Longstanding music festival Music Matters Live returns for its annual run from Sep 13-18, coming in strong with six nights of musical highlights from Asia and beyond. 50 emerging artists from 15 nations will gear up to take on 10 hotspots within the Clarke Quay region, at venues like Crazy Elephant, Le Noir, McGettigan’s, Warehouse, Zouk, and more, totalling up to over 100 free shows.
Things will kick off with a bang at Clarke Quay’s Fountain Square for this 14th run once again. Expect an abundance of talent that encompasses a wide range of genres to suit every musical palate, with everything from Vancouver soul reggae musician Buckman Coe to the likes of Israeli electro-pop producer-singer songwriter Totemo.
On an unusual note, J-Idol ensemble Dear Kiss strikes up some anticipatory hype for this year’s Music Matters Live. The upbeat five-piece girl group is best known for their perfectly synchronised choreography and sweet-voiced melodics—similar to many viral K-Pop groups—and dishing out mega-kawaii numbers such as “Dearest” and “D.D.D.”
Straying further from the mainstream radio hits, subgenres like neo-soul, dreamy anthemic indie rock and progressive rock will be brought to music-lovers by Australian quintet Demon Days, Jarkata-based group Lightcraft and synth-heavy duo Scaller, respectively. And for your old-school J-Rock fix, look to the charismatic boys of Reaction the Buttha, and find yourself headbanging to whiny pop-punk vocals, cymbal crashes and crunchy guitar riffs.
Locally-produced segment Made in Singapore also returns bigger and better after partnering up with independent music label Zendyll and luxury fashion icon Hugo to take on the mainstage for day two. The showcase will highlight Singaporean artistes, featuring both fresh faces and Music Matters alumni, for all to discover. Catch Singaporean all-stars such as hip-hop rappers Shigga Shay and The Lion City Boy rocking the main stage for a dose of Singaporean pride.
Music Matters Live takes place Sep 13-18. Admission is free. Line-up updates here.
