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10 of the best emerging bands from Singapore

Since 1992, May has been designated Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in the United States. In an effort to share cultures, we thought it would be sweet to showcase some of the talent hailing from one of Asia’s smaller nations, dubbed the “Little Red Dot.” For its size, Singapore is a global hub of commerce, finance, transportation and, surprisingly, great alternative music! So here’s our breakdown of the best acts to come out of the Lion City:

BAKERS IN SPACE

Borrowing different elements from indie, psychedelic and punk music, Bakers In Space’s goal is to create music that is equal parts chill and energetic. Gaining a good following in their native country, their debut EP, Implosions, comes out this month, with each track subtly unique in its own respect.
Check out: “Fools & Liars”

BOXCHILD

The members of melodic alt-rock band boxchild were immediately united by their love of performance as students in Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s Song Composing Club. Their name represents exploration and pushing themselves out of their comfort zone. Their in-your-face sound is driven by heavy riffs and powerful vocals.
Check out: “Rewind”

DISCO HUE

True to their name, this synthpop quartet’s sound is bursting with infectious disco hooks and catchy vocals. Their debut EP, Arcade, released last year, peaked at No. 2 on the iTunes Pop Chart in Singapore, with their latest single also making waves on several local charts.
Check out: “Plastic Hearts”

EXHIBITORS

Melodic hardcore act Exhibitors released their latest album Forever Loved, Never Forgotten in November, and they played Singapore’s Rock On Fest alongside established electronicore band I See Stars last month.
Check out: “Silence”

THE FAÇADE

This funky band, initially started as an acoustic duo, has blossomed into a thoughtful fusion of pop, rock, blues, and R&B over the years. The act have won a number of band competitions to date and are now ready to take it to the next level with the release of their debut EP Vanity in late June.
Check out: “Better Than This”

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THE PINHOLES

With their big glasses, floppy fringes and vintage getups, rock ’n’ roll quartet the Pinholes are essentially the Southeast Asian, modern day version of the Beatles. Their nostalgic noise is designed to make you feel good, and when they’re so dang catchy, how could you not?
Check out: “Bintang Rok N Rollmu”

SUB:SHAMAN

If we’re being honest, it was actually quite difficult to link this band to any specific artist because their sound is just so unique. Their image is purely experimental, constantly seeking to reinvent and redefine the structure and boundaries of music. Their debut full-length album Apnea dropped earlier this month.
Check out: “A-Hole”

THE SUMMER STATE

Emerging as one of Singapore’s finest pop-rock bands, the Summer State have had more than a few opportunities to play with some big names in the genre such as Mayday Parade, Yellowcard and the Wonder Years. Their debut self-titled EP had great success on the charts with a sold-out launch show in 2013.
Check out: “Enough”

TOMGIRL

What do you get when you fuse influences from classic film noir thrillers, motorbike ganglands and insidious femme fatales? TOMGIRL. Their dark pop sound is plain seductive, abundant with instruments that can only be described as smoldering. They even won the award for Best Album of 2016 on Apple Music.
Check out: “Heartbeats”

VILLES

Villes is alternative magic, with their repertoire centering on their custom label of post-hardcore meets pop. They were featured on our AP Discover playlist back in March, and their first full-length, The Cure, drops on May 29, already gaining massive appeal around the world.
Check out: “The Fear Generation”