The rock climbers in Singapore are participating in a competition called “Rock On”. No, guys, please. My ears, they bleed. That aside, the sport is growing rapidly on our sunny shores.
Singapore
Paintballin’ it up in Singapore
Asia Scout | July 10th, 2009
I’ve been asked several times to take part in paintballing over the years. The first time I heard of it was when I was in art college. My classmate, Jerry, was an avid paintballer, and suggested it as an activity for team building. TEAM BUILDING! Gaaah! We were too cool for that. Also, I heard that you bruise when the paintball hits you. Read More
Singapore’s Smoking Situation 4: Barriers/Triggers to Quitting
Asia Scout | January 19th, 2009
Danielle, 28, account manager, thinks that smokers who are trying to quit are really strong willed. I think this is the general consensus. A friend of my Vincent, 29, an administrator who has been smoking for more than 10 years suddenly went cold turkey (with the help of oral drugs) and never touched cigarettes again. We were all in awe. His reason for quitting was that he was coughing more and more frequently which made him feel like it had a direct effect on his health, plus the fact that his fingers and clothes smelt of cigarettes. But, suddenly, BAM! He was off it overnight. Amazing. Read More
Singapore’s Smoking Situation 3: Anti-Smoking Campaigns
Asia Scout | January 19th, 2009
Having spoken to several people, the anti-smoking TVC that stands out most is the one where it’s a stark frame of a woman who has got rotten teeth, and speaks about how she’s been terribly afflicted by some disease caused by smoking. It stands out not because it affects smokers and makes them think, but largely because it’s disturbing, and not very realistic. The Chinese woman speaks with an Australian lilt and acts poorly. It’s just not relate-able. We smell a rat when we see one. It was quickly pulled off the airwaves. Read More
Singapore’s Smoking Situation 2: Perceptions Towards Smokers & Non-Smokers
Asia Scout | January 19th, 2009
Smoke-free section of Home Club.
I have never met anyone who was so judgmental to the point where they saw smoke addicts as weak. I have met a few people who would adamantly not start a romantic relationship with a person who was a smoker, mostly it was non-smoker guys who felt that way. I think women in general more tolerant to this kind of habit and were willing to give their men time to change.
I think that dividing two camps of youths in the smoking debate ((1) non-smokers who are judgmental and overcritical about smokers, and (2) indignant smokers who feel victimized and angry), is too simplistic a view. It’s a grey area. Read More
Singapore’s Smoking Situation 1: Why Smoke?
Asia Scout | January 17th, 2009
You know what’s the worst, and most immediate consequence of smoking? Smoker’s cough. It takes a long, looong time to get over. That is something that really gets to me. Ye Ming, 20, an art student majoring in advertising says, “The cough comes and goes every three months and seems to get worse at night”. The last time I got inflicted with this cough was at the end of November, and it pass until a month later. That was a whole month of restrained holiday partying for me. Urgh. Read More
Singaporean indie music tearin’ it up!
Asia Scout | December 8th, 2008
The local indie music scene started back in the late ’80s and early ’90s with pioneering bands such as Twang Bar Kings, The Oddfellows, Nunsex, Corporate Toil, The Pagans, Immortal Flower, and Zircon Lounge, to name a few. It was fueled by venues such as The Substation (it was the catalyst in the growth of the scene and in the mushrooming of bands), Singapore Polytechnic’s Auditorium, Ngee Polytechnic’s Auditorium and School Field, The World Trade Centre, The German School Auditorium, and Vintage Pub, amongst others. And spurred on by magazines and zines such as BigO (which had a huge cult following, especially for its annual compilation series “New School Rock”), Redletterday, CherryBombPress (which was my own) and collectives such as Lion City Hardcore. Read More
Drum and Bassin’ in Singapore
Asia Scout | December 7th, 2008
“Drum ‘n’ Bass (DNB) put the local scene on fire circa ’96/’97, during the era when DNB kinda became commercialized with Goldie‘s “Timeless”, and Roni Size winning the Mercury Prize for “New Forms”. I think that brought a lot more attention to Drum ‘n’ Bass during those years,” says Andy Vortex of the seminal DNB portal Exitmusik.com. Read More
Electro has never really gone away!
Asia Scout | December 7th, 2008
There are 3 main monthly electro/indie/nu rave disco nights here in Singapore, and two clubs that host them. Home Club – the mainstay of the indie crowd, and ButterFactory – where the scene kids haunt. Read More
Singaporean percussion groups stand out from the white noise!
Asia Scout | December 5th, 2008
For many years now, the local music scene has been dominated by guitar-driven bands and electronic musicians. However, we have seen a rise of percussion bands who excite audiences with their raw energy, and new ethnic/fusion sounds.
Top Singaporean ‘O’ Level Students Endorse Essence of Chicken in Bus Stop Ads
Asia Scout | October 23rd, 2008
For a nation obsessed with grades, elite schools, and top scorers, Brand’s Essence of Chicken has, since 2005, found the perfect way to prey on parents’ worries about their less than academically inclined school-going children.
Singapore's Night Grand Prix
Asia Scout | August 31st, 2008
The World's first night Grand Prix is going to happen in our little city and our streets have been prepped for the launch on the 28th of September! After long talks with Formular One's governing body, it was approved and the street where it'll take place have been undergoing renovation, special lights installed and fences put up. According to Formula One: "During the event, 108,423 metres of power cables, 240 steel pylons and around 1,600 light projectors with a total power requirement of 3,180,000 watts will be used. With an illumination measurement of around 3000 lux, the lighting will be four times brighter than the lights at sports stadiums."
Our country has had to reinvent itself as the party central of Asia. We can only rely on being the Economic Hub, Shipping Hub, Education Hub and insert-buzz-word-here Hub for so long. And the Government knows that its stoicness has made a mark on our country and to avoid the brain drain and tourist dollar slipping out, we'd better the hell appear fun! Enter bar-top dancing, Integrated Resorts (euphemism for Casinos) and the Grand Prix. Tickets go up to as much as SGD$2600! About 80% of the 80,000 tickets have been sold, amazing! Read More
Supperclub comes to Singapore
Asia Scout | August 31st, 2008
Amsterdam's famous Supperclub has arrived on our sandy shores! On relaxing beds you'll be served dinner and drinks afterwhich the party commences. I went just two weeks ago. It's built in a very different way from other clubs in that it was meant for people-watching and picking up.What I liked about that place was a good mix of international guests and that the club incorporated live visuals with its music. And it was a plesant surprise that the VJ was my friend. Read More
SingFest 2
Asia Scout | August 31st, 2008
SingFest, in its second year, was held at Fort Canning Green early August this year. Its line-up was impressive enough, featuring international acts such as Alicia Keys, Rick Astley (brought up mentions of being Rick-rolled all over again in our tiny city), Panic at the Disco, Jason Mraz, Travis and local bands Plain Sunset, A Vacant Affair, Saw Loser and The Fire Fight. The events company that set this fest up is Midas Productions. Read More
Sennheiser Singapore uses local musicians for Transit Ads.
Asia Scout | August 31st, 2008
Sennheiser has since July of 2007 been using local musicians such as Saw Loser, my friend Shirlyn Tan, Clarissa Monteiro in their ad campaigns, mostly bus transit ads that travelled several very visible routes in the city.
