Meet Kalliope Coplin

Kalliope is one of the best-known vocalists in Southeast Asia. Fronting the 10.seconds band for more than 15 years, she has taken the stage throughout the region – Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, and, of course, Singapore. You may have even spotted her at the George Washington Ball or the Fourth of July celebrations. But she wasn’t always filling dancefloors. “I’ve been in Singapore for coming on 22 years now, and it’s been a wild ride! When I arrived, I was an international school teacher and a closet singer, but somewhere along the line, these switched, and I’m now a university lecturer in education on the side and an entertainer, vocalist, and coach full-time!”

Q: Did you always want to sing and perform?

K: Well, yes and no. I have always loved music and loved to sing. I deeply felt music and lyrics and desperately wanted to do it. But I had no confidence. I didn’t think I had what it took. So, I hid my passion away. I used to lock myself in my room, turn off the light, and listen to everyone from Freddie Mercury and Tina Turner to Barbara Streisand and Whitney Houston, wondering what made them great and trying to figure out how I could make my voice do some of those things. Listen to Barbara Streisand’s last note in “Evergreen.” How does she hold it so long?!

Q: What changed?

K: I took a chance. I chose to give it a go - I didn’t want to wake up in 50 years wondering what could have been. In the process, I discovered how positive it made me feel and how freeing and fun it was. I feel very passionate about that now – singing for health!

Q: What does ‘singing for health’ mean?

K: So many things! Singing can be transformative! It can promote oxygen intake, boost the immune system, improve posture, reduce stress, and enhance linguistic ability. Singing also supports and promotes mental health, confidence, and overall wellbeing. For example, one of my clients set a goal to improve her presence and speaking confidence as she must deliver workshops throughout the year. She used to be terrified, but now she messages me after a workshop on such a high. It’s incredibly rewarding to see growth.

Over the last few years, Kalliope has been particularly interested in the intricate pathways that connect the voice, health, and wellbeing. “Singing and music should be joyful!” she announces enthusiastically. With certifications in vocal health, neuroscience and voice, psychology, education, and almost two decades of performance experience, she coaches privately. She is now embarking on bringing music and voice into the corporate and team-building space. “There is a ton of evidence to support the health and wellness benefits of singing, particularly group singing: the positive effects of breathwork, increased social bonding, reduction in stress hormones, and the release of happy hormones! Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could harness that both socially and in the workplace!”

Kalliope and her partner at Band on the Run Entertainment, Simon, have exciting new ideas for social and corporate contexts, but don’t miss Kalliope and the 10.seconds band at GWB 2024! “We’re so excited to be at the George Washington Ball again in 2024! It’s an amazing night with fantastic people partying and dancing the night away. It’s truly the perfect example of people from all over celebrating, engaging, and bonding through music!”