UV rays..

I also wish i had cared a little more about body skincare

rather than just concentrating on facial care. 

After weighing my options, 

i've figured that life is too short to be spent on worrying!

Do what makes you happy and worry later!  

I love spending time at the sea, away from the hustle and bustle of life. 

It makes me feel calm :)

Youth Time 2014!

I am incredibly honoured to have met Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the recent Youth Time 2014. 

This event was held at my beloved alumni, Anderson Junior College, 

the place where my love of music first blossomed. 

Youth Time is an annual event organized by the Yio Chu Kang Grassroots Organization, 

with the aim to bring the youths together for a fun-filled day of activities through carnivals and live band performances.

The event was also particularly meaningful because of the lively and interactive dialogue session with PM Lee! 

The by-invite-only session was a very cosy affair, 

with an auditorium of about a hundred youth from different backgrounds; students, young working adults, young grassroot leaders and young parents. 

I was so overwhelmed by the entire experience because not only did i perform, 

i was also awarded the Breakthrough in Arts Awards with some other outstanding youths, 

and given a chance to share my experience during the dialogue. 

I'm so deeply humbled by this rare opportunity to connect with youths with dreams!!

Achievement Unlocked!

Possibly my most epic selfie to date..

The NEA Eco Music Challenge is Back!

As a singer,
i'm particularly sensitive to my emotions,
to thoughts that arise in my head in my everyday life.

Perhaps it is an occupational hazard?
I really do need to switch between different emotions whenever i perform.
I could be singing a super high energy positive number at one time,
and the next moment to do teary breakup song with full out emotions.
It is a roller-coaster ride i'm not kidding.

But i see this ability as a superpower that few possess.
It is our outlet to expression, a blessing in disguise.
We are able to convey our thoughts, spread positive messages.
We are able to turn our seemingly insignificant emotions into something bigger than ourselves,
and make an impact.
Music can create impact around us, and influence people to feel strongly for a cause.

Something that i really appreciate about Singapore is the beautiful flora and fauna and cleanliness in our surroundings.
With the thought in mind, the environment is an inspiration and topic that more musicians can write about, to raise awareness and make an impact on.
I'm hence happy to announce that the NEA Eco Music Challenge is back!
Now there is a way for singer-songwriters to help raise awareness of environmental issues,
through our songs!!