Is there an NUS rock scene?

ZL & Hurrairah bin Sohail | hurrairah@gmail.com
the ridge transmedia
A NUSSU Publication

 

With the conclusion of Rockfest 2008, we here at the ridge decided to dissect and evaluate the NUS Rock Scene and what the participants have to say about it.

The KNEES

Musical Influences: System of a Down, My Chemical Romance, Radiohead, Incubus

Artists covered: Muse, Beatles, Back-On, FIR, Back-On, Guns n Roses

Profile: The Knees led by Marcus Law (Business Year 3) is an active hall band comprising of students living in King Edward VII Hall and some from the nearby Prince George’s Park Residences. Having differing interests in music, the band caters mostly to hall residents, while also occasionally performing in venues outside campus.

What they have to say: There’s no particular rock scene in NUS as there isn’t a significant following, mainly due to the small population (compared with other universities in the world) of our university and the diverse attractions available. Says Marcus – “Gigs outside campus are, of course, very expensive so bands can only work within the overcrowded NUS scene for arts.”

Sheares Hall Band

Musical Influences: Led Zeppelin, Queen, Classic Rock

Artists covered: Evanescence, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Matchbox Twenty, The Beatles

Profile: Sheares has always been prominent in the NUS rock scene organizing Rockfest and KRaSH along with playing regularly for bazaars and gigs. The Sheares Hall Band is one of the more active bands in NUS.

Edmund Khoo of SH band rehearses

What they have to say: The band believes that the attitude towards rock is openly unsupportive on campus. From their experiences at gigs staged at other venues, SMU or NTU crowds, in their opinion have a better appreciation for the genre.
Furthermore, the band believes that the NUS audience expects radio/studio quality sound at all concerts, which is an impossible expectation to meet. Their drummer Edmund Khoo (Engineering, Year 2) elaborates: “People do not understand that the difference in quality during a live performance cannot be helped. Even EIC (a local Singaporean band) sounds different when they play live.”

KR Rockers

Musical Influences: An eclectic mix

Artists covered: Aretha Franklin, Velvet Revolver, Mr. Big, Maroon 5, Red Hot Chili Peppers, acoustic songs.

Profile: The KR Rockers, resident band for Kent Ridge Hall, have managed to become a comparatively active musical group. The K.R. Rockers comprises of about 20 members and line ups vary from performance to performance

What they have to say: They don’t believe that there exists a rock scene within NUS due to the lack of a fixed identity amongst the various bands. But a bigger problem is the awkward fixed timings (two hours between 12pm-2pm allocated to bands in Central Forum for concerts). They feel the time slot (and lack of booze!) greatly restricts the atmosphere of their performance.

However, according to the KR Rockers, the biggest problem for rock bands in NUS is a financial one due to the costs of publicizing, logistics, equipment and recording. They rely on a D.I.Y ethic for their publicity, a burden they feel that should be borne more by event organizers.

Raffles Hall Band

Musical Influences: Brit Rock and an aversion to American music.

Artists covered: The Strokes, Franz Ferdinand, The Cure, Ok Go, Coldplay, White Stripes, Mayday.

Profile: Raffles Hall Band consists of two distinct bands from Raffles. They play primarily for hall celebration events and at times, at NTU. They will be playing for their hall’s annual cultural exhibition Phoenix Fest later this year.

What they have to say: Band head, Calista Lee in Year 2, Engineering, states that “the general taste of the masses tends towards commercial pop. Response, despite this, is good in Raffles Hall, probably because we try to pick songs which are audience-friendly.”
Her band further feels that rock performances should not be piggy-backed onto other events anymore. Making a rock act a part of an overall event containing different performances dilutes its effect. Perhaps band competitions could also be organized to raise the profile of bands in NUS, such as the upcoming Stardust organized by NUS Bizad club, CFA and the NUS Business School.

Second Nature

Second Nature perform at the Cambodia Heartbeat Charity Concert in 2006

Musical Influences: Soft rock, Alternate Rock, others

Artists Covered: The Cranberries, Santana, The Killers,
Snow Patrol

Profile: Second Nature is one of the five bands from Eusoff Hall and is particularly active throughout the year playing the same circuit as the other hall bands. The band was formed two years ago and its sound and musical direction is constantly evolving.

What they have to say: Hall bands need funding, to afford better equipment and to be able to practice more easily. They think musicians need new instruments and need better organized events and platforms to gain exposure.

“I think PGP needs proper band rooms, as there are a lot of musically inclined people living there” says Harsonal Sachar (Business, Year 2) lead singer of the band. That will increase the pool of musicians in NUS as it is the biggest residence.

Finally, they think bands should be given more CCA Points, as a lot of them live on campus and work really hard for staying in residences. They feel that commitment to their bands would increase if they didn’t have to worry about other CCAs along with band practice so as to get a room for next semester.

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Many of the bands we visited practice at least one night every week. While they do possess talented musicians, they do not all cut the grade. The KR Rockers seemed to be playing at the highest calibre while the bands in Eusoff have, at various times, garnered substantial popularity.

In fact there is ample evidence that the musicians from NUS are able and talented enough to make their mark on the local music circuit. Reverie, Dubious Brothers and Goodfellas have all had members who were ex-KR Rockers. Edmund from Sheares Hall Band is also a member of Peepshow, a five-piece rock band. KEVII Band recently performed at Bugis Junction while Second Nature also frequently plays external concerts.

Mark Sczto and Marcus Law of The Knees perform at Rockfest 2008

On March 15, the Hall bands performed for Rockfest 2008. For 4 hours, once a year, the bands united and presented themselves but they were largely overshadowed by the NUS Open House which took place in adjunction. Also, the audience comprised largely of their fellow hall residents due to a poor advertising effort by CFA and Sheares Hall. The quality of the performances was also sporadic with some bands excelling while others just barely managed to put up a show.

For the NUS Rock Scene to grow and flourish, both the bands and the university will have to make an effort. Closer cohesion between bands and the self-initiative to organize and publicize performances will lead to increased awareness which will benefit the musicians. At the same time, NUS has to provide the platform for these students to fully realize their potential. Only time will tell if NUS will have a rock scene comparable to that in other universities around the world.