Filed under: Sing Style
Apologies for my recent hiatus!
Sing Style is back with new projects so watch this space.
Teaming up with local journalist Nicole Then, Sing Style author Emily will be contributing a variety of DIY Fashion Up-cycling Projects for My Cherry Magazine. Up-cycling is similar to recycling in that it encourages the transformation of materials into something new… So look forward to personally and creatively investing in the environment and your wardrobe. Peace!
DIY Project #1 can be viewed here
http://www.mycherrymagazine.com/2009/05/upgrade-with-emily.html
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Filed under: Sing Style | Tags: art, creative, design, photogrpahy, singapore, singstyle
Here are some Sing Style snapshots of Singapore…
Filed under: Creatives | Tags: art, cards, craft, Creatives, design, gal in black, origamic architecture, paper cut outs, singapore
The Eastern art of cutting and folding paper to produce 3-dimensional pop-up cards is referred to by it’s devotees as Origamic Architecture. The enchantment of paper cut outs is that they bring a two dimensional image to life through the seemingly simple action of opening and closing.
Singapore’s very own origamic architect Gal in Black finds that Japanese design has a big impact on her own work, and cites the master of Origamic Architecture, Masahiro Chatani as someone she would wish to be for a day, if only to “borrow some of his ideas!” Gal in Black finds inspiration in the everyday – “Every day things and craft books inspire me for my designs. I went to Japan recently and the first place I went was Kinokuniya to buy their craft books!”
Gal in Black has been creating her custom cut-out cards for more than 10 years but only decided to start a small business out of her papery pastime when she chanced upon an online marketplace that sold all things handmade last year. Gal in Black took the pledge “my cards are 100% handmade” and hasn’t looked back.
Adding to the mystery of her craft, Gal in Black’s cut out concepts are carried to life in the late evenings when “the magic of crafting begins.”
You can see more Gal in Black goodness at her online shop http://galinblack.etsy.com
Filed under: Creatives | Tags: bugis, Creatives, FAD studio, guitar, indie, local, music, myspace, powerpop, singapore, the rejeks
Haqim
Rez
Amalu
Three ingredients combine to produce virtuous indie and self defined powerpop band The Rejeks.
Individually, the members have been creating music since they were knee-high. The three became The Rejeks about a year ago and have since set about mashing their separate styles to create new soundwaves.
Guitarist Haqim says he’s not sure how to categorise The Rejeks music. “We don’t really know what type of music we create because it’s a mix of everything. We create music that makes us and people dance and be happy.” While they’re still trying to define their style, the band declares their fondness for an array of pop culture icons from The Police to The Libertines and everything in between. Haqim finds inspiration in the lyrical genius of John Frusciante (better known as guitarist for RHCP), “he’s my hero. He writes good spiritual lyrics and inspired me to pick up the guitar.”
The Rejeks have found Singapore’s local music scene challenging to crack, in particular getting support via promotion and marketing. Being thick-skinned is an essential asset in the music industry and The Rejeks have had to face playing in front of a less than 20 crowd and receiving negative comments and criticism. Haqim summarises that “it sucks.”
While Singapore’s new breed of energetic wunderkinds contribute to the local music scene’s evolution, The Rejeks believe local music relies on ever increasing support to keep growing.
You can catch an energizing Rejek-set this Sunday the 5th April at FAD Studio (73 Bussorah St, Bugis) from 3pm. Tickets are $6 at the door.
Next month 1st May – its Mayday at FAD Studio alongside more great local bands PaddlePop, Melfraps, That Square TV, Lovejets, Cracker Jack, The Fifth, The Punchotes, My Writes & Force Vomit. Rejeks are on at 8pm, tickets are $10 at the door.
Or you can hear the rejecks via the miasmatic myspace www.myspace.com/therejeks
Filed under: Creatives | Tags: art, badges, buttons, craft, design, designer, handmade, imagination, janelloshea, singapore
Okay, so Janell had to point out that we call them badges, but damn… her badges are cute as a button!
During the last month of her summer holidays Janell – a self professed doodler - began making and selling an array of select items including hand punched buttons from collected and hand drawn images.
Janell says her personal style reflects her geeky personality which include “simple patterned vector graphics, doodley free-style images of skyscrapers and small-town-feel girl on bicycle, urban settings all using a thin (0.4 to be precise) black pen.”
She also enjoys stencil art, screen prints, letter pressing, typography and quirky things observed through films, tv, travelling, music and her rabbit.
I asked Janell if she could walk in someone else’s shoes for a day whose shoes would she choose? Her reply was French director Michel Gondry whose quirky style combines handmade elements to depict the space between reality and dreams. His movies which include Be Kind Rewind, The Science of Sleep and Eternal Sunshine illustrate Janell’s friendship with imagination and the handmade.
Juggling her hobbyist adventure with study sees Janell getting out of bed bright and early to peruse emails, then pack and post orders before school starts.
Her approach to being a creative in Singapore is to not expect anything and leave your ego at home. “I do what I like and put my wares out there for the world to see, and the rest is up to them! I don’t expect people to pay special attention.” This inclusiveness is at the heart of Janell’s ethos as she proclaims that “anyone can wear a badge!”
“I’ve had magnet-collectors to comic-lovers to teenagers-who-buy-for-their-friends and badge-collectors contact me.”
http://granola-bar.deviantart.com
Filed under: Creatives | Tags: art, Creatives, design, graphics, illustration, noise, singapore, visual artist
Listen to the Noise made by over 2000 of Singapore’s creatives!
Head to Far East Plaza for the final week of the Noise Festival Showcase to catch music, photography, art and design featured by some of the most creative up-and-coming young artists, designers, musicians and photographers Singapore has to offer.
Open everyday from 11am, this is one free event not to be missed!
Sing Style hearts Anjo Bolarda
and ReallyfreshRiceball…
Get online and support your favourite artists by leaving gushing comments! www.noisesingapore.com
Filed under: Creatives | Tags: amigurumi dolls, art, craft, creative, crochet, design, saplanet, singapore, style
Crochet has never shown so much adorability!
Once the hobby of grannies, crochet is taking off where the mega trend of knitting left off (think models getting crafty backstage). But if Sing Style can’t convince you to partake in this pleasing PG pastime then maybe these Amigurumi dolls by Simple Arts Planet will win you over?
Based in Singapore, Simple Arts Planet (SAPlanet) has been hand-crafting original crochet dolls for over two years. Innovator Lis finds inspiration from various sources; including endless suggestions from her mother. “Although most of them are impractical, the conversation evoke unexpected inspirations, mostly deriving from flash backs of my childhood dreams and events.”
A typical day in the SAPlanet office kick starts with a nice cuppa coffee and the ritual of tuning into Singapore’s very own Class 95FM. Since online activities are constant, it is a common scene to see Lis juggling between scheduled and unscheduled work. “Being an independent handmade crafter, the local market is a little skim to rely solely on to be profitable. That said, I am witnessing some gradual changes to the handmade scene in Singapore, as more Singaporeans are beginning to appreciate the value of handmade goods.”
Lis remains optimistic about the local creative scene which she says is evolving slowly but surely. She envisions greater impact of Singapore’s artists on both local and global platforms. 
SAPlanet’s latest creations of hand crocheted wedding ring pillows adorned with wedding dolls can be found online at the following supporters of handmade delights:
The good news (if you’re dreaming of converting to a life of craftiness) is that SAPlanet also sells the patterns and project kits for folks who wish to make their own dolls. Get down and crafty!
Filed under: Uncategorized
Singapore has been wrongly accused of being culturally devoid in the creative industries.
I don’t buy it.
But when word’s out Singapore’s Fashion Festival will be opened by Christian Lacroix and closed by Vivienne Westwood, (exciting as that is) one has to ask – where is all the local talent? Why aren’t they opening? It’s upsetting that this major cultural event has invested in big name overseas exports instead of supporting local, emerging and uniquely Singaporean fashion. Fashion festivals are an opportunity for soap-boxing; to show off a country’s unique and creative talent.
Considering the number of stellar art and design schools in the country, it would be fair to assume there is a mass fringe movement of sub-cultural artists, photographers, and designers invloved in numerous collaborative projects on an international level.
It’s my aim to introduce them to you and the world.
I call this project Sing Style – a search for Singapore’s style vernacular.
