SINGAPORE, Nov 20 — With the proliferation of music festivals in Singapore, the opportunities for Singapore artistes to expose their music to a wider audience have increased. Take new player in the local festival circuit Neon Lights, which will feature two fairly under-the-radar local acts — Bennett Bay and Paint the Sky Red.

But how did they get into the Neon Lights line-up?

“The organisers heard my music and loved it, the rest is history,” said Bay. His history, of course, might be a little difficult to find. Born and raised in Singapore, he is probably the most obscure name on the list. He does maintain a Soundcloud account that contains two demos — both revealing a pastoral acoustic guitar ambience — but to date, no official recordings have been released.

“I’m blessed to be born to two of the most supportive parents and human beings I know. They brought me up to value, well, values,” Bay enthused. “When I told them that music was something I wanted to do as a career, they’ve done everything they could to help me along the way.”

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Bay’s musical experience began with Chinese music. “As an eight-year-old chubby boy, I was picked to play the suona (a Chinese trumpet) because of my round puffy cheeks,” he recalled. “Since then, I’ve been performing, taking part in competitions and so on.”

But Bay found the orchestral environment in a competitive setting stifling. “The idea of practising hours each day to be ‘better than someone else’, I hated that,” he said.

This was Bay’s lowest moment in his musical life, and he did not like the idea of playing other people’s music for a living either. However, a turning point soon arrived.

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“One day, a dear friend of mine introduced me to (seminal post-rock band) Explosions In The Sky and that triggered something dormant within me,” said Bay, who has been at School of the Arts for six years. “Since then, I started to find my own purpose and began writing my own music with that purpose in mind.”

Besides his own solo project, Bay also focuses his energies on an instrumental rock trio called Hauste. Right now, both are in the midst of working towards the completion of their EPs. “I’ve a lot of music written down, but have never had the resources or the time to record everything,” he said.

Bay is mindful of his relative obscurity in the scene, and took pains to describe the music he plays and what Neon Lights festival-goers can expect. “Music that you would expect to be played in the middle of a mountain in the middle of nowhere,” he quipped. “The music is inspired by a lot of pastoral imagery, along with personal dreams and everyday experiences. The music is very simple, (and) what better way to convey ideas than through simplicity?”

Unlike Bay, Paint the Sky Red (PTSR) has had a bit more time on the scene. The band played at Baybeats 2014 and has released two albums. Comprising Nurazman (guitars), Nur Hakim (guitars, effects, E-bow), Yasser (bass) and Fahmi (drums), the band is all about making music the members like and “sharing it with listeners who appreciate it”.

He may be a newcomer, but Bennett Bay could get a breakthrough at the Neon Lights music festival next weekend. — TODAY pic
He may be a newcomer, but Bennett Bay could get a breakthrough at the Neon Lights music festival next weekend. — TODAY pic

According to Hakim, PTSR’s journey began very casually with no exceptions and commitment. “Musically, all of us had no formal training in the instruments we play, so music-making to us is really just trial and error.”

However, in recent times, priorities have changed. “(The band) has grown to define us,” said Hakim. “Our families have accepted that this band is a huge part of our lives and have been very supportive, especially if we have to leave them behind to perform or record overseas.”

The music now has a special place in their hearts. “It has become an avenue to express ourselves creatively and emotionally, and something to look forward to apart from the daily grind of work and the heavy responsibilities of taking care of our families,” he said.

However, Hakim is keenly aware of the pressure local musicians face in pursuing their craft, especially for those over the age of 30. “We know some friends who have stopped playing music because of work and family commitments. We agree that it is very easy to succumb to the change in priorities and just give up music because the stresses of work and family do take a toll on your mind and body, (not to mention) alone your motivation to create music,” he said.

Despite these stresses, members of the band have come to realise that they have a good thing going. “We have a high level of respect for each other, we have realistic expectations about how the band should progress, and most importantly, we share a sense of pride for what we have built together — the kind of pride you feel when you raise a child with good values so much so that the child inspires you to be a better person or parent.”

More than that, the band has cultivated a positive attitude towards the entire musical journey, however it may turn out in the end. “To us, the band has grown to be more than just about the music because, some day, the music-making might stop. But through the music we have created, it is the relationships we have forged with each other, the sincere group of friends we have made, and the connection with our inner selves, that are what we believe will mean the most in the end.”

That said, practical realities dictate a creative juggling of priorities. “The band prioritises work and family, and only rehearse when everyone is free or when there is an upcoming show. Due to conflicting work schedules, most of the time we can only jam once or twice a month and often late at night. But thankfully, we’ve developed a certain musical chemistry to make effective use of the little time we spend at rehearsals.

“Using a simple guitars-bass-drums rock formula, the instrumental rock music we produce plays out like a narrative with nostalgic and melancholic undertones that serve as the soundtrack for one’s own self-reflection.”

And when the band shares this with the audience at Neon Lights, they will appreciate it, too. — TODAY

*Bennett Bay and Paint the Sky Red play at 1.30pm on November 29 (on different stages). Tickets available from http://www.neonlights.sg/tickets