Della Ding

Chinese pop star Della Ding has professed her love for Singapore and said she is thrilled to be performing on the stage there this summer. Deciding to venture into show business was an easy choice for Ding considering her background in music, but she had numerous options on the table. Being a big star with multiple music releases she could have chosen anywhere in the world to debut, any stage would take her on board. However she insisted on giving something back to the place she has come to love so dearly, the ‘lion city'.

This is why she has chosen to star in Glass Anatomy – The Musical which is playing at the Esplanade Theatre for a chunk of May 2013. Ding has the voice of an angel and will play the heroine Ah Mei in this highly stylised piece of theatre. Alongside her will be a cast of classically trained actors native to Singapore, and these will include Judee Tan, Audrey Luo, Rayve Tay, Sugie Phua, Julius Foo and Jeffrey Low.

Ding, 29, took the decision because she wants to give something back to her Singaporean fans who have been so kind and appreciative of her work in the past. She said: "I've been to Singapore more than 10 times for concerts and music awards in the last few years and I really love it here.

"Being an actress for the first time here will be a great chance for me to meet even more Singaporeans and allow them to be acquainted with me.Taking on the role of Ah Mei was an extremely exciting experience, but I was also nervous as acting was new to me.

"I love Singapore because the weather and food here is awesome - pepper crab, bak kut teh and char kway teow!"

New Video from The Animal Parade

The Singapore music scene is thriving in ways that contradict the idea that all bands need to get signed by a big label if they are to get their name known. One of the reasons behind this is the influence of social media on youth culture today. Ever since the advent of the internet sharing with people has become easier. Now social networks have replaced word of mouth and kids share their new music on this platform more than anything else, particularly on sites like Myspace. One video that has captured the zeitgeist perfectly is a new music video by The Animal Parade, called A Family Line, a Chinese New Year.

The song is a sweet sounding social commentary about the way girls feel pressured to get hitched before it is too late and they miss their opportunity, as if that is everything there is to life. The 24 year old Tan Siling got the idea for the song when it occurred to her that many girls felt the same way she did about these issues. Specifically, that people were focusing too much on getting a boyfriend and settling down into family life before their time. The song took two days to compose and in the hilarious video she performs with her fellow Singaporean band mates in a range of costumes.

Siling said: "CNY is looming for most girls out there, and it's a topic that often surfaces during conversations with family and friends.

The video opens with some dialogue between the vocalist Tan Siling and her real father in which he tries to convince her getting a husband should be her number 1 priority. She said: "The storyline was very impromptu, totally spontaneous.”

Then it cuts to the boy members of the group who are dressed in drag and singing with their guitars. One even dresses up like a gorilla later in the piece and Siling was obviously impressed with their comedic skills, saying: “The boys are hilarious to watch on a regular basis, so make-up and wigs really upped it 10 notches. I struggled to keep a straight face while filming.”

The video has received rave reviews and the comments box on YouTube has been in overdrive as people seek to congratulate the band on their innovative sound which skirts on some quite serious issues for young girls. Siling said: "We're quite overwhelmed by the support we've received.”

Big Night Out 2013

What happens when you combine the forces of two of America's biggest Indie rock bands, Vampire Weekend and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. The pair are set to join forces to headline LAMC productions Big Night Out in Singapore, and who would want to miss that? The blend of style and substance in this line-up promises an unforgettable night of ferocious guitar music for everyone who attends. And last but not least, these two juggernauts of popular music will be joined on the stage by Seattle's very own Band Of Horses.

This showcase is now in its fourth year and this year's programme is expected to be the best yet, so purchase your tickets now and get to Fort Canning Park on January 30 for a massive party. Singapore has been establishing itself as something of an oasis for alternative rockers and with headliners like Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Vampire Weekend and Band of Horses, this is one music festival that can't be brushed aside.

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs are an American indie rock of some repute and whenever they roll up in town you know the atmosphere is going to be electric. Karen O is one of the most expressive performers in the business and if you have not seen her with your own two eyes and ears, you haven't lived! The band have such a varied and distinctive sound for a three piece and they will be performing hits from their three studio albums Fever to Tell, Show Your Bones, and It's Blitz!

Vampire Weekend are a little newer to the Indie scene than veterans YYYs but they still have a number of hits that have been celebrated in all of the important Indie magazines, particularly NME. 2008 was a watershed year for the band as they released their first album Vampire Weekend, which spawned feel-good tunes like "Mansard Roof", "A-Punk", "Oxford Comma" and "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa".

Tickets here: www.bignightout.asia

Adam Lambert back in Singapore. Like much of the world, Singapore has become obsessed with TV talent shows like American Idol. It seems that reality TV has the drama and suspense that transcends any language or cultural divides across the world. Everybody loves the surprises and the shocks that come along the way, and they travel on the journey with their favourite artists through the weeks of competition.

Everybody who enters the show knows that this huge level of interest across the globe can be a great springboard for a career in popular music, and you only have to look at previous winners like Kelly Clarkson and Jordin Sparks for inspiration. Another contestant who has who has really translated his public profile on the show into huge success internationally is Adam Lambert.

Lambert is known for his stint on the American Idol programme in Season 8 where he finished runner up to Kris Allen in an extremely close match-up. Ever since he completed the show he has had a great affinity with his fans in Singapore. The American crooner is particularly known for his flamboyant dress sense and his voice which has an impressive multi-octave range. One accolade which stands out in his career so far is his 2011 nomination for a Grammy Award, in the category of Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. Sadly, he fell just short of the winner's podium once more.

The glam-rock singer first visited Singapore in 2010 for an exclusive, invitation-only Fan Event which was held in the warm and welcoming destination of Resorts World Sentosa. Around this time he had just released his debut album which was received positively in multiple countries. The biggest hits from the album were the tracks "For Your Entertainment", "Whataya Want from Me" and "If I Had You".

In 2013 Adam Lambert will return to Singapore for the third time having previously participated in the live concert before the F1 Grand Prix in 2010. But what makes this return special is that this is the first time you will be able to see him in concert in a stand-alone show in The Star Theatre, March 8th.

Tickets here: www.sistic.com.sg