SINGAPORE, May 15 — Sean Lam is perhaps best known in media circles as one of the top creative directors in Asia and the frontman of the seminal 1990s Singaporean rock band Concave Scream.

But in recent years, Lam has carved out a second life for himself as solo singer-songwriter using the moniker Hanging Up The Moon (HUTM).

He has two well-received albums under his belt and a string of memorable live performances, including a coveted spot at the recent Laneway Festival in Singapore.

“It was nerve-wracking but, ultimately, still a great experience,” said Lam.

“As you know, in a live event, sometimes things don’t go according to plan no matter how well you prepare for it.

“That’s exactly what happened to us at Laneway. Thankfully, we managed to pull it off somehow ... owing much to an incredibly forgiving and understanding crowd as well as supportive organisers.”

Setbacks like that haven’t stopped Lam from his music ambitions. His new album, Immaterial, just might be his finest hour so far, evoking the sounds of late 1960s and early 1970s folk-rock, where the influences of John Martyn, Pentangle, Fairport Convention and Nick Drake come to the fore.

Lush and rich, Immaterial sets the bar even higher for made-in-Singapore music and is an album that represents all that is exciting about the Singapore rock scene in 2015.

Lam premiered the music on Record Store Day last month, but will officially launch the album on all formats on May 24.

There will also be an album launch show on May 29 and 30 at The Substation, which will feature something different. “We’re going to try to perform the songs as they sound on record, so we’ll be enlisting the help of some old friends as well as a six-piece live string section. I’m not sure how we’re going to fit everyone on stage!”

Q: How was recording Immaterial different from your previous albums?

A: In terms of the process, nothing much has changed. I’ve basically been using the same set-up since the first album (to lay) the basic tracks. This time, although the ukulele is not present, there are more guitar parts now that there are three of us on guitar. We’ve also included an analogue synthesiser, a violin, a cello and a variety of percussion instruments in the recording. Oh, and the whole band is involved in backing vocals, too.

Q: What is it like collaborating with Alexius Cai (Piblokto), Dean Aziz (Concave Scream), Leslie Low (The Observatory) and Victor Low (Affixen)?

A: Being close friends, we are all so well attuned to one another that the outcome always sounds effortless and cohesive. It’s also a very humbling and rewarding experience working with the guys.

Q: Immaterial is your third HUTM album. Are you still writing for yourself or do you now picture an audience that you are writing and performing for?

A: I will always be writing for myself. Music-making is and always will be a personal journey for me. That’s where the honesty comes from, without which a song has no real meaning.

Q: There seems to be a very strong 1960s rock vibe in the new songs. Is that deliberate?

A: I have been listening to old records for some time now ... so that must have had some influence on my songwriting subliminally. Having said that, I did not deliberately set out to do a throwback album. That’s just not what HUTM is about.

Q: Did you ever anticipate Hanging Up The Moon evolving from a “bedroom” project to a fully fledged recording project?

A: No, not really. Everything happened organically along the way. The minimalist debut album was done five years ago at a time when I was just trying to get back to making music. Since then, with lots of support from my friends, the project has grown into a five-man band with the songs becoming fuller and more layered with each new album. Even then, it’s still pretty much the same bedroom project that it started out to be. Just that more bedrooms are involved today.

Hanging Up The Moon performs on May 29 and 30, 8pm at The Substation Theatre. Tickets at S$25 (RM67.46) is available here. — TODAY