Transcript of interview with Ariana Elena (conducted by Amanda Lee), 24 January 2017, 1.30 pm, Skype.
Ariana is a 17-year old female Malay Singaporean who was a student at Yio Chu Kang Secondary School. Ariana likes screamo and alternative slow rock music. She hears English pop music mainly through her siblings who play it. She likes the band Panic at the Disco but find English pop music “okay” and boring. Ariana thinks that English pop music is relevant to teenagers as they can relate to the themes in the music. Ariana thinks that English pop rock music expresses a cultural connection with both English and non-English speaking countries. Ariana does not actively listen to Western classical music, and only does so when she is stressed out or wants to sleep. Ariana does not have any favorite composers and pieces but sometimes listens to Yiruma’s works. She thinks Western classical music is global culture as she does not know many Asian composers or know anyone interested in such music. Ariana likes Malay pop music that was popular five to ten years ago. She does not like contemporary Malay pop music as she finds the themes on heartbreak repetitive. Ariana listens to traditional Malay music and sings it during weddings. She thinks that it is a good for young Malays to listen to such music as they are not so popular now and because there are many valuable lessons that she can learn from the songs. Ariana does not think that traditional Malay music expresses who she is. Ariana listens to some Chinese pop rock music by Jay Chou and through watching Chinese TV shows. She thinks there is a bigger cultural connection for Chinese pop rock music between Singapore and Chinese-speaking countries, than for English pop rock music with English-speaking countries. This is because Chinese pop artistes like Nathan Hartono was successful in the Sing! China (2016) competition. Ariana thinks that this kind of music helps her to connect with her Chinese friends as they share and discuss what they like about such music with one another. Ariana liked the extract of traditional Chinese music. She thinks it is important to preserve it so that more people will know about it. Ariana thinks that traditional Chinese music does not express a cultural connection as there is a stronger connection through Chinese pop music, and because she does not know of any Chinese Singaporean artistes producing traditional Chinese music. Ariana thought Chinese crossover music was cool as they were using different types of instruments. Ariana thought that experimental Chinese music sounded like soundtracks for movies. She did not like it and thought it would make her sleepy. Ariana thinks that people who enjoy traditional Chinese music will like experimental Chinese music as it sounds similar. Ariana listens to some Singaporean music. She thinks that Singaporean music has the potential to go global but thinks that some musicians are trying too hard to sound like Western pop musicians. Ariana thinks that Tosh Rock’s Chinese New Year song had a Singaporean musical style because of its unique and localized lyrics. Ariana likes singing National Day songs and thinks that Home (1998) makes her feel like a true Singaporean. She does not think that Singlish comedy songs can represent Singapore as these songs make fun of Singapore and Singaporeans. Ariana thinks that rock music – particularly Malay rock music – is a genre that represents Singapore authentically. Ariana plays the piano and the guitar, and has recently started learning the ukulele. She started learning the guitar in primary three as she wanted to learn how to play a song. Ariana enjoys her lessons as it allows her to play many songs. Although she finds it a challenge playing certain chords, she feels accomplished when she is able to master some songs. Ariana learned how to play the piano in choir in secondary school. She now teaches herself how to play it through piano tutorials on YouTube. Ariana was in soprano one in the choir CCA in secondary school. They begin each session by singing the songs as a full choir, before splitting themselves into their respective sections and practicing. Ariana recalled one instance where her choir instructor had the students run in the field while singing a certain note. She found that it helped them with their breathing techniques. In addition to choir sessions once a week, they have foundation classes as well. Ariana finds that the foundation classes help her to bond with her choir-mates who are of the same level as her. She likes the classes as the students get a chance to lead their sections, and can learn to be independent. Ariana thinks that music lessons are necessary for all Singaporean students as it helps students to bond with one another, and lets them to learn about each other’s traditional ethnic music. Ariana thinks that more students would be interested in music if music teachers allow the students to express themselves and perform the kind of music that they like in class.
“I mean like I’ve went through some rough stuff, rough problems and stuff. And then this kind of alternative slow rock actually have, er, those kind of lyrics like you can actually have one song that you really think that it actually connects to you – like to your life – so ya.”
“Screamo music allows people to express themselves. Like, um, much, er, much – screamo music actually have lyrics that have like, er, something to do with their – their life. And I actually connect with it. Like I can actually feel how they feel when I listen to it. So it makes me feel better when I listen to it, even when I’m sad and angry.”
“I will listen to [English pop rock music] when – like an artiste that I like – I think – then my siblings also listen to those kind of songs. So I just listen to it whenever they listen to it.”
“One in particular is Panic at the Disco. I listen to that – I listen to them like almost every day. And then it’s like – they had a concert here in Singapore, and I didn’t buy the tickets. So I was just outside of the concert hall listening to them.”
“English pop rock music has like, er, something to do with teenagers and all. Like, whatever we have to go through, we actually, er, ya. It actually relates to us so – ya.”
“One of the local, er, band in Singapore which is, er, The Sam Willows, they actually went Asia-wide. So it’s like, er, it really has connection to other people who don’t have English as their first language, but they can actually know about the songs. Because it’s in English, and it’s like the language is, er, easy to understand so people get connected through it.”
“I mean I will only listen to [Western classical music] when like – in – if I’m like in a stressful mood, and then it’s like, er, I need something to de-stress myself or help me reduce my worries. So – like – it just have the very smoothing music.”
“I think [Western classical music is] more of the global culture because I don’t really know much of Asian artistes who – who actually have this kind of music. But I rarely hear, or know of anybody from the Asia part having interest in classical music.”
“Like five years ago or ten years ago, around there. The [Malay pop] music actually sometimes I actually get hooked to it because it’s really nice. But nowadays [I] don’t even listen to that kind of music because it’s like having the same thing over and over again. Trying to be the same as whatever is trending online. So it’s like quite [boring] to me.”
“Because Malay wedding have karaokes. So it’s like – our family always sing like traditional Malay music – songs. Because ... I think it – it’s much suitable for weddings instead of [contemporary pop music].”
“Then when I sing [traditional Malay songs], they will be like surprised. So it’s like that’s one thing that’s good. Like nobody actually cares about those kind of music. So when they – they see, or listen to like younger generation singing those kind of music, they will be like much – they will be like so proud.”
“This traditional Malay music have like, er, er, lesson that can be taught [through] the music. So it’s like from there we can actually learn something instead of just listening [to] it for the sake of listening to it. So I think it’s quite good for youngsters nowadays to listen to those kind of songs.”
“I listen to Jay Chou but I don’t know whether it’s pop rock. But – ya. [Be]cause, er, mostly if it’s Chinese, I’ll – I’ll actually just watch Chinese drama, and then from there when I get to know the music, then I will just search [up] the music.”
“The connection between the Chinese with other Chinese-speaking country is much more than the English with other English countr[ies]. Because, er, they ... somehow most of the artistes in Singapore actually go abroad – abroad to actually widen their music. Like, er, er, Nathan Hartono, I know he went for the [Sing! China] (2016).”
“Mostly Malays don’t really listen to Chinese song because they don’t quite know. But through – through knowing this artiste[s like Jay Chou], I think I have a greater bonding with my Chinese friends. And they ... they also do like listen to Malay music, and we share – we share to each other what we like about each other[‘s] culture.”
“[Traditional Chinese music is] quite nice because the different instruments actually combine with each other to make like one whole nice piece. So ... is quite interesting to see that this kind of songs can actually be ... like – be made by like simple musical instruments.”
“Actually, no, because ... mainland China I think they have much more like ... pop music. Like that’s how actually China and Singapore the – the Chinese music actually connect through each other. Because I don’t know of any artiste from Singapore who actually, er, went over there to have his or her classical Chinese music to be listened by everyone over there.”
“I think [Chinese crossover music] cool because it’s like you are using – they are using like different type of instruments, not like only guitars. And then it can actually sound the same as Adele’s music. So it’s quite cool.”
“[Experimental Chinese music] just made me like zone out or something like that. But then other than that – I mean I wouldn’t listen to it because it will make me sleepy.”
“I think like some [Singaporean musicians] can actually go to places like other than Singapore. Like their music can actually make, er, like, er, can actually go popular. Like across Asia. But I think some of them are like trying too hard to fit in. Like some of the music have like – they’re trying to ... have it the same way as the Western music.”
“Tosh Rock’s new Chinese New Year music [Tuan Yuan Fun (2017)], I – I listen to it I think, er, it’s – it’s very clearly that it’s Singaporean music because he puts the lyrics in such a way that Singaporeans would actually understand them, rather than other countries because they don’t know Singapore.”
“Only like one song really make me feel like a true Singaporean, which is Home (1998).”
“[Singlish comedy songs] can make people recognize that this is Singaporean songs. But at the same time, I wouldn’t want it to be recognized globally because it’s – it actually make fun of ourselves instead of showing like, er, what Singapore really is.”
“Rock [genre] can actually make people recognize that Singapore is nice – nice place. I – I don’t know. Because back then, I know there’s a couple of bands – Singapore-based bands that actually was actually well known in Malaysia and Indonesia for their rock songs.”
“I actually started playing the guitar when I was in primary three. Because I saw a cover of, er, one song, it’s called Hotel California (1976). Then, er, my mom knows how to play the song, so it’s like – I tried to play along but – ya. And then it actually made me – I don’t know – I feel like I like playing the guitar.”
“And then the piano, I played like anyhow on – when I was in p[rimary] six. Because my school have this piano that they actually just let everyone play it during recess time. And when I joined choir in sec – sec – secondary school, er, we kind of learn how to play piano also. So from then, I started learning how to play piano, and also self-taught myself through, er, through piano covers in, er, on YouTube.”
“The songs that we actually are learning, we will sing it as one whole choir for about one hour. Then after that – after we sang, er, our instructor will split us into our own respective section. And then we’ll have sectionals where there will be a sectional leader who will be teaching us through how to get our notes and – notes and singing right.”
“The choir foundation [class] actually is like – [be]cause we, er, we go by level. So it’s like – for foundation class it actually bond us as – like when you’re in sec one, all the sec one choir students will be at the same class. So from there we actually learn, er, we learn vocal techniques and stuff.”
“So people will actually learn how to be independent and depend on each other [in foundation class]. Like, er, we will have our own sectional leaders for our own cohorts during, er, foundation classes. So each of us will have to take turns to lead our sections. So I think it actually allow us to bond more.”
“We were actually supposed to have our own vocal technique exercises [for choir] in the music room. But instead she – she ask us to go out to the field and then just run 2.4 kilometre[s] while, er, doing like a certain note. But then I think it actually helped us. Because it helped us, er, with our breathing techniques and actually really help us as a whole choir.”
“There was one lesson where [the choir instructor] asked us to, er, er, prepare ourselves one song. And then we were actually suppose to sing it to the rest. It’s actually to prepare us for being able to face the audience. And then, er, from there we actually gave each other feedbacks and techniques on singing. So it’s actually quite nice to actually have people singing songs that we actually do like.”
“Even though at times it’s quite annoying that I can’t play certain songs [on the guitar] because, er, I have trouble in playing certain chords. So once I actually learn and keep on playing the songs, it actually makes me feel accomplished, and then I will actually sing along while playing the guitar.”
“Because [music lessons] allow us to bond with each other more through music. Because we have a lot of races ... so it’s like it help us to combine like – we have different types of songs that we can actually learn with each other. So ... I think is really necessary for [Singaporean students] to go through music lessons.”
“Back in secondary school, my teacher will actually have the whole class to perform, er, one music. One piece of music that we like, and then we are able to choose whatever instrument that we – we want to play. And then from there on, er, it’s – it makes us bond as a class and also make us feel like music lesson is fun – not as boring as people say it is.”
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