MusicFest 2022: Neon Nirvana
By Kashvi Guduru (22A12) and Chloe Low Yingjia (22A13)
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Photo by VJCPS
Novelty embraced nostalgia as Music Fest returned at last in all its glory. The thrill intensified by its manifestation of the light at the end of the tunnel, the easing of restrictions. The comeback, indeed. Neon light sticks saw a mesmerising transformation under the creativity of Victorians who joined forces to create a wreath of celebration, enveloping themselves in its warmth. A chain of glow sticks from the upper zone of the performance theatre was met with great zest as several Victorians jumped excitedly to catch the other end. The strikingly bright spirits of Victorians did not just stop there! Two quirky seniors dressed as ketchup and mustard sifted through the crowds to their seats, chuckling hysterically upon further questioning of the reasons for their attire. Laughter and chatter continued under the fairy lights as some Victorians reread their electronic programs. The atmosphere roared Victoria just before the dimming of the lights commanded silence.
Ethan and Shanika, the emcees, looked dapper in their outfits as they made their way to their positions. Having to wait several moments before the wild audience calmed down upon the sight of the Music Fest logo on the velvet curtains, they wasted no time introducing the first performance of the night.
12x17
12x17
Starting their performance with a sincere greeting, 12X17 ensured we had the perfect start to a spectacular night. With melodious vocals and gentle guitar strumming, 12X17 eased us into the night with their comforting medley featuring iconic songs like ‘Hey Soul Sister’. Immersed in the harmony of their voices, the band started swaying and tapping their feet to the music. Victorians followed suit with a clap in Zone C that rippled throughout the theatre.
Photo by VJCPS
Ascending to the chorus, Victorians belted the lyrics, “Hey soul sister, ain’t that Mr Mister on the radio, stereo…”, a heartwarming singalong. 12x17 transitioned seamlessly to the song ‘Does It Feel Like Falling’, ending their performance with a bang. The bright spirits of the performers did not falter even as the curtains closed. 12x17 continued waving excitedly to the audience, with their bright smiles and white coordinated outfits reflecting the stage lights perfectly.
Photo by VJCPS
Keisha
Keisha
“My friend loves you!” - an impromptu confession from the crowd. Giggling shyly in response, Keisha began her graceful interpretation of ‘All I Want’ by Kodaline by softly plucking her guitar strings to the melody of her voice. Wearing strappy heels and sitting with her legs crossed, she certainly took ‘our souls and wiped them clean’. Even with the tolling of bells attempting to interrupt her performance, Keisha’s angelic voice rose above. By the end of her performance, it wasn’t just the mystery friend who loved her; the entire audience had fallen in love with her.
Zi Xiang
Zi Xiang
A single spotlight on the velvet curtains. Zhe Xiang graced the stage and began his alluring impressions of ‘Make You Feel My Love’ by Adele. His honey-like vocals and soulful vibratos mesmerised the crowds. A riveting performance by Zhe Xiang cast a spell on the audience.
Photo by VJCPS
Photo by VJCPS
Iman Bieber
Iman Bieber
The next performance waived the need for any of us to buy tickets to Justin Bieber’s upcoming concert. Why bother when we had our very own Bieber! (One with a much more stylish coiffure, dare we add?) After a heartfelt shoutout to his classmates, friends and football team, Iman commenced his performance with “I will begin”, which was met with mirth from the audience. Opening with soft keys, which he skillfully played with his eyes closed, immersing himself utterly in the piece. Iman played “That Should Be Me” by none other than Justin Bieber.
Zhen Xian
Zhen Xian
Handsomely dressed in a suit like Fei Yu Qing, Zhen Xian entered in high spirits, flashing an approving smile and bowing confidently to the audience. Taking a minute to soak in the cheers from his fans, he began. A voice rich, crisp, and of great depth, the strange familiarity of the song (Yi Jian Mei) gradually hit the audience who broke into smiles and laughter. Mental images of monks, master Oogway and even our beloved politicians blossomed in the air. The melancholic classic ignited the cultured spirits of Victorians who sang with great feeling the woes of falling snowdrops–-an extended metaphor for enduring love through hardship. The magnetic presence of Zhen Xian and his longing gaze through the audience made his performance phenomenal.
Photo by VJCPS
Photo by VJCPS
Matt and Linus
Matt and Linus
Despite having been COVID-positive the previous week, Linus still managed to take our breaths away (metaphorically). Singing Malibu Nights, Linus' evocative vibrato of voice gave character to the heartbreaking lyrics of the song, passionately transcending the boundaries of the stage. His skilful transitions between vocal ranges left the audience in awe. Matt’s deep vocals took the stage as the piano keys jammed to the chorus, “I drive circles under street lights” the upbeat shift in chords encouraged Victorians to join the chorus, heads nodding to the lively beats.
Lee En
Lee En
Lee En graced the stage in an angelic white dress, taking her place elegantly before the grand piano. She opened boldly, “The song speaks my story, and I hope it speaks to you too,” piquing the audience with wonder as her fingers played the opening keys. The incandescent rawness of her voice penetrated the audience who were left bewitched by her moving portrayal of an individual doubtful of her past choices. Her high notes brought a roller coaster of emotions leaving the audience with goosebumps. At the end of her raw, emotional and personal performance Lee En was breathless like the audience.
Photo by VJCPS
Photo by VJCPS
Dance
Dance
Just before the audience fell under the impression that Music Fest only involved music, Dance upped the game by bringing in rhythm and beat, hitting every note in fast-paced K-pop songs and Cardi B. Covering a range of music; Dance showed us what fluidity, seduction and effortlessness were through their movements. With seamless transitions and jaw-dropping steps, “Dance”, however simple their name might be, their dance was complex. With an impactful heartbeat step, they made our heartbeat double.
Clair and Vidya
Clair and Vidya
Walking onto the stage, Claire and Vidya looked picture-perfect. Their dainty lilac and powder blue dresses complemented each other as their voices did. Mesmerising us with ‘Like I'm Gonna Lose You’ with perfect pitch and all the emotion; their performance was dynamic and reflected the energy of the audience, who were quick to start swaying to the song and chimed in at the chorus. Even as the curtains drew closed and the emcees returned, fans of the duet (the only female duelists of the night) were jumping up and down in excitement.
Photo by VJCPS
Photo by VJCPS
Snapped Strings
Snapped Strings
The musical weebs of VJ (as they proudly proclaim themselves) crashed the stage with their soulful piece, Sparkle, the well-loved original soundtrack (OST) of the popular Japanese anime, Your Name. Seong Yun carried the stage with his heartfelt vocals; his longing, nostalgic undertones flawlessly captured the song's universal appeal. Blending the violin’s melody and the electric interludes gave the performance a grippingly whimsical feel that left the audience yearning for more. At the end of the performance, the lead singer flashed a drawing of a heart and was met with many amused cheers.
VJvibes
Swifties and Sheerios united as VJvibes rocked the stage with the celebrity duo’s latest collab, The Joker and the Queen! Emotions were high as Issac poured his soul, varying his voice to a bliss point, giving character and justice to the highly regarded duet. Just when we thought the performance could not get any better, the theatre burst with colour as the band crashed with the electrifying song Cloud 9! The audience jammed hard to the lyrics “when loves me I feel like somebody,” erupting with cheers as Issac belted the high notes with great power. Adding to the upbeat atmosphere, the impactful drum beats punctuated every lyric, adding sizzling electricity to the piece.
Left Bops
If there could be a Mona Lisa prettier than the one by DaVinci, it could only be LeftBop’s rendition of it. From the very beginning, the band set the mood with their one closet-only attire (fun fact: they all got their clothes from the closet of one member). With a little bit of jazz and a little bit of indie, they delivered a full power-packed performance. With the vocalists’ sensational high notes hitting the ceiling and the perfect instrumental ensemble, LeftBops brought us to the end of MusicFest.
VJC teachers’ band
As Shanika and Ethan played gracious hosts, thanking us for our presence, we heard vehement coughing from the curtains. Surprise! The night was still young, and Music Fest was not to end yet. Continuing the 16-year legacy of the VJC Teachers’ Band, our favourite GP, Geography and Economics teachers took the stage as the evening climaxed.
In a great show of feigning key testing, the keyboardist, Mr Gay, jammed the chords seamlessly into the opening of Viva la Vida. Despite initially threatening to give us a seminar on Geography, Mr Najib was full of life. Together with co-vocalist Mrs Judah, the dynamic duo fed off the audience’s energy. The energy was upped by the striking instrumentals by Mr Lim and Mrs Ting, plating the electric guitar and drums, respectively. When asked in a post-concert interview, Mrs Judah explained that they chose songs that would rouse the audience. Indeed, their selection was perfect as Victorians practically screamed the lyrics, ‘tonight we are young’. Absolutely wild and free, Victorians’ faces were coloured with joy and lingering surprise, which is all that the teachers hoped for. This interaction drove the talented VJC Teachers’ band, which indeed left a mark on our hearts.
The surrealities of the moment lingered, and the desire to soak and bottle the moment only grew stronger with each moment—this most feverish fever dream. Connor and Jared, Ad hoc heads of MusicFest, came on stage. Their goofy attempts at professionalism made the audience smile as they held back their tears, thanking everyone who was a part of this fantastic project. As they recount the tumultuous journey leading to this very night, Victorians were moved to shouts of gratitude and bold confessions of their ardent love for the pair. “And lastly, we would like to thank all of you” the hall erupted in “awwws”, finally ending with a Truman quote “, and in case we don’t see you, good afternoon, good evening, and good night” Music Fest officially came to a close. Victorians filtered out gradually in excited chatters, for the night was still long.
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