3 / jan & feb 15 / resolute
NINTH
contents
note To me, there really is nothing that beats the excitement of a new year. Everyone’s either on restart or reboot mode - gyms get crowded (okay, that’s the only part I hate) and our determination to achieve gets stronger. We also always seem to be ready to leave the past behind - pointing middle fingers at 2014 and closing those doors. For this issue, I brought an instacam — the modern take on a polaroid camera — around the island to capture some of the closest relationships I’ve witnessed in 2014. I liked the idea of using still life and other kinds of shots to portray a sentimental bond, to reinforce something that many of us have lost while on the road to ending 2014. Whether we observe each other, change together, work together, hurt each other or hurt together, we forget that we are the best individuals to resolute for that other loved one. In this world of fighting a constant war to achieve something, we forget that this battle shouldn’t be fought alone. That our pure existence can play such a big part in pushing that person to the gym. The possibilities are pretty endless. Whilst staying on par with the theme, I had the honour to interview our local Singaporean singer and songwriter, Joel Tan (also known as Gentle Bones). The chat with him was a great eyeopener of how different people can fight to ignite their dreams to reality, and how our attitudes can do us huge favours along the way. Throughout the interview, Joel’s humble and genuinely passionate character shone strongly, which especially helped to strengthen my perspective on this issue. These images and words wouldn’t be coming to life without having backgrounds that speak of love and passion, and I’m glad that I got to witness them. Take some time to look through them and I do hope that you’ll be able to witness the scenes in your own ways and if possible, feel what I’ve felt. Happy new year and here’s to even more time spent in the gym!
carvin genes
2015 is another year to mark another
ng sis
r love
cover story
when did you two start this whole baking hobby together? "Eversince i got an oven" "even though my oven is so much better" "no, she's just always getting conned by the shop aunties"
couple/ bakers
"I WANT US TO GROW MORE MATURE TOGETHER"
(Rena & Nicholas, couple since 2013)
breakfast at tiffany’s (Natasha & Natalie, best friends since 2009)
"remember how we used to talk on msn? like i would go home and talk to you the whole day"
"i want her to be happy. to love more and accept more" "she just needs to stop being blur. but she's okay, she doesn't need resolutions anymore - she's pretty perfect the way she is"
WHAT'S YOUR RESOLUTION FOR HER? "to not jump into relationships like they're water puddles on the street after the rain!" "no, it's discovering the ocean after years of puddle jumping" "ah, it's the same thing! You're so familiar with it because you've been practising the puddle jumping too much!"
photos
what's up for you this 2015?
(Sarah Tan & Joe Tan, photographer & model)
at heart
"i can't wait to jump butt first into 2015 because it's my last year in Singapore!" " I want to show that I'm more capable than what school makes me out to be" " i'm not going to let anything or anybody get into my way"
(Brandi & Scrappy, family since 2009)
"Dogs just aren't petty like humans, they will always be your friend"
what's your wish for him this 2o15? "he really needs to pee and poo in the pee pan." (scrappy had no comments)
colour coded family
& Q a interview
the gentleman After Sarah and I had sat down with Joel for a chat, we came to one conclusion. While ‘This is Home’ will always be our favourite Singaporean jam, this is one voice that’ll perpetually create something unforgettable in the local scene — even until we die.
Photos by Sarah Tan / Words by Tessa Lin Wang
It’s three thirty in the afternoon. Starbucks is comfortably packed with jazz and the occasional Louis Armstrong playing in the background. Evian in one hand and my makeshift phone-cum-voicerecorder in another, Joel Tan enthusiastically fills us on his journey to becoming what he is today. “I wrote the song [Until We Die] when I was your age,” fun fact — I’m eighteen, “then I recorded it and held onto it for a year because I didn’t feel like putting it out because I was really busy. Actually, I wasn’t going to release it at all. But when I got more time I was like ‘Okay lah, let’s film a video for it’. Then I put it out and people started liking it! That’s how I continued on with the E.P.” To this day, we’re still grateful towards the people who “started liking it”. Then again, what’s not to like?
If you haven’t heard of Joel Tan, you might’ve heard of his other identity — Gentle Bones. Also a songwriter and quite the rule breaker, the singer started producing songs before he could even finish his A’levels. Despite having written over a hundred songs, the 21-year-old ensured that his singles hit a certain standard before breaking one too many hearts on YouTube — totalling his current number of released singles to a nifty five.
“french EDM kind of stuff”, with “R&B and the 90’s kind of pop vibes”. Eccentric? Very. Worthy of being crowned iTunes’ Best New Artist of 2014? Done.
THE FEEL GOOD PLAN “It’s very much about feeling good [about the current EP], then continuing on it, rather than having a whole grand plan for the EP already,” Joel responds to my curiosity about his work ethic, “I’m not good at time management, but it’s always just music first. I Sure, the foreign music scene don’t know how people manage never stops surprising us, and of time. It’s more like ‘okay, I’ve got course, ‘This is Home’ will al- music on this day, or I have an inways be our favourite Singapore- terview on this day’.” an jam. But with our generation’s thirst for even more local indie With the mindset of taking things music, Joel plays a big role in the as it comes, there already is so rejuvenation of what we pres- much to look forward to this year. ently hear on the radio. He tells Writing for a new album and us about his current style — a touring around the region are just mashup of current electronic and a few of them. He doesn’t have
the dates for us to mark in our calendars yet, but Kuala Lumpur is a possible destination. We might’ve put our air tickets to KL on standby. Or, even, be searching for extra Christina Perri tickets:
them singing in the Lost music video starts to play in my head. “That helps in a way. I used to play gigs at bars where nobody would listen so it’s kind of horrible, like I just can’t do that kind of thing where you sing and people don’t give a shit.” That’s far from the case today, as he continues with his experience with a “grown-ass dude” who had approached him on a bus. “It’s kind of cool lah and encouraging… I can’t even tell the ages anymore!” Even my 12 year old sister’s a fan, if that counts.
“Apparently her manager contacted one of my friends who’s helping me with press and stuff and asked me if I could open up for her and stuff. So the team itself wanted me to open, which is quite insane!” That’s Christina Perri we’re talking about, whom Joel will be opening for during her concert here this February. RABBIT MASKS Before wrapping up the interview, there is a burning question
you’re sad or even hateful. It was a rather dark concept.” On a lighter note, he opens up about his rabbit masks in Until We Die, “okay I’m just gonna tell you the truth, the rabbit masks were just to look cool!” He is quite fashionable after all. Despite having a different scene in mind, wet weather called for changes to be made. “It was pretty last minute, but I called two friends who eventually wore the rabbit masks,” which is what we see in the video. Speaking of friends, Joel’s close chums have undoubtedly played a huge supportive role in his career — “the reason why i really
“... I just can’t do that kind of thing where you sing and people don’t give a shit.” That’s far from the case today, as he continues with his experience with a “grown-ass dude” who had approached him on a bus. “It’s kinda cool lah and encouraging… I can’t even tell the ages anymore!” NO SPECIAL UNDERWEAR When it comes to fashion, Joel agrees that his habits are very much like Steve Jobs’. At gigs or performances, he’s usually sighted in black jeans, boots, and a top. “You guys learn fashion so you probably hate me,” he laughs. We oppose, duh. I ask if he has to wear or do anything in particular before a performance, “not much, I just warm up my voice. I used to get nervous in a way but because I’ve been playing gigs so often... I’m kind of getting used to it.”
that other fans are just as curious about. Behind the sofas, swimming pool, helmets and rabbit masks in the Gentle Bones music videos, there actually is more than meets the eye.
enjoy being with them is because they don’t talk about music at all.” In fact, he jokes that some of them don’t even like his music. “But they’re all supportive in a way — they all came for the music video even though they didn’t know the song. All my actors didn’t know the song because I was too lazy to send it to them! I just asked them to act, so they just got to see the final.“
In his Save Me music video, a motorbike helmet played the iconic role in hiding the identities of different people who took turns to appear. “It was an exploration of love where I was trying to say that every time you fall in love with And the final of it all? somebody, you change as a person,” he speaks from experience. Kick-ass rabbit mask fashion, some fans older than him, and a “[When I wrote it,] I was angsty voice so distinctively his — even As he goes on to tell us about at that time and kind of sad, so from our radios. his fans who attend the concerts it was more about having your knowing his songs, the scene of opinions on love altered because
editor Tessa Lin Wang / SuedeFingers.com assistant editor Natasha Vanessa Michelin cover story
Special thanks to / Rena Kok & Nicholas Chee Natasha Vanessa Michelin & Natalie Ng Sarah Tan & Joe Tan Brandi Foo & Scrappy Photographer and Creative Director / Tessa Lin Wang
interview
Special thanks to / Joel Tan / GentleBones.com
end